LilB

Mimi&LilB

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 25, 2020
Messages
11
Purraise
29
Caring for a feral cat it is not an easy task, lots of ups and downs. My LilB came back after 4 months away and I started the process of turning her into a inside cat. Everything was perfect she was sleeping in the house during nights, using the litter box and being super friendly. She was still spending the day time on my porch enjoying the spring weather. Until today when I tried to get her in the pet taxi to a visit to the vet. She was familiar with the pet taxi because I had treats in it and she would go in and out, so I think it was going to work. But it was a disaster, she was in total distress climbed walls, counters, windows and bit me few times piercing my leather gloves. It is painful but I washed well and put some antibiotics. I thought it was the right thing to do before welcoming her into my house with our other pets and family to keep everyone safe. I was also hoping to get her microchipped. I released her to the outside and she is under the porch, I think she will stay there for a while and maybe she will even leave to look for a safer place but I truly hope that she will calm down and at least get back to leave in our outside cat room in her heated house.But I don’t think she is meant to be an indoor cat. I will have to let her make her own decisions and live in her own terms, I will need to be at peace with that knowing that I tried my best.
 

KittyJ

TCS Member
Super Cat
Joined
Mar 23, 2021
Messages
710
Purraise
1,235
Yep, some cats just aren't indoor cats. You can't make them. Yes, you did try your best! And, there is peace in that. Since she was a feral/stray, she knows exactly what to do and how to thrive outdoors. She'll be just fine!
 

fionasmom

Moderator
Staff Member
Moderator
Joined
Jun 21, 2014
Messages
13,125
Purraise
17,371
Location
Los Angeles
She will get over this and come back more than likely. You were not able to close the door as she entered to the back of the carrier to get her treat? You have to be very fast and be ready for them to bolt against the door in order to try to escape.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4

Mimi&LilB

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 25, 2020
Messages
11
Purraise
29
She will get over this and come back more than likely. You were not able to close the door as she entered to the back of the carrier to get her treat? You have to be very fast and be ready for them to bolt against the door in order to try to escape.
She is back on the porch area, it didn’t take long. I tried to put her on the carrier and that was my mistake I guess. She ate her food but she runs if I walk towards her. It makes me sad cause we came so far and now I don’t know if she will ever trust me again.
 

kittychick

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
1,611
Purraise
1,960
Location
Ohio
Glad to hear she's back so soon! She will trust you again. I say that with 99.9995% certainty. Her trust of the carrier may take a little longer. Remember that her extreme caution/fear of strange situations & not being in control of her surroundings is what's kept her alive outside so long (well, that AND your loving help!).

Has she been fixed yet? (I'm sure you've noted that in other posts about her - but I didn't remember).If she hasn't been, I do hope that, despite this stressful encounter for you both won't keep you from getting her to a vet to be spayed (particularly if she's going to stay an outside feral).

And, despite this super stressful encounter (for you both :sniffle: ), I wouldn't necessarily rule out trying her inside because of this. I've had MANY cats who reacted as she did to being put into a carrier - and it didn't always correspond to how socialized they were! One of our indoor girls is an ex-feral TNR girl who we didn't bring inside until almost a year after being trapped. She's now been inside for years, and has become the sweetest lap cat I've ever had (and I've had a lotta kitties!). She loves us, loves being a pampered inside princess, doesn't even react when she sees us come in with a carrier of fosters. But try to put her in a carrier and she becomes a 6 pound Tasmanian Devil! (and yes - we've done LOTS of carrier desensitizing) We literally have to suit up like she's a Siberian Tiger. But she now does forgive us immediately upon return.

So if you'd still like to try again - - several of us here can offer more suggestions on how to get her into a carrier with less stress for BOTH of you. She may never like it, but we can certainly help you get her there. She sounds like she's a quick forgiver - - and sounds like eventually trying to get her ready to try indoor life isn't out of the question. But give yourself a little time to "forget' the trauma too! :alright: You've already made her life alot better.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #6

Mimi&LilB

TCS Member
Thread starter
Kitten
Joined
Jun 25, 2020
Messages
11
Purraise
29
Thank you so much, your message was really what I needed this morning.
She is a ex feral TNR cat so thankfully she is spayed. I wonder who in the neighborhood does TNR work because last year after an encounter with the neighbor’s cat she disappeared for four months but she came back looking really good so someone was taking good care of her and maybe had her in a heated barn or garage during the harsh winter. She slept in her outside cat room, in her heated house, came to eat this morning and let me pet her but didn’t get in the house. I do love her so much and I’m not giving up on her but I also need to let her be the outside door cat that she knows how to be so I can make sure my main focus is caregiver for my husband that is fighting brain cancer. Life is very stressful and sad right now but loving and caring for her gives me moments of happiness that I need so much!
 

kittychick

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Jul 2, 2013
Messages
1,611
Purraise
1,960
Location
Ohio
I'm glad I was able to offer a little help and/or comfort. I'm so terribly sorry to hear about your husband. We're all SO passionate about helping the kitties and the people helping the kitties (especially the feral/stray component since it often means trying to help someone save, or at least improve, what's likely already the very tough life of a kitty or colony) that it's sometimes hard to remember that the people reaching out have lives beyond the questions they come here with. We get focussed on trying so hard to help others help the kitties that are struggling out there - - - and we temporarily, albeit not purposefully, sometimes forget that the person likely has struggles beyond the "kitty struggles." So I have to thank YOU for reminding me of that. I try to remember that as I have life-altering health issues (although not as serious as what you're dealing with), and I know that sometimes I just want a little help in the "kitty corner" of my world since it helps take me out of my health issues to help that little furry creature in the backyard, across the street, etc. Plus a little "atta boy" for trying so hard to help that furry being you've come to care about can lift one's spirits too.

So know you've not only gone far above and beyond with this little girl that you care about deeply (I love hearing "spayed" & "heated cat house"!!!!). AND you've helped me remember to think extra hard about the person behind the screen. So here's your HUGE "atta boy" for what you're doing for her and for your husband. :hugs:
 
Top