Hi Everybody,
I just joined. Although I've been rescuing and fixing/homing strays in my area for some time, I've never come across a situation like this and at the moment am feeling pretty low.
In March this year I discovered a small calico in my garage. I put food and heated cat shelters in there every winter, because our winters are severe - they last from October to May, and can drop down as cold as -40 Celsius.
Anyway, this winter I discovered Rosie, a tiny calico, up in the rafters of my garage. She wouldn't come down and she hid from me, so I fed her plenty but basically left her as was, since I wanted her to feel safe, and not leave the shelter of the garage.
It took me May to July to start to get close to her - I used toys and treats, and I put a bed up in her favorite corner of the rafters . I couldn't pet her or pick her up but she would come to the back door for lunch and dinner when she heard me call her. Sometimes she would play with me out in the yard, as long as I didn't get too close.
I lined up a foster home for her with an amazing cat mom, and we were able to catch her and bring her there. The idea was to get her fixed and used to a home environment. After two days Rosie popped the screen of a second floor window, and then made the 3 mile trek back to my house.
We have a lot of strays around here, and I was anxious to get her fixed. We used a humane trap next, and somehow Rosie got out of that.
Trying to help, my neighbors put a drop trap in their yard, and Rosie stopped twinkle-toeing through their garden.
My vet tech came by and tried to catch her, and that ended in failure too. Now she is definitely pregnant and we think may be due soon. It was not what I wanted for anybody, (myself included) but -
Trying to be practical, i cleared out a small shed. I put in her favorite bed, a queening bed, a couple of small caves to burrow in, climbing post and toys. On Sunday she walked in out of pure curiosity, and I just quietly closed the door behind her. She may be due in a week and I am not - truly not - wanting to wander around God's half acre looking for kittens in what will likely be bad weather. It will also be cold soon.
The shed will keep her kittens safe from predators and will give them clear access to food and socialization. The problem is that Rosie is bored and frustrated. Yesterday was ok - in the evening she crawled into her bed, and I gave her pets and scritches til she got sleepy. She was super affectionate and seemed to be settling. She even fell asleep with her front paws clutching my hand. It was amazing. Today was a different story - she hid from me and would barely eat. She cried so pitifully it left me feeling like I've flushed all her trust down the toilet. I've been using the calming spray, extra treats, toys, arrgh. Nothing worked today. She was inconsolable.
I've never really dealt with a slightly 'wild' cat before and am just wondering if I've missed something or just need to calm down a bit and stop overthinking things. Any advice or support is most welcome. I love this little girl and just want to help her.
Thanks!
Auntie
I just joined. Although I've been rescuing and fixing/homing strays in my area for some time, I've never come across a situation like this and at the moment am feeling pretty low.
In March this year I discovered a small calico in my garage. I put food and heated cat shelters in there every winter, because our winters are severe - they last from October to May, and can drop down as cold as -40 Celsius.
Anyway, this winter I discovered Rosie, a tiny calico, up in the rafters of my garage. She wouldn't come down and she hid from me, so I fed her plenty but basically left her as was, since I wanted her to feel safe, and not leave the shelter of the garage.
It took me May to July to start to get close to her - I used toys and treats, and I put a bed up in her favorite corner of the rafters . I couldn't pet her or pick her up but she would come to the back door for lunch and dinner when she heard me call her. Sometimes she would play with me out in the yard, as long as I didn't get too close.
I lined up a foster home for her with an amazing cat mom, and we were able to catch her and bring her there. The idea was to get her fixed and used to a home environment. After two days Rosie popped the screen of a second floor window, and then made the 3 mile trek back to my house.
We have a lot of strays around here, and I was anxious to get her fixed. We used a humane trap next, and somehow Rosie got out of that.
Trying to help, my neighbors put a drop trap in their yard, and Rosie stopped twinkle-toeing through their garden.
My vet tech came by and tried to catch her, and that ended in failure too. Now she is definitely pregnant and we think may be due soon. It was not what I wanted for anybody, (myself included) but -
Trying to be practical, i cleared out a small shed. I put in her favorite bed, a queening bed, a couple of small caves to burrow in, climbing post and toys. On Sunday she walked in out of pure curiosity, and I just quietly closed the door behind her. She may be due in a week and I am not - truly not - wanting to wander around God's half acre looking for kittens in what will likely be bad weather. It will also be cold soon.
The shed will keep her kittens safe from predators and will give them clear access to food and socialization. The problem is that Rosie is bored and frustrated. Yesterday was ok - in the evening she crawled into her bed, and I gave her pets and scritches til she got sleepy. She was super affectionate and seemed to be settling. She even fell asleep with her front paws clutching my hand. It was amazing. Today was a different story - she hid from me and would barely eat. She cried so pitifully it left me feeling like I've flushed all her trust down the toilet. I've been using the calming spray, extra treats, toys, arrgh. Nothing worked today. She was inconsolable.
I've never really dealt with a slightly 'wild' cat before and am just wondering if I've missed something or just need to calm down a bit and stop overthinking things. Any advice or support is most welcome. I love this little girl and just want to help her.
Thanks!
Auntie