I have a feral cat that looks to be 6 or 7 month old that snuck into the house when I was carrying in Christmas presents. Now it's in the closet with my water heater and I can't get to it. I have two other cats and a dog. The feral seems to get along with one of the cats but runs when it sees me. I have a six year old son and I'm sacred it might hurt him out if fear. Does anyone have any advice?
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Clueless
- Thread starter marshad
- Start Date
Are you sure it's really a feral cat? That fact that it ran into your house suggests that it is used to being around people. Most ferals don't go into houses like that. It could be somebody's lost pet.
Could you keep the area that it is hiding in out of bounds for your son and your other pets for now? If possible close all the doors so that the cat has to stay where it is. I suggest leaving out a litter box and some food and water. Give the cat a chance to calm down.
I'd also suggest checking to see if anyone has lost a pet in your neighbourhood. Any posters or flyers around? I think Craiglist also has a lost pets section.
If it really is a feral cat you then have to decide what you want to do with it. If you're not in a position to take care of it yourself try calling any No-Kill shelters or groups that take care of ferals in your area.
They might be able to come out and trap the cat for you.
Keep us posted on how it goes.
Could you keep the area that it is hiding in out of bounds for your son and your other pets for now? If possible close all the doors so that the cat has to stay where it is. I suggest leaving out a litter box and some food and water. Give the cat a chance to calm down.
I'd also suggest checking to see if anyone has lost a pet in your neighbourhood. Any posters or flyers around? I think Craiglist also has a lost pets section.
If it really is a feral cat you then have to decide what you want to do with it. If you're not in a position to take care of it yourself try calling any No-Kill shelters or groups that take care of ferals in your area.
They might be able to come out and trap the cat for you.
Keep us posted on how it goes.
Excellent advices by Nora-chan.
As said, try not to let your son nor your residents disturb her. 1making it easier for ther to stressing down, 2. Some quarantine is wise, unless your residents are healthy and used to roam out outside.
Later on, when you see she is healthy, dewormed, preferably vet checked, it will be another matter.
Btw, cats very seldom attacks people, unless cornered and in wild panic. The most real danger is if your sons tries to carry her around, and he does it more than she wish, holding on although she wants to get down. In such a case she will climb out - scratching him of course while climbing out. - Eh, old memories arises... Forgive me, cat.
I do hope you can help this girl.
Either with finding her owners, or finding new owners for her - yourself or somebody else.
Who knows, it may even be yours Christmas gift this year?
Tx for the good beginning you had made.
Good luck!
As said, try not to let your son nor your residents disturb her. 1making it easier for ther to stressing down, 2. Some quarantine is wise, unless your residents are healthy and used to roam out outside.
Later on, when you see she is healthy, dewormed, preferably vet checked, it will be another matter.
Btw, cats very seldom attacks people, unless cornered and in wild panic. The most real danger is if your sons tries to carry her around, and he does it more than she wish, holding on although she wants to get down. In such a case she will climb out - scratching him of course while climbing out. - Eh, old memories arises... Forgive me, cat.
I do hope you can help this girl.
Either with finding her owners, or finding new owners for her - yourself or somebody else.
Who knows, it may even be yours Christmas gift this year?
Tx for the good beginning you had made.
Good luck!
I love the idea that this is your Christmas gift this year! And it very likely could be your sons!
I agree with Norachan - there's very little chance that this is a "true feral cat" - they just don't shoot into houses even when given the opportunity. Particularly people they don't know. So the chance that this is a truly feral cat that will take quite some time to socialize is really, really minimal. Chances are she's either a stray (meaning she was basically someone's cat at some point) or someone's lost pet.
So if you can quarantine the area off - with a litterbox, food and water - until she comes out and is more comfortable, that's what I'd do. The chances that she'd actually attack you or your son is minimal. Even when cornered, it's my experience that 99% of cats/kittens will run. So "attacking" is not something I'd worry about. I'd certainly tell your son that he needs to respect the kitty's "space" etc. - but hopefully he'll understand that since you already have pets!
Definitely take a little bit of time and look at the paper, Craig's list, and look for lost cat posters. It'd be nice to also call local shelters/humane organizations to see if anyone has called them with a lost cat matching this cat's description.
Keep us posted on what happens!
I agree with Norachan - there's very little chance that this is a "true feral cat" - they just don't shoot into houses even when given the opportunity. Particularly people they don't know. So the chance that this is a truly feral cat that will take quite some time to socialize is really, really minimal. Chances are she's either a stray (meaning she was basically someone's cat at some point) or someone's lost pet.
So if you can quarantine the area off - with a litterbox, food and water - until she comes out and is more comfortable, that's what I'd do. The chances that she'd actually attack you or your son is minimal. Even when cornered, it's my experience that 99% of cats/kittens will run. So "attacking" is not something I'd worry about. I'd certainly tell your son that he needs to respect the kitty's "space" etc. - but hopefully he'll understand that since you already have pets!
Definitely take a little bit of time and look at the paper, Craig's list, and look for lost cat posters. It'd be nice to also call local shelters/humane organizations to see if anyone has called them with a lost cat matching this cat's description.
Keep us posted on what happens!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
I have decided to name the cat Shadow. That's really all I see as it darts from the closet to the litter box or food then back. I have looked in the paper and asked around but nobody seems to be missing a cat. I hoping in time it will come to trust me. It's getting a long with my other cats but is still scared of my dog who just wants to play with her. As soon as I can catch Shadow I'll take her to the vet for a checkup and to be fixed. Any advice of how to make her trust me? Thanks to everyone for the advice and I feel a lot better knowing Shadow was more likely a pet and not feral. My son is happy to have a new pet even if he can't get close to it yet.
Poor kitty is probably terrified. But how lucky that he/she found you! I would let her alone for now, although you may want to keep the other cats away from her for now. Just in case the new kitty has germs your cats haven't met yet.
Just allowing her to acclimate on her own schedule is the best way to get her to trust you. No rushing, forcing, chasing. Always speak quietly to her and when you see her, get down on the floor so you are not towering over her.
You can start feeding her in a large crate or carrier, so when the time comes, you can quietly close the door on her while she's inside.
Just allowing her to acclimate on her own schedule is the best way to get her to trust you. No rushing, forcing, chasing. Always speak quietly to her and when you see her, get down on the floor so you are not towering over her.
You can start feeding her in a large crate or carrier, so when the time comes, you can quietly close the door on her while she's inside.
