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- Feb 26, 2012
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I have been caring for 2 feral cats, male about 6 years old and female about 4 yrs old, for about 3.5 years now. They stay in my yard and I feed them 2ce a day. I had them fixed about 2.5 years ago about 3 weeks apart. The last litter she had produced three kittens (all boys), which I have taken into my home. The female was very stressed and didn't eat during recovery, so I had to release her earlier than should have been. Both were comfortable using the litter box during recovery. They are both fine now and their 3 boys are inside cats in my home and I love them dearly. The feral mom and dad often visit them through a closed sliding glass door daily. The feral mom and dad are very affectionate with each other and are always together. I am able to touch the mom on the nose, but the male is still afraid of me...unless its through the sliding glass door. He rubs up against the door when I or one of the boys are there and appears totally unafraid of me if I'm on my side of the closed glass door. We even play with a toy through the glass. The mom and dad both respond to my voice when I call them. After all this time, I have become very attached to both of them.
I will be moving in about 3 weeks or so. I will be renting my home out, but do not really trust that a tenant will provide the necessary care for these two, especially since its such a long-term commitment to ask a stranger to take on. In addition, they will most likely have pets of their own. So, I would like to take them with me. I have thought about trying to get them used to being inside before my move, but I'm afraid it will just add stress on them, especially since they will have to go through being trapped, a 45 minute car ride, and then having to get used to being inside the other home soon enough.
I currently have been feeding them in traps, trying to get them comfortable with going into the cages to eat, so I will be able to catch them when it becomes necessary. I am hoping that one of the PetPals or SPOT pet places will examine them and clip nails, etc., prior to the car ride to the new home. They would have to sedate them, but that's probably a good thing for the ride. I am currently preparing a large screened porch with lattice at the other home, so I can release them onto the porch first (hoping they see this as being outside, like they are accustomed), then gradually getting them used to their boys through a window screen before having access to inside my new home, and before the boys have access to the porch.
It's such a long, involved process. Does anyone have any advice they can offer about my plan? If anyone has been through this, I sure would like to hear from you, too. I have really high hopes for the mom, since she seems less afraid of me than the male. But, I'm hoping he will come around too, at least enough to 'fit-in'.
Thanks so much!