meet Buggy

tabbytom

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How long did he stay in? Any unusual moves by him captured on the camera?

Did he use the litter box and finish his food? This is a sooner or later thing. If Bugs doesn't much stress being indoor for the few hours, think it's pretty good chance for the next few days doing the same thing thing till he goes to the vet.

Enter the room with food whenever he is indoor and call him out to eat. He mustn't be spooked.
 
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bigbadbass

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i would have preferred to wait till after my Florida trip return for the vet trip...but I've got another motive to get this done I've not yet mentioned.

One of our neighbors has been witnessed to shoot squirrels (pellet gun) who have dared to enter the sanctity of his eminent domain (back yard).

One of those macho "big hunter" types, you know the type. I don't know if he'd have the gonads to shoot Bug but don't trust him and his self centered Mrs as far as I could throw them. I'm very concerned Bug would run afoul of them, especially come spring and summer.   

I know how these bastids work...if caught and challenged on it.... the blame game....they'd claim the animal destroyed or wrecked SOMETHING thus turning it around that I'm the bad guy for allowing the animal to desecrate the heavenly molecules on THEIR property.        

Of course I'd involve the authorities...but the damage would be already done to the Bug. His protection my main concern above all.

Vetting and bringing inside is the logical preventative.  

Further....it was alleged years ago, a neighbors indoor/outdoor cat was trapped and dumped by them....no proof of course.  No one else in the 'hood would stoop so low. Once I heard and saw the pellet gun used on  the squirrel....we put nothing beyond these "people"....(expletives deleted)    
 
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bigbadbass

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he was laying comfortably in the crate, door wide open, a small blanket inside with his scent on it fro previous use

we did blinky eyes, I spoke to him very low volume. Put food out, a couple of leaves in the litterbox. 

 Otherwise he didn't move around a lot. 

I stayed for 30 minutes , turned off light, closed shades to outside...set the camera to night vision.....

with me gone he is pacing around, exploring. "The Secret Lives of..."

I can't believe he's lounging in the chair I sit in!  Darn if he doesn't seem to like it. 

Little Elvis is settling right in! 
 

tabbytom

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Oh dear, you are doing everything to keep Bug safe [emoji]128077[/emoji][emoji]127995[/emoji] Hopefully those pellet gunners won't do any harm to Bugs.

Lounging on the chair is a good sign. He's comfortable with it as your scent is there. Maybe he's reflecting on his life and this is proably going on in his mind 'Man, what have i missed all these years?' :lol3: Hopefully all these will put him in the right perspective of staying put.
 
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bigbadbass

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I'm hoping, TT.   He's SO well behaved indoors, I can't believe it. So far, at least. Too good to be true?  Will it last? 

Thursday AM first thing, right to the vet for the next step.

IF he's already IN the crate, it'll go easier on us both, fingers crossed.   

We both need to get this drama behind us and enter the next phase....kitty special ed....he'll be like a 24 year old high school senior...a little late to the party....but seems to catch on very fast though.  

Gonna give him a middle name "Elvis".  Yup, Buggy Elvis, a pretty cool character. : )         
 
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bigbadbass

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an early riser...up at 4AM, he paced, closely inspected the sliding glass door for escape....ate, drank and used the catbox!  (I snapped a pic on security cam of the "incident") 

He climbed the tree easily, without reservation.  By 8AM...asleep again. I could not believe how well adjusted he seemed to be!  

This afternoon he's been hiding out behind a large bass amp cabinet...between it and the wall...dark, safe, far out of the way. Sleeping the majority of the day...could he be depressed a bit?

As this room is excessively warm, I opened a top window just a bit, and closed the heating ducts. Still comfortable, but not excessive. 

Just a couple of days more, Bug, and THE big step (the vet) will be accomplished.   
 

tabbytom

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That's very good news to hear :clap:

Not sure if he felt depressed. Main concern is that he did not claw the door and try to get out and he climbed the cat tree and has been sleeping, eating, drinking and using the litter box. Maybe he's adjusting to the current environment and set up. Not sure if his hideout is about the same as what he has now.
I'm just watching for restlessness and anxiety. If he does not show any of these signs, I think you've got a winner!
Don't forget to scoop and clean his litter box ;)
 
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bigbadbass

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litter box cleaned....check        looks so good, I'm tempted....oh, never mind  : )

No clawing of doors, though he paces. Being confined to a room is quite the change from his 1/4 mile roaming distance between his spots in the 'hood. 

I'll be watching on the camera at 4am ...he seemed to be VERY active at that time yesterday. By 8am he was sleeping again. 

The Mrs made some chicken ...he inhaled. 

I know he needs play/exercise but he's not responding at all. He is now retreating behind the wall of bass amps.

Soon enough, i've gotta coerce him into the carrier. 
 

tabbytom

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Yes, they are most active at dusk and dawn. That's why he's up at 4am and sleeps after the sun is up and sleep more till dusk and sleep again till dawn.

Have a cat wand and play with him. Let him chase the feather or at least get him out moving for some interaction time that'll help the bonding. Entice him with cat treats and make him get the treats from up and down the tree and treats may help him into carrier easier. Do some dry runs without closing the carrier door.
It's ok that he retires behind the wall of bass amps as long as he's comfortable with your presence. I know he is watching you as he is still unsure why he's here but this is just the beginning so remember - go slow ;)
 
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bigbadbass

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great tips, Agreed some play time would be therapeutic for him. To this point, he's been unresponsive. I'll try a wand in the morning

ty,  TT 
 

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Sorry I've not been here.  MY F-I-L fell and we've been busy.

Anyhoo - it does sound like he's going to make the transition a bit easier.  The fact that he has't gone ballistic is good but do not expect that to be forever.  He may use that tactic when you get him into the carrier.

As an example, we have a cat, Alfred, who will actually walk into the carrier.  Then, the minute you pick it up, he's goes bonkers.  Cries, paws at the door, lays on his back (which has the effect of upsetting the carrier, too.  Once he tossed himself off the car seat!)  Its like a wild animal got loose.

Then, at the vet, he's sweet as pie.  They love him there because he's so well behaved.  The turd...  On the way home, he's insanity itself again.  Get home and he won't talk to us for days.  Will accept food but only because we beg him to eat, you understand.  If it wasn't so startling, I'd say it was funny.

I would just be prepared for a different side of Bugs to come out.  It probably won't but I wished I had been forewarned about Alfred.

I think playing with Bugs will help a lot, too.  It will expend some energy and help you two bond.
 

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Aloha @bigbadbass

I think I will start with the petting at base of tail....both my girl and my boy love having that area touched....with Duchess she loves to be patted hence th reason we call it the butt pats....Prince loves to be scratched there...but the minute I pat he's out....now the guy we've been feeding outside he has just really started letting me do that...he likes the scratch too but at first he did not like it...
Now with bug's pacing....that should stop once neutered hopefully it might not but typically that's the hormone driving him...since he's fully intact when he was outdoors (oh don't ya just love the way that sounds) he was being led by this hormone to go and find tail sorry for the expression best I could do...once he's fixed he will calm down....this can take anywhere from 1-8 weeks....really just depends...you are doing a fantastic job and I have to agree with TabbyTom I think he's weighing his pros and cons....cats are way more smarter than us mere humans give them credit for [emoji]128008[/emoji] anyhoo when you do go to crate him....be fast as you can about it ok I'll be back later to see how things went in the meantime I am praying for you and Bugs
 
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bigbadbass

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no apologies needed, @Ondine, you've been nothing less than spectacular. 

@imjustacatmom...excellent experiences, comments and suggestions...a newbee to this...I'm sponging all the help I can get. TY from both The Bug and I.    

Some good news....he slept peacefully in my chair overnight , this morning ate, drank and used the L-box (relief for us BOTH : )

He's hanging out near a warm radiator...I think he's really digging the warmth indoors (something new to him in winter). I guess the warmth is super relaxing him?  

We played with a wand (no doubt his first exposure to such a toy)  Started very slow and easy to not scare him. The little caveman *slowly* started playing with it.

I was being very easy, no aggressive moves at all. He DID respond (eyes WIDE open) and played a bit!  I think he's going to go into sleep mode now ......but we broke the ice with the toy. Very positive interaction!  

I'll continue playing attempts after work this afternoon, try to get him out with me in the middle of the room.

Some bad news...he's not using the carrier now (sleeping in my chair)   Rethink on how to get him in there for the vet. And I thought this was gonna be "easy".

TY, little by little, we ARE making headway on the Bug's domestication !  

I'm so surprised with his demeanor so far....eating, instantly using box, starting to play, sleeping a lot (showing his age?)  This from a 12 YO feral? 

However, there has been NO petting, no closeness to this point. He's hiding out more than I'd like...but expected as I'm sure he's still in shock. Hoping he doesn't EVER go Jekyll and Hyde on me!    
 
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tabbytom

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Is the cushion on your chair removeable? If yes, put the cushion in the carrier. Maybe that cushion is comfortable for him. Catnip and cushion in the carrier.

Get ready a big towel or blanket before the day of transportation to the vet and use it to cover the carrier while on the way to the vet. This will help Bugs calm down.
 
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bigbadbass

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The Bug (Little Elvis)  is taking over my chair. Right near the heat duct, its super warm, he's lovin' it.  When I'm not around...thats his spot. 

I tried trapping this morning, but no good on wearing the motorcycle leather jacket and gloves, it freaked him out, he stayed hid...wouldn't come near me or his food served in the carrier.   I'm not about to wear that indoors every day till he gets used to it.

Rethink...going back to food in the carrier. He ate with dish inside there tonight....I was sitting on floor right next to him, petting him. I think that will be the hot setup to finally trap him. My vet "doesn't have" humane traps...though their website claim they do. 

Other good news, he has consistently used the litterbox, not one mistake!  He seems to be super clean and caught right on to it!  I'm amazed. 

He does sleep a lot, warm and relaxed I'd guess...as he doesn't have to remain on constant guard for his life?  

He's cleaned himself and looks spectacular....gleaming black fur.

We play about 10 minutes per sitting with a wand/small mouse toy....he seems to be more interested in the thick material string than the mouse toy at the end. Should I cut it off?

He's doing super, i just need to get this vet thing done and over without having to resort to neanderthal tactics where someone will get hurt (ME) 

Try again tomorrow, it may take some time to refamiliarize him eating inside the carrier again.  
 

tabbytom

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Best for now till then is not to freak him out. Though it's gonna be tricky without protection, an improvised method is best. Since he eats from inside of the carrier, keep talking to him and petting him while he eats.

This is the only way to get him in. So on the eve of going to the vet's, same routine, eat, talk , pet and lightning quick but gently close the door of the carrier. Leave him overnight inside with blanket covering the carrier and next morn straight to the vet. But don't forget to leave your used shirt inside so at the vet your smell is still there so that he'll feel safe.

As for the thick material string at the end of the mouse toy, leave it there. Sometimes it's not the mouse that they are interested in, it's something more wriggly. Same as my boy, he'll hide in a bag with an opening on the other end and I play with him placing the mouse at the opening facing him, he's not interested. But when I use the tail to entice him, he attacks the tail :think: :lol3:
 

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So glad to hear of Bug's progress already! Perhaps there is a rescue group that would allow you to borrow a humane trap if the food in crate method proves unsuccessful. I contacted one near me and they had a volunteer meet me at a mutually convenient location and allowed me to borrow a trap. I just had to make sure Mama was very hungry when I set it. Very easy, though even with a baby blanket covering it she freaked out and banged up her nose pretty bad in an attempt to get out.
 
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bigbadbass

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TT sorry i neglected to answer a prior question  ...the seat pad is too large, however there is a small blanket draped over the seat...easily removable and has both our scents on it. i'll move it to the carrier.  And blanket over carrier during transport...check. TY : )  

Note...I'm now cognizant the Bug is a very LARGE cat.  Dwarfs the indoor ossicat and bengals we have.  

SS...affirmative, if all other methods fail, i'll source a humane trap from a rescue group. The Bug is a very sly character....as was noted earlier in this thread, thats part of the reason he's made it 12 years HOMELESS. Incredible survival skills. His mommy taught him well.

Though far from expert, I'm hopeful and certain he's becoming agreeable to the warmth, food and security of the inside. Time, sensitivity and care will be needed, but I think he'll come around to some degree on a human interaction and emotional attachment level. Gonna give the Bug the best opportunity I can offer.
 
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