Growling and Hissing!

Yup. Growling and hissing. That's what Ginger did when she met Ferris. She tried to attack him through the mesh of the cage. Sigh...this won't be easy.

When I picked up Ferris at his foster home, the woman that I'd spoken to was not there, but her husband was. He didn't allow me to approach Ferris on my own, he grabbed him out of the cage he was sharing with his VERY feral, hissing siblings and held him in front of me.

Ferris was absolutely terrified. I tried to slowly scruff him from behind to take him from the guy, and just as I was about to scruff, the guy thrust Ferris toward me, startling me and frightening Ferris even more, as he suddenly became a ball of scratching and biting kitten fury.

I'll have a scar, as one scratch was pretty deep...I managed to get a hold of him and placed him in the carrier as gently as I could while he bit and scratched my hands and arms to pieces. I'd treated the carrier with Feliway, and he was taught to not make a peep by his momcat, so he settled right down and was silent for the hour drive home.

Getting him into his tunnel/cage at home was fairly easy, and I partially covered the top and the side over the litter box end with a towel. Ferris promptly took up residence in his litter box. I don't blame him.

Ginger sniffed him out cautiously, then once she caught sight of him, her back arched, she started growling - a sound I've never heard come out of her, and pacing, with her tail angrily swishing back and forth as she stalked around the outside of the tunnel.

I left the room for a little while, and when I came back in, I caught her taking swipes at him, claws extended, hissing the whole time, her fur up all along her back. Well, I WAS hoping for a better reception...

Ferris, this whole time, was backed up away from her, wide-eyed and scared, not reacting except to stare back at her, frightened. This...is going to take some time. I've covered up the cage for the night, and just discovered that I am out of vanilla - I'm off to the store in the morning. And we go to the vet in the afternoon.

So much for the first evening...

A lot of times the resident cat is the best way of getting the feral to come around. Get the Feliway going, the vanila extract and soon let them interact. Hissing and growling is totally normal. Only time to worry is if there is blood shed. They may seem to be fighting by swatting and being really noise but let them be and stand by with a towel handy in case one doesn't let up.

Originally Posted by Jen

A lot of times the resident cat is the best way of getting the feral to come around. Get the Feliway going, the vanila extract and soon let them interact. Hissing and growling is totally normal. Only time to worry is if there is blood shed. They may seem to be fighting by swatting and being really noise but let them be and stand by with a towel handy in case one doesn't let up.

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I have a feliway diffuser going in the room he was in. Yes, was.

Well, it appears that the resident cat has let the cat out of the bag, er, cage. I heard a noise a little while ago which woke me up (I am NEVER awake this early,) went into the kitchen where I could smell fresh kitten poo, and so I peeked under the towels to find that Ferris had gotten one side of the cage door loose and escaped into the apartment.

I have NO IDEA where he is hiding, he could be anywhere - I'm supposed to take him to the vet today at 1:45 p.m., so now I'm worried that I won't beable to find/catch him in time for the appointment. Of course, he won't even squeak, he's too feral, so arrrgghhh.

Ginger is no help at all. She stalked him all night long, and obviously chased him out of HER kitchen, but now she's acting like: Kitten? What kitten? I have no idea what you mean, meowmy!

On the bright side, he ate all the food I put down, wet Nutro plus dry Purina, and I think drank some water; he had one pee and one poo (nice one!) in the litter box he'd been lying in, so I'll take those as big plusses!

Any suggestions on how to find him/coax him out when I do find him? It is really important that I get him to the vet today, as they are going to check him out & make his neuter appointment. I need that done ASAP!

You have a dilemma with the vet yes.

Otherwise it is pretty normal for the shy semiferal to hide somewhere. Coming out at nights to do what even a cat must do. After some days he begins to come out more, and being shy and no threat to the resident cat - soon becomes pal with the resident cat...

Sorry, I dont have good advices as for the vet.

It's a shame the little guy got off to a rough start with his new family. Once he is neutered and everyone figures out their place in the pecking order, it will get better. Good luck finding him for his vet appointment.

Originally Posted by krazy kat2

It's a shame the little guy got off to a rough start with his new family. Once he is neutered and everyone figures out their place in the pecking order, it will get better. Good luck finding him for his vet appointment.

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Thanks.

I'm already working under the assumption that we'll be working on Ferris' schedule and I'd just better get used to it. I think it will most likely be just Ginger going to the vet for her rabies shot, and Ferris will get taken later when I can catch him again. As long as he doesn't spray in the house, we should be A-OK, and I can wait him out a bit.

I keep asking Ginger to show me where he is, but she ain't talking, LOL!!!

She's back to being herself after a sleepless night playing new kitten stalker. She came into my room at 7:15 for her morning scritches, same as always. This is also a plus!

So...slight change of plans...I'll give a thorough search for Ferris later this morning, after my roommate leaves for work, and maybe I'll get lucky and find him somewhere where I can reach him.

LOL...too funny. A year ago I got my first kitten, and back then there was no way in the world would I have considered a little wild man-eating tiger like Ferris. But it's thanks to you all here at TCS that have so much experience with raising and caring for all sorts of kitties - because of your stories and links, I've learned so much in the few months that I've been a member here.

Because of TCS, I've taken home an adorable feral baby boy kitty that needs love and safety. I am quite calm about the whole thing, was calm last night when he scratched me to pieces while I was placing him in his carrier. I'm not afraid of scratches or bites, and he'll learn that with time. I've raised a daughter to adulthood, I think I can gather enough patience to help me raise this sweet little boy.

I would appreciate some vibes, please, if any of you have some to spare - the sooner I get this little guy to a vet, the sooner the neuter, the happier everybody is! Thank you so much!!!

Good luck finding Ferris! I have a similar situation going on with Medusa, she hides all the time, although has been venturing out of my bedroom to the living room occasionally, but still, after almost 3 months, she still runs when she sees me when I can catch her she absolutely loves to be petted and purrs like a motorboat, but she still doesn't trust me enough... I have patience though, she will come around eventually, as I'm sure Ferris will :bigthunmb:

I dont think neutering is actually the most important, as he is young (?). It doesnt matter SO much. But the veterinary check up, deworming and the shots matter.

I understand Ginger has all the usual shots, and Ferris seems healthy? OK, the gambling not to have him check up and or in quarantene is perhaps not so big than.

It may be a good idea to let him cool down first and become some used to you.

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I dont think neutering is actually the most important, as he is young (?). It doesnt matter SO much. But the veterinary check up, deworming and the shots matter.

I understand Ginger has all the usual shots, and Ferris seems healthy? OK, the gambling not to have him check up and or in quarantene is perhaps not so big than.

It may be a good idea to let him cool down first and become some used to you.

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It should be just fine, as Ferris is completely up to date on all shots and has no fleas or mites, and has been dewormed already. He tested negative for FELV/FIV. All he needs now is to be neutered. I have all his vet paperwork already, so no worries about the need for quarantine.

We are guessing that he is about 12-14 weeks old. He is rather small, but I haven't been able to weigh him yet.

However I do strongly feel that he should be neutered as soon as is physically possible - I believe in doing it as early as is safe for the kitty. The vet won't do it until they have seen him and run bloodwork, so we are talking more than one visit.

I hope I can find him before 1:30 today! Not getting my hopes up, though, LOL...

I really hope you find him in time for the vet appt. You are doing everthing you can and have such a big heart to take in this kitty that desperately needs you. I can't wait to hear about his progress. He sounds like he will be real sweety.

Update: I FOUND FERRIS!

He was underneath a small bookcase that is higher off thefloor than most, so it was very easy to catch him - plus he wasn't quite the wildcat he was last night - only one scratch, and not on purpose. Yay!

So I'm keeping a close eye on things until this afternoon, and off we go to the vet - YAY!!!

Once we get home later on, I'll do the vanilla thing with the two of them, and then if he gets out of the cage again after that, I'm not going to worry about it. I'm not going to force him into anything. He's litter box trained and knows where his food is.

Ginger seems more interested in posturing and hissing at him when he is behind the mesh - the whole time he was hiding in the living room, she acted like he wasn't here at all.

This is going to be interesting, to say the least!!!

Well I was about to post something reasurring to the effect that you probably would not find him when I saw your last post. That is GREAT news!!

So what is the 'vanilla thing'? Are they going to be inmates together or does he have free run of the place, ir does Ginger?

Oh, I'm so glad you found Ferris before the appt! Can't wait to see photos of him when you get a moment to take them. I'm glad he isn't as feisty too!!

So allt went well... .......

Im thinking, why Ginger was so aggressive.

I think because of the situation around Ferris departure and arrival. Ie Ferris sky high with adrenaline. You probably too, and perhaps some of your blood on the mesh of the carrier too...

Ginger feeling this - of course attacked immediately this dangerous intruder.

But after he - and she - cooled down, away from from the insmelled carrier - it is more peacefully.

I think it will be good - quite soon too.

Castration or not.

Originally Posted by 2dogmom

So what is the 'vanilla thing'? Are they going to be inmates together or does he have free run of the place, ir does Ginger?

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I'm going to put a dab of vanilla extract on the back of the neck of each of the kitties, so that they'll have the same smell.

Ginger is an indoor only cat, and Ferris will learn to be as well. Right now he is caged and she is running around the house freely (well, actually, she's passed out under my bed from sheer exhaustion, LOL...)

Later when we get back from the vet, I'm not sure, we'll see how it goes. Currently, I'm going through old paperwork and doing some organizing to file away and shred and recycle the stacks of paid bills and receipts, etc. that's piled up. I've spread everything out on the kitchen floor, with the radio on softly and I'm talking to Ferris and singing along with the radio here and there.

He is hiding underneath and behind his cave bed, lol, poor dear, and is still just giving me that really wide-eyed stare of fear and confusion. I'm doing my best not to make eye contact with him, and if I do, I give him a blink kiss very slowly - he did blink back at me once, but I'm not going to read anything into that yet.

Okay...back to the kitchen I go. It's a good day.