Former 4-legged, now "tripod" semi-feral; keep indoors or return to outdoors?

Return a semi-feral recent amputee cat to the outdoors, or attempt to domesticate her (if she seems amenable to that)?

  • Try to keep her indoors, if she's not biting/scratching you, or apparently unhappy inside.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Send her outside, back to the only life she's probably known.

    Votes: 5 100.0%
  • Keep her indoors to continue gaining strength and mobility, and assess the situation in another mont

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    5

barbgee

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Hi everyone, I'm new here to this forum, live in Chicago, IL.  Our city supports TNR efforts, and I've been the "feeder" for a small group of TNR cats on my block.  One of the cats has been coming around since she was just a kitten, in 2009.  She is bonded to me pretty well, and will rub her face on my ankles and chase my fuzzy slippers, waiting for me each morning to feed her.  About a month ago, she suffered a broken leg, and I was unable to trap her for another 17 days.  She had an open compound fracture of a rear leg, that had been untreated all that time, and there was no saving the leg. It was hard deciding amputation vs. euthanise, but I opted for amputation.  She's now 3.5 weeks post-surgery.  I kept her in a large animal crate, with a carrier as her den for the first 2 weeks after surgery, then the stitiches were removed, and I moved her and the crate to a large bedroom, opened the crate door and gave her free access to the room.  She has hidey places, toys, and I visit her 2-3+ times a day, twice w/ food, then other times to just sit, or attempt some play, although she doesn't really "get" how to play.  She figured out the litter box immediately, and has been very good about it.

Overall, she is recovering beautifully, and will peek out and come to see me when I open the door and it's feeding time.  She rubs on my ankles, and will take a treat placed very close to my arm.  She doesn't attack, swat, or hiss.  VERY curious about the door, and the closet where I keep some supplies.  Not jumping up on things, she's a "bush dweller", staying low for now.  I cannot touch her, but she will sniff my feet, and is not afraid to eat or defecate with me in the room.  I have not gotten a "slow blink" out of her, but I continue to work with her.

So the big question is; do I continue my work with her, and gradually expand her world in the house, or should I consider returning her to the outdoors?  She was never a house cat, not a stray, but born to a stray mom.  I would be sad to think she will be miserable indoors, although she *seems* content enough.  BUT as a tripod now, I wonder if letting her back out is simply putting her in harms way unnecessarily.  How long before I know if she can acclimate to indoor living?  Winter is coming...
 

jcat

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to TCS!

That's a tough one, but we've had quite a few members who have managed to turn former ferals into indoor cats. We took in an 8-year-old feral, and although he was never completely tamed, he lived with us as an indoor/outdoor cat for quite a few years.

Given that she's somewhat handicapped, litter-trained and amenable, she sounds like a really good candidate for the indoor life.
 

vball91

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I voted to keep her indoors. It actually sounds like she is acclimating to being indoors really well already. She does not sound miserable at all. If she is already eating, drinking, and eliminating without issues, she seems to have adapted just fine. Since she's curious already about the rest of the house, I would start to let her explore, supervised of course. Do you have any other pets? If so, they will need to be introduced properly of course. What is her name?

She may never be a lap cat or enjoy being petted (although you never know!), but I think she is much safer indoors. While tripod kitties adapt very well, I have to think that it puts her at a disadvantage outdoors. Given that she already broke one leg badly outside, I really think it would be better if you can keep her indoors. Thanks for all your TNR work and saving this little one.
 
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barbgee

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I have no other pets in the house.  I used to have cats in the 80s/90s, but as each one got old and had to be put down, my heart broke a bit more, and I chose to not get more pets at that time.  I also was having some arthritis problems that made my managing the house difficult, and caring for a cat would have been an added difficulty.

The cat is named "Kitty Farrell".  She was my first TNR cat, and they asked me what her name was at the TNR clinic, but I had not named her, imagining that by keeping her anonymous in my mind, I wouldn't become attached to her.  So, "Kitty" was the best I could do, and it had been how I addressed her all along.  Clearly, she knew I had space in my heart for another cat again, so she weaseled her way into it!  She really is a dear.

I'll post some photos and get more info on her into my profile.  I've met a lot of great people when I needed help trying to catch her when I first found her injured, and I think my life with cats is being resurrected!
 

catwoman707

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I agree with both members' advice, this is her chance to discover an entire new world, indoors :)

Eventually she can be allowed outside as well, but allow her plenty of time to heal and acclimate.

Cats are amazing at how well they adapt to losing a limb. There are some disadvantages of her rear leg though, and that main one is climbing a tree to escape a predator.

Front leg is of course, can't hunt :)

I say go for it, allow her to become acquainted with you on her terms, in her time. Funny how cats just know when someone has helped them :)
 

tia2

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Same situation as me. Brought in a feral after his leg needed amputated. As my husband would say...."now he's just a $600 meal for the coyotes if you put him back out". Mine has been in the house since March and is doing wonderfully. He's so much more relaxed now that struggling to survive has been taken off the table.
I'm sure they do well outside but I think the element of prey increases when they are gimping around. Good luck with her! She got real lucky to find you!!
 
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barbgee

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Hi everyone,

Wanted to post an update.

Kitty is still doing well.  Yesterday I expanded her territory to the entire 2nd floor.  She had been in a spare bedroom, now she has access to the 2nd (my) bedroom, the bathroom, and the stairway landing.

She is still slowly getting stronger, and I find she's not much interested in climbing up or trying to get onto anything, not even peeking out the window yet.  I had to treat her for worms last week, after I discovered a "spaghetti" in a little vomit she produced one day!  Ick.

Her playing is improving, although she keeps getting her claws stuck in the Berber carpet.  I need to get her some cardboard scratchers now.  No way she'll get her claws clipped, so we'll have to manage them this way instead...

She's sweet as can be, and seems to be going with the flow.  I'm thinking I may let her into the rest of the house in another week or two.

thanks for all your words of encouragement!  I still sometimes wonder if I'm doing the right thing, but when she rubs on my ankles, and comes out to see me, I think I'm doing okay!
 

vball91

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 I still sometimes wonder if I'm doing the right thing, but when she rubs on my ankles, and comes out to see me, I think I'm doing okay!
You are doing the right thing. She is settling in great! That rubbing on the ankles is a sure sign of affection and appreciation.
 

catwoman707

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You should not question whether you did the right thing or not, she is no longer suffering, and will be allowed to live a life she deserves to live. She will find peace and comfort, safety, love, and most of all, a name, an identity, and a sense of belonging in this world. Homeless and feral cats will never know that feeling. Only the daily stress of survival.

A couple of comments, one is regarding the gross worm vomit.

When a cat vomits a worm(s) this tells you that they have a pretty big case of roundworms that have invaded and sort of taken over her internals.

PLEASE be sure to deworm her in 14 days after the first one. This will help ensure that theyre gone, but I have to say, I had a kitty who had a worm or worms in random vomiting, and I had to treat her about 4 consecutive times to get them gone. This was after 2 other treatments that I believed would be sufficient, then a few weeks later she would vomit another again.

Just an fyi is all.

This said, if her dewormer was a shot, then theres a better chance they are gone with just the single dose.

Kitty is still unsure of heights, and her new lack of abilities, but in time, and trial and error, she will be as active as she was before the break and amputation.

I also feel from my personal experiences with ferals, that once they are fully acclimated to the indoors, somehow they really don't seem to miss the outdoors.

Months down the road, if she expresses the need to venture outside, she should have full/easy access to come back in where she knows it is safe.

The most helpful thing at this point is allowing her to adjust on her terms and her own time.

Laying down on the floor with your arms out for her to come to you and sniff, etc is a good thing. Less intimidating.

She will do just fine!! You did a very good thing, the kindest act possible :)
 
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barbgee

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Re: the deworming; the vet I'm using prescribed Panacur liquid for 5 days.  Initially, they were going to give me some other liquid med, that would have required dosing a large volume each day.  I had to keep reminding the vet's office that this is not a cat I can pill or administer liquid meds to.  If it can't be put into a Pill Pocket, or mixed into food so she'd eat it, it wasn't going to happen.  Another suggestion was to "apply some Revolution".  Reiterating that I cannot touch her, they suggested I "bring her in" and they could do it!  While the vets office can handle feral and semi-ferals, I think they needed a lot of reminding that this is not a normal housecat.  The Panacur dosage was under 1ml daily, so I could mix it into a little food that I'd leave til she ate it.  Then she'd get the rest of her daily meals.  They recommended re-testing in a month.  BUT a vet friend of mine suggested that was dumb, that it's just routine to treat once, then re-treat in 2 weeks, and she was not familiar w/ giving Panacur to cats in her own practice.  My own understanding is that Panacur is a "broad spectrum" worm killer, so even though they only found roundworm, this would kill other worms, just in case.  I'm not sure if I should call them now, or take another stool sample in in a month as they requested.  I might go with an OTC med instead...  Not sure how to best manage this one..

Kitty was very sweet this morning, and I was able to skritch her cheek and chin *while she ate*, as well as a little skritching between her ears!  It's funny, because she will not take a treat from my hand, or let me touch her any other time, but when I'm standing over the bowl that I've just filled for her, and my hand is down there, she will rub on it, and I can then extend that, very carefully and gently, into a little petting!

We have a very long way to go, and I'm just going to take it one day at a time...   I think she'll be fine! 
 

tia2

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Just sharing an issue I had with Trooper and using the litter box. I dont know about your girl, but mine would have clay stuck to the bottom of his leg all the time until I went to chicken crumbles. (or a corn or wheat based litter) It solved the problem. Just Fyi.
Take care,
Terri
 
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barbgee

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Fortunately, Kitty somehow figured out litter right away, when she was recuperating in a large crate after her surgery.  I'm using a clumping litter, and I have to say that litter technology is vastly improved from the 1980's/90's when I last had cats.  I scoop each a.m., and have a sturdy scooper and a second box, so I actually very gingerly pour the litter through the scooper into the 2nd box, and the wet stuff stays stuck to the bottom of the other box.  I scrape that out, and pour the litter back in, adding another fresh cup or two as needed.  I give the box a rinse and little scrub once a week or so, and it's amazingly smell-free.  No litter seems to stick to her legs, but I do need to vacuum, because she does kick the litter up quite a bit.  Thanks for the tip.  I know many ferals don't understand litter, and that many respond poorly to the clay based and/or clumping litters.

I just picked up a cardboard scratcher for her and I'm hoping she figures it out.  The room she is in is carpeted, with a looped carpet that she seems to always be hooking on with her claws.  We play, and she gets claws stuck all the time.  She walks and I can hear one claw kind of hitch on that carpet.  Now that she's also venturing into the other room with wood floors, I can hear her claws clicking on the floor.   I suspect it will be months, if not years or ever, that I can trim her claws for her! 
 
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barbgee

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It's been over 4 months now that Kitty has been indoors.  She's doing well in many ways, although I still have concerns, but am working with her every day.

Good things:

She "trills" to greet me, she sleeps with me, and will "jump" up on the bed when it's bedtime for me.  Actually she pulls herself up with her front legs, and not sure how she jumps with her one rear leg. She likes getting under the covers with me sometimes, and will snuggle in and sleep. We play "kibble catch", she likes playing with stuffed catnip mice, some toys on a stick. We are practicing "Kitty, come!" with cat treats. She's very good about only using the litter, and she likes the cardboard scratcher.  I added a low pile area rug to the floor, so her claws aren't always catching on the looped berber wall-to-wall carpet.  After a month of demonstrating it, she finally has figured out how to get the food out of a puzzle ball, and she likes that as a bedtime snack/treat.

Problems;

Her turf is the 2nd floor, and she absolutely will not come down stairs.  I've tried treats placed on the steps, and she'll only go down the first 2 steps.  She doesn't understand reflections on glass surfaces, and they seem to scare her, as do windows.  She can look directly outside from my bed if I have the shades open, and it freaks her out and she runs to the other room.  The stairway has 2 skylights over it, and 2 windows that look out to the building next door, so I think maybe that's part of why the stairs freak her out, too.  She plays well, until she decides to "love me" by grabbing my arm and nibbling on my hand.  I freeze, and she backs off, but I have lots of scratches on my hands!

I really really want her to come downstairs, because as it stands right now, I make special trips to be with her.  In the a.m., I spend about 90 minutes in "her" room.  Routine is scoop the litter, play some kibble catch and play, then feed some wet, and hang around for petting or skritching, or just be in the room with her.  I then am either downstairs, or out of the house often, so she's left to herself, although I have radio or tv on for her, and she can hear me if I'm downstairs.  I make another 60-90 minute interactive time with her before bed, with another round of feeding, training, playing.  Boyfriend says I'm not giving her any reason to WANT to come downstairs, because I go to her so much.  I don't want to create a neurotic solitary cat, I want to encourage her to socialize with me, but I appreciate she has limitations. 

Overall, she seems happy and is healthy, and I'm glad she's safe inside and adapting to indoor life.  She's a sweety!
 

catwoman707

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@barbgee, this is excellent news!  
  You have made alot of progress, and honestly, I believe when SHE is ready, she will long for your companionship and eventually, brave the stairs to the downstair level and be with you.

Gosh, things sound just as they should so I don't have much in the way of advice! That's a great thing! 


You have given her life back.
 

di and bob

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Bless you for caring for this sweet little cat, I know it couldn't have been easy at times. I feel she'll eventually come down, but she seems content and happy where she is.Good luck and I hope you have many happy years with her!
 

ondine

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Thanks for this wonderful update.  I agree - when she's ready, she'll venture into new territory.  If she doesn't, she's warm, fed and content, so as far as she's concerned, life is good!  Your patience and kindness have brought her so far already!
 

tia2

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I think your boyfriend is right! Work on feeding her downstairs (per my pm). With her meals not her treats. Good luck!!

Terri
 
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