Hey y'all I'm going to have my first go at trapping my feral cat Nox soon before the weather gets cold here in the Midwest . After he or she... Is checked out by the vet and fixed I'd hate to kick him outside again. I live with my MIL and her dog but have a small space my husband and I use as our living room that is shut off from the rest of her house. What I'm getting at is that I do not have a private room too isolate the feral in to relax him and get him used to being indoors that me and my husband wouldn't need to use. What would you do? Would a huge cage work, it seems cruel ... Or should I just keep caring for him outside and trap him when we move away.
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I Want To Bring My Feral Inside After Vet Visit
- Thread starter JessyAnn
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I would just let him stay outside and keep feeding him(or her). The cat may come in on their own later.
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How feral is he? Can you approach him or pet him at all? A really big dog crate could work. Do you have a spare bathroom?
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Well Nox is hard to read because I've only known him for 2 months. He will approach me , at first to alert me that his food was empty ( or the night he ran up to me frantically meowing) lately though since that night he will lay outside our back door and will walk up to me even if there if food. However most times if I see him and want to approach him he will hiss when I get 5 feet away . I have never tried to touch him or pick him up . No spare bathroom , just 3 adults in a tiny 2 bedroom with the small edition my husband and I use as the living room seperate from the main part if the house. Perhaps for now I should just keep working with him from outdoors but it concerns me that we have predator animals and unkind nieghbors that may hurt him as well as the brutal illinois winters . I wish there was more I could do for him, I feel like with ever step I take there is a massive road block
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He will stay close by because you feed him. Altered cats tend to roam a little less too. My concern was based on the overall anxiety. The most optimum for a cat who may have been an outdoor feral all their lives is for the decision to move indoors to be theirs. Then the cat will be more at ease and you will feel less stressed too. If Nox can come and go freely there is less need for a litterbox too.
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- #6
This is my first time with a possibly feral cat so I almost feel like I have the new mother jitters
thank you for your advice.
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It is scary because you are uncertain and there are things that you aren't sure of. You could keep Nox in a carrier indoors overnight if the carrier provides good airflow. Like a cage or the plastic carriers with the wire door. Initially the vet will tell you "no food or water after surgery" and they might also say "don't let the cat run or jump".This is my first time with a possibly feral cat so I almost feel like I have the new mother jitters
So an indoor sleepover in a carrier or cage and then opening the cage outside in front of some food and water first thing the next morning might ease your concerns for him and allow you three to get a little more acquainted.
Don't force Nox to stay in the cage if it meows or acts frantic but if Nox is calm it might be ok.
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I first petted Demi with a long handled duster. Or you can tape something soft to a stick. I pretty much tamed my two ferals outside and in the garage and breezeway. Then brought them in and put them in a room with a gate. If I had it to do all over again, I probably would have brought them straight in because of the coyotes. But I had no idea what I was doing. They have some pretty huge dog crates that will fit a litter box. Do you have a garage that you could use? Just beware of chemicals like antifreeze.
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We have a huge 2 car garage and are working in clearing it out and organizing it after my father in laws death there is still tons of his stuff packed in it . We moved in here to help MIL heal and do a lot of the stuff her husband was unable to do unfortunately... So getting Nox used to the garage first is a good possibility! You've given me a lot to think about , thank you so much
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My cats still go out in the garage sometimes. I try to make sure there is nothing dangerous out there. And when the car is in there in the winter, I walk around the car and make sure there are no anti-freeze leaks.
I was wondering if there is room on the property for an outdoor secure catio enclosure, but since the garage is accessible, that should work great and be a lot more convenient than building an additional structure.
Thanks for helping Nox!
Thanks for helping Nox!
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- #12
The backyard is pretty deep so the catio could be an option if for some reason the garage didn't work out. The garage is actually in better shape then the house , its like new and has never had a car in it but it's packed with stuff at this moment but we are working hard to clear itI was wondering if there is room on the property for an outdoor secure catio enclosure, but since the garage is accessible, that should work great and be a lot more convenient than building an additional structure.
Thanks for helping Nox!
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- #13
I'm going to first try to get him a bit more used to us outside, then try the garage or catio then hopefully if he'll come in ease him into the house. I have experience building feral cat shelters for winter so if nothing else I can provide him one continue to get to know him and tame as much as possible...and get him fixed before winter.
How much time do you have? We don't get our first freeze until Thanksgiving (on average), but I'm sure you're looking as a lot less time to prepare, since you said you're in the Midwest.
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- #15
Well it has been feeling like summer here for the past week, unseasonably warm for northern Illinois . Seems like the freeze here comes on early November. I have a bit of time, this was all so unexpected but then again so are most of the best things in life
