Blacky trapped in shed by snow.

It has been 8 months since I last posted.  And yet again, I am in a dilemma.  Since June, Blacky has been coming twice a day every day for her morning and evening meals.  She even started using the heated outdoor house I made her and seemed to like it.  All was fine except for the 50 inches of snow we received in the last two weeks.  The first snow storm she didn't come around for 3 1/2 days and then appeared from the empty house next door which was on a Friday.  Funny thing, that was on a Friday when I get out of work early and I had made some flyers with her picture on it and went around to all the houses in the area and put in in their mail boxes.  When I came back I was ready to check the house next door where I saw her go in * (there is a small opening under the house, probably for storage that is about 6x6 with the door about 12 inches open) and saw foot prints.  I went to the back door and there she was.  I was so happy to see her.  She came on the breezeway to eat then went outside.    She slept in her house again until Sunday when we got yet more snow.  When I opened the door she ran next door again.  She was missing for 5 days and I was REALLY WORRIED so I sent my boyfriend trudging through about 5 feet of snow to see if she was in that storage space.  She wasn't but he saw foot prints going to a shed in that backyard so he want to look for her and she was in there in a long box, a weedwacker box size, way in the back of it. He looked in the back of the box with a flash light and said she didn't hiss or do anything when he saw her.  So I sent him back there with some food.  That was two days ago.  Today it is snowing again . We're getting another 24 inches.  I went to bring her some food and water.  In the shed there was poop.  She was still there way in the back of the box but there was still food there he had put two days ago.  She just looked at me, didn't hiss or move and blinked her eyes a couple of times.  I left her some food in a bowl this time and water in a cup in the box and left. 

My concern is that the food he gave her was still there.  I can't tell how much she ate because he didn't put it in a bowl.  I don't know if she didn't try to run or hiss or anything because she is hurt or just scared.  I don't think she's ever been through a storm like this and I fear she is going to whither away.  I don't know if I should try to trap her and take her to the emergency vet or wait it out.  The only thing I could do would be to get a large bag and tip the end of the box so she would drop in the bag to take her in to get checked.  THEN WHAT DO I DO IF I DO THAT.  I know now after keeping her on my breezeway last winter for four months that she will never socialize.  And I know if I trap her and take her to the vet she won't be happy in doors. 

What do you think I should do?  Wait a couple days and check on her again?  I can see if she ate any of the food because I put it in a bowl this time.  If she didn't eat, I don't think I have any choice but to try to take her to the vets but then what do I do with her.   If I take do end up taking her to the vet and bring her in a room I have for a couple of days is it safe to let her out again.  I was told that they lose their winter fur for protection if you take them in.

I'm so confused and worried.  Any suggestions. 

Please help.

Thanks,

Carla

She should be eating.  Not only does her fur help her keep warm but she needs the energy generated by eating to keep warm also. When I TNR'd my ferals, It was still cold and snowy outside.  I kept them in a recovery crate (dog kennel) out in the insulated garage and they did not lose any of their winter fur.  It's just very concerning that she's not eating.  I would be worried also.  I've heard of using a pillow case.  Do you have any kind of a kennel for transport.  Does anyone else out there have any ideas?

Hi Carla,

Have you tried heating up some wet food to see if she will eat that? If she has a cold she won't be able to smell the food so she won't eat it. Hot food smell stronger. Try boiling a piece of chicken and then putting the meat and the water it was cooked in through a blender to make broth. Sick cats will sometimes lap this even when they won't eat anything else.

If she won't eat at all then a trip to the vets would be a good idea.

Are you able to handle this cat at all? With my ferals that will let me pet them a little but not let me pick them up I use a large laundry net to catch them. You need to open the zipper, bunch the net up in your hands so it's like a doughnut, slip it over their head and scoop them up. The cat needs to be facing away from you when you do this. Practice a few times on a soft toy or something so you can do it in one quick movement. Once the cat's inside hold the net bunched tightly closed with one hand while you do up the zipper with the other. You can put her in the cat carrier in the net, it will be easier for the vet to take her out and examine her still in the net.

Cats will lose their winter fur if you bring them indoors, but not overnight. She won't start moulting until the spring.

Heavy snow disorientates cats because they find their way around by smell. If the snow has covered up all the usual landmarks she's probably confused about where her house is and has decided to wait it out wherever she can find shelter.

Try heating up some canned food and add some water to it in the bowl. Fresh, unsalted chicken broth is also very good, and most cats can smell that even with a cold. You could offer her some warmed up tuna fish. Others have used Gerber plain chicken baby food. It's important that she eat, especially wet food, because cats can dehydrate in cold weather because their normal water sources are frozen. If she doesn't eat again today, then you should try to get her to a vet. I wouldn't wait much longer--not eating in frigid weather is not a good sign. Can you close the door to the shed so if you're unsuccessful in your attempt to catch her that she doesn't run away again?  Does she appear to have cold symptoms--sneezing, runny eyes, wheezing? Even though she is an outdoor feral, she should be in a warmer environment until she's well. If you can't keep her in your house, then put her back in the breeze way with her heated house until she's well. She won't lose her winter coat right away, I wouldn't worry about that--the immediate concern is to help her get through this crisis.  

I am so hoping to hear good news today.  I know the snow in the New England area has been relentless.  Please update when you can.

Hi ShawdowsRescue,

I checked on her today.  She is still in the back of the box, eyes blinking.  It's hard to tell if she ate anything.  I looked in the bowl and it appeared to have some missing but I can't really tell. 

I don't know how long I should wait for her to come out.  She certainly can now because of the path I dug for her.  The one thing that concerns me is that the poop in the shed, although dry, appears to have been soft, not like regular poop.  So I'm wondering if she is not feeling well.  She certainly has enough food in there not to come out.  Maybe I should have just put one scoop in.  I am a torn of how long to wait before trying to take her to the vet.  If ferals are scared, how long do they stay in their safe place.  Sometimes missing ferals come back after a week or two like nothing happened from what I read of some postings. 

I will check on her daily to make sure she is still alive.  We are supposed to get more snow on Thursday but just a couple of inches.  She may be shell shocked of all this snow so I don't want to jump the gun.  I'll tell you this, if I get her in the carrier (I plan on getting a laundry bag and putting it at the end of the box opening and have Tom tip the box so she can go in the bag and then drop her in the carrier) and take her to the vets, she is not going back outside till the weather is fitting.  I can keep her on the breezeway again with a heated pad and a long box for her to go in like I did last year.  I know she will never be a house cat.  After two years, she has only eaten out of my hand twice and that was not an open hand.  I held a treat out for her.  I have never even gotten close enough to pat her and she has never rubbed against me.  I don't want to bring her in the house because one of my cats has viral outbreaks under stress and I have to give her medication for two weeks.  She had an outbreak when I got my newest addition from the stress and I kept him in a separate room for 3 weeks. 

What are your thoughts.

Thanks,

Carla

HI Aimee,

See my reply to ShadowsRescue.  I haven't put wet food out.  My boyfriend Tom thought if I did it might attract possums from the smell.  They come around quite often.  I don't see her sneezing.  When I look in there with the flash light she is way in the back of the box and just blinks at me.  I wish there was a way to tell if she is sick because I would take her to the vets ASAP.  Any thoughts on my reply to ShadowsRescue.

Thanks for writing.

Carla

Hi Norachan,

Thanks for writing.  Please see my reply to ShadowsRescue and Ms. Aimee.  What are your thoughts.

Thanks

Her not eating is really concerning.  My ferals, even when it's the coldest,  will still come up to the porch twice a day to eat.  The snow factor should not be a concern. Again, i've seen mine bouncing thru the snow to come up to the porch.  I have to say I really do feel that there's something going on.

I think that if you can get her to a vet and can afford to do so, you should do it as soon as possible. If she's ill, she can get treatment and then have a nice recovery on your breeze way, she will not mind a good rest. If she's not ill then you'll still have peace of mind, and that will be worth it. Let us know how it goes

I agree.  I think it is time to get her out and to a vet.  I would ask your boyfriend to help.  Make sure the shed door is shut tightly so she cannot get out.  You may need a blanket to grab her.  You can try to put her in a carrier or a trap.  I doubt she will voluntarily so in a trap.  She may be injured or not feeling well. 

Do you have an emergency vet in your area?  You can call ahead to be sure they accept and are willing and able to work with ferals.  I found one in my area last year.  I had to throw a blanket over the cat and then put him into a carrier I had standing on end with the opening facing the ceiling.  I had to be quick.  I had my husband to help.  Once you get her, cover the  carrier with a sheet, towel or blanket.  Reassure her it ok and you are going to help her.

I hope she will be ok. I think it is time for a vet. 

The only time I have to do it is Friday.  I have to go back to work tomorrow.  I don't know if I feel comfortable closing the doors to the shed.  It is pitch dark in there and she might attack us.  Hopefully she will fall into the laundry bag and I can put the bag into the carrier. However, if that doesn't work and she gets loose, I don't know if I can throw a blanket over her.  I tried that over the summer when she had a reaction to a med my vet gave her and she couldn't even walk but got away from me.   I will call my vet tomorrow to see if she will see her.  If not, there is an emergency vet near by.  Or, Tom suggested just keeping her in the box and seal the end with the bag and take her to the vets that way.  That might be safer.  But then again, I don't know if the vet will go for that.  Any other suggestions?

I hope you are able to check on her today.  You can take the warmed up stinky wet food or tuna and leave it there during the day.  Wild critters such as opossum or racoons are not out during the day.  Just pick it up before night. Keep leaving her fresh water and dry food.

To get her to the vet, you really should close the shed door.  Take a flash light or two to help you see.  You could start with her in the box and then get her into a carrier at your house.  If you do close her int he box be sure she has holes to breathe out of. 

I really think she is in need of vet care.  I hope you are able to help her.

I agree with ShadowRescue. If you can get her to an emergency vet, one that is open 24/7, you should do it as soon as possible and not wait until Friday. Call the vet clinic ahead of time to explain the situation, tell them that the cat is feral and may be agitated, and that you will call them if you catch the cat while you're on your way to the clinic. They appreciate the heads-up. Have someone help you with Blackie. Bring in flashlights and close the door to the shed. If she's sick and scared, you don't want her getting out of the shed. My concern is that if she's not moving around or eating, she could be dehydrated, or could be going into kidney failure. At this point you may be able to simply pick her up and put her in a carrier. 

I can't really tell if she is in need of a vet or sick. She just stays in the back of the box. I will check on her when I get home from work today around 5pm. I called my vet and made an appointment for Friday. She is only in today until 5pm and Thursday not in. I also called the 24 hour emergency vet and they do see ferals, however, to walk in the door is $160.00, plus the treatment. If necessary, I will charge the visit if I think she needs it. I have OVER worried about her so many times and she has always been okay. I hope I am not jumping the gun again. It is very tramatic for them to be caught and handled by people against their will.

It is easy to say she needs a vet, but harder in actuality to get them there. Please don't make me worry even more than I already am. I'll let you guys know what happens and appreciate your messages.

I understand how hard it is to get feral cats to the vet--I've done it many times, and know how stressful and traumatic it is for them and for me! I also have an elderly domestic cat who has a medical condition requiring lab work several times a year. He still cries, pants, yowls, and pees himself in the cat carrier during each trip, so I completely empathize with your dilemma.  You know Blackie better than anyone, so I'm sure you'll do what is best for her at the right time. I think the main concern is that she may not be eating. I'm glad you made the appointment and am taking care of this kitty. Sorry if my post caused you more stress.

feline03-None of us mean to stress you out.  I guess that we just all get so caught up in trying to help that sometimes we come across as being a "little" pushy.  Sorry.  You are trying to do the best you can and dealing with ferals is totally different than dealing with your house cat/pet.  Good luck with Friday.

SHE'S BACK!!!! THANK YOU SWEET JESUS

I came home hoping that she would come out of her house when she heard me shut the door from the garage like usual but there was no Blacky.  I got dressed to go check on her and when I went to go out the back door and there she was crying on the step.  I went inside and got her favorite food and put a 1/2 can in the bowl as she sat in the breezeway waiting for me to come.  She gobbled it up so I gave her the other half and she drank all the gravy out of it and ate some of that and then went directly into her house again.  All I can say is I don't think I have ever cried tears of joy IN MY LIFE.  I'm still weeping and thanking God for keeping her safe and alive. 

I'm so glad I shoveled that 60 foot path from my yard to that shed she was in because I don't think she would have made it back to me.  She looks like she lost weight.  Tomorrow morning I'll put some L lysine in her food to help boost her immune system.  I wish I would have thought of it tonight but I was so excited she was back all I could think of was getting the food to her. 

Thanks to all who wrote to me.  My biggest fear tonight was that when I looked in the box I wouldn't see her pretty green eyes blinking at me and at that point I knew it would have been too late.  She is my first feral and I have grown to love her so much I couldn't bear to loose her.   She is definitely a fighter that's for sure. 

Thanks again.  I know what you mean by getting so caught up in trying to care for ferals and I was doing the best I could at the time.  I guess for future postings, go easy on us in taking them to the vet if we don't know if they are hurt or sick for sure.   I do appreciate everyone's concern which is MOST IMPORTANT.

TONIGHT IS A GREAT NIGHT!!!!! : )

Oh I am so relieved.  Thank goodness.  I know how happy you are and I am so happy for you!!  Give her lots of food and water.  So glad she had a safe passage back to you!!!

It's so hard with ferals as you just never know.  You had it all planned and she was able to let you know she is ok.  She knows you are her angel.

Thanks Shadow,

I need to try to get her in the breezeway tomorrow.  Temps are plummeting to the teens fro Friday to Tuesday and we are getting another 12-16 inches Saturday afternoon to Sunday!  Wish me luck.