Please help with big decision

[pearl99]

Your plan sounds good. I agree, put the carrier in the room now. I can't remember if she likes treats, but if so can put a few in there daily to have some kind of positive association. Although when she's closed in it that positive will go away. But, I have a carrier out full time and one of my cats likes to rest in it now.
For sure make sure the bedroom door is closed. Don't want her running around the house and trying to catch her.
It may be tramatic with having to catch her if she wiggles out of the cave, but it's for the best. Waffles is scared for at least a day after a vet visit but he always totally comes back to his usual self. During that time you'll have to give her lots of room and time to rebound at her own speed. Don't get discouraged if that happens, or at least remember she'll come back. She may avoid the cat cave, yes. But she'll find comfort elsewhere where she needs to. She is in charge.

The video is hilarious! It cracks me up also when they sit on the toy on purpose and then jump up in the air like they are surprised they sat on something!
Best of luck! You are doing fantastic.

 

[Dinah Doll]

Thanks pearl99! Today I put a small cat-grass container in the carrier (Dynah rarely eats treats). I have to keep the carrier in the other room because it is just too large for her room. But she LOVES cat-grass and went in the carrier part ways to get at it. The carrier has been in that room with the door open since she started roaming a few months ago so, she is used to it and does sniff around it from time to time.

Thank you for the vote of confidence too! Monday can't come quick enough!

 

[IndyJones]

You could also take the top half off the carrier and leave the bottom half out for her.

 

[Dinah Doll]

You could also take the top half off the carrier and leave the bottom half out for her.

Forgot about that IJ! Good idea. Thanks for the reminder

 

[Avery]

I just had a thought. One of my cats can be picked up but it isn't easy to get him into a carrier. What works is to put the carrier (a large plastic one) on end and put a towel on the bottom. (The carrier also has a mat on the floor of the carrier.) I then pick up the cat and gently (and quickly!) drop him down into the carrier on top of the towel, latch the door, and slowly tip the carrier back into place. It is harder for the cat to escape this way and easier for me to get the door locked quickly. I wonder if you could do this with Dynah, holding her cat cave above the upturned carrier and letting her slip down onto a towel or something soft in the carrier. I don't mean to complicate things so please ignore this idea if you are happy with your plans!

 

[tabbytom]

Dinah Doll

Another way is place the carrier in a large supermarket paper bag. Cats like paper bags and boxes.

 

[Kwik]

Hi Greg
So tomorrow is the big day- don't overthink and give off stress vibes,stay calm and do your best to stick to your plan of transferring from her cave to the carrier-Dynah is going to be fine and once she's back it's highly likely she'll go right back to her cave- don't worry about things that might not even happen!

Your plan is a chain of events,much too complicated for a cat to associate starting with her cave- I'm pretty confident she won't associate that negatively- the carrier more so but after she's home and settled in again you can work on getting her to associate the carrier in a positive way- and you will be successful

You've brought Dynah a long ways from the terrified little feral she once was - it will not be a huge setback,I assure you.... her home is her established territory now and she associates that with all good things,that's what has been ingrained so far and one little trip in a carrier will not undo her reconditioning- probably worse for you than for her

Stay cool,calm and collected- it will soon be overwith

 

[Dinah Doll]

Hi Greg
So tomorrow is the big day- don't overthink and give off stress vibes,stay calm and do your best to stick to your plan of transferring from her cave to the carrier-Dynah is going to be fine and once she's back it's highly likely she'll go right back to her cave- don't worry about things that might not even happen!

Your plan is a chain of events,much too complicated for a cat to associate starting with her cave- I'm pretty confident she won't associate that negatively- the carrier more so but after she's home and settled in again you can work on getting her to associate the carrier in a positive way- and you will be successful

You've brought Dynah a long ways from the terrified little feral she once was - it will not be a huge setback,I assure you.... her home is her established territory now and she associates that with all good things,that's what has been ingrained so far and one little trip in a carrier will not undo her reconditioning- probably worse for you than for her

Stay cool,calm and collected- it will soon be overwith

Thank you Kwik! Posts like this go a very long way to keeping one sane It will work out.

The funny thing is this morning, for the first time in a while, Dynah slept in the Cat-house after her nightly roaming and playing NOT in her Cat-Cave in her bedroom.

So I think I will try and monitor when she goes in her Cat-Cave during the night, and close the door to her room. (I have a security cam in both rooms) If she stays in the Cat-House, then I may try Plan B. Not sure what Plan B is yet . Something like suit up, grab and go!!!

Thanks folks. I will certainly report back!

 

[Kwik]

Thank you Kwik! Posts like this go a very long way to keeping one sane It will work out.

The funny thing is this morning, for the first time in a while, Dynah slept in the Cat-house after her nightly roaming and playing NOT in her Cat-Cave in her bedroom.

So I think I will try and monitor when she goes in her Cat-Cave during the night, and close the door to her room. (I have a security cam in both rooms) If she stays in the Cat-House, then I may try Plan B. Not sure what Plan B is yet . Something like suit up, grab and go!!!

Thanks folks. I will certainly report back!

Look forward to it- I pray you'll have an easy time getting her in the carrier,once she's in there you are home free

And Greg if the opportunity arises and you can get her into the carrier tonight then do that,she'll be fine overnight in the carrier - I've done it many times when it happened that way with ferals hard to capture

So look for your best opportunity

 

[pearl99]

One thing occurred to me- Waffles always poops in the carrier when we are on the way in the car to the vet- from stress. My kitty Gracie always peed in the carrier on vet trips, even though I could pick her up and carry her anywhere. Take extra clean towels with you to switch out for the trip home. Waffles also sometimes poops on the scale when. being weighed in the vet's office. So, don't be alarmed! It happens.
Hope all goes well tomorrow! She will be fine. This is all just protective instinct and she will bounce back.

 

[Dinah Doll]

Well, it did not work out. Dynah was on full alert inside catcave. I tried to sqeeze the opening shut but her head was already part way out and she jumped out and ran. Dang she is strong and fast. I swear she knew something was up yesterday!

I let the vet know and I will let things cool down before I attempt this again another day.
In the meantime, I have been treating Dynah with the de-worm meds I had already. Hopeful that med will help in getting rid of them as we move forward.

I also left the carrier in her room with catgrass in it. At least she is not to leary of it. She already began sniffing around it and looking inside.

Thanks again guys. To be continued...

 

[Kwik]

Well, it did not work out. Dynah was on full alert inside catcave. I tried to sqeeze the opening shut but her head was already part way out and she jumped out and ran. Dang she is strong and fast. I swear she knew something was up yesterday!

I let the vet know and I will let things cool down before I attempt this again another day.
In the meantime, I have been treating Dynah with the de-worm meds I had already. Hopeful that med will help in getting rid of them as we move forward.

I also left the carrier in her room with catgrass in it. At least she is not to leary of it. She already began sniffing around it and looking inside.

Thanks again guys. To be continued...

It's okay- don't get discouraged,plans don't always work out when we want them to

It'll happen Greg,-shes not named Dynah MITE for nothing,lol

 

[tabbytom]

Well, it did not work out. Dynah was on full alert inside catcave. I tried to sqeeze the opening shut but her head was already part way out and she jumped out and ran. Dang she is strong and fast. I swear she knew something was up yesterday!

I let the vet know and I will let things cool down before I attempt this again another day.
In the meantime, I have been treating Dynah with the de-worm meds I had already. Hopeful that med will help in getting rid of them as we move forward.

I also left the carrier in her room with catgrass in it. At least she is not to leary of it. She already began sniffing around it and looking inside.

Thanks again guys. To be continued...

Yep, cats are smart. They can sense things coming up.

Yea, try another day. This is normal.

 

[pearl99]

It definitely is normal. I’ve had to reschedule appointments for Waffles more than once.

 

[Dinah Doll]

Thanks guys. Actually, this makes me less stressed. Next time I will be more assertive....and have my coffee before I attempt it again!!!

Thanks for your support as always

 

[Kwik]

Thanks guys. Actually, this makes me less stressed. Next time I will be more assertive....and have my coffee before I attempt it again!!!

Thanks for your support as always

Oh did we forget to mention- COFFEE is a must! Rofl

 

[pearl99]

Oh did we forget to mention- COFFEE is a must! Rofl

Yes! Every morning!

 

[Dinah Doll]

Hello folks! Just another Dynah update for you as it has been almost 2 weeks since my failed attempt to get this amazing little Cat in the carrier to bring to the vets.

She did not go back in her Cat-Cave for 2 days after the attempt, and since then she has spent little time in it. Instead, she has been sleeping in her Cat-House and spends 90% of her time in it sleeping and watching all the "critters" outside in the back room.

It has taken her all this time to get her trust back in me to where it was before trying to trap her in her Cat-Cave. And that level of trust was never very high to begin with! She is always wary of where I am and what I am doing when I enter the 2 rooms she is comfortable in. However, I think that she may be getting to a new level of relaxation and contentment. She is letting me know when I am getting too close to her by a mild short hiss. Then she is fine. I do not push it. But she will sleep completely sound now and only awake when I make a loud entrance. Reminds me of my Pepper girl and other Cats when they slept soundly. This is a great sign!

So, I have set up my next attempt to get her to the Vets by way of the HaveAHart trap. I believe that I know this Cat well enough now to catch her in the best and easiest way possible, and causing less stress on her. I am going to "dry" bait the trap now that she is getting back to normalcy. Then I will do the really tempting food thing for bait and set the trap when I think it's time. She has really gained some weight so I have begun to scale back on her wet food. The problem is her going into the trap. I think she will "smell a rat" and not go in the trap. She is just to darn SMART! We shall see.

This Cat is incredibly smart, and wary, and cunning. She is a true feral. I have to be really vigilant on this next attempt but I MUST give it some more time because the last attempt to catch her is still very fresh in her mind.

Any thoughts is always welcome and thank you all as always for helping me out but more so, helping out Dynah!

Greg

 

[DeesCats]

Is your HaveAHart trap one door or two doors? Either way, I would bait it daily with whatever food she likes to get her more used to it. If she's comfortable going in dark spaces, throw a lightweight sheet or towel over the trap on the chance it would make her use it.

 

[Dinah Doll]

Is your HaveAHart trap one door or two doors? Either way, I would bait it daily with whatever food she likes to get her more used to it. If she's comfortable going in dark spaces, throw a lightweight sheet or towel over the trap on the chance it would make her use it.

Thanks DeesCats! Yes, trap has 1 door. I will move it into the backroom tonight with some food in it. I have it covered with a camo rain suit. Covers it completely. She has not really seen or, been in contact with the trap yet. So maybe curiosity will help.