Can't Tame Feral...i Am Near Tears...need Advice

[sweetblackpaws]

I wish I had tried this before like in photo: they have fake leaves over a burlap throw, pretty cozy set up. Too late now, she is too wise! Or maybe they are real leaves, I am not sure. They look kinda fake.

Yeah, I will continue with the "trail" method into my apartment. She actually loves Friskies pate with Whiskas treats sprinkled on top. Of all the foods I have tried, this is still her favorite.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

Well I consider that a success if she went inside your apartment on the first try! Give yourself some credit. You are doing fine.

It was more like the plate was inside the apartment and she ate from it while standing on the outside. But I agree it showed she was not afraid to approach the inside. Hard to say ....could take her only a few meals, or could take months. I am hoping after a few meals, she will step inside.

 

[msaimee]

Leave her regular bowl of food in its regular spot while you put something yummy just inside your apartment door. You don't want to stress her with having to follow a food trail or enter your apartment right away. You may not need the trail for a while. Get her to the point where she's comfortable eating the special food inside your doorway. Then slowly move it a few inches further inside. You have a few months left, right? Take your time so no mishaps occur that will scare her from entering your apartment. Make sure the other cats are always confined. As others have said, you need to be very calm and appear disinterested during this process, sitting very still and not making eye contact. Choose a spot to sit, preferably near enough to the door that you can spring into action when the time comes, but not so near that it will increase her fear, and be consistent. If she senses your anxiety, she will be anxious as well. Pick a mantra or prayer and focus on that in your mind during these sessions with her. Let go of your frustrations and expectations. Many of us have been where you are, and can relate to your strong desire to catch her. It may be several days before she fully relaxes because the presence of the trap obviously scared her, so again, be patience and calm. Thanks for caring for her.

 

[walli]

It won't be long till she comes in, I fed Walli for a year outside
and then started feeding her inside the door, didn't take long to move her closer in the house.
and then we closed the door.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

What was Walli's reaction when you closed the door? I hope she doesn't pee on the sofa! Assuming she even comes in....I think she will, though.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

OMG, I touched her tail when I came home! She looked annoyed, and backed up, but did not run! I was coming around the stairwell (where she will usually greet me) and I tried to touch her, but got her tail.

This does not sound like much, but it is actually huge that she did not run!

 

[alphakitty]

Shadowrescue, of the 5 you brought in, were they all trapped or did any of them come in willingly?

Time is one thing I don't have. I would have moved out of here already if not for her.

I think she will go in the trap - she will eat near it, but not with me in view.

I know it will take time to socialize her once inside and that is fine - my main stressor right now is getting her inside so I can prepare to move.

I love her and want to give her a forever home - if she will let me!

Hi,

Undo the trap release mechanism on the trap, tie a non-stretchy rope to the release mechanism, route the rope through the screen door, place the bait food deep inside the trap. Go inside, when the kitty enters the trap, pull the rope!! If you don't know how to release the trap-mechanism from the trap trigger plate, ask a friend (a guy) for help. Or you can do as FixNation here in LA, Ca (DreamerVille) suggests, tie a rope around a paper-towel roll, put the roped-paper-towel-roll under the trap-door, when the kitty goes into the trap, pull the rope, which pulls out the roll, voila! One new indoor kitty!

Cats can change a life-time of behavior. I have personally experienced this. I had an outdoor kitty that for years I could not get close to, yet, I was finally able, through consistent gentle attention and the feed-bag, was able to befriend a kitty. I regularly pick that kitty up, pet it, she, follows me around like a puppy. It takes attention, gentleness (never ever yell or whip'm) and love, but it can happen. Our motto here at ITT Defense, is that It-Takes-Time.

Lots of Love and lots of Luck

AlphaKitty

 

[trudy1]

Sorry your having trouble but stay the course. As everyone has said we’ve all been there to one degree or another. Touched her tail! I’d consider that a step. Remember “our ways are not their ways” and they’ve not survived by letting that guard down easily. You know you love them but to them it’s a trust issue and if all your cat life you’d never had to let your guard down and trust...well

Time and patience. I know you’re short on one of those but our thoughts and prayers are with you.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

Trudy, so true. The poor thing is always on alert. I watch her sleeping in her box (through my window) and she twitches and opens her eyes, then closes them and opens them again...always watching and listening. Of course, it is a noisy building. I know when I get her in she will be able to sleep deeply.

 

[walli]

What was Walli's reaction when you closed the door? I hope she doesn't pee on the sofa! Assuming she even comes in....I think she will, though.

She pawed at the door and then she actually ran into the room we wanted her in.
She hid and we had made the mistake of not closing off under the bed, but overall it wasn't too bad.
Having a bit of difficulty socializing her, she is very shy. I don't think she wants back outside but she doesn't know how to be inside yet. Oh I got some of that litter attract and sprinkled some organic potting soil on it.
she took to the litter box right away, first time she poo'd on my laundry room floor and then I put the litter box
there. and then I was able to move the litter box where I want, she doesn't have a problem with the litter box
and I can use any litter I want to now. (not sure if she even needed the litter attract kitty litter).

 

[walli]

I know Walli sleeps better, especially when were not home and we are at work.

 

[msaimee]

She's afraid of the trap, I wouldn't continue to try to use it as a way of catching her. Cats who have been trapped before are extremely smart, and I know from experience that no matter how hard you try to camouflage the trap, they will not enter into it again. If she ate food placed in your doorway on first try, that is very encouraging. I think you should continue to get her comfortable slowly walking into your apartment. Being able to touch her tail without having her either run away or swat and hiss at you is a very big step! Be patient and take it slow, and work on having her feel safe and comfortable around you and near your apartment.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

I feel encouraged, too. I do believe she feels very safe around me, it's the building itself that has her a nervous wreck - the neighbors, barking dogs, people up and down the stairs, etc.

I think if I had a house, she would have been inside long ago. It's harder in an apartment because they feel more threatened, and I am glad because this has kept her alive.

 

[msaimee]

Yes, it is much easier working with a feral cat when you have your own house and space. I can't imagine how difficult it would be working to socialize and trap a cat in an apartment building. You are doing a fantastic job

BTW have you named her yet? It's very important to begin calling her by name. She will learn her name, and it will be another bond between the two of you. On my block, my neighbors and I named each cat we have worked with, and it helped with the socialization process. The one semi-feral cat we've had living on our block the past year will come running to my house if I call her name. It let's them know they belong.

 

[walli]

sweet black paws, Have a plan ready on how you will shut the door.
you might have to get sneaky!
When Walli was eating inside the door, we got to the point where she would eat while
my husband was sitting in the chair right by the door, he just reached his arm over and closed
the sliding glass door. she has to be in far enough, and you have to be sure of your plan.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

MsAimee, her name is Apple. Since she has been the Apple of my eye, lol! She is a brown tabby like in your pic. She is beautiful.

Walli, I know my plan, but I don't know hers, lol! She is going to go BONKERS when that door closes. All I can do is remove anything breakable and hope she doesn't crash into the tv or something.

I do worry about my other cats, as I don't want them stressed, either. I wish there was another way, but there isn't. If I used a carrier, I would not be able to close the carrier door fast enough.

 

[shadowsrescue]

Do you have Feliway plug ins ready to go? I would have one in the room where Apple will be and another one in the main living space of your apartment for your other cats. You also can get some Comfort Zone Spray for areas where you don't have a plug. You might have some Composure or Zylkene on hand as well to help keep Apple and your other cats calm.

If you remain calm your other animals should remain calm too.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

I was looking at drop traps, just out of curiousity, but they are HUGE (36 x 36) and don't even have bottoms, so she would have to into a transfer cage, which she probably would not even do.

Plus, in an apartment, I need to have some level of discretion. The neighbors had already seen the trap, fortunately no one complained to management. But a drop trap combined with a transfer cage would take up most of the walkway.

Will continue with the trail-and-lure method into living room.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

We are still "trailing" into the apartment, but no progress. She will stick her head in, that's it.

I am thinking of using a carrier? I am certain she would eat out of it (she sleeps in a box at night, so she is not afraid to enter into things), but my pickle is how would I close the door fast enough? I have hard-sided ones and a very large mesh one.

Or I am ready to hire a professional trapper at this point, just to get her inside. I don't think a TNR place will help since she has already been spayed and their time is better spent trapping kitties that have not been spayed.

Sorry, just worried and want this to be over already. Every day outside is a risk for her.

 

[sweetblackpaws]

I just KNOW that once she is inside, she will be a love-muffin.

I know she loves me, as she meows when she sees me and rubs her whiskers on the stairs near me, etc.