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[jacques t]

Anyhow, I think I broke her trust and is scared of me.  I brought in food for her and was delighted she was eating.  I placed the food too close to her and she bolted away in the room and started to try to jump around trying to find an escape area.  She was near the door where I wanted to exit and so I went to the door and she zipped across the other side of the room and jumped on the window sill and tried to jump up and down the window trying to get out.  So I left the room. 

.  I might have to release her back into the cold wild..=(

 

[Norachan]

This is to be expected, it will take a long time to get her used to you. One of the feral cats I took in spent a month hiding in a wardrobe. I didn't see him at all for more than four weeks, the only way I knew he was there was because food would go and the litter box would be used.

Be patient, don't give up on her yet.

Have you tried Feliway? If you put a diffuser in her room the smell will keep her calm.

http://www.feliway.com/us/

 

[shadowsrescue]

This is completely normal.  Most ferals will do this when brought inside.  It takes along time for them to settle.  You can try feliway as Norachan suggested or get some Composure treats or liquid.  It is a calming agent. 

When you take the food into her, walk slowly and keep your gaze down.  Tell her what you are doing.  For now just set the food down and leave.  Then gradually start spending time in the room.  Sit on the floor at her level and talk softly to her.  Don't try to pet her.  Just give her time.

 

[jacques t]

I appreciate the support from everyone.  This is my 1st time caring for a feral kitty.  I'm walking on eggshells to make sure I try to do the right thing.

I gave her some rotisserie chicken with chicken broth in one dish and another dish with some chicken baby food last night.  In the morning, both platters licked clean.  =D

 

[shadowsrescue]

You need to get her back on cat food.  The chicken and baby food are great for when you really need her to eat or when you are working on socialization.  The rotisserie chicken is too salty.  Try to get her onto some canned wet food.  You can mix a bit of chicken broth or even just plain water and heat if needed.

You are doing great.  Ask lots of questions.  Just take it slow.  Working with ferals requires time and patience.  Give her a chance to recover from the spay and then begin to work with her. 

 

[jacques t]

Thanks so much!  I am also going to run into another issue that will affect the cat's socialization.  I will be moving from my current apartment to another one.  I have a spare bedroom right now that is the safe room, but in my new place, it'll be just one bedroom.  This will occur in about 2 weeks time.  By that time the weather should warm slightly.  So I am at an crossroad, to take the cat along with me to the new place or release her back to the place she was found.  Or will it be safe for the feral to be in the same bedroom with me while I sleep and such.  Last thing I want to wake up to is the cat trying to eat my eyelids. lol

 

[shadowsrescue]

You need to get her back on cat food.  The chicken and baby fo

 
Thanks so much!  I am also going to run into another issue that will affect the cat's socialization.  I will be moving from my current apartment to another one.  I have a spare bedroom right now that is the safe room, but in my new place, it'll be just one bedroom.  This will occur in about 2 weeks time.  By that time the weather should warm slightly.  So I am at an crossroad, to take the cat along with me to the new place or release her back to the place she was found.  Or will it be safe for the feral to be in the same bedroom with me while I sleep and such.  Last thing I want to wake up to is the cat trying to eat my eyelids. lol

It can be done in a one bedroom.   Once you have moved, you cannot decide just to release her outside as she will flee and try to return to her previous home.  Also if you are feeding her now and then you release her back outside, who will feed her? 

Can you tell me how it is going when you sit with her.  Is she coming out or completely hiding?  Does she make any eye contact with you?  Does she hiss or meow? 

I think this is a decision you need to make.  If you decide to keep her, it is going to be alot of work.  You just can't decide one day that it is not working out and let her go.  She did a very kind thing for her in having her spayed.  If she was used to living outside, she can adjust again.  The hardest part will be food.  There is also the chance that Animal Control will come, trap them and euthanize.

If you truly want to keep her and work with her, then moving with her can be done.  She might need to hang in a bathroom or closet area, but sharing a room with her should be ok.  There are lots of tips we can give you if you decide to move forward. 

 

[StefanZ]

 
Thanks so much!  I am also going to run into another issue that will affect the cat's socialization.  I will be moving from my current apartment to another one.  I have a spare bedroom right now that is the safe room, but in my new place, it'll be just one bedroom.  This will occur in about 2 weeks time.  By that time the weather should warm slightly.  So I am at an crossroad, to take the cat along with me to the new place or release her back to the place she was found.  Or will it be safe for the feral to be in the same bedroom with me while I sleep and such.  Last thing I want to wake up to is the cat trying to eat my eyelids. lol

Ah, this with eating eyelids or cutting open your throat is a myth. NONE of our rescuers had eve had this.   I admit, theoretically it may happen, if you are nasty to the cat.  Really nasty, and preferably, if she has kittens whom you are really nasty against.    

Nay, its the other way, actually.  Being in the same room as you, ie your bedroom, do hastens up the process of succesfull fostering.

If you think its importanf with a safe corner for her (and or if YOU are really anxious), you can have a cage for her.   Closed cage at night, if you are afraid.  Or open cage at all times, if you want to give her a safe own corner.  Put in a cat igloo in there, etc, and have this cage already now, so she has it already now as her own safe place.

ps.   ShadowsRescuers remarks are correct. You can choose, if you want.

Good luck!

 

[jacques t]

 
You need to get her back on cat food.  The chicken and baby fo

It can be done in a one bedroom.   Once you have moved, you cannot decide just to release her outside as she will flee and try to return to her previous home.  Also if you are feeding her now and then you release her back outside, who will feed her? 

Can you tell me how it is going when you sit with her.  Is she coming out or completely hiding?  Does she make any eye contact with you?  Does she hiss or meow? 

I think this is a decision you need to make.  If you decide to keep her, it is going to be alot of work.  You just can't decide one day that it is not working out and let her go.  She did a very kind thing for her in having her spayed.  If she was used to living outside, she can adjust again.  The hardest part will be food.  There is also the chance that Animal Control will come, trap them and euthanize.

If you truly want to keep her and work with her, then moving with her can be done.  She might need to hang in a bathroom or closet area, but sharing a room with her should be ok.  There are lots of tips we can give you if you decide to move forward. 

There are tenants that have been leaving dishes of dry cat food near the entrance of the stairs into the garage. So there is a food supply. I don't know of the quality of food and it leaves too much room for a malicious person to poison the food.

When I come into the room and sit there, she is usually snuggled up to the floor board out in the open.  She does make eye contact with me and does blink at me occasionally.  I have found times where she closes her eyes to nap while I sit.  She does have this uncanny sense when she knows when I turn to look at her.  She opens her eyes momentarily to check on me, then I go back to what I'm doing, and she closes her eyes again.  She doesn't hiss or meow at all.

 

[shadowsrescue]

She is acting as though she is not a true feral or one that has at least had human contact.  She is not retreating when you are in the room and she will look at you and seems content and not so fearful that she runs and hides.  This is a very good sign. 

Have you tried offering her yummy treats when you enter the room.  You might get some plain cooked chicken and break it into very small pieces.  Sit quietly on the floor and tell her you have  a special treat for her.  Place a piece near you and just wait.  Keep your gaze down.  If she doesn't come forward, get another piece and very gently toss it her way.  Once she gets a taste, she should want more.  Next toss it just a bit further away from her, but closer to you.  Keep talking softly to her and keep your gaze down.  See how far she is willing to come. 

If she chooses not to move, just leave her a few pieces when you are ready to leave and try again later that day or another day. 

She does seem to be making progress to me. 

Did the vet say she was about 8 months old?

 

[jacques t]

I'll try that out..i have some fresh chicken breasts in the freezer.

It wasn't the vet that told me she was 8 months.  It was the people at the shelter who run the TNR program.  She seems so small for a 8 month kitty.  My former rescue kitty was about 4 or 5 months old at that size.

 

[shadowsrescue]

 
I'll try that out..i have some fresh chicken breasts in the freezer.

It wasn't the vet that told me she was 8 months.  It was the people at the shelter who run the TNR program.  She seems so small for a 8 month kitty.  My former rescue kitty was about 4 or 5 months old at that size.

Just cook the chicken without any seasoning.  You can boil the defrosted boneless chicken breasts in a pan of water for about 15-20 minutes.  Cool and then cut up into small pieces.  I have used tuna too, but chicken is less messy and less smelly!!! 

Did the vet give an estimate on her age?  I wonder if she is younger or just so small as she is malnourished.

Do you think you would like to try and keep her and work with her?

Next time she is relaxed, try to take a picture and post it if you can. 

 

[jacques t]

I didn't take her to the vet yet.  The shelter had the vaccines and medication there at an additional cost and had it administered during the spaying process.

I'll take a pic and post it once I can. =D

 

[Norachan]

You're doing great Jacques. If she'll close her eyes and nap while you are in the room that is huge progress. 

Don't worry about her going for you as you sleep. I've shared my house with feral cats in all different stages of being socialised and they've never attacked me. Even the very wild ones will hiss and growl at you if you get too close before they try to scratch. There is no way Yuki will sneak up on you and attack while your sleeping.

You said you have a small cat carrier inside her crate now, is that right? Does she like it in there? You could keep the same set up in the bedroom of your new place so she has her room within yours. You can always shut her in there at night if you're worried, but I doubt you will need to.

Can't wait to see another picture of her.

 

[kittychick]

Everyone here I'm sure echoes my thoughts in saying thanks a ton for doing what you have for these 3!!!! The idea that there will be hundreds, if not thousands, of fewer unwanted cats out there because of your actions -thank you thank you thank you!!!!!!!

As someone who has socialized both true ferals (born & raised with no human contact) & strays (a cat who has been raised with humans -often dumped, or lost)....What you've written leads me to believe Yuki was at some point either she was either someone's kitty & was dumped, or she's at least spent time getting close to a human, perhaps through someone feeding her. She's warming up to you so quickly! (It may seem slow to you -but a true feral can take weeks -months-to even let humans come close-or even show themselves out in a room when a human comes in!!!!!

But the bad part about her probably not being "a true feral".....Unfortunately that makes her possibly a little less likely to truly survive on her own with no support. And needless to say, the temperatures & snow levels are so beyond normal & making it SO much harder then normal for them to stay warm, find food & find unfrozen water---giving her a shot at making the move with you is so much more humane if at all possible.

And having her in YOUR bedroom vs the spare will very likely speed the bonding/socializing process. We do all of our foster & feral work in a spare bedroom -actually a bedroom 1/2 of a huge full basement--and I've discovered all of ours have done better when A) we leave the radio or tv on softly close to 24/7 to get them used to human voices, & to desensitize them a bit to it, and B) they do better when I sleep in "their" room as much as possible. So having her in your room is, I think, actually a plus! As long as she has her "den" (you said you did get her a big cat carrier right?) to go to when she needs to be alone, des tress, that should be great. You might cover the sides & top with a towel (obviously not front!) to add to privacy for her.

One kinda odd thing I'll suggest from experience - when you move, for the first few weeks you might leave your bed (mattress) OFF the frame (as in mattress on the floor) so that she won't hide under there. Because once she starts hiding under there, it's ALOT harder to coax her out to bond. I know it's inconvenient for you -sounds like you're downsizing & the last thing you need is a bed frame taking up space. But it is temporary -and it DOES help. Second best alternative -block off, with books, boxes, etc every square inch of access to under the bed. From experience I will say it's virtually impossible -a cat on a mission to get under the bed will almost always find a way!!!

So if you can take her with you, please please do. You sound like a compassionate guy who gets how horridly hard life would be for her if you put her back out-particularly since there aren't even basic cat shelters. (I will say if it does come to that -PLEASE take her back to the lot where you trapped her-if you release her somewhere else, she will likely die trying to get back to where she came from). It sounds like she's very much already warming to you!!!! If she's willing to be out in the open with youn-& to eat in front of youn-that's a HUGE display of trust on her side. I have good luck with always talking softly when I enter "her room so I never startle, and I always keep hard food (& water obviously) available 24/7, but I like for them to know me as "bringer of good things"---so I always come into the room with something she finds yummy -like rotisserie chicken, tuna, &/or chicken baby food. I start by offering it soon as I come in -on a plate -& I set down a few feet away, talking to her all the time (softly). This helps her associate your presence & your voice with good things!!!! I eventually start putting the baby food (Ferber 2nd stage chicken is best -nothing with onions!!!) on a spoon, I lie on the floor to make myself less threatening, and get her to eat off the spoon in front of me. I work up to her eating closer & closer as over a few days I hold spoon closerv& closer. My goal is always to get them to eventually eat off the spin while on my lap! It takes awhile-& you have to move slowly, but it's helped every foster/feral learn to trust me. Don't push petting her too quickly -let her trust you completely first.

I hope tgis works -not just for you but for her!!!! I think you've officially turned her little world around for the better!

Keep us all posted!!!

 

[shadowsrescue]

@kittychick gave you some awesome advice!!  I really think you can do this and give her a better life. 

One of the tips Kittychick mentioned that i was going to was to be sure to keep the mattress/boxsprings flat on the floor.  You don't want her getting under the bed.  Also block other areas behind book cases and such. 

Keep working with her.

 

[jacques t]

Thank you for the amazing advice Kittychick!

I will do that.  Last night was the 1st night Yuki made a sounds. She was silent all week until now.   She was meowing/trilling and I heard hear running around the room.  It wasn't yowling however, I watched some youtube videos and her calls weren't yowling and more along the lines of meows turning into trills.

I am unsure what this means, if someone can let me know.

I also was wondering if I should get a rescue cat from the shelter.  I heard that a tame cat can speed up the socialization for the feral one.

 

[Norachan]

Those trills sound like happy sounds to me. Are the male cats still around outside? She could be calling to them.

Another rescue cat would be a god idea, but you might want to wait a while. You said you have to move to a new apartment soon, is that right? Wait until after you've moved and had a couple of weeks to settle in. Too much change might be overwhelming for Yuki at the moment.

 

[jacques t]

 
Those trills sound like happy sounds to me. Are the male cats still around outside? She could be calling to them.

Another rescue cat would be a god idea, but you might want to wait a while. You said you have to move to a new apartment soon, is that right? Wait until after you've moved and had a couple of weeks to settle in. Too much change might be overwhelming for Yuki at the moment.

No male cats outside. I'm on the 11th floor of a high rise.  Flying cats would be so cool tho! <3

I'll wait til after the move..  She'll be in the same bedroom as me..with the mattress on the floor. =D

 

[jacques t]

I attempted to feed her some Gerber #2 chicken and gravy without success.  I place the spoon in front of her, and didn't stare at her. She didn't lick it or taste it.  She was sitting on my office chair with a knitted blanket.  She manages to make a tent and was under the blanket, chilling on the chair.  I could peek through the holes in the blanket and was able to block her eyes and my eyes so we didn't make eye contact.  I call it a small success that she didn't bolt or even move from her rested spot.  She just pulled her head back slightly as the spoon went closer to her.