Do feral cats stay "wild" even after being rescued?

hou baby

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I was adopted by a stray cat  9 months ago and have some questions. 

My kitty, Houdini, was sitting outside my apt. building last July and she followed me into my building complex (I live in Brazil, where most of the buildings are walled in with courtyards and gardens in the entrance.) I took her in, fed her and then the doorman called and said the cat's owner was at the front door and wanted her cat.

I gave the cat back, but scolded the woman for letting the cat roam the street - she said it had escaped. Three days later, the kitty was back in my building and followed me in. I kept her and nine months later, I think she is a happy cat. She has lots of food, water, toys, scratching tower, catnip, and a fenced-in yard with netting so she can't get out. This netting is very common in Brazil since people live in buildings and animals jump out windows and balconies. She is not very affectionate, but sleeps with me and will let me hold her and pet her.  Houdini appears to be a Bengal (appearance, characteristics). 

I took her to the vet down the street, who recognized the cat and asked why I had it. Turns out that the woman who had come looking for the cat was a horrible owner. She did not have netting on her 3rd floor windows, let the cat roam the streets and climb trees (always getting stuck) and the vet had rescued it a few times. The vet castrated the cat, but it escaped and they found her in the tree two days after the surgery. Neighbors also say that this cat was also found roaming in the garden several times, but this woman always came to get the cat.

So, the first 6 months of the kitty's life was not very good.   The problem is that I don't know what really happened to her in this period, such as abuse or medical issues. She was starving when I adopted her - she ate like crazy for the first months.

My questions:

1. Will she always be a skitty kitty?  Sometimes when I walk out of one room into the room where Houdini is, she gets startled and does the Halloween cat stance (arched back, big eyes) and runs. 

2. When she is out in the yard and comes back in, sometimes she seems startled that I am in the apt. and runs.

3. She gets these wild moments where she runs all over the apt and yard non-stop.

4. She absolutely freaks out at the vet. I took her to a vet specializing in cats. It is so bad that the vets won't touch her since they are "scared of stressing her out even more"  She hisses, yowls and claws at anyone, including me. Even with Feliway and calming chews.

5. Is this startled reaction normal?  I don't want to stress my kitty out. 

6. Is this vet's reaction normal?  She wasn't eating her normal amount of food and I was concerned. The one vet touched her quickly and said that she couldn't feel the ribs and then weighed her. She was the same weight. They said to switch foods. 

Her feces/urine are normal. She does not eat all of the wet food I give her.  She will eat 1/2 the serving. She inhales the Science Diet kibble.

I don't know if I am being a worrywort, but the animal care and resources here are not as good as the US.  I just want to make sure she is ok.

Luckily, we will be moving back to the US soon and I can take her to a good vet and she will get a new friend to keep her company. I don't want to move two cats.

any advice? Thanks, Houdini and Tammy
 

Columbine

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I can't answer all your questions, but I hope I can help with some.

I don't know if she'll always be skittish, but it can take a very long time for a cat to fully settle - especially when they've had as bad a start as Houdini. Be patient. Let her tell you what she's ready for.

I believe that bengals are one of the most high energy breeds. That could well explain the mad dashes around the house. This is one cat that will particularly benefit from lots of interactive play with a da bird style toy. Play will also build her confidence and strengthen your bond - so it's a win-win situation.

Without knowing exactly how much you're feeding it's difficult to comment on food intake. If she's eating well and seems absolutely normal in herself then there probably isn't too much to worry about. It could simply be a combination of growth slowing and the realisation that she's always going to have enough to eat so she no longer has to go crazy whenever she sees food.

Some cats really hate the vet. Houdini has the added disadvantage of poor early socialisation, and it sounds like she just gets totally overwhelmed when you take him. I can understand a vet not wanting to exacerbate an already stressful situation, but, if it were me, I'd be concerned if the vet were actually scared of (or tentative when) handling him. I would always expect a vet to be calm and confident handling any animal - if the vet is stressed the cat will pick up on it and so become more stressed.

Houdini is lucky to have found such a good home. It must feel wonderful to finally have some stability and love after such a bad start.
 
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hou baby

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Thanks Columbine!

I think she is a happy cat, but as a first time solo cat owner, I tend to worry about her.

I believe that bengals are one of the most high energy breeds. That could well explain the mad dashes around the house. This is one cat that will particularly benefit from lots of interactive play with a da bird style toy. Play will also build her confidence and strengthen your bond - so it's a win-win situation. - She has one of these da bird style toys and loves it. I make it a habit of playing with her every night when I get home. We play with one of her "fishing pole" toys and also out in the yard with a thin rope. she loves chasing and jumping at it as I pull it around the yard.  She loves her balls and has a few feather toys to play with. 

Without knowing exactly how much you're feeding it's difficult to comment on food intake. If she's eating well and seems absolutely normal in herself then there probably isn't too much to worry about. It could simply be a combination of growth slowing and the realisation that she's always going to have enough to eat so she no longer has to go crazy whenever she sees food. -- The vet said to give her 1/2 cup kibble and 2 pouches of the wet food (one in the AM, one in the PM). I told him about this issue and he said she hadn't lost any weight and not to be concerned. She is on this special diet since she was 1-2 lbs overweight in Oct. when I took her in. She ate part of a gecko in the yard and became very aggressive/tummy swelled up. It went away, but he said she was fat and needed to go on a diet. But now, I can feel her sternum and neckbone, which worries me.

Some cats really hate the vet. Houdini has the added disadvantage of poor early socialisation, and it sounds like she just gets totally overwhelmed when you take him. I can understand a vet not wanting to exacerbate an already stressful situation, but, if it were me, I'd be concerned if the vet were actually scared of (or tentative when) handling him. I would always expect a vet to be calm and confident handling any animal - if the vet is stressed the cat will pick up on it and so become more stressed. - They wrap her in a small blanket, burrito style so she doesn't claw them. I think they're more scared that they will stress her out even more. I think I will take her to another vet to check on the neck/sternum issue. And make sure she doesn't have any problems.

Houdini is lucky to have found such a good home. It must feel wonderful to finally have some stability and love after such a bad start. - I am the lucky one.  She adopted me and she brings me so much joy. :)
 

Columbine

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I can't see a weight for her in your previous posts. Also, there are several versions of hills science diet out there, but based on the info on their site, and assuming her healthy weight is 10lbs (mid point of adult female bengal) then the 1/2 cup of dry is enough or slightly under enough for her by itself. The fact that she's leaving half the wet food is her saying that she doesn't need any more thank you!(depending on the exact type of science diet she's on). Hope that helps. Do bear in mind that between the ages of 1 and 2 a cat has almost reached their adult height, but still have a lot of filling out to do. She will be skinnier than a fully mature adult at this stage - think of her as a teenager.

The vet sounds fine to me (though of course if you think there's another that may suit you both better then do check them out) - its great that they take her stress levels so seriously, and 'burrito-ing' a cat is a classic way to calm it down for treatment, as well as giving some protection to the handler. If she's only going in for routine procedures (weight check, maybe vaccinations etc) you could talk to your vet about whether a mild sedative would be appropriate for her prior to a visit (ie you take something home to give her before you take her). I know this is sometimes done for full blown ferals to reduce anxiety and potential trauma once at the vets. I can't say if it's right in your case, but it's certainly a conversation worth having.
 
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misterwhiskers

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My belief is some do. I have my idea that hormone in feral mother to be cats can permanently affect litters. We had a kitten my brother saved when i was 4 years old. We got her when she was about 6 weeks old.  She never outgrew being semi feral, and of her kittens, (she only had the one litter) 1 was totally feral, 1 half ways, and 1 seemed completely tame.
 
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hou baby

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Houdini is about 10 lbs. so that is about what she should be eating. I have been giving her the Science Diet Light since she stopped eating the other light cat food (it is a local brand that the vet recommended, called Premier). I feed her Friskies wet food since she stopped eating the other brand (again, a local brand).  There are only a few good brands here and not even close to the variety that is available in the US!  I don't feed her human food, so that is not an issue. lol

The sedative might be a good idea. My friend is coming and is bringing another kind of cat calming treat, so I will see how that works.

Thanks for the info and advice!  I just worry sometimes about her and want her to be a happy kitty.
 

Columbine

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It's so easy to worry too much. They really are our 'babies'. With food, have you considered giving her a normal (as opposed to diet or light) food, and simply feeding for the weight she should be instead of the weight she is (though it sounds to me as though her weight is about right, or at least not far from it :) ). I've used this technique time and again with great success. Bear in mind that the low cal cat foods are made so by the use of extra carbs in place of protein. Cats are obligate carnivores - meaning they aren't designed to eat carbs. Essentially,all you're doing is feeding for bigger poops! If you're really not happy with the foods out there you could always look at making your own. It's not an area I know much about, but there are plenty of people in the raw and home cooked feeding forum who could advise you. This site is also really helpful if you want to go down that route http://www.catinfo.org

You're doing great. Just chill a bit and trust your instincts ;)
 
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hou baby

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Thanks!  My friends say I worry to much, but unlike a kid, Houdini can't tell me that something is hurting. So, I guess I will try not to worry so much.

I did get some regular food and she loves it. So, I will switch out the 3 types of food so she doesn't get bored with her food. When I cook meat/chicken, I make a small piece without any seasoning and give it to her, but she is not fond of it. She does enjoy eating grass and bugs in the yard, too.  She is quite the little hunter.

I am still concerned about the neck bone/vertebra sticking out so sharply.  Here's a picture. Any thoughts?


 

Columbine

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I looked at the pics on your new thread too. You're right - that does look odd. Are you certain it's bone? My little rescue girl had lumps when I got her. They were very hard, but from placement definitely weren't bone. They turned out to be blunt trauma injuries and went away over time (mostly -one is still there and growing, so I'm getting it checked when she goes in for spaying ). It sort of looks the wrong shape/placement to be bone from what I can see. Her overall weight appears to be good, which is another reason I find that lump odd. Definitely get it checked out. It's probably nothing serious, but you're right to be concerned.
 
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