From Feral To Lap Cats

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MoonstoneWolf

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Are you sure shaman isn't ill? That quantity of food you mentioned is a decent amount, even if she doesn't get it regularly (ie shopping days, of which I wouldn't worry about. It is what it is on those days).

Putting cloths down in their napping spots when they're not there to see it, then moving the cloths around to the other napping spots, again when the cats/Cooper aren't/isn't around to see it, approximates scent swapping.

I don't know if that would help but it might, to intermingle the other cats' scents so that shaman becomes more comfortable with Cooper, since that's your biggest issue.
I'm not sure because it seems that all Cooper wants to do is play. Granted he's just over a year old and younger then Shaman and she's not a playful cat. I saw that even when Treasure was with us and they were best of friends. I layed cloth down and Cooper tore it up or rather the ones that wasn't STOLEN by the groundhog or blown away by winds. I just can't afford to keep buying towels and rags. Ugh

And yes the problem is Shaman. First she won't eat unless I'm standing there with her. But the others follow me around and see her food and scare her away. She is also the most timid of the cats.
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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The last option is to rub my hands in mackerel and then pet each cat so they all smell "fishy".
 

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Lordy, Cooper!!

I think that's a great idea, actually, the mackerel :)

I don't know how to get Shaman more confident, other than if you could pet her?
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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Oh yea Shaman likes to take 3 bites, come and brush against my leg and then eat a bit more. Which is why feeding her is so hard especially in the winter because any of the cats see me and they come scaring her off.

The cats are trained btw to sleep all through the night and playing all day. I try to just walk away from Cooper and ignore him, that didn't work. I hissed at him, that doesn't work. Nothing with Cooper works. He wants to play but too lazy to play with any of the toys I have. And with my poor health it's not possible to spend 30 minutes each cat playing. I even tried the play before meal time like Jackson Galaxy has done and that doesn't work. Like I said if I was dealing with 15 to 20 cats I'd understand but I only have 3 cats on most days.
 

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I got to thinking, does Cooper let you put him in a carrier (if you have one)? Could you literally contain him that way, long enough for her to have her meal, on the days you're able to spend a bit more time?
 
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I don’t have a carrier or money to try that with him but I have thought of that.
 
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I just checked on cam while waiting on Mom. Shaman snuck in and ate 1/4 cup worth of food I left out and took off. I’ll have to add carrier to my list as 99% of my earnings sites/apps are Amazon only.
 
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Ugh the mackerel idea didn't work. She still bolted the minute she saw Cooper at the sight of him and this was after both of them were rubbed with mackerel. I'm at wits end. By the time I get money to buy this carrier poor Shaman will be dead from mal nutrition because of being run off all the time.

Also if I didn't have to worry about Mom coming downstairs at any time (so I stand at door listening) I could have had these cats friends again by now. :(
 
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I got to thinking, does Cooper let you put him in a carrier (if you have one)? Could you literally contain him that way, long enough for her to have her meal, on the days you're able to spend a bit more time?
One of my friends is buying me a pet carrier. My question is: Would Cooper trust me again after me shutting the carrier on him. Or maybe try with Shaman? I don't want any of them to leave me forever because they no longer trust me.

Ok ordered. I guess if nothing Shaman would use it. At this point she'd probably happily eat sitting on the moon as long as she was able to eat peacefully. I'll have to keep that can of mackerel on hand. And to reinforce I'll treat Cooper for behaving as he'll be outside the carrier while she's inside eating.

I just hope I make it til the carrier comes. I'm running a fever now as a result of this mickey mousing out there. Why can't they do this in nice warm weather?

Shaman cries pitifully but I can't seem to contain Cooper. I"m crying over this situation. I just hope Shaman makes it til I get that delivery. Knowing Amazon they'll deliver at the last minute
 
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What on earth is this sound? I and the cats have been hearing this for days on and off cam. It sounds all hours of the day or night. Has me a bit uneasy as I don’t see the source. Almost sounds like a mountain lion which at this point wouldn’t surprise me with all the other wildlife appearing in our area. Also another question if I may: Would these meteorite showers that we're getting here in our area (and we've had a lot lately) be affecting their behavior?

 
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I think I found the source of Cooper’s aggression. He attacks the other cats just after hearing the above sounds. Watch and listen to this. Usually he's learned to tolerate Shadow but this happened just after the above sound. Now the two are just sitting there side by side like nothing happened. These sudden outbursts have me concerned. Why would they check out healthy and then act like this if the above video doesn't explain. I just find it odd. Even if I was able to bring them inside there's no way I would with these sudden outbursts unless I have a completely empty room.

 
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I'm not getting any help on the source of sound. I have lived in this area for 64 years. The cats at least 2 years now (although only half a year not on my property). Cars have zoomed by all the time. I and the cats are accustomed to these sounds and so I find it odd that every time (the past few days) as soon as this sound is heard that Cooper would just attack either Shadow or Shaman. It doesn't make sense to me. And why after 64 years would I start to notice these sounds. No it has nothing to do with me trying to find a reason for the sudden aggression but even Mom has been hearing it and we all know how much she hates the idea of the cats so she most certainly is not looking for a reason behind the aggression.

Also you may have to listen to the video of the cats fighting a couple of times but you'll hear a mountain lion at the end and from a distance. I know what a mountain lion sounds like as I have sound clips of them from my wildlife group that I blast into the yard when a suspicious individual is lurking around and poking through stuff. That definitely is not Cooper.
 
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haha yea the thought is great but the raccoons and possums get to the food. Not an excuse but just an observation. As you see a plate was there last night yet the possums finished it up. During the day she'll sneak in though and I do leave a bowl on the side of the house. Not sure if she or one of the others gets to it though as no cam on that side of the house.

Sorry misunderstood your reply. Still shaken up by the mountain lion incident. They (wildlife officials) have to come and talk with other neighbors about the sounds before making a statement one way or another so it is not 100% certain but I'm calling it that as that is what it sounds like. I'm having to release all videos and clips to them. But maybe this explains what really happened to Treasure 2 months ago. I know my neighbors have been posting photos of all kinds of weird wildlife on the Next Door app and I know those areas since living here 64 years.
 
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Compare the sound at the end of the cat fight video to what you hear at 22 seconds of this video. I am neither condemning nor condoning what this man is doing in this video but this is the closest sound I can find to what I heard in the cat fight video I have on my cam.

Just edited before people thought I was condoning

 
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Oh yea Shaman likes to take 3 bites, come and brush against my leg and then eat a bit more. Which is why feeding her is so hard especially in the winter because any of the cats see me and they come scaring her off.

The cats are trained btw to sleep all through the night and playing all day. I try to just walk away from Cooper and ignore him, that didn't work. I hissed at him, that doesn't work. Nothing with Cooper works. He wants to play but too lazy to play with any of the toys I have. And with my poor health it's not possible to spend 30 minutes each cat playing. I even tried the play before meal time like Jackson Galaxy has done and that doesn't work. Like I said if I was dealing with 15 to 20 cats I'd understand but I only have 3 cats on most days.
I deal with this often. I tend to try to feed them all at the same time. Get the others distracted with the "skittish" one eats. Of course, usually the other cats are not that hungry or find chasing off the "skittish" one is more important and then leaving the food. I am dealing with this now with an intact feral I am trying to trap. My existing ferals are keeping him away. I try to positive myself between them but the colony ferals come up to me scaring off the intact. AND it is dangerous and I don't recommend anyone putting themselves at risk of being hurt in anyway.

So I would suggest try to distract the existing cats in some other area of the property to give Shaman a chance to eat. It is going to be difficult but do your best.
 
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I have a pet carrier arriving tomorrow that my friend bought me per Furballsmom's suggestion. I'm more than certain that Shaman will eat in there as she would probably eat on the moon if it meant getting a peaceful meal. I have tried to distract the others but it doesn't work with Cooper. Yes it is dangerous, even getting involved with two indoor cats. None of these cats are intact btw.
 

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That sound, plus meteor showers would definitely be causes of upset amongst your cats. I don't know for sure but it could be a cougar - I don't know of much else that makes sounds like that. Gracious sakes, you have no less than just about everything there!!
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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That sound, plus meteor showers would definitely be causes of upset amongst your cats. I don't know for sure but it could be a cougar - I don't know of much else that makes sounds like that. Gracious sakes, you have no less than just about everything there!!
I know. I really was quite serious when I said I'm awaiting the arrival of the elephants and giraffes
 
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MoonstoneWolf

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Update: no cat fights. They all had mackerel with their meals and Shaman scarfed her meal down in no time and did not follow me. Of course as with these cats this can change by the next meal. Cooper ate and left, Shadow is hanging around and Shaman is nibbling from her bowl and the other bowls (yaay shaman). So this gets me to thinking about adding some raw meat to their meals) but not sure where to start. They obviously have no allergies

Now a funny story: last night some guy at McDonalds asked if I wear perfume because he had some to sell. I told him I work with feral cats and my perfume is Eau de Mackerel and Friskies Pate. lol
 
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