I trapped her/him!

Well, either I posted without knowing there was a page 2 or ???? Either way,

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!!! You are such a love! As to how to help this boy feel comfortable in your home.... the absolute best thing you can do is to read this thread: Socializing a Feral: The Story of Lucky. This will so help you know what to expect, how to handle getting him comfortable, interacting with him, etc.

You go girl!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW , I just now read this . This is so wonderful , great job
I would try play classical music very softly to your new boy , that is comforting to the cats . The feliway plug-in also works really great to calm cats . Also don't look direct at the cat , he could feel threadening by that . Like Hissy always says , sit down on his level and read a book out laud to him . I don't read a lot of books and so read magazines or german comics . What also helps is not to make any sudden movements in any way's , it may scare him . Also what I notice is to ignore a cat and it helps the cat to open up quicker for attention .Well good luck And my congrats to you

I worked all day today. I work twelve hour shifts so I am gone a long time. When I got home he was still curled up in the little crate in the big crate. He let me pet him. He didn't move his head to be petted or purr but he didn't scratch or bite, either. He has eaten a little bit and used the litter box to poop and one pee. I am a little worried since he is so quiet but the vet said to expect him to take 2 or 3 days to recover because he got three immunizations. And neutering. He actually looks pretty contented in there. Not scared, at least obviously. Boy, tomcat pee sure stinks. I hope that ends soon. Will I have to throw away that litter box? Thanks for all the support you guys are giving me. Becky
PS: I have read the whole story of Lucky. I love that story. This guy is nowhere near as scared as Lucky. He must have been around people somewhere in the past. But when he was outside he seemed that afraid.

It may take a few weeks for the residual hormones to run out of his system, but the smell should go away.

How is his neck healing up?

Spotz

I agree with Spotz , it will take a week or so for the urin smell to get better . You don't have to toss the litter box away , just bleach it really good out and it should be ok .

I haven't been able to look at his neck. He stays in the little crate inside the big crate and I am not brave enough to haul him out. I am hoping that he will let me take him out, or maybe come out on his own in front of me soon. But I may take him back to the vet tomorrow just to check him out if he doesn't perk up. He did use the litter box last night but he didn't eat. Becky

Tonight when I got home from work he had eaten about a quarter cup of dry food and drank all of his water. I felt bad about that. I hadn't filled his bowl, just about quarter full because he spilled the first bowl. Well, now he has a full bowl. He had one pee and no poops in the litter box. He hissed at me when I reached toward him so I guess he is feeling better. Becky

Sounds like he's getting close to better...he's prolly going to be somewhat standoffish because of his neck above and beyond having to adapt to a domestic life style.

Hang in there Becky, he'll come around...especially when he realizes that you are the best thing that has happened to him.

Keep us posted,

Spotz

You may try not to touch him , he may will scratch now since he fully recovered . Just keep him in there and spent time with him when you at home in talking softly to him , or reading something to him so he will get used to your voice . Do not look direct at him . You can try placing a worn and smelly T shirt from you in there , so he can get used to your smell . Maybe wear it when you come home and sleep in the t shirt , when leaving for work just place the shirt in there and keep it in . That's all I can think of right now . Good luck yes , don't give up .

I made an appointment for Lil Buddy (yes, he has a name, now) at the vet tomorrow. I am worried because he doesn't eat much, just 2 or 3 tablespoons a day of dry. He drinks water and pees but no poops since Tuesday. I can't see his neck because he never comes out of the little crate in front of me. I can pet him. I do it two or three times a day but I know it stresses him and I don't want to push it. I just reach into the little crate and pet him. He doesn't seem to like it but he doesn't hiss or scratch or bite, just holds very still. I got him a smaller litter pan so he has a little more free room in the big crate. He put his towel from his little crate in his litter box so he is just on the bare plastic in there. I will put a new towel in while he is being examined at the vet tomorrow. I haven't been able to give him any antibiotics since he won't eat the canned food. Maybe I should try baby food. At least it will be easy to take him to the vet since he is happy in his little crate, just shut the door and take him. Now, getting him out at the vet may be a challenge. But this crate has plastic clips to hold the top on, so maybe just taking off the top would be the easiest. I will let you know what I find out. Becky

Baby food like chicken or turkey eat most cats and for sure is a good and great idea . When Ginger my Persian cat was very sick and did not want to eat I got the chicken and turkey baby food (with out garlic and onion please )and she did eat

I forgot to say that if he don't poop , maybe it is b/c he is not eating in order to do the #2 . But the vet is always save to make sure he is not blocked up ,or something else may be wrong with your "Lil Buddy" .

I took Lil Buddy to the vet this afternoon. His neck sore is actually worse. It has pus running from it. So she cleaned it and put a dressing on it. I hope he leaves it on. He goes back on Monday. And I need to make him take the antibiotics. But the good news. He let me hold him, and be examined. They cleaned his neck without any sedation. I am supposed to force feed him canned A/D food because he isn't eating enough. So I am going to take the little crate into the bathroom with me and feed him there. That way if he escapes from me I can get him back. But he must not be feral. He is just a stray that has at one time been used to people. So he never has to go back out on the streets again. He has so many scars. His ears are all lumpy with them. And his fur is thin. His weight is down to 9.6 from ten but that isn't too bad. We will see what he weighs on Monday when I take him back for a dressing change. I am so happy. And here I have been afraid to touch him. I have never force fed a cat before, so wish me luck. Becky

I took Lil Buddy into the bathroom to force feed him this morning. I thought I would try just finger feeding him first. He licked it off of my finger! Then he started in on the plate and ate half a can. What a good boy. He stayed on my lap and I combed him all over. He had lots of loose hair. I petted him and talked to him. I finally put the crate up for him to crawl back into and he didn't! I had to put him back in. He shivered the whole time but we had a good interaction anyway. I forgot to give him his antibiotic, though. I will let him recover a bit then go in and give it to him. He left his dressing on, too. Becky

Awesome!

Keep up the good work Becky

Curiosity on the ears though...Did the vet look for ear mites, or treat for them as a precaution?

Spotz

Well, he had a whole physical exam on Monday, under anesthesia. If he had ear mites I would think that they would have found them then. I didn't think to ask. But since he was an outdoor kitty that is certainly a concern. His ears are very battered. He has been in lots of fights. I looked at his teeth. He only has one half a canine left of his four. He needs a dental, but that can wait until he is tamer. I took him out again this afternoon and he ate the other half can while on my lap. I gave him his medicine. He hissed at my other kitty that came up during the meal but instead of stop eating he just ate faster. He has also eaten some of his dry food. So we are doing better.
I have a fan on in my bedroom that draws in outside air. He sniffed that air and wanted out. Poor baby, he wants to get away from all this caring Not a chance.

Becky

Wow , my congrats to you , you are doing good It seems he is doing good too . It will take a while till he gets used to be a insite cat and even if he wants out after he is used to you and your lifestyle . I got Jezabel from the shelter , she was abondant (sp) and so were living on the streets befor she come to the shelter . Boy it took her a long time not to want out any more and I am sure if I would just open the door for her she may still would get outsite after having her now over 1 1/2 years . But don't give up , you are doing a great job

Poor Lil Buddy. He had a bad day. The vet and I have been trying to come up with some type of dressing for his neck but without success. He went on Saturday, yesterday and today. Today the vet decided to use a liquid bandage that requires me to wash his neck twice a day and dry it and apply the drops. Buddy was pretty patient with me. I ran a sink of warm water and held him over it while I swabbed his neck, then dried it and applied the medicine. Then I sat down to pet him and he, the little trooper that he is, started to wash himself while on my lap! I know it must hurt to wash that wound but he is such a good boy. He is still very afraid and shakes when I hold him. But he stopped shaking while he was bathing himself on my lap. He is still in the crate all the time. If I accidently walk in while he is out of the crate he runs back in. He isn't eating very well but he will take food off my finger so I am getting a half to a can of a/d into him daily and his weight is back to what it was when he was neutered. He is ten pounds but seems pretty skinny to me. He hates his antibiotics, drools after them. I haven't given them to him yet today because I hate to be so mean to him but I will give them before bedtime. I am so glad I found him, I really like this guy. I hope after his neck heals he will like me, too. Becky

Becky..thank you sooo much for caring for Buddy and giving us updates. I'm also soo glad that Buddy found his way to you...because he is a very LUCKY cat. I hope his wound heals soon.

Katie

Did the vet shave the area around the wound?

Spotz