Feral Indian Cat..I am worried as heck..

sunnykew · Feb 9, 2016

In india having cats as pets is a social stigma for some reason I dont know.. but I have always had this affection towards them and there is a large population of the Indian feral (rusty spotted cats).

One day this lovely cat (about a year old) shows up at our backyard and she was so hungry that I decided to feed her... she stayed and returned everytime for a meal. She is the sweetest thing I have seen and started purring and was friendly almost instantly.. I was quite certain that it was not a neighbours pet as this is a new neighborhood, it had to be feral.. subsequent days she got her kittens along and they spent pretty much their entire day in our backyard. We named her Pepper (she is grey and white) and her two kittens - Black Salt and Salt (one is dark grey and the other a complete white)... The kittens were about 4-5 weeks old when they came in and almost after caring for them for 3 weeks, we decided that we will get them vaccinated and neutered and keep them with us.. we had to start with the mother (pepper) and since she was very comfortable with us (sleeping on my lap etc), it was easy to put her in a trap and take her to the vet.. at the first she was a little scared and tried her best to get out but with our constant talking to her she calmed down and was very comfortable..

At the vet we realized that she was 1 week pregnant and the vet suggested that we proceed with the spaying ( she was too young and already has had a littler).. the surgery went well.. it was completed in the evening and we got her home in the trap (fairly spacious for her) and kept her in a room to recover... she was pretty much flat out all night because of the anesthesia... around 6 in the morning she was fully awake and yowling to be let out..l could sense her fear.. I am sure this would have been a very nightmarish experience for her...

I am now worried as heck as she came out the room and has jumped the wall of the backyard and not returned yet.. It had only been about 10 hours since her surgery..

She is a feral who has been in our gated community for some time now and would generally move around but it is impossible for me to follow her everywhere..

Its been 5 hours now and since she has not returned..

I am hoping that she is comes back and is safe...Any experts thoughts are welcome...

Thanks

StefanZ · Feb 10, 2016

Ferales have an immunity system and healing meat hight above the average. They must have, otherwise they would perish, never grow up into adults... So lets hope for the best. Do pray, wait, and be prepared for whatever outcome as the situation is surely tricky and dangerous..

SunnyKew said:
In india having cats as pets is a social stigma for some reason I dont know.. but I have always had this affection towards them and there is a large population of the Indian feral (rusty spotted cats).

One day this lovely cat (about a year old) shows up at our backyard and she was so hungry that I decided to feed her... she stayed and returned everytime for a meal. She is the sweetest thing I have seen and started purring and was friendly almost instantly.. I was quite certain that it was not a neighbours pet as this is a new neighborhood, it had to be feral.. subsequent days she got her kittens along and they spent pretty much their entire day in our backyard. We named her Pepper (she is grey and white) and her two kittens - Black Salt and Salt (one is dark grey and the other a complete white)... The kittens were about 4-5 weeks old when they came in and almost after caring for them for 3 weeks, we decided that we will get them vaccinated and neutered and keep them with us.. we had to start with the mother (pepper) and since she was very comfortable with us (sleeping on my lap etc), it was easy to put her in a trap and take her to the vet.. at the first she was a little scared and tried her best to get out but with our constant talking to her she calmed down and was very comfortable..

At the vet we realized that she was 1 week pregnant and the vet suggested that we proceed with the spaying ( she was too young and already has had a littler).. the surgery went well.. it was completed in the evening and we got her home in the trap (fairly spacious for her) and kept her in a room to recover... she was pretty much flat out all night because of the anesthesia... around 6 in the morning she was fully awake and yowling to be let out..l could sense her fear.. I am sure this would have been a very nightmarish experience for her...

I am now worried as heck as she came out the room and has jumped the wall of the backyard and not returned yet.. It had only been about 10 hours since her surgery..

She is a feral who has been in our gated community for some time now and would generally move around but it is impossible for me to follow her everywhere..

Its been 5 hours now and since she has not returned..

I am hoping that she is comes back and is safe...Any experts thoughts are welcome...

Thanks

Norachan · Feb 10, 2016

Hi @SunnyKew Thank you for helping this cat, you've made her life so much easier by having her spayed. I've TNR'd dozens of feral cats. They usually disappear for about 24 hours after I release them, but they always come back to where the food is.

Just keep your fingers crossed, but don't worry too much. She'll be back.

sunnykew · Feb 10, 2016

@Norachan Fingers surely crossed.. it would break my heart if she did not return.. one kitten is still around.. the other one has not been around for a week now.. I can feel how the anxiety in the kitten.. fortunately she is almost weaned off.. and is eating when I feed her... its been 12 hours since she left and its getting dark.. time when they are most active... hopefully she will return... your words are re-assuring..

mazie · Feb 10, 2016

You did a wonderful thing in getting her spayed and please realize, you Did Nothing Wrong"! Nature is just funny sometimes and it just goes to show that even with our best intentions, we cannot control every situation. Please just be patient, nature has a way of taking good care, and she my very well come back. Life is a mystery! Please stay positive and wait and see. (I am at work, cannot put a smiley face emoticom here, but would if I could) Smiling face to you!

sunnykew · Feb 10, 2016

@mazie.. the kitten sits on my lap trembling while we both wait for her mommy to return... one thing that cats have taught me is patience.. and now we just wait with a hope she returns

mazie · Feb 10, 2016

Wait, that's all you can do. Momma knows she has a baby left with you, so she more than likely will return after she calms down from her experience. Glad you understand, "Patience is a virtue". In the meantime, kitten is safe with you, this is very good.

sunnykew · Feb 10, 2016

It's been more than 24 hours now and she has not returned.... I am amazed that I could go crazy for an animal who we otherwise fail to notice.. she somehow chose me and trusted me and now I feel bad...or am I being impatient.. the waiting continues..my only pray is that she should be safe.. it had barely been 10 hours since surgery.. she could hurt herself or the incision could open up.. I was to give her antibiotics doses as well.. Can't believe the impact she has made in less than a month on me..

lesliel76 · Feb 10, 2016

You did an amazing thing for this cat. I would be worried too but she will come back when she gets hungry enough. One of my ferals took 2 days to come back after trapping. Hes now my friendliest one that I can pet, and has allowed me to even trap again since and take to the vet.

Its a scary thing for them but the food always wins out. Hope she returns soon. Maybe try putting out something that smells good to her like a can of smelly tuna.

Norachan · Feb 11, 2016

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for her too.

Are you able to keep the remaining kitten indoors? They really don't stand a chance outdoors. So many terrible things happen to kittens, even with their mothers around to protect them.

I agree with @Lesliel76 Something smelly like tuna might tempt her back.

sunnykew · Feb 12, 2016

Day three update.. pepper came back day the next day for few hours.. Unfortunately I wasn't home.. but my father was able to feed he.. she spent the afternoon in the yard and then left... and it's been over 30 odd hours she has not returned since... I was happy to hear that she came back and looked in good shape..I was worried about her incision and health.. now I am not sure why would she leave when the food is here..

One of the kittens has not been around for over 2 weeks now... the other one is safe and with me.. eating and playing.. it's pretty much 3 months old now I think.. so should be fine without the mother..

I will try the tuna idea and see if it works.. I don't want to attract other feral though..

I have read that after spaying the cats usually don't travel far and stick around the food source.. but I have not been able to find pepper within the community which I was usually able to before the surgery... of course I can't reach every nook and corner of this small community

Norachan · Feb 12, 2016

I'm glad she showed up again. Maybe she's just acting a little wary because of the trip to the vets. She should forget all about it soon. Great that she is eating, that's a sign that all is well.

I'm sorry to hear about the missing kitten.

So many feral born kittens disappeared from the colony I care for before I got all the cats fixed. At least you've managed to save one. Every cat counts.

sunnykew · Feb 12, 2016

Still working with this young kitten... although it sits on my lap and sleeps..it still very unsure about me..

I hope pepper does come back eventually... she had a such a lovely personality... so elegant... and would talk to me in her own way..I hope she does get over it and come back.. I thought by now she should have been hungry enough to return..

sunnykew · Feb 13, 2016

Day three end.. pepper is here after 2 days.. she looks as pretty as ever... the incision looks good too.. I am so glad she is here.. attaching a pic I just took of hers..

20160213_201541.jpg

sunnykew
Feb 13, 2016

mazie · Feb 13, 2016

She is very pretty, the name Pepper suits her

raerae624 · Feb 13, 2016

Pepper is beautiful, you should post a picture of the kitten too!

Norachan · Feb 13, 2016

Wow, she is stunning. What beautiful markings!

Is it possible to keep her indoors with the kitten? She might object at first, but even feral cats soon learn to love a life indoors. She'd be much safer...............you wouldn't have to worry so much.

sunnykew · Feb 13, 2016

Yes making the house ready for them... they scratch the furniture a lot.. need to get a scratching post etc.. have let them inside the house lots of times.. and they sniff around..scratch around and go back outside... will take it slow.. but in the yard they are safe..I sometimes wonder if I eventually bring them in would they not feel bored and want to go back out.. she does yowl a bit after I close the door and keep her inside

sunnykew · Feb 13, 2016

Posting a pic of the kittens which was taken three weeks ago... Salt (the white one) has been missing since two weeks.. Black salt is with me.. has grown up a bit from this pic..

20160112_092324.jpg

sunnykew
Feb 13, 2016

sunnykew · Feb 15, 2016

Latest pic of black salt.. she is turning in to a pretty little princess herself.. she might be almost 3 months now... is this a good time to get her spayed? Or can I wait another month before I get her spayed? She is still feeding off pepper (mommy) little bit..

20160214_170823.jpg

sunnykew
Feb 15, 2016

Feral Indian Cat..I am worried as heck..

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