Help I need to get scared/aggressive cat into carrier

Maureen Bradley said:

It is to bad that I had to carry it in and of course she could see me. Something tells me people who trap ferals would have less success if they did it in full view of the cats.

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:lol3: I think you're right about that.

Did you use an extra yummy food as bait? Hopefully that will overcome her caution. It may take longer than 30mins though. If you hover the other side of the door you should be able to hear when the trap is tripped. You might have more success that way than poking your head round the door. Give her as long as you can before giving up on the trap. Patience is everything. :cross: that she goes in for you.

Columbine said:

That could work. The shelter staff know you, and know that you put your cats welfare first. They should also acknowledge that they made a massive error of judgement in sending a long time resident home with you whilst she was in the middle of veterinary treatment. Hopefully they'll want to make things right with you as much as with Sissy/Phoebe. I really hope they go for it :cross:

Good luck with the trapping

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Columbine said:

:lol3: I think you're right about that.

Did you use an extra yummy food as bait? Hopefully that will overcome her caution. It may take longer than 30mins though. If you hover the other side of the door you should be able to hear when the trap is tripped. You might have more success that way than poking your head round the door. Give her as long as you can before giving up on the trap. Patience is everything. :cross: that she goes in for you.

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There's a good chance they'll go along with this plan since it means a permanent home. I agree that trapping her might take much longer than 30 minutes. It could even take a couple of days, but hopefully not! The "feral expert" at our shelter doesn't stick around after she sets traps, but checks every couple of hours. Some cats go into them immediately, while others are naturally wary and take their good old time.

I think she'll eventually forget about the eye drops and carrier. We had a shelter kitten with a bad infection that had to have eye drops for weeks. She started to avoid me and anybody else administering them and had to be bribed with treats. Once she realized she didn't have to worry about getting drops anymore she wanted cuddling again.

Do you know whether she likes fish? Tuna fish (for humans, in water), shrimp, crab or the like are irresistible to many cats. Some go nuts over mozzarella.

This is not going to work. She is freaking out just seeing the crate in that room. Hunger isn't going to get her i there. The people at the rescue said to just leave it in there and when she gets hungry enough she will go in. I wonder about that. I know you can't let a cat go without food for more than 48 hours.

You could try covering it with a blanket to see if that helps. Give her chance to calm down. It's only been an hour. She will calm down. I'd at least give her overnight before admitting defeat. It won't hurt her to be without food for that long. I know it's hard This way is still less traumatic than throwing a blanket over her. Give her more time.

I did cover it with a blanket. Problem is the lady who loaned it to me wants it back today. I just have this feeling that she is going to starve to death rather than get into that trap.I truly am getting really frsutrated. My goodness, I could have this still going on in a month. There is also something in that room that is biting me. I had thought so but my hubby kept saying it was in my head. Today he came out of there and said 'yep, something is biting in there' I doubt she has fleas I put advantage monthly on her. She is primarily white I would have seen something jumping around on her.

Now I am mad that the rescue,I just am.Maybe there is a service I can call that catches cats.Animal control does not do it here.

Columbine said:

You could try covering it with a blanket to see if that helps. Give her chance to calm down. It's only been an hour. She will calm down. I'd at least give her overnight before admitting defeat. It won't hurt her to be without food for that long. I know it's hard

This way is still less traumatic than throwing a blanket over her. Give her more time.

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I think Columbine is right here.  Time, and for you to try and relax.  Keep the blanket / cover over the basket and leave her space for a while as she may well be picking up on your anxieties as well.  Maybe having a little yummy food in there she can taste but not immediately trap her, so that when you put some more in she will be less suspicious of it.   How much longer can you keep the basket for today?

Your thoughts on taking her to the shelter to complete her treatment and then try again when she is well sound wonderful to me and if you still feel like this once you manage to take her back and she gets over the health issues she has then I can see no reason why the shelter would not consider the process.  Feeling unwell, even without fear and anxiety of carriers, can completely transform the most gentle of cats characters and I applawd you for seing this and even thinking about bringing her back to your home for another go.  There must be something very special that you see in this cat. 

Is there any chance someone from the shelter who knows Sissy could come over and box her for you? I don't blame you for being mad - I would be too in your situation. I don't think there's anything else I can say. that this issue is resolved soon.

MServant and Columbine- Things have not gone well. The lady who loaned me the box trap said I can keep it for a week. She advises not loading it for a couple days and putting some food at the back of it. She said then in two days I should try again. I doubt that will work, this cat will not go near it or any other crate.I have tried everything for weeks to tempt her into a crate That day she was crated and ended up in my home traumatized her beyond measure. I did a dumb, dumb thing. I have my old plastic crate and I put it in the room standing on its end. I decided I could not use the cloth carrier because it has screen windows and she might rip through them

Anyway, she was relaxing and I was petting her. I did kind of scruff her a couple times without picking her up. It seemed not to bother her. I lifted her to the crate but suddenly it was like she woke up. Her left foot hit the door and even though I had her by the scruff she sank her teeth between my thumb and forefinger and literally began ripping me up. I had to throw her off my hand.I am a mess, thankfully I still have anitbiotics here and don't need to go to the hospital. I doubt I will even be able to use this hand tomorrow.

I have visions of being the woman who years from now has a cat living upstairs in a room

the rescue does not have interest in helping me. The vet offered to loan be a trap! I don't think they are listening to me .

I can't explain how desperate I feel, she need vet care and now this last incident was so bad I can't even go near her.She is lonely having grown up with so many cats around her. I can't let my cats be with her and that is the only thing I think would help but she has a contagious eye condition and ear mites. I also noticed today that I have ringworm, so ,  she has that too.

I really have no clue what else to do. Should I just let her sit up in that room getting sicker and sicker? I feel literally ill.

I don't know what to suggest. I'm so sorry she's hurt you again. Don't beat yourself up about what happened. It's so, so easy to make an error of judgement and rush things, especially if you're feeling desperate or emotional. I've made huge mistakes with semi ferals when my heads been in the wrong place.

Might a drop trap work? It will feel very different to her so you might stand a better chance. I wouldn't give up on the trap you have though. Start by feeding her outside the trap and gradually move the food back - push her a little further with each meal, and maybe feed 4-6 mini feeds a day to give more training opportunities.

I don't know what else to suggest. I can't for the life of me understand why the shelter won't help you. Hang in there. I'm sure there's a way through this somehow.

The only solution seems to be for a familiar person to come to your house and help.  Does this shelter have a FaceBook page, Twitter account, or any other social media/Internet presence? It is reprehensible that they won't help you. Sometimes posting on their FaceBook page or sending a tweet can help get their attention, because the bad publicity is embarrassing.

I am very sorry that you and the cat are going through this difficulty.

I am so sorry, both you and she must be in a state of shock at this point.   You will not be the first nor the last to have this happen, I am just sad that it has.

I'm not so sure about your not getting the wound seen as it could be important to get it cleaned out properly as well as the antibiotics, I'm sure there is something particular they use with cat bites.   Your hand is invaluable, esp your thumb and you want to take good care of it.

At what stage did you last talk with the sanctuary you got Sissy from?  Are they aware that she was so stressed that she bit you the first or second time?  Can you call them day time hours to talk them through what has happened each time you have attempted to pick her up / get her in to a carrier, and how you are concerned she will not go near the trap as well?  Perhaps they would know someone who could help to get her in to a trap even if they weren't able to send someone from the sanctuary to help you?

If the sanctuary still say they are not able to help, maybe with lack of staff or volunteers then could you ask the place that loaned you the trap, to see if they could help with getting her in?  The only other thing I can think of is what you said earlier about trying to find any agency that maybe helps rescue animals as they might have the right clothing and tools to try and capture Sissy.  It is bound to be very stressful for her however it happens but you also know she is not well and something needs to happen and that may be the only way to do it.

Sending you loads of positive vibes, both for finding a solution to getting Sissy the veterinary attention she needs and for your own health.  Please make sure you seek attention for your hand.  

Columbine- I can't even imagine just how I am going to get her into anything. I do not think she will go  into anything remotely resembling a crate. I think her experience in a crate coming here is much like I have heard about ferals who are trapped- you have a devil of a time getting them again.

 She is sick and needs care.

My previous nice comments about the vet who owns the rescue are no longer applicable. I just found out she lives in my town less than 5 miles away. She should come here and help or take the cat to her clinic for treatment but , nothing.

I wonder, do you all think the antibiotics I got for the bites last week ( I only took a few, they made me sick) are ok to take now and will protect me. This is a huge tearing bite it is no longer bleeding but is very swollen and deep.I just know the Dr. will never believe another phone story about how I was bit..

I am afraid they will come take the cat, or worse my other two cats.

I am trying to stay out of the cat room tonight. Little girl is just laying there , so depressed and so afraid of me. I have asked my husband to spend time with her. He has never tried to handle or medicate her so she feels comfortable with him. My husband will not do it. He is now scared of her. I tried to tell him that any scared, sick cat could act like this.

Maureen Bradley said:

 
Columbine- I can't even imagine just how I am going to get her into anything. I do not think she will go  into anything remotely resembling a crate. I think her experience in a crate coming here is much like I have heard about ferals who are trapped- you have a devil of a time getting them again.

 She is sick and needs care.

My previous nice comments about the vet who owns the rescue are no longer applicable. I just found out she lives in my town less than 5 miles away. She should come here and help or take the cat to her clinic for treatment but , nothing.

I wonder, do you all think the antibiotics I got for the bites last week ( I only took a few, they made me sick) are ok to take now and will protect me. This is a huge tearing bite it is no longer bleeding but is very swollen and deep.I just know the Dr. will never believe another phone story about how I was bit..

I am afraid they will come take the cat, or worse my other two cats.

I am trying to stay out of the cat room tonight. Little girl is just laying there , so depressed and so afraid of me. I have asked my husband to spend time with her. He has never tried to handle or medicate her so she feels comfortable with him. My husband will not do it. He is now scared of her. I tried to tell him that any scared, sick cat could act like this.

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do not mess around with cat bites, especially to the hand. take the antibiotics. i would suggest eating yogurt or taking probiotics while you are taking antibiotics. 

MServant- Sorry I had not scrolled up and seen your post. I talked with the sanctuary all along the way. Today after this I called and asked if the vet would give me some sort of sedative I could put in her food. I told them I would drive up and get it. I got a message ( text) that the vet lives right here in my city and would be happy to loan me a feral trap! Ha- just what I need two of them.

As I wrote above, now I am mad. If I go to the hospital again, I really think this wound is so nasty I will have animal control here. She is not a vicious cat. Just sick and afraid. The vet who owns the santuary did this, she cleared her to come home with me and she should get her butt to my home and do something.

The lady that loaned me the trap is a vet tech, she doesn't have a 'place' she does trap ferals but seems to be happy to advise but not help in person. Now my husband won't go near her and that is so wrong. She needs comfort from someone who has not frightened her. He is the only one here right now.

I have checked around and called every place I could think of and there is no service that does this.My vet will not give me anything without seeing her in person and she does not do housecalls. There is no way I can afford what the mobile vet wants. That is over $700.

In the end, if the cat will not go into the trap over the next couple of days, I am thinking of calling the rescue sanctuary and telling them the vet needs to come here. If they say no, I will tell them I am going to have a mobile vet come and put the cat down. Of course, I am not going to do this.

I feel like no one cares about this cat but me and it is bad that I have frightened her so much. My friend was going to helpme but she saw my hand and she won't. I will not go to the hospital as I cleaned the wounds very well and have some pretty heavy duty antibiotics that the doc gave me for last weeks bites.This one is oly so bad because when she sank her teeth into me I instinctively threw my arm out and she went flying but my skin tore through.- BTW- if I go to the hospital now it will cost $250 , my husband is going to flip if every week I spend that kind of money on cat bites. Ha-ha.I am just going to double the antibiotic dose.

I am very sorry. That is despicable behavior on the part of the "rescue." They can't call themselves that after ignoring a cat in distress for which they are responsible.

Can you post on the SOS forum? Maybe a vet, vet tech, or some other kind soul in your area will be able to help. Believe me, I would give it a shot if I were nearby.

Silverpersian- Thank you. I will post on that forum. I did not think of it!

just remember, sometimes what we think should and want to happen, simply may not be the way it should happen There may be a very special reason in that kitty's life AND yours...that this isn't working out for you. You are a saint for hanging in there this long!!

I have one like that, and the only way to get her into a carrier is to give her a tranquillizer. The vet gave me some, I  put it in her food 2 hours before we have to leave. It is still not very easy to get her in, but it is possible. You might consider that as the easiest route and the route least traumatic for both the cat and yourself.

I am so, so sorry about what is happening. You and Sissy are both the victims here. It's appalling that the shelter vet won't help. It is still possible that Sissy will go into the trap though. The longer it's in the room the more desensitised to it she'll become. I know it seems impossible right now, but the trap could work. I was trying to catch a semi feral a little while ago. The first time I got her she managed to break out of the crate. I was convinced that she'd never go near the crate again, but she forgot her bad experience pretty quickly, and started eating in the crate again. (It didn't end well, sadly, as I lost patience and tried to slam the door to soon. She disappeared shortly after. The point , though, is that she re entered the crate after a bad experience, and I have no doubt that I'd have got her in again if she'd stayed.) Don't give up. The must be some way through this - you just haven't found it yet.

I understand you fear about seeing a doctor for that bite, but do be careful. Cat bites can be particularly nasty - if there's any sign at all that it's getting worse, please,please do seek medical advice.

Seaturtle- I can't get sedatives for her because vets will not prescribe to a cat that have not examined.I can't get her to a vet. I was thinking about going all the way to the rescue tomorrow and telling that vet I want her to give me something to sedate the cat. How I will be able to get the sedative into her is another story. There is no way I can pill her. I tried giving a 1/4 tablet of benydryl that did not work out. Anything I give her has to be crushed into the food - not sure she will eat it. She is not very food motivated.

Columbine- Thanks, I hope so. My husband now just wants her gone.I think my hand will be okay but I do have a feeling I will not be able to use it well in the morning. I was lucky the really big wound bled like crazy so I was able to wash it out very well. I hope I can type tomorrow or I can't work. Obviously, I am very discouraged. My friend was going to help me but once she saw my hand she didn't want to help. I am willing to pay someone but can't find anyone.I am going to the rescue tomorrow, I hope that vet is there. I am going to try to get the nerve to tell her they have to come and get the cat.My husband says that if she bites me again he will call animal control.Ugh. I am going to try to sleep and hopefully I can find help tomorrow.