Lucky Pierre is a beautiful red tabby feral cat that has lived by me for nearly 2 years. His mom brought him and 3 siblings up to my house an hour before a tornado passed over my house when they were about 4 weeks old. The best that I can guess, she had been raising them in the woods out back, sensed a storm coming and brought them to the house for safety. A tornado went directly through those woods and tore a path thru the middle of it (mature trees felled at the roots by the tornado).
Since we were in the middle of raising a set of young, orphaned kittens, and with the months worth of repairs we had to make around the house from the tornado, Lucky and his siblings didn't get the usual socialization that we give to young ferals. When we took them in for testing and speutering, all 3 of his siblings tested positive for FeLV. He was given the name Lucky the day he tested negative and we added the Pierre on the day we retested him as negative. He survived a tornado and withstood FeLV at an early age.
Lucky has become fairly friendly, to the point that he follows me around the yard as I walk the dogs, won't eat in the morning until I pet him, and even lets me pick him up once in a while. The bridge I haven't been able to cross with him is making him feel comfortable inside the house.
He shows increasing interest in coming in the house when we go in and out the door. My husband and I talked about it, and decided a few months back that if he wanted inside, we would let him inside. He has come in about a half dozen times - walks inside, the indoor cats surround him and very curiously sniff him, he walks around for a few minutes then runs back to the door. No hissing, no fighting, full acceptance by the indoor cats so no problems there. They've seen each other thru the window for 2 years, and play with each other thru the screens when the windows are open on warm days.
Tonight he wanted inside. I open the door, he strolls in and walks around the kitchen. Leaves the kitchen and wanders into the porch where the dogs are in their kennels eating their dinner. He walks into Spike's kennel and tries to take a few bites. Spike doesn't like it, growls, but lets him eat. To avoid a conflict, I pick up Lucky and carry him across the house to the bathroom where the food is up on the dryer (yes, washer/dryer is in my bathroom). Put him by the food, he takes a few nibbles, jumps down, runs to the door and wants back outside. Most of the cats simply ignore him except for Pinky who drapes his paw over his back and licks his head as he is sitting by the door waiting to go back outside.
I'm proud of the boy and wanted to share his story. At this point I just need some good vibes that he will continue to make progress with me. It was a big moment when I could pick him up and carry him across my house without any attempt to get away from me.
I'll get a picture and post it sometime. He is a gorgeous red tabby, probably about 12 pounds.
Since we were in the middle of raising a set of young, orphaned kittens, and with the months worth of repairs we had to make around the house from the tornado, Lucky and his siblings didn't get the usual socialization that we give to young ferals. When we took them in for testing and speutering, all 3 of his siblings tested positive for FeLV. He was given the name Lucky the day he tested negative and we added the Pierre on the day we retested him as negative. He survived a tornado and withstood FeLV at an early age.
Lucky has become fairly friendly, to the point that he follows me around the yard as I walk the dogs, won't eat in the morning until I pet him, and even lets me pick him up once in a while. The bridge I haven't been able to cross with him is making him feel comfortable inside the house.
He shows increasing interest in coming in the house when we go in and out the door. My husband and I talked about it, and decided a few months back that if he wanted inside, we would let him inside. He has come in about a half dozen times - walks inside, the indoor cats surround him and very curiously sniff him, he walks around for a few minutes then runs back to the door. No hissing, no fighting, full acceptance by the indoor cats so no problems there. They've seen each other thru the window for 2 years, and play with each other thru the screens when the windows are open on warm days.
Tonight he wanted inside. I open the door, he strolls in and walks around the kitchen. Leaves the kitchen and wanders into the porch where the dogs are in their kennels eating their dinner. He walks into Spike's kennel and tries to take a few bites. Spike doesn't like it, growls, but lets him eat. To avoid a conflict, I pick up Lucky and carry him across the house to the bathroom where the food is up on the dryer (yes, washer/dryer is in my bathroom). Put him by the food, he takes a few nibbles, jumps down, runs to the door and wants back outside. Most of the cats simply ignore him except for Pinky who drapes his paw over his back and licks his head as he is sitting by the door waiting to go back outside.
I'm proud of the boy and wanted to share his story. At this point I just need some good vibes that he will continue to make progress with me. It was a big moment when I could pick him up and carry him across my house without any attempt to get away from me.
I'll get a picture and post it sometime. He is a gorgeous red tabby, probably about 12 pounds.
