Gaining trust of feral

Shane Kent

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@roxee

I think if you put @ and the persons name in your post it sends the person a message that you mentioned them. Like I did to your name at top of my message, no space after the @. 

Try redoing your request for a picture with @ followed by Ondine (no space) at the top of your message.

Welcome to The Cat Site 
 
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simonschuster

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@kittychick   It is a K&H house. I have a 6x8 covered front porch. I have an outlet by my front door, so that's where I have the K&H heated house. Mama wasn't interested in it at first, so I started feeding her in the house. She would then go inside to eat, but then leave. I would immediately remove any left over food. I had the water outside so she didn't spill it in the house. Did not occur to me that having he food inside would make her not comfortable to relax there. I originally fed her in my back yard under an old plastic Little Tykes climbing structure intended for toddlers. It was perfect, about 3ft square, had multiple entrance/exit points. She often hung out under the slide. It was the perfect feeding spot- only it was a trek into the edge of my backyard and not convenient in bad/cold weather. When I bought the K&H house (off Amazon) I knew it needed to be under a shelter and near a plug. The front porch seemed like a good place to transition her to come for food. It only took a few days and she became a regular at my front porch at 6am and often late afternoon. I put two rubbermaid/styrofoam/straw shelters in the back under my deck- a place I had often seen her run. There are also two in my front bushes.

Back to her current set up- I have the K&H house on one side of my door and a plain tote on it's side on the opposite side (where I used to put the water). When it was below freezing a few days ago, I put a bunch of fleece fabric in the open tote and Mama came up and went in and snuggled down in the fabric, at least from 8-midnight when I went to bed. The next night she came up to eat but wouldn't go inside the house or tote. My daughter watched her through the window (Mama couldn't see her). When She lost sight of Mama I looked and saw her walking down a shoveled path in my snow covered driveway to the street. I opened the door and called out "Come back Mama. It's cold! Don't go!" I was shocked when she turned around and ran right back to the bottom of my steps. She would not approach further until I closed the door. She ended up eating a bit more and going  in the tote and fleece for about an hour.

Today it was about 55 degrees when I got home at 8pm and found her sitting on the steps. I went out with food and water and some baby chicken on the 3ft telescoping fork. She and I talked for 45 minutes. She got as close as 3 ft. Used her paws to take the baby food off the fork and then ate it from her paws. I had my door open, but storm door closed so her babies took turns coming to see her. They looked at each other through the glass- maybe 3-5 feet apart. I talked to her all about her babies and the personalities. We did a few blinkies. She was very timid, maybe inched closer to the food 6 inches and jumped back if I shifted my weight in my chair. At one point she went down the steps to my walk and laid down and gave herself a good bath. I just kept talking to her. I felt it was some good quality time.

How would you suggest I configure my front porch area? House and fleece sleep tote one side and food area on the other? Is 4-5 feet apart enough room? If food is only present when I feed her at set times will that make her more comfortable in the house?

Slow and steady!
 

kittychick

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Wanted you to know I've glanced at your note and will read much more carefully and answer Fri or Sat (I have fibro - and it hit hard the same time we have a big design project due this weekend--so know I WILL answer soon :) I'm thinking of you and your girl!
 

ondine

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Some cats are not comfortable sleeping anywhere there is no escape hatch.  Many of the tote houses I build have two entrances.

If the electric house has a back entrance, position it so both entrances are accessible - a bit aways from the wall, for instance.  Having a clear tote is good, too, because they can see if anything else is approaching.  But another hole cut at the back will help, too.

It kind of defeats the purpose of a warm, snuggling place but it might be worth a shot.  The second hole does not have to be big and can be placed at the top of the side of the tote.  This will give her more sleeping room and is just something to help her feel less "trapped."

She sure is a lucky cat!  Blessings on you for helping them all.
 
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simonschuster

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Yes @Ondine, my houses have two points of entry/exit. I did read that in my research! Thanks!

I sat outside twice with Mama today- around 3:30 and again at 9. Both times she seemed very happy, she rolled around a bit and scratched her chin and sides on the brick steps. She wanted the food I put a few feet away from my chair, and she came a bit closer on a few occasions, but her fear got the better of her and she stayed away. I ultimately moved the dish down a step further away from me and in time, she came and ate. I talked to her the entire time and exchanged blinkies. You know I love this cat when I'm wrapped up in a hat, gloves, winter coat and a blanket sitting on my front steps talking to a cat for 45 minutes in the dark!
 

ondine

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Yes @Ondine, my houses have two points of entry/exit. I did read that in my research! Thanks!

I sat outside twice with Mama today- around 3:30 and again at 9. Both times she seemed very happy, she rolled around a bit and scratched her chin and sides on the brick steps. She wanted the food I put a few feet away from my chair, and she came a bit closer on a few occasions, but her fear got the better of her and she stayed away. I ultimately moved the dish down a step further away from me and in time, she came and ate. I talked to her the entire time and exchanged blinkies. You know I love this cat when I'm wrapped up in a hat, gloves, winter coat and a blanket sitting on my front steps talking to a cat for 45 minutes in the dark!


They get to you, don't they?
 
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simonschuster

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So Mama comes up about a foot away from my glass storm door and I sit on the floor inside, also about a foot away. Her babies (now with me 7 months) come up to the door to see her. We exchange blinkies and tonight she was rubbing her face on the corner of the kitty shelter I have by my door for her. She even rolled over and took a bath right there in front of us! She runs as soon as I open the door and will only return within about 5 feet of me if I'm outside too, and not behind the door- but that's progress, right? Leaving her pheromones and laying down relaxed are signs she's trusting me more? My 12 year old daughter sat with me for about 30 minutes tonight by the door and the kittens crawled in our laps and played with us all in Mama's sight. Oh how I just want to scoop her up and bring her inside!!
 

tabbytom

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So Mama comes up about a foot away from my glass storm door and I sit on the floor inside, also about a foot away. Her babies (now with me 7 months) come up to the door to see her. We exchange blinkies and tonight she was rubbing her face on the corner of the kitty shelter I have by my door for her. She even rolled over and took a bath right there in front of us! She runs as soon as I open the door and will only return within about 5 feet of me if I'm outside too, and not behind the door- but that's progress, right? Leaving her pheromones and laying down relaxed are signs she's trusting me more? My 12 year old daughter sat with me for about 30 minutes tonight by the door and the kittens crawled in our laps and played with us all in Mama's sight. Oh how I just want to scoop her up and bring her inside!!
That's very good sign! She's slowly warming up to upo and the surrounding objects. Just be sure not to scare her away. All movements must be slow. She recognizes her babies. Get some food ready and lure her closer and to gain trust in you so that she associate you with food. Hopefully in a short while you'll be able to scoop her up and bring her inside. But best is let her walk into the house by herself.
 

bigbadbass

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SS-

I'm far from expert but if you'll allow me...I've just gone through very similar with the Bug.

He appeared in my back yard (borders woods) in October. It took till January 9 to shmooze him indoors.

In October, he bolted when i even *looked* at him from 20 yards away! A bowl of dry food ...I slowly relocated towards my deck....to outside sliding glass doors...with door ajar 6" and food bowl on the door jamb....then inches inside..sliding glass door always open.....bit by bit til he was inside around 6 feet eating comfortably ....when I shut the door behind him Jan 9.

I'd suggest complete quiet and solitude...no visitors. Sorry to be "cold" by using  food and their obvious hunger as a tool to trap...but it worked, Bug was very difficult, the whole process took 8-9 weeks!  Worth the effort...

He's in my music room, warm , safe, sleeping as I type this.  Vet, neuter, tests, treatments to follow this week.   
 
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simonschuster

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I'm loving folowing your progress with Bug @bigbadbass !

Not sure how much quite/solitude I can get with Mama- I have a 15 year old old-man cat, almost 2 year old cat and Mama's three kittens (9 months old). The 15 year old could care less when we added the almost 2 year old (he's always been extremely easy going and in his old age he simply doesn't care about much anymore), and the almost 2 year old was super interested in the babies and thrilled when they came out of their bathroom segregation with clean bills of health as he had three new playmates and instant buddies. They have all taken an interest in Mama through the glass door- no hissing at all, just observing. I'm kind of hoping the acquainting period can begin now, through the glass. Wish I had a set up like yours- a way to let Mama come partially in on her own, but I just have my front door and sliding glass door right into my family room. I've been feeding her since June. Able since September to sit and talk with her in my backyard at about a 5-10 yard distance. I transitioned her feeding spot to my front steps in early December due to weather. Now when outside I'm at about  5 feet and today marked less than a foot through the glass door. I think she's an excellent hunter- she eats what I set out, but never really seems all that hungry and she looks fit. She usually leaves quite a bit. Food does not seem to be a huge currency. I need to experiment and see if there is some delicacy she finds truly appealing. Not a fan of the gravy lovers cans my indoor crew love, she prefers the dry kibble. About 50% of the evening feedings she comes when I call 'Mama' and rattle the food container. Most mornings she's on the steps waiting for me at 6:30- runs 10 feet away when I open the door, talks to me as I change out the water dish and set out the food, but then stops coming closer at about 5 feet. As soon as I come inside and shut the glass door, she comes all the way up to the food dish to eat, which she does quickly and then she's gone until late afternoon/early evening.

I'm thankful for every bit of progress and all the encouragement and wisdom shared here!
 

bigbadbass

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no way to temporarily segregate the others away while feeding?  Just you...momma and food....no distractions....drawing her in inch by inch, day by day if necessary.   

Is the sliding glass door where you feed her?  

It was told me...feral likely have a "food route" that they follow...foraging. Is it possible she's being fed somewhere else?  Would explain why she's not so desperate hungry. 

Bug was starving hungry...he'd inhale a whole can of Friskies...AND 1/2 bowl of dry in one sitting. Think of the food as the fishing lure or bait....if they are hungry enough, they WILL follow the food (your easy pickins').  Took a lot of time, but he came further and further inside (slider always open).  Momma should be no different than Bug...provided she's hungry enough and not distracted or freaked out. Bug was and continues to be very skittish. I'll attend to that down the road a bit.    

PS...Bug had his 1st ever vet visit this morning...neuter, tests, shots, worming. Gonna try the indoor life...at least for winter. We'll see how he does going forward, fingers are crossed he'll adapt.  

Hoping you success with Mama, I know its difficult and frustrating..I'm new with this..I've made many  mistakes along the way. Thankfully Tabby Tom, Ondine and others offered invaluable guidance, insights and tips....WE made it happen, a team effort, of sorts. 

You can DO this! Slow and patient!  We're with you!  
 
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