- Joined
- Nov 28, 2019
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- Purraise
- 34
I’ve been a rescuer of ferals and strays for over 20 years. Three months ago we moved into our new house and low and behold a beautiful long haired tuxedo cat arrived. Full of mats, thin and very skittish - to the point where I thought “feral”, but then he did a few things ferals would not have, such as flopping down on the grass about 8 feet away from me and over the past few months he’s allowed me to pet him (slowly) all over, brush him, remove the mats and he’s even started lifting his tail up in my presence. I found out through a small FB group for our very small village/town that this cat is considered “feral” - and a stray. Another post mentioned they fed him all last winter. But I believe he’s no ones cat that I can see after posting pics of him online and asking all our neighbors - and the feedback I got that “he’s a feral!” also made me think that this cat has a territory, but clearly has chosen our place as of late. Sleeping outside our door at night and coming for regular meals.
In the few months I’ve been working with him I’ve managed to deworm him with both strongid and tapeworm meds (not all at once obviously) as well as treating him for fleas.
My plan has been to slowly get him as comfortable as I can and bring him to the vet to be neutered and vaccinated and possibly microchipped. My plan has included the least amount of trauma I can prevent.
Anyway, if you’re still reading the past two days and evenings he’s been off the charts skittish. Like won’t come in to eat, bolts if I move my hand (normally I can pet him and he purrs loudly while he eats) and night before last just took off running as if there was some “monster” I couldn’t see - and this was different from his normal skittishness- the normal skittishness is he backs off a bit, grooms and comes back. This was bat out of hell run far, far away.
Fast forward to last night. I’m in bed and I hear a “fight” - my two other cats hear it as well and begin to growl and all three of us immediately go to the window - I see “Rux” he is by my car.
whatever I did scared the other intruder away. I bring out food for “Rux” and he starts to eat warily. I don’t know what came over me, but I picked him up and put him in the cat carrier I have been keeping by the front door where he eats. Then I brought him upstairs to a bathroom with a bed, a place to hide/feel safe without being out of my reach, a litter pan with a mix of litter and some dirt, a bowl of water and a Feliway diffuser. At first there was some crying, but then silence.
He went to the bed/safe area and meowed at me and let me pet him, but he was clearly stressed.
This morning I brought him wet food and he wouldn’t eat even when I put a bit on his nose and he licked it off.
I gently pulled the bed out from under his safe space and he starred panting. I gently pet him and slid the bed back.
He has not used the box.
My question is do I leave the food there or do I only bring it in when he is ready to eat? I’ve read different opinions on this. I also know this is a huge change for him - the fact that he’s not hissing or growling or really reacting aggressively is good. I guess I need some help -
The ferals I have rescued in the past have of course all had different personalities- many were kittens. My last two boys (which are my avatar image) were a few years ago. Earl (the gray one) was eating popcorn kernels In the middle of a winter storm with the squirrels in our back yard until I trapped him - he was feral - hissing, growling, spitting - no touching.
Blackie I trapped during a polar vortex and I would sit for hours playing this YouTube video (sound only) of a mother cat talking to her kittens - that was what finally got him out from hiding to eat.
anyway, sorry for the wall of text. I want to do right by “Rux” - I think he could likely “make it” on his own as he’s two years old - but my fears are: predators (we have coyotes), mean people, and of course cars and disease. Plus the last time we had a significant snowfall I didn’t see him for days - and when he came he ate an entire large can of food.
any suggestions? I’ve read a lot of your posts and they are all so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
In the few months I’ve been working with him I’ve managed to deworm him with both strongid and tapeworm meds (not all at once obviously) as well as treating him for fleas.
My plan has been to slowly get him as comfortable as I can and bring him to the vet to be neutered and vaccinated and possibly microchipped. My plan has included the least amount of trauma I can prevent.
Anyway, if you’re still reading the past two days and evenings he’s been off the charts skittish. Like won’t come in to eat, bolts if I move my hand (normally I can pet him and he purrs loudly while he eats) and night before last just took off running as if there was some “monster” I couldn’t see - and this was different from his normal skittishness- the normal skittishness is he backs off a bit, grooms and comes back. This was bat out of hell run far, far away.
Fast forward to last night. I’m in bed and I hear a “fight” - my two other cats hear it as well and begin to growl and all three of us immediately go to the window - I see “Rux” he is by my car.
whatever I did scared the other intruder away. I bring out food for “Rux” and he starts to eat warily. I don’t know what came over me, but I picked him up and put him in the cat carrier I have been keeping by the front door where he eats. Then I brought him upstairs to a bathroom with a bed, a place to hide/feel safe without being out of my reach, a litter pan with a mix of litter and some dirt, a bowl of water and a Feliway diffuser. At first there was some crying, but then silence.
He went to the bed/safe area and meowed at me and let me pet him, but he was clearly stressed.
This morning I brought him wet food and he wouldn’t eat even when I put a bit on his nose and he licked it off.
I gently pulled the bed out from under his safe space and he starred panting. I gently pet him and slid the bed back.
He has not used the box.
My question is do I leave the food there or do I only bring it in when he is ready to eat? I’ve read different opinions on this. I also know this is a huge change for him - the fact that he’s not hissing or growling or really reacting aggressively is good. I guess I need some help -
The ferals I have rescued in the past have of course all had different personalities- many were kittens. My last two boys (which are my avatar image) were a few years ago. Earl (the gray one) was eating popcorn kernels In the middle of a winter storm with the squirrels in our back yard until I trapped him - he was feral - hissing, growling, spitting - no touching.
Blackie I trapped during a polar vortex and I would sit for hours playing this YouTube video (sound only) of a mother cat talking to her kittens - that was what finally got him out from hiding to eat.
anyway, sorry for the wall of text. I want to do right by “Rux” - I think he could likely “make it” on his own as he’s two years old - but my fears are: predators (we have coyotes), mean people, and of course cars and disease. Plus the last time we had a significant snowfall I didn’t see him for days - and when he came he ate an entire large can of food.
any suggestions? I’ve read a lot of your posts and they are all so helpful. Thank you for taking the time to read this.
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