- Joined
- Feb 18, 2015
- Messages
- 12
- Purraise
- 5
Hello all:
I have had cats all my adult life (48 y/o), and my only experience with "ferals" has been over 14 years ago when I adopted a mom and her four feral kittens under 4 weeks of age. Mom was not feral, so the kittens were easily tamed and re-homed with the exception of one who was too skittish and she stayed with me along with mom. Currently I have four older cats.
I live in West Michigan -- three weeks ago I noticed a black cat going house to house down our street in search of food -- we do not have very many cats in our neighborhood -- only one that I've observed has been a gray and white tom, but I haven't seen him in over six months.
I observed it's "route" - as much as I could -- it would come from across our back woods and begin going house to house every evening about 5:45pm. I put food out in our garage, leaving it open about six inches - there is a cat door in the back of the garage and I noticed prints that the cat exited here and went out our back yard through a small hole in our deer fence. The weather has been so awful with sub zero temps and heavy snowfall - I decided to see if I could trap kitty and set it up in our loft above our garage which is heated, essentially empty except for carpet scraps and completely cat proof. There is a window for daylight.
Also wanted to see if this cat is indeed a true feral or perhaps someone's abandoned cat. I put thick folded canvas tarps under a live trap and covered the trap with two layers of tarps in our garage.
Long story short it has been nearly 72 hours. I brought the cat into the upstairs loft, plugged in a "feliway" diffuser, set up water station, cat box and a "safe den" thick fleece and soft blankets. "Jet Black" as I refer to him/ her does not hiss or growl -- "she" for lack of a better word, meows when I talk to her, but will not eat wet food offered under the blankets in her den on a spoon. Jet has not used the box, but has used a piece of old carpet in the corner -- so I will change the type of litter in the box and mix in some dirt and put in one of Jet's "#2's" --in hopes that works.
"She" has made eye contact with me and I have soft blinked and backed down with my body language -- however that was day one -- the last time I saw her out of the den. I also made the mistake of looking under the blanket in her den and made eye contact (I squinted) and then put the blanket back down. Other than that I have kept a schedule of going up and talking very softly, bringing wet food and staying up with her for about 20-30 minutes. Everything I have read says don't give food until the cat comes to you -- which feels a little counter intuitive with an adult cat, but I will defer to those in this forum who have more experience than me.
I have read so many posts on "ferals" that I'm concerned if my approach is ok. I understand and respect the amount of fear Jet has and the time and patience I will need to give - he/she may not ever be socialized and that is fine. However, should I attempt to feed Jet only if she comes out? or should I stay and make my visits at the same time every day and leave the food and let her eat after I leave?
I would like to be able to take her in to the vet to be seen -- vaccinated/spayed or neutered, but don't want to traumatize her anymore thanI'm sure this experience has been. I also realize that 72 hours is not a lot of time to make a total evaluation.
At what point would you advise re-trapping her and taking her to the vet?
What is your opinion on the feeding?
Anything else?
I am willing to take as much time as needed as she is in a safe cat-proof location out of the elements. I am willing to TNR as well, respecting that this cat may be more comfortable in the outdoor world. I'm also willing to foster and keep kitty if it seems like the right thing to do.
thank you
Betsy
I have had cats all my adult life (48 y/o), and my only experience with "ferals" has been over 14 years ago when I adopted a mom and her four feral kittens under 4 weeks of age. Mom was not feral, so the kittens were easily tamed and re-homed with the exception of one who was too skittish and she stayed with me along with mom. Currently I have four older cats.
I live in West Michigan -- three weeks ago I noticed a black cat going house to house down our street in search of food -- we do not have very many cats in our neighborhood -- only one that I've observed has been a gray and white tom, but I haven't seen him in over six months.
I observed it's "route" - as much as I could -- it would come from across our back woods and begin going house to house every evening about 5:45pm. I put food out in our garage, leaving it open about six inches - there is a cat door in the back of the garage and I noticed prints that the cat exited here and went out our back yard through a small hole in our deer fence. The weather has been so awful with sub zero temps and heavy snowfall - I decided to see if I could trap kitty and set it up in our loft above our garage which is heated, essentially empty except for carpet scraps and completely cat proof. There is a window for daylight.
Also wanted to see if this cat is indeed a true feral or perhaps someone's abandoned cat. I put thick folded canvas tarps under a live trap and covered the trap with two layers of tarps in our garage.
Long story short it has been nearly 72 hours. I brought the cat into the upstairs loft, plugged in a "feliway" diffuser, set up water station, cat box and a "safe den" thick fleece and soft blankets. "Jet Black" as I refer to him/ her does not hiss or growl -- "she" for lack of a better word, meows when I talk to her, but will not eat wet food offered under the blankets in her den on a spoon. Jet has not used the box, but has used a piece of old carpet in the corner -- so I will change the type of litter in the box and mix in some dirt and put in one of Jet's "#2's" --in hopes that works.
"She" has made eye contact with me and I have soft blinked and backed down with my body language -- however that was day one -- the last time I saw her out of the den. I also made the mistake of looking under the blanket in her den and made eye contact (I squinted) and then put the blanket back down. Other than that I have kept a schedule of going up and talking very softly, bringing wet food and staying up with her for about 20-30 minutes. Everything I have read says don't give food until the cat comes to you -- which feels a little counter intuitive with an adult cat, but I will defer to those in this forum who have more experience than me.
I have read so many posts on "ferals" that I'm concerned if my approach is ok. I understand and respect the amount of fear Jet has and the time and patience I will need to give - he/she may not ever be socialized and that is fine. However, should I attempt to feed Jet only if she comes out? or should I stay and make my visits at the same time every day and leave the food and let her eat after I leave?
I would like to be able to take her in to the vet to be seen -- vaccinated/spayed or neutered, but don't want to traumatize her anymore thanI'm sure this experience has been. I also realize that 72 hours is not a lot of time to make a total evaluation.
At what point would you advise re-trapping her and taking her to the vet?
What is your opinion on the feeding?
Anything else?
I am willing to take as much time as needed as she is in a safe cat-proof location out of the elements. I am willing to TNR as well, respecting that this cat may be more comfortable in the outdoor world. I'm also willing to foster and keep kitty if it seems like the right thing to do.
thank you
Betsy