Help with ferals

fefelamay

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Hi,
I trapped two approx. 4 or 5 month old feral kittens 3 days ago. They were living in the crawl space under my house. I have been feeding them as well as their mom since they appeared. Mom left about two weeks ago. One of the kittens had been comfortable watching me in the yard as well as eating in front of me prior to trapping. The other was much more shy and would bolt under the house anytime it saw me. I purchased a cat tube and had been feeding them inside it. I moved it into my Florida room and after the first night of hiding under the sofa they moved into it. They didn't eat or drink anything for two days. Last night they ate and drank and dug in the litter box. I have not disturbed them while they are in their hiding spot because I want them to feel it is safe. I sit in the room and have read out loud to them and played some soft classical music for them. I knock lightly before entering the room and use the same expressions I used when feeding them outdoors before trapping. They are really scared. How long should it take before they will come out? I would like to get them to trust me enough to be able to have them checked by a vet as soon as possible. I don't want to retraumatize them by trapping them again. Don't really know if they would fall for it again anyway. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
 

StefanZ

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Hi,
I trapped two approx. 4 or 5 month old feral kittens 3 days ago. They were living in the crawl space under my house. I have been feeding them as well as their mom since they appeared. Mom left about two weeks ago. One of the kittens had been comfortable watching me in the yard as well as eating in front of me prior to trapping. The other was much more shy and would bolt under the house anytime it saw me. I purchased a cat tube and had been feeding them inside it. I moved it into my Florida room and after the first night of hiding under the sofa they moved into it. They didn't eat or drink anything for two days. Last night they ate and drank and dug in the litter box. I have not disturbed them while they are in their hiding spot because I want them to feel it is safe. I sit in the room and have read out loud to them and played some soft classical music for them. I knock lightly before entering the room and use the same expressions I used when feeding them outdoors before trapping. They are really scared. How long should it take before they will come out? I would like to get them to trust me enough to be able to have them checked by a vet as soon as possible. I don't want to retraumatize them by trapping them again. Don't really know if they would fall for it again anyway. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
You are doing excellently, along the manual.  I suppose you had done some reading before.   :)

It may take time, so no  real timetable is possible.  Although sometimes you will get positively surprised.

When they begin to come out,  use the more daring of them as your positive example for the more shy.  Try to entice them into playing, using a Da Bird or similiar...  Use a wooden spoon for petting - it isnt as threatening as a hand, and feels warm and soft...

Yawn often, and standing on all fours, stretch yourself forwards and backwars.  With cats this is NOT laziness, but greeting their friends - other cats or humans.   Talk a lot with a friendly voice, make lotsa of friendly voices.

Re the vet visit - I think it can wait, if they seems healthy and dont have visible problems.

You can use Revolution spot on when they dare to come near you, as defowming and deparasiting.   This takes almost evrything save tape worms, and its not sure they do have tapeworms.
 
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fefelamay

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Thanks so much. I'm just worried that they may stay hidden during the day and only come out when I'm asleep, since they feel safe in the tube. It's so early since I've trapped them. How long do you think they will need to feel safe enough to venture out in the day? When should I worry?
 

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They are probably going to feel skittish for a few days. This is all new territory to them! Unless they seem sick, I would leave them alone for a few weeks.

Even if you end up having to re-trap them to take them to the vets, they will forgive you. I think once they realize what a cushy life they have inside, you will have to problems. All of our former outdoors cats run the other way now whenever we open the outside door.

One thing I would try to do though, is to set the trap for mom outside and get her spayed ASAP. Otherwise, you will have new kittens soon. She's done it successfully once in your yard, she'll do it again.
 
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fefelamay

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Thanks,
We had one step forward and two steps back today. They used the litter boxes over night!!!! I was so excited. It looks like they checked out a toy I left on the floor as well. They also ate their dinner again. It looked like they had a little diarrhea though. I came in and mopped the floor this morning and thought that they were in their tube on the other side of the room, so I moved the sofa and started mopping behind it and heard a noise. They were hiding behind the end table next to the sofa and up against the wall. They were so scared one of them was completely pressed up against the wall in the corner and the other was at his feet against the wall laying down. They are still there and have been all day. They never came out to eat, drink or potty. I'm sure they will come out over night but I feel so sorry for them.
The Mom is gone she hasn't been around for over two weeks. We have closed up the crawl space. I hope she can't get back in. This is the second litter she has brought here, so you are right.
 

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Thanks so much. I'm just worried that they may stay hidden during the day and only come out when I'm asleep, since they feel safe in the tube. It's so early since I've trapped them. How long do you think they will need to feel safe enough to venture out in the day? When should I worry?
Right, they do tend to be more daring during the night.  So having them in the bedroom is no bad idea.  Quite a few fosterers have them in the bedroom, once they are dewormed and defleased.   You dont want have lotsa of fleas in your bedroom!

This is exaclty by that reason you are hinting about.  Also, it isnt unusual they do dare to sleep with their human at night on the bed, althoguh they  still dont dare to cuddle....  Especielly so if they have company of a friendly resident, whom uses to sleep on the bed.
 
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fefelamay

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Well they are not sleeping in the tube they are hiding under an end table in the corner of the room and under the sofa. They will not come out while I'm in the room and even run back into hiding if they see me even look into the room. They are sleeping on the sofa at night. It's been 10 days since trapping them. I'm keeping to a routine, any way to calm them so they will come out of hiding?
 

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Patience, patience, patience.  You could try putting somewhere else for them to hide like a carrier in the room. Maybe act like you are not paying that much attention to them or that you do not notice them. The more you go at them trying too hard the more that they may run away. Don't act like you are trying to sneak up on them, even if you are just to take a peek. Let them sneak up on you to take a peek at what you are doing. It can take a long time to get wild cats to trust you. Let them get used to their new space and then get used to others in it.

Unless you notice something that seems really wrong with their health, then get them to a vet as soon as you can.
 

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Have you tried a Feliway diffuser. It puts calming pherenomes out into the air that might help with their adjustment. As Jim said, though, patience is your best friend now. One thing you can do is sit in the room on the floor and read out loud to them. Something light that you can read slowly. It gets them used to your presence and human voices.

Leaving a radio on with a quiet talk show on will help, too.
 
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fefelamay

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Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I'm just a little nervous that I'm doing the right thing. I do sit on the floor and read to them every day. I did put a Feliway diffuser ( although I'm no sure it's the right one, my daughter picked it up for me and the sales girl gave her the one for multiple cats to get along with each other, that's not the problem) I found some harp music on YouTube that I play for them a bit. They look quite cozy on the sofa when they think we are gone for the night.
They are funny though. I left out some cat treats and they refused to come out to get them until I left the room for a few minutes. I came back and the treats were gone.
I found a vet who is willing to make a house call to give them exams, test them for feline Leukemia and Aids, stool samples and rabies shots. They will have to get them from their hiding spots, how badly will this set them back as far as trusting me? The vet will come next Tues.
I hope I'm not being too much of a pain asking all these question. I haven't had a cat since I was a kid.
I have three little dogs. The cats have their own space and the dogs aren't anywhere near them. The cats actually used to watch the dogs from the opening to the crawl space under my house before I trapped them and really didn't seem to be bothered by them.
Thanks again for all of your help. :-)
 

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If they like treats, use them to bribe them into gradually letting you get closer and closer. That works with a lot of ferals - greed is your friend.You'll have to try various treats till you find something irresistible. A cardboard box turned on its side and padded with a towel might get them out from under the end table.
 

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Thanks so much for the replies. I guess I'm just a little nervous that I'm doing the right thing. I do sit on the floor and read to them every day. I did put a Feliway diffuser ( although I'm no sure it's the right one, my daughter picked it up for me and the sales girl gave her the one for multiple cats to get along with each other, that's not the problem) I found some harp music on YouTube that I play for them a bit. They look quite cozy on the sofa when they think we are gone for the night.
They are funny though. I left out some cat treats and they refused to come out to get them until I left the room for a few minutes. I came back and the treats were gone.
I found a vet who is willing to make a house call to give them exams, test them for feline Leukemia and Aids, stool samples and rabies shots. They will have to get them from their hiding spots, how badly will this set them back as far as trusting me? The vet will come next Tues.
I hope I'm not being too much of a pain asking all these question. I haven't had a cat since I was a kid.
I have three little dogs. The cats have their own space and the dogs aren't anywhere near them. The cats actually used to watch the dogs from the opening to the crawl space under my house before I trapped them and really didn't seem to be bothered by them.
Thanks again for all of your help. :-)
As I know, there is just one sort of Feliway diffuser.  There ARE actually other types of feliway-alike pheromones, but they have other names...  for example the Felifriend which is used when you must handle a reluctant cat.  Vets often use this, although Im not sure its sold in USA.

So I guess this is essentially a marketing device, different labels for different purposes.  Alike Royal Canins dry food for different breeds - although all breeds do have the same demands, if their life is the same...

As I understand, you are doing everything entirely right.
 

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Speaking of Feliway, I've found the spray useful when dealing with ferals (I'm a caretaker for 35 adult ferals and also work with feral-born kittens). I spray it on my jeans right before I go to work, and most of the cats seem to relax when they sniff it.
 
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fefelamay

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Thanks,
I have a cat tube and a covered dog crate with a cushion for them to hide/ sleep in, no go. I wish they would hide in either of those it has to be more comfortable. They only will go for the treats if I leave the room. Maybe it's just too soon? I keep reading some of these threads and folks seem to be having better luck faster. I guess they all are different. I'm trying to be patient. I just don't want them to be so afraid. :-(
 

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Their fear and hesitancy is normal and quite good for them, actually.  They need to check things out at their own speeds and decide whether they feel safe.  Once they do, things will move along more quickly.  Remember, they may also just be very shy kitties, which will mean they may never be lapcats.



The cat in my avatar will allow a ten-second head scritch once a week or so.  If anyone approaches him, he is off like a shot and under the bed for hours..  He is the sweetest cat but he is not ever going to be 100% relaxed.  I worried for the longest time that we did something wrong but decided to just enjoy him for who he is.
 
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fefelamay

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Thanks,

I didn't even peek under the sofa today. Im getting better lol. Im just a worrier. I just sat in the room quietly and worked on my laptop. Read to them a bit. Im going to be patient....  :-)
 
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fefelamay

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Update. I found a kind man who does cat rescue. He loaned me a cat condo and came and got the kittens out from under the sofa and put them in the condo. He said I won't be able to socialize them if they are under the sofa, I need to contain them. one of the cats has had diareaha on and off since being trapped. The vet did a fecal exam and discovered round worms but said the Revolution preventative he put on them would take care of the worms. I think they keep getting stressed, first from the initial trapping. Next the vet visit, now the trapping and being moved into the cat condo and the will be stressed again in the beginning of Nov. when they are being neutered. I have given them boiled chicken and rice. What else can I do to calm their tummy? They are both cowering in the bottom of the condo, one under a shelf the other behind the litter box. I have covered the cage with a sheet and have it up against a Filaway diffuser. They haven't eaten tonight ( too upset). Trying to let them calm down again. I feel so sorry for them.
 

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Cats are such creatures of habit, any new change will stress them.  You should have seen my crew when we had to get the house painted.  I dread when we get new floors!

But it all settles down sooner or later.  Just let them call the shots for the time being.  Visit often, talk baby talk the whole time you are in there.  Wonderful that they've been vet checked - one less thing to worry about.  If you can, leave a radio on with a talks show that doesn't get too crazy.  It will get them used to human voices.

Their new food may be upsetting their tummies a bit.  Get the best wet food you can afford and avoid grains.  No milk, either - many cats are lactose intolerant, so that really runs rampant on their insides.

Keep doing what you are doing.
 
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