Tiger Boy

Sorry I've been off site for a long time, life has been busy with a lot of issues.  All of our adopted ferals (Mr Patches, Picassa, Pandora aka Little Grey and Mama Patience) are doing fine, and although I still haven't been able to visit Ellie (Little Ginger) I've had several phone calls back and forth she is doing fine since adopted.

So the irony is that while looking for Ellie when she went missing I was able to rescue a small skinny tiger-striped tabby from a neighbor's garage (I had flyers everywhere for Ellie and went door to door asking people to check their garages, that's how I found him).  Soon after that we went on a month plus vacation with a wonderful cat sitter caring for our brood, and on return she reported she had seen this little cat regularly and been feeding him  leftovers.  He (Tiger) has gotten somewhat tame, into a routine of coming in the bedroom window or basement to eat, and is filling out nicely.  The odd thing is all our cats like him, even Mr. P, so there are no problems there.  He doesn't act like a tom but he sure is, "big package" and needs neutering ASAP.

the problem is he is very wily and won't be caught, even though he lets me briefly pet him and will even roll over in front of me - but he bolts the moment I try to handle him or entice him into the carrier.  I've been leaving it out with food inside hoping he will go in - and I think he is as the food keeps being eaten, but I can never catch him in there.  I'm hopeful he will mellow in time to get him to the clinic before winter comes.  He seems healthy and I managed to get Revolution for fleas etc. on him last week (it took an hour or more of stalking him and he wouldn't come near me for days after that!).  All our cats are fully vaccinated and he is never aggressive to them so I'm not too worried there, but I feel irresponsible with an un-neutered male under my care. 

Any suggestions how to catch him without major trauma?  A trap is out of the question because our cats are indoor/outdoor.  Is just patiently waiting for him to get more tractable the way to go?  It worked with Mama Patience, but it took a long time. 

Welcome back!

You could try the drop trap method using a crate or humane trap, if you can't get a drop trap.

With a crate, tie a length of twine to the door, loop it through the top of the crate and walk a distance away with the other end of the twine. Put his food at the back of the crate. When he goes in, pull on the twine and close the door. You will need a partner to secure the door, just in case he freaks. Most of the time, cats I have caught this way are too busy eating to notice!

With the humane trap, you can set a full bottle of water under the trap door and tie the length of twine to it. Feed inside the trap. When Tiger goes into the trap, pull the bottle and the trap door will go down. You can also fill the bottle with rocks or sand to make it heavier, if needed.

You can feed inside the trap or crate for a period of time without pulling the door closed to get him used to eating inside. Plus, this method lets you trap just Tiger. If another cat goes in, you leave the door in place.

Thanks Ondine

Actually as often happens, I post pleading for help and the situation immediately improves!

So during the last few days Tiger decided to come inside to eat with our cats (instead of just coming in for leftovers and then bolting back outside) and hang out like a "house cat", even letting me pet him.  It's as if somehow his brain has switched on to the idea that "hey, I have a home, maybe I should act like I live here!"  We were helped by heavy rain overnight and today; he stayed inside, sleeping on Ellie's shelf in the basement and arriving stretching and yawning for breakfast, and apparently spending the day inside as he was still here when I came home from work with the "dinner time" call.  It's an amazing transformation, for which I can take no credit - it just "happened".  So I have high hopes that I will be able to get him into the carrier next week to get fixed - just want to give him a little more time before I make an appointment.

He's a lovely boy, will post some pics soon as well as updates for our four fabulous felines.  I whispered to him last night that he was a welcome addition to our household and yes there was room for one more - and he seemed to get it!

That's wonderful! Apparently, Tiger knows a good thing when he sees it.

Oh the mysterious ways of cats!  Shortly after I posted last I figured Tiger was getting tame enough to get taken for neutering and shots at our local low cost clinic, so I set up an appointment for next Friday, the soonest available.

The very next night, go figure, a strange cat showed up at our door yowling, I'm almost sure a female in heat but not a feral and probably not a stray as she looked plump and healthy.  I've never seen her before.  Picassa swatted and hissed at her from behind the glass storm door (which was quite funny) and Mr Patches went out to see her off the premises,  he and Tiger both followed her.  Mr P returned soon after being called, but Tiger was MIA, oh oh, up to no good I was sure, and annoyed with myself for not scheduling him for fixing sooner (the last thing we need is more kittens on the block). 

Tiger was missing for three days, although I'm sure I heard him a few times come in for food.  This evening a development; I had to work late and on my return Mr P was missing, having presumably sneaked out through the basement window.  He came in for dinner after I stood on the front porch calling him ---- followed by Tiger!  Tiger seemed happy to return to the fold, ate a big meal inside and even purred when I stroked him, a first.  I thought all was well again. But then Mr. Patches started swatting at him.  Not hard or to hurt, no claws, but clearly delivering a "bad boy" message.  Poor Tiger seemed totally confused at this nasty behavior from his friend and mentor, and quickly exited via the bedroom window.  I'm about to go and look for him before closing up for bedtime as all our cats sleep inside at night and I don't want to leave him outside alone.  But what do we make of this? Is Mr P sensing competition for his alpha male status, maybe because Tiger is not (yet) fixed, jealous of the attention I gave him, or just giving him a scolding for going missing?  The girls (Mama Patience, Picassa and Little Grey) all seemed happy to welcome Tiger back, Picassa even shared her food bowl with him, so it seems like a boy thing.

Fingers crossed all will be well.  Cats!  I think I need a degree in psychology to figure them out. 

Success at last!  Today I got Tiger to the spay/neuter clinic and just picked him up.  All went well, he was surprisingly easy to get in the carrier after spending the night in the basement so he couldn't eat.  I think he was still half asleep. 

So no more worries about running off looking for mates or fathering kittens, got all his shots, FELV/FLV test negative and no fleas or other nasties

He's still a bit groggy so confined to the bedroom away from the gang of four.  He immediately tried to climb up to the window but flopped back on my big fluffy robe (provided below in anticipation of just that thing), gave a big yawn, tried to wash himself and fell asleep.  Another 2 hours and he can come out and have a snack, he already drank some water which is good.

Praises be, now he can come and join our household for the winter if he chooses to - if not he has Mama's outside shelter and I'm thinking I'll make another one around the back.

Good old Tiger Boy.  He's landed safely and securely in a wonderful home.  Thanks for helping him.  Whatever he decides about where he wants to be, it sounds like you've got things covered!

Time for a Tiger update!

After a successful neutering and shots he has been settling in nicely.  We have had some issues with our resident male Mr. Patches, who I think feels threatened by having another male in the house and tends to swat at him - though happily not with claws or to hurt.  Tiger is an amazing diplomat.  He refuses to be driven off, and simply submits to Mr P's swats by backing off and showing his belly in submission, and then approaches Mr P with a "please be friends" attitude.  Bless him it is working, the aggression is slowly diminishing and they are starting to tentatively play and even share a food bowl.  It helps that the two girls and Mama Patience befriend Tiger and sniff and "kiss" him.

So last night a big breakthrough. The weather was fine and all were outside enjoying playing and chasing and pouncing in the leaves in the front garden, including Tiger.  He got up the nerve to, shock, gasp, CHASE Mr Patches.  Mr P was so taken aback he actually ran and then chased back, and then sniffed Tiger's tail (he immediately rolled over to say "ok, you're the boss", but I'm determined to play with you!) and they ended up romping in the leaves together!   It's a great joy to see Tiger progressing from a skinny scared boy to a happy (and getting fatter) playful boy!

I've given up on the idea of re-homing him unless a perfect person happens along, he's one of us now!

Well, I said before, that little Tiger is one smart cat.  What a sweet, wonderful update.  Thanks!