2 new ferals

jan2424

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Just purchased 2 caught and released ferals, brother & sister that have been moved to 2 different houses so far.  They are about 8 months old, and she is very shy where the boy had been laying  on and allowing the foster parent to pet him.  Their was a residential cat at that house that is why they needed to be moved.   So now I received them last night, neither has eaten or drank, He is in the tree house, she is under a dresser.  The person who brought her took her to the vet as she had a fever, they did blood work, urine, etc. and can't find a problem but want us to give her antibiotics, which will be impossible as we can't get near her.  I need suggestions as to should we split up the 2 and have them take the girl back till she is better, crate the girl and try to get the medicines in her, or give them both back. I worked with a feral for a year and had her eating out of my hand, letting me comb her and laying on my lap, But she was outside after being captured and released.   Unfortuanely, while we were on a vacation, she got attacked by an animal and passed.  I do know how patient I must be and am willing to keep both, I just want to do what is right for them and am very upset that the foster parent isn't handeling this differently.   Thank you all for your time and support.
 

shadowsrescue

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Are theses two in a secure room of their own?  That should be the first step.  Secondly you will want to block off under the dresser and under and behind any other large furniture.  If there is a bed in the room it should be picked up off the floor or laid flat on the floor as you don't want either cat hiding under the bed.  The cat tree is a great spot to be as it is more out in the open.  Do provide boxes or other safe places for the female to hide but one where she is more out in the open.  HIding under the dresser is not a great place for her to be.

It is normal for the cats to not eat when they are stressed.  Yet by 48 hours they should be eating.  What are you offering them to eat?  Sometimes you need to entice them with really stinky wet food or even canned tuna or salmon.  Anything to just get them eating.  Make sure they have access to food 24/7 for right now.

Integrating feral/semi feral cats into a home is hard work.  It takes patience, love and lots of time.  You need to spend lots of time with them working on getting them used to you.  Do you have a feliway diffuser to help them feel more calm?  I will post some links below on feral cat socialization tips.

As for medicating the female, you can put it into her food once she starts eating.  I am uncertain about crating her as that might cause her more stress.  It is most important she eat right now.  Find a very stinky stinky food.  Tuna with juice often works.  She might just start with lapping up the juice.

Here are some tips for socializing and some links below

1.  No direct eye contact.  Feral cats find this very threatening.  Keep your gaze over the top of their head or look down.

2.  Talk softly.  You want them to get used to your voice.  Carry on a conversation or even read aloud from a book or magazine.

3.  Sit on the ground so you are not looming over the cat.  You also want to keep your movements slow.

4.  Food rewards are the way to a ferals heart.  Find a special yummy treat such as plain cooked chicken or turkey, salmon, tuna or sardines.  I would start by giving them a very small plate with some of the special treat.  I would then have small pieces beside me and begin to toss the treat towards the cat.  Each toss I would get the treat a little closer to me.  I would do this activity each day.  After a few weeks, the cats are often getting quite close as long as you keep your movements slow and gaze down.

A very special food reward I stumbled across is Gerber Stage 2 baby food.  Cats love the chicken or turkey.  The jar is very small with a blue label.  The ingredients are chicken or turkey and water, no added spices.  I started with a bit on a plate and as time went by, I  offered it on a spoon.  When working with young ferals or kittens, they can often be coaxed to lick this off your fingers.  Just remember this is a treat reward and not a meal replacement.

5.  Remember that when working with ferals it is often 1 step forward and 2 steps back.  Just take it slow and steady.  Also celebrate the small advancements.  I remember the day that Shadow first meowed to me.  He had been with me for 3 months.  I cried tears of joy that morning!

6.  Jackson Galaxy of Animal Planets, “My Cat From Hell” series is the cat guru.  He has a line of flower essences that are specially designed for cat behaviors.  He even has one for feral cats.  I have used this essence with great success on all of my feral cats.  Here is a link.

7.  When I first began working with Shadow I searched the internet for ideas.  I really wanted to see a video.  I stumbled across this 3 part video series from the Urban Cat League of New York.  The videos show the rescue and socialization of feral kittens.  Even though I have never rescued feral kittens, many of the techniques can be applied to older feral cats too.  Check out the videos here.

http://bestfriends.org/resources/socializing-cats-how-socialize-very-shy-or-fearful-cat

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/handling-feral-cats
 
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jan2424

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Thank you, Yes, they are in a room by themselves and all of the other criteria has been met.  The dry food was eaten but not the wet with tuna and juice in it.   The litter box has been used, so these are 2 great things within the first 36 hrs.   The rescue  people got the results back saying the girl has a fevr but they do not know why and that I am supposed to give her antibiotics......so I believe they are bringing a crate that we can put her into to control her food intake.  My husband is very concerned as to why we need to medicate her and not know the reason why.  Also we noticed that the age was altered on the adoption papers.   Should we be concerned with this agency?
 

shadowsrescue

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Thank you, Yes, they are in a room by themselves and all of the other criteria has been met.  The dry food was eaten but not the wet with tuna and juice in it.   The litter box has been used, so these are 2 great things within the first 36 hrs.   The rescue  people got the results back saying the girl has a fevr but they do not know why and that I am supposed to give her antibiotics......so I believe they are bringing a crate that we can put her into to control her food intake.  My husband is very concerned as to why we need to medicate her and not know the reason why.  Also we noticed that the age was altered on the adoption papers.   Should we be concerned with this agency?
I would ask them about the age.  Also if possible, I would take the cats to a vet of my own.  Yes it will be difficult, but then you will know for sure.  At some point they will need to go to the vet and since the female may be sick, you want to know what you are dealing with first hand instead of second hand from the agency.

Adoption/rescue groups are very very busy this time of the year with so many kittens.  I do not know if you should be concerned or not.  I would just take matters into my own hands and get my own vet.  When I have adopted cats from Humane societies, I take the cat straight to my vet.  I want to be sure the cat is looked over by someone I know and trust.
 
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