Little Ginger girl

Thanks to all for the replies and encouragement.  I took a bunch of photos from my camera to download today, but it had to be to a Kodak CD and now I can't open it on my computer!  I will try again at work but I'm adding some earlier photos of our other cats. 

I like "Ellie" as a nickname for Little Ginger - thanks rubysmama.  She continues to slowly improve, has come up to the kitchen for a few more brief visits and actually followed me into the laundry area of the basement yesterday.

  .
Patience:  Mother of our 3 kits who decided to slowly move inside as the weather got cooler.  It was a long process getting tame but hey "look at me now making myself at home on the couch".  Yes, she is plump!


Patches (in rear) and his sister Picassa sleeping in bed.


Another snuggle picture after the camera awakened them.


Picassa and Pandora (aka Little Grey Girl) checking out the lobster we had for Christmas dinner.  "Hey mom, it's ALIVE"!!

Hopefully some more pics to follow

And I finally managed to download some pics of Little Ginger Girl and a few other cat pictures ..


Sleeping in "her spot" on top of shelving in the basement.  It is by the stairs down from the kitchen to the basement so she can see and hear a lot without being seen.


Sitting up getting ready to hiss - sorry overexposed but she does have a white front.


 Picassa on the right trying to make friends with LG.


Picassa and Mama Patience playing with catnip mouse

Aww, that's great! Nice to see pictures of them! 

Oh they're adorable! :heart2:

"Sitting up getting ready to hiss..." :lol3:

Thank you for the pictures!!!!

(Yes, we feed birds too. )

Yes LG (nickname Ellie, I like that) is still a bit confused in her communication.  Hiss, purr, what am I supposed to do?  Hiss AND purr?  Just hiss? Just purr?  Hmm, I guess she will figure it out.  Meantime another step forward is that tonight when I fed her she grabbed my hand without claws to ask for a petting session.  Previously her advances have all been with claws out  sending mixed messages (oh yeah, my hand looks like a pin cushion!) so I think she is slowly getting it.  Poor girl, unlike our kits she has had no mother to advise her.

On that note, Mama Patience continues to frustrate us with her hit and miss litter box behavior.   I've discovered her problem since I added a litter box in the bathroom (where she had taken to pooping on the bathroom mat and when it was removed on the tiles) and can watch what she does.  She "gets" the general idea of the litter box, but she sits on the rim instead of inside it and hmm, depending which way her behind is oriented the poops are just as likely to go out as in!  Not sure what to do about this.  I see no sense scolding her for using the litter box in the wrong way as this will put her off using it at all, but when I praise her for using it the right way she gets upset and runs away.  She surely  must see the kits using the (3) litter boxes we have but she doesn't seem to get the need to orient her behind correctly.  Oh well, at least it's easy to clean up.  Maybe she will get it eventually!  Any thoughts on this?  It's getting a bit tiresome constantly needing to check the bathroom for accidents before we use it! 

Also ... I have noticed during the latest freezing spell that someone is using Patience's outside box, which she abandoned in favor of staying inside when the temps turned frigid.   I was alerted by our kits intense interest in it and new depressions in the straw.  I've tried to watch for visitors but see no one so I'm not sure what to think.  Partly glad that maybe a passing stray or local cat "let out" has found a temporary refuge from the cold, but also worried it might be another cat in desperate need.  The box is fine as a shelter for a "normal" winter day (it is wrapped in pink batting, an old shower curtain and a heavy garbage bag, raised off the ground and stuffed with straw) but it is not heated and is not adequate as a permanent shelter in these frigid temps. I leave it there for the few occasions our brood goes out in case there is a delay in their coming in ...or yes, as an emergency shelter for others.  Any suggestions for trying to find out who is using it?

Absolutely loving your story! It's so heartwarming.

As to who is using your shelter, can you rig a camera or a webcam?  Not sure on the tech aspect - my brother uses one for his kibble-fed cats when they are away.  He leaves the kibble and water, rigs the camera, and gets a constant feed into his computer.  He can then fast forward until he sees activity in the area, and thus knows they are feeding and when, and that everything is alright - if it's not, he can then phone someone to go fix stuff.

We've been battling a persistent flu over here - introduced by our new kitten in May.  We think Lysine is a great assist.

Thank you for changing the lives of 5 cats!!

They are all beautiful!! That being said I have the same problem with my Buster Brown. He's
also a chunky monkey, currently on a diet, that can't seem to get his rump in the box. I put wee-wee pads and papers beside the litter
box for those times he misses. You are a hero to these furry babies and they know it even if they don't always show it. God bless you!!!

I'm not sure about the web cam, I'm pretty challenged in tech stuff (look how long it took me to get pics up) but I'll keep checking.  Visiting seems irregular so hopefully it is one or  more passing strays finding a brief respite from the cold, which I'm happy to provide.  No sign the past few days.

Yes Patience is a chunky monkey and doesn't like to go in the big domed box which is our main toilet - I figured she doesn't like the enclosed feeling which is why I got a good sized low profile uncovered box.  Will keep experimenting.  Can't wait for the weather to warm up so they can all go back to the big bathroom outside.

 I have an appointment for LG's follow up at the vet tomorrow afternoon, fingers crossed I can get her in the carrier and she will behave.  Her health and weight have improved dramatically, but her socialization is at a standstill since she came up to the kitchen the other night and unfortunately crossed the path of Mama Patience, who hissed and lunged at her and sent her fleeing back downstairs.  Alas Mama is still getting secure in "her place" in the household and is not  welcoming to newcomers like the kits!  I tried a cloth with Picassa's scent  along with a treat as LDG suggested but she didn't seem interested, will try that again though as Picassa is probably the least threatening of the bunch from her perspective (witness her many attempts to make friends).  

Another small breakthrough is that although she still hisses and growls at me when I pet her she sometimes grabs my hand without claws out and bites gently,.. which I think means she really does want pets but hasn't quite figured out the right way to ask.  I've tried the fist instead of the open hand but the reaction is the same.  The only thing that seems to soothe her is singing our silly song. Poor little girl is so confused.  I'm wondering if her previous people abused her in more ways than leaving her out in the cold, she is obviously very conflicted about attention from humans as well as other cats.  I am so looking forward to the day that she joins the household.  Even if she goes back outside when the weather improves I would really like for her to have a home to come back to where she feels safe and loved, and play with our marvelous family who have so much to offer.  Trouble is with these freezing temps keeping them inside they have cabin fever and are sooooo rambunctious!

Oh what a great idea, I will definitely try that.

Oh and an LG (Ellie) update - she came up to the kitchen tonight after dinner and stayed a good 10 mins.  Some hissing and growling and swatting when the kits came to investigate, but she stuck it out and didn't freak, even checked the upstairs litter box and food before slowly retreating back to the basement in her own good time.  What a joy to see her exploring instead of just hiding downstairs.

That's great news! Sounds like she is finally getting a little more comfortable there. 

As far as getting her in the carrier, have you tried some Feliway spray in it?  (& some in the area she is in before it's time to load up & go? It might help.  

You can also use some Rescue remedy. I put a drop or two on a treat for angel before we go to the vets. He doesn't like to get in the carrier, (even though he will nap in it at home, but the door is off then)

but he meows for only a few minutes in the car, & then settles down. Usually in less than 5 minutes. I always make sure I put on some calming music in the car for him. (Sade, Enya, classical, etc..)

Funny, once at the vets, they usually have to pull him out, but when it's time to get back in, boy is he ready to go! No persuading necessary. LOL!

Thank you Angels mommy, I will try that.:-) :-)

Ellie's getting brave! That's so wonderful she's feeling comfortable enough to do that. :heart2:

JodieThierry64 said:

Thank you Angels mommy, I will try that.:-) :-)

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Your welcome! 

Well we didn't make it to the vet yesterday, the powers that be decided to replace the water pipes on our street so couldn't get out of our driveway, and it will be this Friday before I can get time off work to take her.  The re-schedule may be good as we are making very slooooow progress on socialization and I don't want to set it back.   Ellie is still very hissy and growly, but the past few days in addition to coming upstairs briefly she has developed the new behavior of grabbing my hand with her paw when I pet her and gently biting (a big improvement on her previous behavior of really biting!)  It's a totally mixed message, pet me, don't touch me, I'm not sure what to think.  She likes her head and neck petted but gets all upset if I touch her shoulders or back, which makes me wonder is she is injured somewhere there, although nothing appears out of order and she walks normally.   I guess x-rays may be in order when I finally get her to the vet.  I'm wondering if she was previously abused more than just being left out in the cold, she is so antagonistic about being touched.  She purrs when I stroke the side of her neck, maybe that's because she can see my hand there vs. if I move it out of her line of vision and she thinks she is going to be hurt?

This experience is giving me new insight on folks who rescue cats.  It's very easy when they are friendly, cute and affectionate kittens (and "grateful" for attention) like our 3 kits, makes one all warm and fuzzy and happy to help.  But when a cat is antagonistic and rebuffs advances, well then there is no instant reward for pains taken, you rely on knowing that help is needed instead of "oh nice me for doing this and now I have a lovey cat". The other day my DH said well if she keeps growling and biting you just put her back outside, and I can see that argument - but then I remember how she clung to me when I rescued her and what bad shape she was in, and I feel I need to persist because her confusion and bad behavior isn't her fault but other people's fault.  Does that make sense to anyone?

Yes, that makes total sense. Who knows, maybe that's why someone put her out to start with. Someone who didn't have the patience, & knowledge to really help her. By putting her out again, someone will have just given up on her again. Bless you for taking the time to work with her, on her own time, as we know, that's how they like to do it.  

Yes, maybe the delay in going to the vet is a blessing in disguise. It sounds like she is making progress. Slow as it may be, it's progress.   

As confused as she may be, I'm sure she is grateful she is given a second chance at a better life. 

Yes, I agree about X-Rays, & maybe the vet can help you figure out her biting, but I think it sounds like what you said about your hand being in her sight. It makes sense to me!

(Maybe she was roughly  grabbed by the scuff & that's why?    we'll never know)

Hopefully she will gradually learn that she can trust you.

Weather has warmed up here for now
My baby had bad diarrhea. Her stool sample was positive for bacterial infection. Used digestive enzymes & a probotic by Purina in her food. Also fed her cooked meat mixed with rice & canned food with cheese in it. All better now but she'll eat anything. Caught her nibbling on tracked-in ckicken poop

Glad to hear that little Ginger is warming up to you. She couldn't had survived outside. Cats left out to fend for themselves don't survive much more than three years. Could the vet tell if she had been fixed?

I'm glad you like the name "Ellie".  It's such a pretty name - soft and feminine.  Hopefully LG will grow into her name someday. 

I have  no experience with feral cats and Ruby is my only adoptee and I am sure she was previously a housecat because she acted like she'd always lived here 2 seconds after I brought her home.   But if Ellie isn't rushing to run out the door whenever it opens, that seems like a good sign to me.  She's not fighting with the other cats either, right.

Anyway, I hope you will keep posting the updates, as I want to follow this little ginger girl's progress.

Lrosewiles said:

ouched.  She purrs when I stroke the side of her neck, maybe that's because she can see my hand there vs. if I move it out of her line of vision and she thinks she is going to be hurt?
This experience is giving me new insight on folks who rescue cats.  It's very easy when they are friendly, cute and affectionate kittens (and "grateful" for attention) like our 3 kits, makes one all warm and fuzzy and happy to help.  But when a cat is antagonistic and rebuffs advances, well then there is no instant reward for pains taken, you rely on knowing that help is needed instead of "oh nice me for doing this and now I have a lovey cat". The other day my DH said well if she keeps growling and biting you just put her back outside, and I can see that argument - but then I remember how she clung to me when I rescued her and what bad shape she was in, and I feel I need to persist because her confusion and bad behavior isn't her fault but other people's fault.  Does that make sense to anyone?

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I hope you don't put her back outside.  She may never ever be a cuddly, lap sitting , love me all over kitty, but she deserves a chance for a loving home on her terms.  It may take her months to adjust.  I brought a stray/feral into my home the end of May.  He is still adjusting to inside life.  He doesn't bite or growl, but is very scared of everything and is still adjusting to living with my indoor cat.  Yet, I know putting him back outside would not be an option.  He is safe, warm and loved inside.  He too was most likely abused.  He likes to be pet, but only on his terms and only on certain parts of his body.  He still hides alot.  Each week he takes another step and tries something new.  It's small improvements. 

I really like a product called liquid Composure Max.  It is a calming agent.  It does not drug them, just takes the edge off and allows the animal to feel more confident and relaxed.  I started with the feline treats, but it took at least 3 to work.  I like mixing 1/4-1/2 t. in his wet food in the morning.  I used to do it twice a day, but he now only needs it once.  You can find it on Amazon.  The treats are less expensive, but the liquid works better and faster in my opinion.