ANY EXPERIENCED FERAL RESCUE HAPPY ENDINGS?

Boris Diamond

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My feral Seal was in the bathroom for months.  It takes patience as many here have said.  Things will happen in their own time.  You cannot rush it.

I trapped and neutered Seal 13 months ago.  And great news!  He hopped up on my lap for the first time today!  It may not sound like much, but I am pretty excited about it!  He is such a sweet, shy sugar bear.  
  I have been able to hold him and he will nuzzle me, but no lap until now! 
 For me, kitty on the lap is a sign of the good life.  
 
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hopeformyferal

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This made me cry! I am so happy for your cat! I know it will take time. I rescued my cat Andy almost 10 years ago. He was living under a house in deplorable conditions. He was the only cat I did not have to trap to get fixed and homed, The reason I could pick him up was he was so sick, That is also  the reason that I kept him, Long story short....It took him five years to jump in my lap and he has not been there many times in the last five years, I only want him and they rest of them to be happy. 

I read that I should go in and out and bring food and talk sweetly, I have done this for two weeks today. I also read that I should go in and just talk to her and I do that too. I tap on her door so she is not caught off guard. When I open the door she is ALWAYS in the same spot, hiding in this large circular toy that I bought her. She peeks out with only one eye. It's so sad that she is still petrified. I fed her for almost one year before I finally trapped her. I would sit several feet away while she ate but she always took off fast after she was done eating. This is certainly taking along time but God willing, we will have enough time.

Thanks again for your happy ending!!! I can only pray for the same ending!!!
 
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hopeformyferal

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Your cats are not only LUCKY but BEAUTIFUL! God bless you for taking such great care of them. And thank you for the great advice and kind words! I truly appreciate you!
 

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A few things I didn't mention about Shadow (the video kitty) -- she allows my husband to pet her but is wary, and hides when anyone comes to the house. If only one visitor is here and they are quiet and patient, she might come out and sniff an outstretched finger, but no touch allowed. When the band practices, she's gone down cellar until we stop. 

Once she got out, and seemed to revert to wild, she was scared and hiding in the bushes, meowing pitifully. I panicked thinking I might lose her or she might get hit by a car, so I picked her up, and in her struggle to get down (still can't pick her up), she tagged me pretty good with one of her claws and I bled a bit. She never attempts to bite, but will try hard to escape if she's held in restraint. 

When we tried to get her a companion kitty from the shelter (didn't work sadly), I realized the huge difference between Shadow and a tame cat. She'll probably always be timid, wary of other people, but is so sweet and bonded to me -- I think if something happened to me, she would eventually bond to my husband that way. 

What I'm saying is, the reward of having a feral and giving them a life of security, food, and not freezing to death or being eaten by a coyote -- it's really rewarding, it's just not the same as having a "normal" tame cat. (Others may have different experiences with their ferals)

 I'm really hoping your sister decides to try developing a relationship with yours. :)

Jan H.
 

jhouse

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LOL, Boris, my Shadow found my lap a few months ago (much warmer than our cold floor) -- if Seal is anything like Shadow, he'll want that warm lap all the time! I have trouble convincing her I have to get up and get things done. :)
 

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H hopeformyferal thanks for the Purina mention. It is supposed to be such a big no-no variety, but Evander hates both the Royal Canin and Hills urinary diets. He is doing pretty good. The sneezing and running nose have cleared, but his litter urine balls are still pretty small compared to what they were.
 
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hopeformyferal

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I'm happy he's getting better!!! You might also check with your vet on putting cranberry juice in his water/
 

rgwanner

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I just found this site so I am late responding. I brought in a 3 yr old semi feral She would let me pet her at the"diner" A new male came and started chasing her so she was in my bedroom for a month After about 3 weeks of ft hiding she started coming up on the bed with me and even licked my hand! Now she is out in the living area of our condo with 6 other cats who mostly ignore her.So she is starting over in another new place. She mostly hides behind the curtains but will let me pet her if I come slowly. Just give your kitty time. It could take several weeks or months. But you asked for a happy ending. My Tuly is slowly adjusting. She comes out and walks around as long as we don't come too close like we are going to pick her up.
88th t
Years ago I ended up with an abused cat. She hid under the bed for almost a year. I would just xit andtalk to her Finally she started co ing out. She was never a lap cat but she would sit on the couch next to me. Not quite the same but almost. So don't give up.
 
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hopeformyferal

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Thank you for taking the time to tell me your wonderful happy ending. Mine has been in the bedroom for 6 weeks this Wed. She is so shy that it makes me sad, She still will not come near me. And she was very afraid of two of my cats that I tried to introduce to her. I tried one cat one day and one cat the next but she was too afraid.The good news is that she is eating well and using the litter box. The best news is she is out of danger from many unsafe circumstances ranging from getting run over to freezing to death and all the other terrible things that can happy to an outdoor feral cat. I love her so much. Time is on her side, 

Thanks again for the kind advice! I appreciate you!
 

rgwanner

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I just found this site so I am late responding. I brought in a 3 yr old semi feral She would let me pet her at the"diner" A new male came and started chasing her so she was in my bedroom for a month After about 3 weeks of ft hiding she started coming up on the bed with me and even licked my hand! Now she is out in the living area of our condo with 6 other cats who mostly ignore her.So she is starting over in another new place. She mostly hides behind the curtains but will let me pet her if I come slowly. Just give your kitty time. It could take several weeks or months. But you asked for a happy ending. My Tuly is slowly adjusting. She comes out and walks around as long as we don't come too close like we are going to pick her up.
88th t
Years ago I ended up with an abused cat. She hid under the bed for almost a year. I would just xit andtalk to her Finally she started co ing out. She was never a lap cat but she would sit on the couch next to me. Not quite the same but almost. So don't give up.
 
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hopeformyferal

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I would like to help everyone possible with my slow successful story. After trapping my feral cat 15 months ago, I thought it would be best to isolate her for protection from my other five cats. I was over protective. After one year, and her still be petrified of me, I opened her door and put a gate up. One by one my other cats came to her and they eventually all seemed to accept her just fine. After a month, I took the gate down. She rarely leaves the room but I'm sure in time she will get more comfortable with her new surroundings. There is a reason for the phrase "copy cat". She seems to be less afraid of me because she can see how much the other cats love me. I'm hoping to help any other people who may be too overprotective too.
 
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