Cat is making huge progress

writergirl

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The homeless cat I am caring for has made huge progress in the last 2 days. Yesterday he came out to eat when we were sitting right close to the food bowl. Today when I put the food down he came out really close to my hand and didn't hiss and he made this little attempt at a meow! I have been trying to teach him to meow. He let out two little squeaks and went right for the food dish.

I am just thrilled about this! He is doing so much better. He is almost half done the antibiotics. He is making lots of progress!

Erica
 

huggles

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I just went and found your original thread about this guy and it certainly is wonderful progress
good on you!! are you still trying to find him a home or has he won your heart?
 
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writergirl

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Thanks! He has definitely won my heart and my mom's heart but my dad is the one we'd have to convince. We are going to socialize him and try and find him a home. He's doing so much better. I'm really happy for him. He's finally getting some deep sleep and rest which is something I'm sure he never did when he was homeless.
 
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writergirl

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He just smelled my hand and let me touch his nose.
And he's meowing now. I am really surprised at how quickly he is progressing.
 

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Wonderful news!! What a relief for him, to be able to finally relax & feel safe, something that I wish & pray for all kitties!
 

patc

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The first advances - head butts, meows, or just trusting looks - are always so satisfying, aren't they?
 
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writergirl

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He let me pet him briefly just a few minutes ago. It was pretty exciting. I was surprised. He is also trying his best to meow too!
 

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Sound like he is starting to understand that you love him and arn't going to hurt him! He will love you forever! I am so pleased to hear about him, you are doing a wonderful thing, many cats go their whole lifes unloved and uncared for.
 
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writergirl

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I just went down to feed him and pet him. Tonight he let me pet him for longer and I could hear him purring. The thing is he is very jumpy. I guess he heard some noise when I was petting him and he jumped and it scared the heck out of me!

The poor thing! What I thought was just him needing cleaning turns out it is scar tissue. I feel so bad for him because he is disfigured. It's bad enough he's missing two ears but the scar tissue looks terrible. I have to get the vet to look at him again. I pet his back and it's all bumpy! I don't know if it is matted hair or some injury or what. He did not like me petting his back, only his head so maybe it hurts when I pet his back. So now I just pet his head.

This cat is desperate for love. He just keeps wanting to be pet. I think I am a bit nervous about it all because I've never cared for a cat that has been homeless as long as he has. I don't think he will bite me but I'm still a bit nervous about it all.

If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it!

Also, he still seems to be starving. I am feeding him two cans of cat food a day (he is a big cat - weighs 13.2 pounds). He is still hungry all the time. Now I am feeding him 2.5 cans a day plus dry kitten food because it has more calories.

Erica
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by writergirl

He did not like me petting his back, only his head so maybe it hurts when I pet his back. So now I just pet his head.

This cat is desperate for love. He just keeps wanting to be pet. I think I am a bit nervous about it all because I've never cared for a cat that has been homeless as long as he has. I don't think he will bite me but I'm still a bit nervous about it all.

If anyone has any advice I'd appreciate it!
Did I said to pet him on the back not head at first? This time it wasnt the most accurate advice... Sorry.

I think you are there. He is more or less tame to you and his love to you is growing.
It took some time, he was in such a bad condition - dying. Now he is back into the life and also stressed down - has landed - and his socialization apparently goes quick now.

Danger for biting? There may be some as he is constrained in the cage. The danger would be less if he had plenty of place to go back to.
But he has some place in the cage. As long you dont do nothing to force him against his will there should not be any real danger.
If you must do something - ie forcing him, put on gloves and thick clothes so you will feel secure.

But he may snap as a warning. Like gentle loving cats are doing. One must bee grateful for their warning snaps: they are not biting. The problem is as semiferal he probably dont knows how to snap gently - the snaps may be quite hard...
A snap isnt bite. There is tremendous force in a real bite!

Him jumpy - I see it as a sign he is returning to life. Now he has the strengh to bother...

It may even been some sort of play. Young kittens are very fond in this sort of play...


Good working - and good luck!
 
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writergirl

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Thanks
I am working on socializing him. I have a friend who is going to find out if her parents want to take him on at their farm. I think that would be perfect for him because he could go outside but sleep in the barn. They bring the cats in during the winter to sleep in the house.

He is letting me pet him and he hasn't hissed at all in quite a while. He makes the cutest little meow when I feed him.

The vet estimated that he is six years old. So he's been homeless for quite a while. I noticed that he is missing one of his front teeth. He has been through a lot! I am just happy that he is coming along so nicely
I think there is a lot of hope for him. Thanks for responding to my post.

Erica
 

StefanZ

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Originally Posted by writergirl

Thanks
I am working on socializing him. I have a friend who is going to find out if her parents want to take him on at their farm. I think that would be perfect for him because he could go outside but sleep in the barn. They bring the cats in during the winter to sleep in the house.

He is letting me pet him and he hasn't hissed at all in quite a while. He makes the cutest little meow when I feed him.


Erica
This will be a working, and therefore good solution. But Im not sure it will be the best. Why? Because you are splendidly going on to socializing him! Ie with a little luck he could and should be an indoor home pet cat.
As I wrote earlier: the easiest way to socialize a feral is when they 2-7 weeks old. Next big open window is if you take care of them when they are sick.

This second window is yours and wide open now, thanks to your strong and patient work.
I want to believe he may be a lucky indoor home cat. Perhaps even strickly indoor cat. (he will have much easier to accept next owner now, as you do the hardest job being the first),

Does a ex-stray, exsemiferal becoming home cat always to get out and roam a little?? No. Many dont even want to!

Im sure of this, there are lots of such witnesses having these ex semiferals, at the Swedish forums I do participate in...

Try to find him a place as home indoor cat. stricly indoor or going out sometimes,
and have this barn-place as a reserve.

If he manages to be a home indoor pet, there are always some (ex) semiferal grateful to get the barn place...

Yes, him being 6 years may be too late to make a real indoor cat of him, but one never knows...
 
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writergirl

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I am going to do my best to find him a home. He is really affectionate. He wants lots of attention. Today he ate treats from my hand. He is really very gentle.

The thing is he only trusts me. He won't let my parents get close enough to pet him. I don't know how to get him used to being touched by other people. Any ideas?

Erica
 

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Originally Posted by writergirl

I am going to do my best to find him a home. He is really affectionate. He wants lots of attention. Today he ate treats from my hand. He is really very gentle.

The thing is he only trusts me. He won't let my parents get close enough to pet him. I don't know how to get him used to being touched by other people. Any ideas?

Erica
Erica....if he is a scared stray...it will take lots of patience to get him to be accepting towards other people. BTW...did the vet say whether he was neutered or not? Neutering will help.

Katie
 
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writergirl

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Hi Katie,

He was un-neutered when he found us but we got him neutered at the same time we got his wounds treated. We also got him all his shots as well.

Erica
 
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