Is this really a surprise to anyone? The former feral cats are not going back outside...

ldg

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For those not familiar, we moved last year. We relocated 7 of the feral cats with us. We moved in November. We had them set up in cages in a summer tent. When we started letting them out in December, they kept returning to the tent rather than moving into the feral villas and using the feeding stations. :lol3: So every snowstorm, I had to dump snow off the roof every few hours. In February, there was a storm with wet, heavy snow. I didn't get out in time. I had to get them inside. We moved them into a spare bedroom.

We needed a long term solution. We ordered a shed. The earliest install date we could get was June. When it arrived, it stank like chemicals. While we worked on that, one of the cats, Bean, developed anemia. He has immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. While at the vet with him, someone came in with an emergency: a dog that had been attacked by coyotes that morning, while on a walk with his dad. Less than a mile from us.

I came home with Bean and told my husband, Gary, we are not putting the feral cats back outside. I told him what happened. And before he could respond, I pointed out that no more cats outside means no more food outside. We won't be attracting MORE cats. He agreed.

So I began the switch to timed meals. Then I began slow introductions.

Baloo sleeps with me. Bean kneads like crazy on the bed. Khol... the pictures are self-explanatory. Froggie discovered my lap. Treebie and Smokey no longer even return to "their" room. :heart2:

Welcome home, babies!


November, 2014




The tent collapse, Feb 2015




Their room, after the tent collapse




The kitties now:

Khol



Dottie - down from the table tops!



Froggie, lap kitteh!



Baloo - playing with toy mice, not real mice!



Treebie!



Smokey :heart2:



Beanie




Bean and Baloo on the counter (Yep, they're home, lol)



Smokey giving Beanie a bath... in the living room. ;)

 

shadowsrescue

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Oh my gosh!!  How wonderful!!!  I tell your story of your move with the ferals so many.  I am in awe.  You give me hope that someday my ferals will move inside too. 

So are they all integrated with your other indoor cats?  How is Pawley?  I always remember him.

Thank you so much for updating.  I am always in awe of all you do.
 

Kat0121

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This thread made my day!! This is so amazing!!! These might be some of the luckiest (former) ferals in the world! I, too, am in awe of you and all you have done and continue to do for these very, very lucky kitties!


All of the cats are beautiful and look so happy!! I love all the names you chose, too. I give tons of credit and purraise to your hubby also for opening his heart and home to these cats. Many men (and women too of course) wouldn't dream of it. You are very lucky indeed. You've got a real keeper there.
 

mani

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Oh wow, Laurie.. that's just fabulous.


All the shots are a joy. A special favourite for me is Smokey.
 
 
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ldg

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Oh my gosh!!  How wonderful!!!  I tell your story of your move with the ferals so many.  I am in awe.  You give me hope that someday my ferals will move inside too. 

So are they all integrated with your other indoor cats?  How is Pawley?  I always remember him.

Thank you so much for updating.  I am always in awe of all you do.

Khol is 100% integrated, which just blows my mind. She and Froggie are - sort of were - such hissy pissy cats, (HATED other cats) I had no idea how we were going to make it work. But for both, their definition of personal space has diminished so much! Khol actually sleeps on a crowded bed if she doesn't get to the spot to curl up into my neck first. !!!!

Bean everyone loves and gets along with just fine. He's a total sweetie.

Baloo is another one we were worried about. Outside he was very bossy and territorial. But he has mellowed quite a bit!

Froggie hasn't ventured out of the room much. She is just starting to. For a few months, the boys were still hanging out in there. Now she's mostly alone. Obviously I spend time with her, but I figure if I spend less time, it'll encourage her to venture out. That is happening now.

Don't get me wrong. All but Khol are darn skittish - both with us and most of the cats.

Spooky is screaming at most of them. They ignore her, they're used to Khol and Froggie.

We had to work on Ming Loy hating Khol. We have a working truce, knock wood.

Pawley....

Pawley is doing awesome. !!!! But Pawley feels he needs to be boss man over Smokey, Treebie and Baloo. That is a work-in-progress. ;)
 
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ldg

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Oh wow, Laurie.. that's just fabulous.:)

All the shots are a joy. A special favourite for me is Smokey.:heart4:  

Smokey is a big huge cuddle-bug, and I don't think he misses outside one bit. :heart2:
 

Norachan

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Fantastic update. 


Of course they're not going back outside, they know when they've got it good.

All of my ferals are indoors now too. Even little Happy, the FIV kitten, decided to come in. 
 
 

rubysmama

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What a wonderful update!  I remember reading the thread with the trials and tribulations of your move.  So glad everyone is now living safely under one roof. 
 

feralvr

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Dottie - down from the table tops!

Ok - so I couldn't quote all of them BUT, Laurie... :flail: This one made me laugh out loud because Dottie's face is absolutely priceless and SO ADORABLE!! OH AND HER COAT :thud: She is so little too. She looks like a little teeny owl. OMG I want to love her all up!!! :heart3: They are all so precious and I am NOT SURPRISED, as you already know ;), that you kept them as inside kitties. Totally an astonishing story and I think you should write a book. :D :happy3: A real page turner it would be. From starting at the RV park till now. WOW - what a transition - heck, EVOLUTION, from a year ago. AMAZING. :clap::clap::clap: :sun: :lovegrin:

Now - go and give your 15 a love scratch from me. :lovegrin2: :rub:
 
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ondine

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So glad you posted this, Laurie. The entire story is so neat and even with the little bumps, just a happy ending. [emoji]128570[/emoji]
 

maureen brad

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Ok - so I couldn't quote all of them BUT, Laurie...
This one made me laugh out loud because Dottie's face is absolutely priceless and SO ADORABLE!! OH AND HER COAT
She is so little too. She looks like a little teeny owl. OMG I want to love her all up!!!
They are all so precious and I am NOT SURPRISED, as you already know
, that you kept them as inside kitties. Totally an astonishing story and I think you should write a book.
A real page turner it would be. From starting at the RV park till now. WOW - what a transition - heck, EVOLUTION, from a year ago. AMAZING.


Now - go and give your 15 a love scratch from me.
:
 
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