My MIL fed several ferals and since her passing as no one else would agree to feed them, we brought 3 who continued to come to be fed into her house and they seemed to adjust as far a feeding, using litter, etc. We recently began trapping them to get them checked by vet, spayed/neutered and moved them to our permanent home 4 hours away. The youngest, Poly, 10 mo, was caught, spayed and then transported home; she did not eat at vet or home for 3.5 days and then I enticed her with tuna and KFC and she now is eating regularly and of course cat food. She still hides when I go into her room but will come out occasionally to watch me or one of our other indoor cats if they come by; I know loads of patience is necessary to build trust etc. and we will proceed very slowly with this.
Hans, age 1.5 years, who may be Poly's dad, was trapped on Valentine days, brought to the vet near our home so this meant a 3.5 hour drive, neutered and given rabie and distemper shots as well as med for round worms, and then brought to his new home the day of his surgery and travel as vet said this would be better than in hospital with dogs barking,etc.I reallize all this change has to be very, very tramatic for him and that he has to still be very scared and disconcerted. He stayed in carrier overnight and was released in same room as Poly the next morn. He did not come out of carrier for few minutes and then slinked away and hid. He continues to hide and I do not believe he is eating much but hard to tell as a little food is gone each day but it may be Poly eating it. I do see he is urinating but not lots. I have tried his fav food - cooked shrimp, tuna and even KFC, but do not see much dent in it and perhaps Poly is doing all the eatig. I know Hans must be very scared with all he has been thru and now in a new home too. I honestly do not know how to discern how much he may be eating. He wants to hide and he has moved around the room to different hiding spots and I do not want to invade this privacy. How might I tell if he is getting enough food, etc.? Just not sure what to do without frightening him even more.
Note: We have one more feral adult (probably Poly's mom) to get to vet, spayed and brought here but I want to be sure Hans is doing OK at this point before introducing the 3rd and final of MIL cats here. Our house cats are curious/interested in their potentially new buddies (way down in the future perhaps) but of course keeping them away at this point vice scaring the newbie feral clan.
Forgive the length. Anyone gone thru anything similar and any advice to be sure Hans is eating would be appreciated.
Hans, age 1.5 years, who may be Poly's dad, was trapped on Valentine days, brought to the vet near our home so this meant a 3.5 hour drive, neutered and given rabie and distemper shots as well as med for round worms, and then brought to his new home the day of his surgery and travel as vet said this would be better than in hospital with dogs barking,etc.I reallize all this change has to be very, very tramatic for him and that he has to still be very scared and disconcerted. He stayed in carrier overnight and was released in same room as Poly the next morn. He did not come out of carrier for few minutes and then slinked away and hid. He continues to hide and I do not believe he is eating much but hard to tell as a little food is gone each day but it may be Poly eating it. I do see he is urinating but not lots. I have tried his fav food - cooked shrimp, tuna and even KFC, but do not see much dent in it and perhaps Poly is doing all the eatig. I know Hans must be very scared with all he has been thru and now in a new home too. I honestly do not know how to discern how much he may be eating. He wants to hide and he has moved around the room to different hiding spots and I do not want to invade this privacy. How might I tell if he is getting enough food, etc.? Just not sure what to do without frightening him even more.
Note: We have one more feral adult (probably Poly's mom) to get to vet, spayed and brought here but I want to be sure Hans is doing OK at this point before introducing the 3rd and final of MIL cats here. Our house cats are curious/interested in their potentially new buddies (way down in the future perhaps) but of course keeping them away at this point vice scaring the newbie feral clan.
Forgive the length. Anyone gone thru anything similar and any advice to be sure Hans is eating would be appreciated.