DC Feral/Stray Cat

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chargingrhino

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Little black-and-white alley cat update: still spending 99% of the time up on the high shelf, only occasionally coming down for food when we're not around. Rob spent the entire day in his/her room yesterday, so the little one should now be well-versed on IBM's public sector marketing. Also, classical music, since the radio is on. S/he didn't eat any of the food last night, though - perhaps today, because this morning I put out a fresh batch of some nice soft cat food and also Rob's not around for much of the day because he'll be in meetings.

I will say that s/he is showing more personality, looking down at us through the shelves and moving his/her head when we talk to him/her. Still a little scared, but hope is that s/he is learning to trust a little. I assume it's OK to look up and talk - since we're seeing him/her only through the opaque shelf, it's not quite eye-to-eye, so to speak.
 
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chargingrhino

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So the good news is that the little one is at least showing his face, albeit still up high and away (see photo). I am worried, however, that s/he's not eating enough. Just a few kibbles here and there. This weekend, we'll be out of town and will have our resident cats with us. Maybe that will provide some privacy for this one?
 

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I really think you need to take away the shelf.  It is becoming a hiding spot for him and not one that you want him in for now.  You want to force him to be more out in the open.  He can have a hiding spot ( a box or hiding box of a cat tree) but being up high and not coming down is preventing him from making much progress and not eating is another bit of a worry. 

Do you have a Feliway plug in for him or thought of trying some Composure calming treats?
 
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chargingrhino

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There's been a Feliway plug in since the start, so that's cool. Regarding taking away the shelves, worth trying, though I'm not sure how we do that when he's actually on the shelves. Maybe carefully removing the books?
 

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It's a start!!  It makes kitty be more out in the open.  See how it goes. 
 

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The picture made me chuckle.  That is one annoyed looking cat.
 
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chargingrhino

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Yup. I took away his books he was hiding behind; I'd be pissed too. :-) Next step will be to take away his shelves altogether. That will be fun.

For what its worth, when we did this, we had to get pretty close to him, and I think his behavior wasn't bad, all things considered. He was in a place where one could feel "cornered," if you will, but he didn't lash out at all, he just moved. That cat is pretty athletic, I must say!

Little black-and-white alley cat is also now well-aware of the other resident cats, because he's been in a position where he's seen at least two of them quite well - the others, in the hallway when we come in, and on at least one occasion, one of them ran into the room before we were able to get him out. They've seen him too. No puffy tails, so I think that's nice.

-Chris
 
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chargingrhino

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We've been out in the Shenandoah Valley where we maintain a second home over the weekend and are heading back to DC today, so we'll see. Unavoidable, but when we've left the alley cat alone during the weekends before, s/he made good use of one of those self-filling food bowls, so we left that out. I kind of feel like giving the little one a break for a few days from both us humans and the other resident cats (we drag them out with us - they don't like the trip so much, but they LOVE staying at the house - especially Cavendish, who gets his mousing skills honed!) might help settle the little one down a little. We'll see when we get back later this afternoon.

Chris
 
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chargingrhino

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OK, so we got back from the Valley this afternoon, and I found this little cutie hanging out on the shelf (see photo, attached). Well, OK, maybe a little annoyed that we came home and messed up his party!  It does look like he wandered around his room a little - s/he's shed some fur, so that was hanging about, ate quite a bit of his/her food, and lots of poop to scoop.  So, all good on that front, I guess.

My next step was to remove the rest of the shelves.  S/he watched, a little alarmed I suspect, as I took down all the shelves around him/her.  Wasn't sure how to deal with the shelf s/he was on, though.  So I changed tact, and used one of the toys on a stick to maybe be an assist.  At first, s/he was curious, and then s/he decided that the toy was a bad idea, so s/he jumped down the shelves and into his little cat house s/he used to live in when s/he was outside (only we've cleaned it up a little).  So, yay, the shelves are down!  I also think that since there's just a narrow opening to get in and out of the cat house, it may be a little easier to get the little one into a cat box and off to the vet.

 

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So glad he/she ate well and lots in the litter box too!!  It would have been interesting to know what he/she did?  Hopefully he doesn't retreat to his little house all of the time.  Yet he him/her some time.  You might want to add another box or cozy spot in the room so he has some choices. 

Do you have a flexible vet that would understand your situation?  When I had to bring my guy in, they knew there was a possibility I wouldn't get him into the carrier.  They also just did his visit in spurts.  I basically dropped him off for a few hours.  I gave them permission to sedate him if needed.  The vet did his exam and then allowed him time to chill.  Next was some shots and some blood work.  He did better than I ever expected.  I was also glad to not be there! 

I have Marvin's yearly vet appointment coming up in a few weeks.  I don't take him every 6 months as it is just so hard.  He still hates the carrier.  It takes two of us to wrestle him into one.  I usually end up having to use the medium sized dog crate because it's easier to get him inside.  He looks hysterical going into the vet in a huge crate!  Oh well, at least I can usually catch him!!

Hopefully little alley cat settles down and adjusts to you being back and to his surroundings.  You are doing so well with him.  Do expect a few setups since you have been gone.  But persevere and keep moving forward even if it is baby steps!!
 
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chargingrhino

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Yeah, we're pretty much in it for the long haul for this one, both of us are.  I'm pretty sure the vet will be patient with us too - they like us!  :-)
 
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chargingrhino

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So now that we have the shelving down, Jonas (we've decided that's going to be the name regardless of whether we're talking about a boy or girl, named after the recent storm) is hiding in the little cat house we built for him/her when s/he was outside and which we brought in. That's fine, and s/he's coming out when we're not there (mostly at night) to eat and poop and pee, but how do we develop more trust? Rob (my partner) has been working in there at the desk during the day, playing soft classical music. We also have the cat toys on a stick which we often dangle in front of the cat house door. Is there anything else we should be doing? Is this just a matter of time?

Chris
 

shadowsrescue

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So now that we have the shelving down, Jonas (we've decided that's going to be the name regardless of whether we're talking about a boy or girl, named after the recent storm) is hiding in the little cat house we built for him/her when s/he was outside and which we brought in. That's fine, and s/he's coming out when we're not there (mostly at night) to eat and poop and pee, but how do we develop more trust? Rob (my partner) has been working in there at the desk during the day, playing soft classical music. We also have the cat toys on a stick which we often dangle in front of the cat house door. Is there anything else we should be doing? Is this just a matter of time?

Chris
Have you tried sitting on the floor on his level and bringing some really yummy food?  Just sit and talk quietly.  You can even toss a piece of food in his direction.  You may have to try various foods. I had good luck with plain cooked chicken or canned tuna.  He needs to associate you with something yummy. 

Also the toy on a string may be too much.  Try taking a simple shoe lace and hiding part of it under a blanket and slowly pulling it.  Do this where he can watch.  He might be less threatening than the wand dangling in his face. 

I forgot whether you have a feliway diffuser or not?  Also you might want to look into some flower essences.  They work slowly on the body.  I have had great luck with one called Feral Cat Rehab by Spirit Essences.  It is Jackson Galaxy's line.  All of the feral cats I have worked with have responded to it.

The key is to keep bombarding him with interactions.  Yet, make sure you do not loom over him.  Even looking down on him may be threatening.  Also watch direct eye contact.  If this freaks him out, have your gaze over his head or keep your eyes down while talking or interacting with him.  I would visit him often for short periods.  I know your partner works in the room.  This may be a bit much for him right now, but I think it can still be made to work. 

Is it possible for your partner to sit on the floor with him a few times each day.  Just sit, offer something yummy and talk quietly.  If he doesn't take the treat, just either leave it or move it closer to his house.  Make sure the movements are slow as quick movement frighten him. 

He is going to be a tough cookie.  Yet in time I do believe he will come around. 

Does he like catnip?  That is another thing you can try.  Get a few soft toys that are filled with catnip or roll them in a bit and toss one to him.  He may not enjoy it in your presence right now, but he might enjoy it at night. 
 
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chargingrhino

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I can't totally see him instead his cat house as it's dark in there, but when he was on the shelf and even outside, direct eye contact didn't seem to be a problem. The wand isn't so much in his face but outside the box but I get the point all the same - we'll try the shoelace thing. Definitely do sit on the floor regularly and softly talk. We have Feliway defuser, but I'll look at that other product for sure. We do bring lots of treats for him, and yeah, he does seem to like catnip so we can do that too.
 
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chargingrhino

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BTW, I looked it up, and one of the meanings of Jonas is "Gift from God." That sounds about right to me, so it's a good name for that reason too! :-)
 

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The name is just perfect for him/her.  Do you get a sense whether he is male/female?  By looking at the picture there do not appear to be formed jowls that would indicate male.  Yet he could have been neutered early on and not developed them. 

I have used many of the Spirit Essence products.  You can place them into wet food, in the water bowl and also spritz around the room.  You do need to use them about 4x each day.  I always put them into wet food 2x a day, in the water bowl and then spritzed if needed. 

You can find the product here on Amazon ( they changed the name to Feral Flower)


or on Jackson's site  https://store.jacksongalaxy.com/sto...laxy-spirit-essences-feral-cat-rehabilitation

or at Abe's Market

http://www.abesmarket.com/natural-p...dies/spirit-essences-feral-cat-rehab-2oz.html
 
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chargingrhino

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OK, wish us luck:  We're taking Jonas to the vet later this afternoon!  :-/
 
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