Very good suggestions and what a lovely cat Siren Sno is! I think your cat may very well learn to accept her and even love her in time.
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Getting Feral to Go Into the New Shelter
- Thread starter walli
- Start Date
Welcome to the Cat Site!
Agreed, this is one of the nicest kitty castles I've seen also! Great job and hugs for being such an awesome loving couple!
As I read through I thought the same, slowly move her current shelter closer and closer, however, also think that if you start now, only putting food for her in the new shelter she should go seek it out there.
If there are any towels or blankets in her current, take one or a piece and put it in the new.
Retrapping is not an option unless a drop trap is used, but rather than her/you going through that, if she starts to go after food in the new, then attach a heavy string to the latch area of the door, run it through the edge of the frame, and bring it to where you can see out a window if/when she goes in and pull the string closing the door. Making sure you keep it pulled tightly until you reach the shelter door to latch it securely.
I've baited many cats in to cages this way
Agreed, this is one of the nicest kitty castles I've seen also! Great job and hugs for being such an awesome loving couple!
As I read through I thought the same, slowly move her current shelter closer and closer, however, also think that if you start now, only putting food for her in the new shelter she should go seek it out there.
If there are any towels or blankets in her current, take one or a piece and put it in the new.
Retrapping is not an option unless a drop trap is used, but rather than her/you going through that, if she starts to go after food in the new, then attach a heavy string to the latch area of the door, run it through the edge of the frame, and bring it to where you can see out a window if/when she goes in and pull the string closing the door. Making sure you keep it pulled tightly until you reach the shelter door to latch it securely.
I've baited many cats in to cages this way
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #23
Thanks for all the tips!
Patience seems to be a good idea, really There really isn't that big a rush
We had our stem wall worked on in the garage and temporarily stored stuff
in the back yard and covered it with a tarp, that's where she was living.
when we TNR That's when I put a cardboard shelter in there.
so other than the big eye sore in the back yard, I think giving her some time
to trust us is a good idea, I do see a little difference since she was trapped.
which has only been a month.
Thanks guys, I think I will give her a little break and myself from stressing on this!
Soon as I can get a pic of her I will post it. she's a gray Tabby.
Sno kitty is quite beautiful!!
Patience seems to be a good idea, really There really isn't that big a rush
We had our stem wall worked on in the garage and temporarily stored stuff
in the back yard and covered it with a tarp, that's where she was living.
when we TNR That's when I put a cardboard shelter in there.
so other than the big eye sore in the back yard, I think giving her some time
to trust us is a good idea, I do see a little difference since she was trapped.
which has only been a month.
Thanks guys, I think I will give her a little break and myself from stressing on this!
Soon as I can get a pic of her I will post it. she's a gray Tabby.
Sno kitty is quite beautiful!!
That cat is so fortunate! Oh my goodness! When I saw the picture, I couldn't believe. WOW!
You have to also turn off or null your human brain, and imagine you're a cat in the same situation. They may not be able to reason some things out, like a good home, warm'n snuggly with lots of good food, and nice veterinarians vs returning back to the outdoors where they barely survived. My boy reminds me daily that I kidnapped him from his outdoor world and I'm holding him hostage. This sort of scenario tends to be beyond my baby's reasoning at times (until he's escaped for two hours, then wanders back inside.)
They can be very suspicious of potential threats or the unknown. Observe them, you will see their cold logic in action as they attempt to think things through. My little Siren preferred living beneath a vacant home rather than going inside during bad weather or extreme instead of entering the home through a partially opened door, as she probably saw this jeopardizing her security (where humans reside or I could get trapped inside by one). Tampering with their existing home when they aren't comfortable around you, may be seen by them as threatening, and their caution alarm goes up. Now that my Siren is comfortable with me, and trust me (not enough to jump inside my vehicle, on top of it yes*) so much that I could move her feeding dish anywhere and she'll follow me and eat there. I can kneel down over her as she's eating and spoon food from a can into her dish and she never flinches.
Mind you, she is a TNR and deemed by the local city as unadoptable and unsociable. She is terribly submissive or afraid of other outdoor cats that attempted to eat from her dish and will run off leaving it full of food. Once she ran from her food when a squirrel I feed approached within five feet. She now trusts me enough that she will eat undistracted, while I stand over her blocking other outdoor hardened bully cats from taking her food. Get your baby to trust you in such a way, and she will readily take to living in that fabulous home you made for her. She may even follow you inside your home for dinner. Patience and regularly feeding her while she has you in her sight is the key. They will quickly remember you and things about you, like your smell signature, your habits, your vehicle, the sound of your voice, and connect this to "that's my sugar mommy or daddy," and come running to you every day.
* She watched a competitor to her food, jump inside my vehicle. She watched its face pressed up against the window as we drove away (stray taken in by a rescue organization).
They can be very suspicious of potential threats or the unknown. Observe them, you will see their cold logic in action as they attempt to think things through. My little Siren preferred living beneath a vacant home rather than going inside during bad weather or extreme instead of entering the home through a partially opened door, as she probably saw this jeopardizing her security (where humans reside or I could get trapped inside by one). Tampering with their existing home when they aren't comfortable around you, may be seen by them as threatening, and their caution alarm goes up. Now that my Siren is comfortable with me, and trust me (not enough to jump inside my vehicle, on top of it yes*) so much that I could move her feeding dish anywhere and she'll follow me and eat there. I can kneel down over her as she's eating and spoon food from a can into her dish and she never flinches.
Mind you, she is a TNR and deemed by the local city as unadoptable and unsociable. She is terribly submissive or afraid of other outdoor cats that attempted to eat from her dish and will run off leaving it full of food. Once she ran from her food when a squirrel I feed approached within five feet. She now trusts me enough that she will eat undistracted, while I stand over her blocking other outdoor hardened bully cats from taking her food. Get your baby to trust you in such a way, and she will readily take to living in that fabulous home you made for her. She may even follow you inside your home for dinner. Patience and regularly feeding her while she has you in her sight is the key. They will quickly remember you and things about you, like your smell signature, your habits, your vehicle, the sound of your voice, and connect this to "that's my sugar mommy or daddy," and come running to you every day.
* She watched a competitor to her food, jump inside my vehicle. She watched its face pressed up against the window as we drove away (stray taken in by a rescue organization).
Thank you. I'll tell her you said so. :-) She adores me so much and wants to head brush my trousers constantly, but I can no longer allow her to do so, as my now indoor cat finds it threatening and will redirect his aggression on my legs. So sad because she is such an angel and naive of the seeming threat she presents.
Walli, how about a picture tour of that fabulous shelter? Better yet, can we see pictures of your little angel? Please please??
Please don't lock her in, once she makes it her new home. They need their mobility for their little curiousness and for threat evasion. If another feral invades their territory or attempts to enter her new home, she will need a safe escape route out. Outdoor cats include this into their criteria when selecting a home. Cats prefer to first avoid conflict with another cat vs fight them, as they realize the fact that they may lose, get hurt or worse trying to defend it. Which is probably why my lad get so upset and frantic when he spots other cats from the window, as he knows the only way out is through the front door (so he believes). It's the one he uses for his door dashing escapes. For he feels, his only option here is to fight (flight isn't an option) if another cat enters the door.
I noticed him once behind me, as he was crouched nose to the floor at the doors opening edge standing as still as a summer lake with no wind. Not realizing there were probably outdoor cats on the other side stalking me for kibble, I thought it would be funny to prank him. So I turned, leaning over and touched him on both sides of his chest with my hands. Like a Sumo wrestler, he turned with both front paws and claws spread wide, and then clasped my leg in a power grip and held on. When I screamed like a little girl, he snapped out of it. It is their flight or fight instinct. I have heard of cats with "Catio" enclosures feeling threatened by ferals or roamers passing by and refused to go out. Consider not only leaving it open but also providing more than one escape exit (could be above ground level), and she will be more willing to accept it as home.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #28
I will try and take a picture of her soon, she's shy!
I live in San Diego and Coyotes are a definite threat.
I havn't seen one, but know of people who's pets have been taken.
and there are cats roaming and I worry about someone taking her new
shelter, I am being patient right now and leaving the enclosure open
and closing it at night, so she sees me doing it.
When it warms up is when I will seriously think about moving her
into the enclosure, We have had more rain than usual this year!!
thanks for the info on cats needing a way out.
I will keep it in my thought process.
I worry about her at night tho!!
I live in San Diego and Coyotes are a definite threat.
I havn't seen one, but know of people who's pets have been taken.
and there are cats roaming and I worry about someone taking her new
shelter, I am being patient right now and leaving the enclosure open
and closing it at night, so she sees me doing it.
When it warms up is when I will seriously think about moving her
into the enclosure, We have had more rain than usual this year!!
thanks for the info on cats needing a way out.
I will keep it in my thought process.
I worry about her at night tho!!
Holy Moses! That's the Buckingham Palace of cat shelters!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #30
hee hee! I was telling my husband I didn't know how to build a cat shelter
without spending money, We had to put it together and we modified it.
I think now, I could prolly build a cheaper shelter, I was kind of in freak out
mode at first!
without spending money, We had to put it together and we modified it.
I think now, I could prolly build a cheaper shelter, I was kind of in freak out
mode at first!
You really are stand up people for going to all this trouble. What about baiting the Palace with cans of tuna? I know that's what our local shelter does to get ferals into carriers. I'm sure it will all work out. As someone else has said closing her in at night in there is questionable. If she panics that she is trapped she'll never go in there again.
That's a gorgeous shelter!
I told my boyfriend about your shelter and how little miss kitty won't use it and wants to stay in the cardboard box and he said, "Yep, sounds like a cat." I will never understand why cats are so fascinated by boxes. Mine will sleep in a box full of random crap rather than on a cat bed.
Good luck getting her in the shelter. I think tying to tempt her with food and/or catnip is a pretty good idea but I've never tried anything like this so I don't really know.
I told my boyfriend about your shelter and how little miss kitty won't use it and wants to stay in the cardboard box and he said, "Yep, sounds like a cat." I will never understand why cats are so fascinated by boxes. Mine will sleep in a box full of random crap rather than on a cat bed.
Good luck getting her in the shelter. I think tying to tempt her with food and/or catnip is a pretty good idea but I've never tried anything like this so I don't really know.
The freak out mode sneaks up on us and before we know it, we're in the game. A stray happened at my door when all I had was human food. It ate what I offered, but I could tell it didn't prefer people food. I knew it was a stray because it was too friendly, and just waltzed into my home exploring. It returned the next day meowing at my door. All I had was the same ole human food. The next day I purchased enough to food to feed a colony. This kitty never returned. Here I was with over $50 of cat food (my freak out mode). This is how I got started feeding whatever outdoor cat that would approach. A couple of weeks later, while helping a family move a heavy furniture item inside, I discovered that my little visiting guest had found his or her new forever home with its own friendly feline companion.
When we "freak out" on their behalf, they reap the rewards. So how goes it with the object of your "freak out" cat attraction? Any progress in befriending them? Oh and not to spill milk on your hopes, but I understand that a cat's memory functions similar to that of humans (more so than dogs a recent new study says). I was told by a lady that TNRs for a local city, that cats that are trapped and neutered/spayed tend to remember the event. My TNR approaches me meowing in a "siren song" fashion. I could probably feed her by hand if I so desired. Yet to this day, she runs away when she sees that same lady that trapped and got her spayed. Perhaps you are also having to overcome this memory. There is hope still. Don't give up on her. Be patience.
I attempted to trap my TNR to take her home, and she blamed the pet carrier and not me personally.
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A lot of TNRers and other "experts" suggest covering the humane trap with a towel to disguise it and blend it in with the surroundings so the cat will not stress seeing it and may actually do what we want -- walk into the trap for help!
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #35
yeah, the TNR definitely affected her, before the TNR I was standing outside and she
came up close to me and was squinting her eyes at me.
Now she goes into her shelter whenever I come out, I hope she
trusts me again, I have decided when it's a bit warmer to give her another temp shelter
that's more mobile and slowly mover her closer to the one I want her in.
I've got this Orange Tom that comes around once in awhile. sheesh they're everywhere!
Curious, does anyone know how to tell if a cat is hungry? I don't really want to start feeding
another cat, but if it's hungry not sure if I can help it.
Thanks for all your replies and purraises!
you guys are great!
came up close to me and was squinting her eyes at me.
Now she goes into her shelter whenever I come out, I hope she
trusts me again, I have decided when it's a bit warmer to give her another temp shelter
that's more mobile and slowly mover her closer to the one I want her in.
I've got this Orange Tom that comes around once in awhile. sheesh they're everywhere!
Curious, does anyone know how to tell if a cat is hungry? I don't really want to start feeding
another cat, but if it's hungry not sure if I can help it.
Thanks for all your replies and purraises!
you guys are great!
"Squinting her eyes at me" is a sign of affection and trust by cats.
How to tell if a cat is hungry? Well IDK what experts say, but I'd say you tell the same way you'd tell if anyone else is hungry. Approaching food quickly is a good sign. Approaching YOU is also a good sign, because a cat knows (kind) humans will feed. And yes, they are everywhere, because of irresponsible people who have failed to spay/neuter and commit to lifetime caring for cats. We are working hard on making that problem disappear by advocating for spay/neuter and adoption for life, and TNR of free-roaming cats, with responsible, caring caregivers who do not fail to feed and obtain care when necessary for the cats in their sphere.
How to tell if a cat is hungry? Well IDK what experts say, but I'd say you tell the same way you'd tell if anyone else is hungry. Approaching food quickly is a good sign. Approaching YOU is also a good sign, because a cat knows (kind) humans will feed. And yes, they are everywhere, because of irresponsible people who have failed to spay/neuter and commit to lifetime caring for cats. We are working hard on making that problem disappear by advocating for spay/neuter and adoption for life, and TNR of free-roaming cats, with responsible, caring caregivers who do not fail to feed and obtain care when necessary for the cats in their sphere.
Once you start feeding one out-door cat others will show up. Cats can tell how well other cats are fed by sniffing their butts. If they find another cat that seems to know of a friendly human or a good hunting spot they will follow him or her so they can get in on the noms too.
If you don't mind leaving food out for hungry cats that's great, but you need to make sure you have a TNR plan-of-action in place. It seems unkind to let a hungry cat stay hungry, but by feeding you are encouraging them to regularly come back to your place, where they will meet other cats, and you're also ensuring that they are healthy enough to breed. Once they've had kittens they'll bring the kittens to your place to eat too. That's how I ended up with so many cats.
Did you TNR the first girl with the help of a TNR group?
If you don't mind leaving food out for hungry cats that's great, but you need to make sure you have a TNR plan-of-action in place. It seems unkind to let a hungry cat stay hungry, but by feeding you are encouraging them to regularly come back to your place, where they will meet other cats, and you're also ensuring that they are healthy enough to breed. Once they've had kittens they'll bring the kittens to your place to eat too. That's how I ended up with so many cats.
Did you TNR the first girl with the help of a TNR group?
The fabric pet carrier was my tool of choice for my situation. I actually got her to place her entire body, including her tail, inside the carrier as I kept pushing the can of food further to the back. It worked quite well until she started that distress call. My heart sank and I hesitated, allowing her time to reason a weakness in my strategy. Afterward, I decided it wasn't a good idea to try and take her inside. Some months later she will come into my home on her own, except I can't allow her because of the other outdoor cat I adopted, as he is really territorial and wants to tear her face off.
Good post. Saved me the trouble of typing the exact same thing.
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I didn't know this! All this time, I thought there was an invisible sign in my backyard!
