Taming an adult feral cat, my story.

angelimperfect

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Hello everyone, I have decided to join this group afte researching about how to tame a feral kitten that I recently adopted few days ago.

In 2004, I had been feeding a feral adult cat named Midnight. There was this neighbor guy who has been trapping all those feral cats to get them fixed and releasing them. Midnight was the one around my neighborhood when I moved into this townhouse. I thought ht was beautiful because he started coming around my backyard around halloween time so I renamed him Halloween. Anyways I had been feeding him every day and night, He wouldn't let us touch him. As soon as I open the back door, he would dart across the street in fear. I would continue to feed him for two years. Until one day when I had to go away for a week, I had asked my father if he would feed him for me since I wouldn't be around for a week. When I returned, his demeanor changed. He was so happy I returned and was meowing a lot and standing really close to the back door. I was surprised. SO I came outside and sat down on the steps, he was getting closer and closer and sat down next to me looking away. That was my moment of daring to "pet" him so I did. He was surprised to be touched. Then he turned around asking for more. I decided since I could pet him, I picked him up and put him in the house and shut the door. Yes, he freaked out trying to get out of the window. (Poor thing). Keep in mind I have four other cats when this happened. Let's go back a little bit, during winter time itw as sooooo cold and snowing I lived in New England, I wuold open my back door and leave it open when it was snowing and all that so he could come inside and eat with my cats, I wanted to see how he gets along with them. He would come in and eat as LONG as the door is open, Even if I try to close it he would run out so fast. So I allowed him to come in and eat and leave for about few months. Fast forward, I took him inside and took him to the vet. The vet said he's FIV postiive and needed to be put down. I cried and said hell to the no. Took him home. He was skittish and hide a lot. But was litter trained that day. Ate with my cats when I fed them. He changed in few weeks time and laid down next to me on the couch. He would only trust me and no one else. Ive had him for 10 years. He became the BESTEST cat I have ever had! So lovely, loved people always wanted to be pet and CUDDLED. He died Feb of this year due to Kidney Faliure. He was 15 years old. Broke my heart! He was the one that made my husband fall in love with cats, before Halloween, my husband HATED cats until he met Halloween. He was crushed when he passed away. Now Funny thing is when Halloween passed away. I saw a litter of feral kittens running around in the back alley fo where I live currently (in Florida). Two are siamese. My DREAM cat. It was perfect. I was like omg is that a sign? Does Halloween wants me to adopt another feral cat? 5 months later, I was able to trap all three of them. I kept one. My neighbor kept two of them.

This new feral kitten is a girl. I named her Pandora. She is in a guest room all by herself with no furniture or anything but a box so she can hide and food and litter box. Stratching post as well and TV playing with human voices so she can get used to it. I have three other cats in the house as well. She has an appt with the vet on Monday for spaying and vaccines and leuekmia test I am hoping she tests negative. Would break my heart if shes positive. for Two days she would hiss at us lunged at us. But she still ate and even used litter box in the room. She would cry and cry all day and night. Today after 4 days, Idecided to pet her. She would hiss and all that. I fed her with chicken flavored baby food, first time she ate it off the spoon. I believe she is 5 months old. So I put my hand out so she could sniff it. then I slowly pet her head and grabbed her slowly and held her close to me and rubbed her body. She started purring loudly and fell asleep. I was shocked by how fast she is getting used to it. She still does run and hides whenever we come in the room and meowing at us but as soon as we sit next to her she calms down. She is even playing with a string a little bit. Am excited.


Christina
 

shadowsrescue

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Thank you for sharing your story.  Also thank you for rescuing Halloween and Pandora.  I am sorry to hear about the passing of Halloween.  You gave him a wonderful life despite the fact that he was even FIV+.  You were certainly his angel. 

It sounds like you are making great progress with Pandora.  She is doing so well with her socialization.  You have done your homework and know all about the chicken baby food trick!!  Keep working with her as often as possible.  I hope the vet visit goes well. 
 
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angelimperfect

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Thank you. We are making a great progress with Pandora. She eats out of our hands and plays with us. She is now sleeping comfortably in the closet on the shelf with door open. I would walk in and say hello. She would look up and look at me without hissing. I am able to carry her around in my arm to show her around the house. My cats are curious about her and see her in my arms and wants to check her out I haven't allowed that yet because she needs to be seen by a vet first which is thus coming Monday. She's still skittish here and there. She cries less now and less hissing. I noticed that when I carry her around to show her the house so it won't be too overwhelming. She trembled in my arms looking around and purred t the same time. Hopefully once she's healthy and able to play with my other cats she won't feel so alone in the guest room by herself.
 

sheeshshe

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do you have a picture of pandora?  she sounds lovely!  I adopted a feral rescue a week ago, he was pretty much tame when I got him, someone must have handled him while he was in the wild and really young.  he is about 13 weeks old now.  he looks part siamese.  we are working on getting him to enjoy being held.  we have made a lot of progress over the past few days!
 
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angelimperfect

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We are making some
Progress
With her. We've let her out of the guest room
So she could explore. First day she was skittish and hid under couches and etx. Second and third day she's coming out more and exploring the house more and playing with cat toys as well with my other three watching her.
 

shadowsrescue

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Wow!   The progress continues.  She is just beautiful.  You have done a great job in working with her.  Thanks for sharing her picture.
 

sheeshshe

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what a pretty girl!!!! awww!  she is lucky to have you!
 
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