Three Feral Mommas

[SheriB]

I had to take one of the babies, Feather, in for a re-test, he originally had a very faint positive for FeLV. He came up negative, Yay! When I brought him home I put him in another room, away from his siblings. Truth be told the shelter is so full of sick cats I wanted to be sure he didn’t catch something there and hand it off to his sibs right before they go to adoptions on Saturday.
Turns out that was a good move although he was very scared at first and even now cries every time he hears a cat meow. But after 24 hours he has turned into a love bug, prancing around making happy paws and rubbing against me. I spent several hours with him today, at the end of which we did “high fives “ for treats and he was perfect!
I’ve been treating him for ringworm so he can’t go to adoptions until next week, but now for the first time I’m very hopeful for him.

 

[Norachan]

That's great news about Feather.

They do sometimes get more affectionate towards people when they're the only cat in the room. I'm glad he's making such good progress.

How are all your older cats doing?

Good luck at the adoptions.

 

[SheriB]

Thanks Norachan ! I will be surprised if they get adopted tomorrow, there will be 20 kittens there, this is the height of kitten season. Many of them are younger and friendlier than these two. But it is good for them to go and learn that it’s not such a scary thing. And who knows, they might catch someone’s eye. They are only there for a few hours. It’s just a Saturday thing.
After an absolutely miserable month in the greenhouse I let the two Tabby mamas go. They are wild creatures and needed to be free. One of them was so determined to hide that she would not leave the planter bed even when the sprinklers came on and so she was getting soaked every day. I left them access to the greenhouse and put food out, but they have not been back. It is my hope that they headed for the part of town they came from, safer than here.
Mama Aiko failed cage training, being hissy and aggressive the whole time. I finally brought her back here and put her in an enclosed area of my garage. It was an area where my FeLV fosters could go but for now they are being kept out of there. I’m weighing the ethics of letting her join their clowder and possibly contracting FeLV against making her live alone in the garage or letting her go. All of the solutions are not ideal. I think she could live here as part of the group, she would be safe, fed, and have two outdoor areas plus the basement rooms and the other cats. Alone in the garage forever is not acceptable to me. Living wild will certainly shorten her life. I’m pretty sure I’m going to let her join the group. I’ll give her time to get comfortable in the garage and then start introducing them.

 

[Norachan]

I think letting the two feral girls go was probably the best thing to do. Not all feral cats can be socialised enough to get used to living that close to people. If they were really miserable it would have been cruel to keep them forever. At least they were spayed, so they only have themselves to worry about now.

How far was there original territory from your place? Do you think they could make it back there?

I hope Aiko can join the rest of your group. Was she vaccinated against FeLV?

 

[SheriB]

The tabbies would have to travel about 7 miles. I think they could do it. Or maybe they’ll find another colony on the way.
The shelter does not vaccinate for FeLV but I don’t know why I didn’t think of that! If I can get hold of her I will get that done! Thank you!

 

[SheriB]

Great progress the last couple of days! This is Button snuffling my ear this morning. Feather was able to rejoin his siblings and they have all started enjoying pets more. Then this morning they all, at one time or another, have come up to climb on my lap for pets. I wanted to get pictures but needed all of my hands for petting!
Norachan I’m sorry to say that Aiko got away a couple of days ago. I opened the garage door a little to get some air in there and stupidly forgot to close it. She found a way to push out the bottom of the door to her enclosure and squeezed out. So her fate is decided by accident. I’m sad but know that she is happier. I hope she, too, sets out for her former home territory.