Hi I just found this site and am hoping to get some advice. I've been feeding 3 feral cats since last August, 2 older, 1 young. The location is no longer safe and I got some help from the local humane society to trap them and they've been to the vet and are spayed/neutered, ear tipped, etc. They are in a cage in my basement and have been for about a month. The ladies that helped me think they should be socialized but I have my doubts. I am willing to feed/care for them on my property but am wondering if they need to be kept in the cage outside for another month so they don't try to find their way back? The young one is the most curious and somewhat friendly but I don't know if it's better for her to be separated and possibly adopted or if she should stay with the other two. They older two are both calm but still seem scared and I feel like a monster keeping them in this cage. I really don't know what to do with them. None of them have ever hissed or shown any signs of aggression, but the two older ones won't even move when I'm down there. Any advice is appreciated
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Relocate or Socialize?
- Thread starter rosemass
- Start Date
About half of my outside ferals are "untouchables" and several were dumped off as kittens but got spooked and then never forgave me for trapping them & hauling them off to the vet. Instead of a cage, I put them in a spare bedroom and in a couple of weeks, took the window screen off & left the window open a bit so they could come in & out. Pretty soon they would go in & out and then finally moved out for good but continue to live in the yard. They have shelters that they like and are very content.
Thank you for taking in those ferals. you are doing your community a great service as well as helping cats in need.
Is there a possibility that they can become indoor only cats? We have three former feral cats who are now inside. They are not lap cats, they barely let us pet them. But they are happy and content with their lives. They play with one another and our other cats(who were found as tiny kittens and are more people-tolerant).
In the meantime, I would also try to to expand their area. Can you ad another cage to their existing one? I've often tied two crates together (each must have two doors) to give cats I am recuperating some more "leg room."
The suggestion that CatsKnowMe gave is excellent - if there is a room they can use for another month, and then be allowed out the window, that would give them the best of both approaches.
Can you wall off part of the basement that has a window? Maybe set up a large dog kennel down there that you can connect to a window for the transition period?
Whatever you do, remember that what you have done so far has made a tremendous difference for these cats. Kudos to you for going above and beyond!
In the meantime, I would also try to to expand their area. Can you ad another cage to their existing one? I've often tied two crates together (each must have two doors) to give cats I am recuperating some more "leg room."
The suggestion that CatsKnowMe gave is excellent - if there is a room they can use for another month, and then be allowed out the window, that would give them the best of both approaches.
Can you wall off part of the basement that has a window? Maybe set up a large dog kennel down there that you can connect to a window for the transition period?
Whatever you do, remember that what you have done so far has made a tremendous difference for these cats. Kudos to you for going above and beyond!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you both so much for responding! I do believe the young one can be adopted as she purred this morning and although she was skittish again tonight, she batted at my hand that held treats. Didn't take them but it's something. I am considering keeping her long term (inside) though need to figure out how best to integrate her with my two house cats. Though I loathe to remover her from the other two - she cuddles up to one of them 80% of the time...do you think I need to keep her alone for a while before introducing her to my two cats?
Unfortunately, keeping all three indoors is not an option for me and I've read that while they may semi-trust me since I've been feeding them for almost a year, that they would have to start over with another person even to be relocated. To further complicate matters, the male has FIV.
And while the window suggestion is a great idea, I don't really have a set up for that so I guess I'm really leaning toward releasing them into the yard - I have their shelter from last winter & can make it even better on my own property but do I need to leave them outside in the cage for another few weeks or do you think I could just put the cage with the shelter & keep putting food in it and they'll figure it out? I'm scared they will try to find their way back to the old location so I don't want to mess up this part.
I will also call the women that have helped me to update them and see if they have any suggestions - they had mentioned some barn program but the FIV one might be an issue there. It's better for the two to stay together right?
Sorry to go on so long but I just don't know what to do. Kudos to all of you that do this on a regular basis. It's heart wrenching and very stressful - I'm really hoping for a happy ending...
Unfortunately, keeping all three indoors is not an option for me and I've read that while they may semi-trust me since I've been feeding them for almost a year, that they would have to start over with another person even to be relocated. To further complicate matters, the male has FIV.
And while the window suggestion is a great idea, I don't really have a set up for that so I guess I'm really leaning toward releasing them into the yard - I have their shelter from last winter & can make it even better on my own property but do I need to leave them outside in the cage for another few weeks or do you think I could just put the cage with the shelter & keep putting food in it and they'll figure it out? I'm scared they will try to find their way back to the old location so I don't want to mess up this part.
I will also call the women that have helped me to update them and see if they have any suggestions - they had mentioned some barn program but the FIV one might be an issue there. It's better for the two to stay together right?
Sorry to go on so long but I just don't know what to do. Kudos to all of you that do this on a regular basis. It's heart wrenching and very stressful - I'm really hoping for a happy ending...
I would confine them in the yard for a few weeks, if possible. They will be used to the house but not the yard and, like you fear, may try to return "home." If they stay in the cage, it would have to be covered against the weather (on a porch or in a shed, maybe?)
There shouldn't be a problem with the cat with FIV, as long as he is fed and kept sheltered. My friend's cat, who was an inside/outside cat, just died at 17. He was FIV. She has two others who are 10 and 12, respectively.
I would not put food inside their shelter. That is sort of like eating in bed - crumbs get mixed in with the bedding and can cause issues (bugs and other critters looking for a snack). Establish a feeding area (inside the enclosure at first but in the same place once the enclosure is gone). Dedicate a section of the yard to this and to their shelter. You can use a pallet as a raised floor for their feeding area and it won't hurt to cover it. (a wooden doghouse will work).
If the female is bonded with the other guys, it might not hurt for her to join them in the outside posse. If you decide to keep her inside, she will have to be quarantined for a bit before introductions to your other two. That might stress her out more than she needs.
There shouldn't be a problem with the cat with FIV, as long as he is fed and kept sheltered. My friend's cat, who was an inside/outside cat, just died at 17. He was FIV. She has two others who are 10 and 12, respectively.
I would not put food inside their shelter. That is sort of like eating in bed - crumbs get mixed in with the bedding and can cause issues (bugs and other critters looking for a snack). Establish a feeding area (inside the enclosure at first but in the same place once the enclosure is gone). Dedicate a section of the yard to this and to their shelter. You can use a pallet as a raised floor for their feeding area and it won't hurt to cover it. (a wooden doghouse will work).
If the female is bonded with the other guys, it might not hurt for her to join them in the outside posse. If you decide to keep her inside, she will have to be quarantined for a bit before introductions to your other two. That might stress her out more than she needs.
