- Joined
- Feb 8, 2014
- Messages
- 16
- Purraise
- 4
Hi. I was interested in adopting a cat, and though I lacked much experience with cats, I ended up taking in a stray kitten which was living under my neighbor's porch at the end of last summer (2013) to try to save and adopt it. I thought it might be a girl because it was so small, though it turned out to be a boy. It was the runt of its litter of four, and had an infection in one eye. My neighbor said it was 8 weeks old when she helped me lure him into a bag on Sept 21, and I brought him home to my apartment. Sadly, his mother and siblings died not long after, I was told. Since then, I've had him 4 months,and I've taken him to the vet (Williamsburg Animal Clinic) three times for check-up and vaccines, and he had fleas which I had to also remove from my home, and had his fecal sample analyzed. He is HW/FIV/FELV negative, and I gave him 2 weeks of antibiotics in his food for which were prescribed for redness of the gums, though it turned out, a different doctor at the same clinic later said this may be an early sign of FORLS.
I have to search for him, grab him with welder's gloves, hold him with one hand, and cover him with a blanket with the other to calm him so I can get him into a bag to take him to the vet which is traumatic for both of us. The first time i grabbed him without gloves, was badly bitten and scratched all over my hands, and in a few weeks found I had contracted Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae) which sent me to hospital emergency and for which I required antibiotics. Luckily, he mostly tries to just get away, and doesn't lunge at my face.
He used his litter box efficiently from the first day, eats very well, and is now very healthy. Niles, is still very afraid, always runs from me, hides, and only comes out at night, when I turn down the lights and preferably when I am in bed or out at work, though I have been trying almost every night to get him to trust me with gentle calls, treats, catnip, and toys. He'll come out and play with a string, a ball, or fish on a stick and line with me, but from a safe distance. He does sit and watch me and lays on the floor at the foot of my bed while I'm sleeping sometimes, though he runs away if I start to wake up. He is extremely smart, and good at hiding. I thought after a couple months he might come to me, but after four months, this still hasn't happened. I only just learned of the term, "socialize" referring to cats and found this site as well as other information about socializing kittens on the web which I read. I realize though, that I missed some early opportunity to socialze him better, as he is now nearly 7 months old, his feral habits may be too ingrained to change entirely.
I have wavered back and forth about keeping Niles, certain I would give him up at times, though he is still with me, and I welcome encouragement and advice on how to keep him and improve our relationship. I have the opportunity to have him neutered tomorrow (2/09/14) at the ASPCA mobile unit which will be near my house. I hate having to take away his food tonight and trap him again, and I am worried about how to care for him during his recovery. The doc said both his testicles have descended so he won't need abdominal surgery, but will he need a collar to keep him from licking himself? If so, he won't be able to hide, and will feel vulnerable. Here is a rare photo of elusive Niles using a zoom lens. Thanks to all who respond!
I have to search for him, grab him with welder's gloves, hold him with one hand, and cover him with a blanket with the other to calm him so I can get him into a bag to take him to the vet which is traumatic for both of us. The first time i grabbed him without gloves, was badly bitten and scratched all over my hands, and in a few weeks found I had contracted Cat Scratch Disease (Bartonella henselae) which sent me to hospital emergency and for which I required antibiotics. Luckily, he mostly tries to just get away, and doesn't lunge at my face.
He used his litter box efficiently from the first day, eats very well, and is now very healthy. Niles, is still very afraid, always runs from me, hides, and only comes out at night, when I turn down the lights and preferably when I am in bed or out at work, though I have been trying almost every night to get him to trust me with gentle calls, treats, catnip, and toys. He'll come out and play with a string, a ball, or fish on a stick and line with me, but from a safe distance. He does sit and watch me and lays on the floor at the foot of my bed while I'm sleeping sometimes, though he runs away if I start to wake up. He is extremely smart, and good at hiding. I thought after a couple months he might come to me, but after four months, this still hasn't happened. I only just learned of the term, "socialize" referring to cats and found this site as well as other information about socializing kittens on the web which I read. I realize though, that I missed some early opportunity to socialze him better, as he is now nearly 7 months old, his feral habits may be too ingrained to change entirely.
I have wavered back and forth about keeping Niles, certain I would give him up at times, though he is still with me, and I welcome encouragement and advice on how to keep him and improve our relationship. I have the opportunity to have him neutered tomorrow (2/09/14) at the ASPCA mobile unit which will be near my house. I hate having to take away his food tonight and trap him again, and I am worried about how to care for him during his recovery. The doc said both his testicles have descended so he won't need abdominal surgery, but will he need a collar to keep him from licking himself? If so, he won't be able to hide, and will feel vulnerable. Here is a rare photo of elusive Niles using a zoom lens. Thanks to all who respond!