Good News!!!!!

kittenkiya

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I touched her!!!!! I touched her!!!! ValerieCat and Princess were hungry this morning and met me on the porch. I put the food down and Princess ran right beside me to get some breakfast. I very gently ran my finger down her side and she looked at me like "What do you think you are doing?" and just backed off but did NOT run away. I am so happy. Now I can start hoping that maybe, maybe she will let me pet her.
 

ricalynn

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YAY!!!! That's great!!! I have yet to get close to any of my ferals, they all run at the sound of my hand on the doorknob. Got to figure out a better system.

Hang in there Kiya, it's just a matter of time before you'll be getting demands for pets!!
 

becki71

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LDG said:
Hanging out with them while they eat is the way to do


Hi! I know of at least two ferals that are living in my backyard. I suspect they are both males that have been hanging around the femal cat I trapped recently. I saw one gray one that I trapped when I was trying to trap the pregnant cat and an orange one. Since I trapped the one ,I haven't seen them since. I know they come around since the food I leave out is gone by morning but I never see them. How do you finally get to see them? Do they ever come out eventually?

Becki
 

ldg

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Well - it is different for us. The scaredy ferals we don't normally see. But we work from home a lot, so hanging out by the food bowl at dawn/dusk (when they normally feed) is pretty easy. For the really feral ones, they won't come when you're there. But friendlier ones will get used to you being there - we started yards away and slowly worked up closer. It's a HECK of a lot easier with kittens!
 
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kittenkiya

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I started by talking everytime I put food out. Even if I didn't see anyone, I said, "OK, guys, here comes the food." After a while, one face showed up and then after a while, they knew the sound of my voice and would gather at the end of the driveway. They slowly moved up to the porch. I know it sounds funny and maybe your neighbors will want to call the men in the white coats, but it works. They equate the voice with the food and water.
 

hissy

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I sit by mine and talk quietly while they eat. I do that from the very first time a new one shows up here. Cats are social animals when they eat. They start out life nursing in groups, and they really appreciate it when you keep them company when they eat, as long as you don't mess with their food. I am able to grab up a lot of cats without trapping them because I do this. They become accustomed to seeing me and as long as I am low to the ground, I am no threat.

Good job with this cat- here's to more progress in the future!
 

pamela

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Originally Posted by KittenKiya

I started by talking everytime I put food out. Even if I didn't see anyone, I said, "OK, guys, here comes the food." After a while, one face showed up and then after a while, they knew the sound of my voice and would gather at the end of the driveway. They slowly moved up to the porch. I know it sounds funny and maybe your neighbors will want to call the men in the white coats, but it works. They equate the voice with the food and water.
That's what I did with my ferals when I lived in my old basement apt. At the beginning, Callie would run off whenever she saw me approaching the sliding door. After she started associating the sliding door with food, she'd move away but not run off and wait until I got back in before going up to the food. Slowly, slowly I got her to trust me to the point where I'd open the door talking and she'd stay while I put the food down and play with me using the feather teasers. Several times she actually ate treats from my hand. Often when I arrive home, I'd be walking down from my car to my apt and I would start calling for Callie and she'd come running up then follow me to my door... I still miss that!

I know that will happen with you- just give it time and make it a rountine- feed them at the same time in the same place and eventually they will let u get closer.
 
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