Taming feral cats

[jessmarimba]

That's such a sweet story! I got Clementine, my older cat, in a similar way. Except after she got locked in the laundry room closet at our old apartment complext for two weeks, we took her in the apartment and never let her out again. She was pretty unhappy with us at first but now has no desire to go out.



The orange guy got out in the car on the way there

I'd had the windows down b/c he reeked of pee but I got them up in time. He just sat on the dashboard til we got there, and then I picked him up in his towel and put him back in the carrier. Surprisingly easy. Even my owned cats wouldn't have been so cooperative.

[jessmarimba]

I am going to be stressing all day.

I asked for the orange dude to be FLV/FIV tested, b/c if he's positive I can't keep him with the cats I already have. But if he's positive, they euthanise. Ugh....I'm so worried now.

[indysteel]

I am going to be stressing all day.

I asked for the orange dude to be FLV/FIV tested, b/c if he's positive I can't keep him with the cats I already have. But if he's positive, they euthanise. Ugh....I'm so worried now.

Is that a typical vet policy?

Here's what one of our local feral organizations has to say about it:

http://indyferal.org/index.php?page=fiv-felv

[jessmarimba]

I agree with IndyFeral - there is no reason to kill them, especially if they aren't symptomatic. There's nothing on the RMACA website about it but I think it was in the small print on the paperwork I signed for those guys this morning.

Now I'm wishing I hadn't asked him to be tested but I also didn't want to put my girls at risk...I hope he's ok. Maybe they'd call first? It says that "There are no exceptions to their rules" on the website but they already broke 'em by not charging me the "tame cat" fee for the one that ended up in a carrier instead of the trap.

[indysteel]

Have you ever seen him with any signs of a fight? The incidence of infection is still relatively low and it appears that he was in a home at some point in time and not living on the street, so just hope for the best.

[jessmarimba]

Sorry to bug all of you with the stress! They just called, the kitties are doing fine and I can pick them up whenever I'm ready. Yay!

[indysteel]

Yay, kitties! I'm glad they're doing fine!

[jessmarimba]

I've already given orange buddy the run of the laundry room. He somehow doesn't seem to connect me with ANY of this...instead, I think he's decided that I'm his mother. Seriously. He might be the most affectionate cat I've ever seen. He will not stop purring and just wants pets (too funny, I just got back from a concert, and he would run to his towel/bed - then run back for more pets, then bed, then pets, til he finally passed out mid-trip)

And I may have confused some of you earlier, but he was definitely born in my backyard...his mother got fixed today, too. So I'm quite happy that he seems to be content inside!

[smilingcat]

Always love a happy ending. Yayyy!! for the orange kitty. I'm really happy for both of you!! Sounds like a real loverboy!!

[bmccasland]

Always love a happy ending. Yayyy!! for the orange kitty. I'm really happy for both of you!! Sounds like a real loverboy!!

HooRay for a happy ending! May the kitties live long and happy lives. And not drive you too crazy.

[jessmarimba]

We learned three important things today!

1) After peeing all over a paper bag I gave him to hide in, he has used the litter box all day. (He must've been really waiting on that bag though, b/c I can't believe he could hold that much liquid. So he was obviously trying not to go someplace "bad")

2) He learned how to sit in a lap and make biscuits

3) He learned how fun it is to sit someplace high and knock everything off (therefore, this must be an instinctive trait)

[indysteel]

Jess, how are you stray cats doing? Did they heal from the surgery? How is the newest addition to your indoor cats doing? Any further leads on where the Siamese came from?

I hope you're all doing well!

[jessmarimba]

Orange critter is doing well! He seems incapable of learning how to move on wood floors...it's so funny to watch him try to stop and completely spin out.

I've seen Mama cat twice, and she is a little more scared of me but seems otherwise fine.

Orange guy's sister learned to meow at the vet and now asks for food. I think she's forgotten the whole ordeal.

And the Siamese has returned for the last two days, but he's still on the heavier side and still won't eat the food I set out, so I'm pretty sure he either has someone else feeding him or has an indoor home somewhere.

I need to start working on a shelter for them soon. It's getting chilly here at night.

[indysteel]

We now have two shelters: One we fabricated out of a Rubbermaid container and a styrofoam cooler, with a hole cut out for access. It sits on our front porch. Our adult male took to it right away. Most nights, you can see that he's burrowed inside. I've placed my hand inside after he's stepped out of it, and it gets quite warm. Granted, it's not overly cold out yet.

This past Friday, we picked up this shelter from a local man who makes them. It has two entrances and an upper "deck" inside where the cats are supposed to sleep. We also picked up some straw and catnip (to attract them). We think the mother cat and her "teenage" son are already using it. We have it on our back deck in a spot that gets a lot of sun. I'm still thinking of what we can do to make it a bit warmer on the coldest of days, e.g., an electric pad or one of those warmers you can throw in the microwave. I sure hope they make it through the winter.

[Biciclista]

We now have two shelters: One we fabricated out of a Rubbermaid container and a styrofoam cooler, with a hole cut out for access. It sits on our front porch. Our adult male took to it right away. Most nights, you can see that he's burrowed inside. I've placed my hand inside after he's stepped out of it, and it gets quite warm. Granted, it's not overly cold out yet.

This past Friday, we picked up this shelter from a local man who makes them. It has two entrances and an upper "deck" inside where the cats are supposed to sleep. We also picked up some straw and catnip (to attract them). We think the mother cat and her "teenage" son are already using it. We have it on our back deck in a spot that gets a lot of sun. I'm still thinking of what we can do to make it a bit warmer on the coldest of days, e.g., an electric pad or one of those warmers you can throw in the microwave. I sure hope they make it through the winter.

you're awesome!! they'll be fine now.