Caught fearl cat for the first time and need general advice

Skiploom

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We know we need to take them to the vet for sure, but since my family are newbies at this, I thought I'd ask for some extra help. I found here by reading something from stray pet advocacy. Just general help for us would be amazing. Currently we have them set up in their own little space.
 

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Skiploom

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Note that it is 1am and vets are not open for us so we can't take them right away.
 

tabbytom

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We know we need to take them to the vet for sure, but since my family are newbies at this, I thought I'd ask for some extra help. I found here by reading something from stray pet advocacy. Just general help for us would be amazing. Currently we have them set up in their own little space.
:hellosmiley: and welcome to TCS!

Thank you for saving them and for bringing them indoors.

You are doing right by giving them their little space. Leave them in there with sone water and a litterbox and set the water apart from it. Give them food and see of they'll eat. They may not eat or use the litterbox as as the surround is new to them and it may take them awhile to get use to it. Make sure that there is no escaper route in the the space that there are in.

What you can do for the moment is get one or two of your clean unwashed, non perfumed garments and leave with them. This is to let them get used to your scents. Have the doors close and turn on the lights or leave a night light on for them. Make as little noise as you can as not to startle them because they have to be kept as calm as they can be so that they can overcome the fear and get use to the place.

Once they are sort of settle down for the time being, there's nothing much you can do now till tomorrow's visit to the vet and back. After that, move one to the next step.

Feel free to ask questions and members with experience may be able to help you out better. In the meantime, :hangin:
 
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Skiploom

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I don't think I can do too much, but they for sure can't get out of that room! I will try to get clothes with our scent as soon as we can but we can't exactly safely open up the room the cat is in at the moment... They already have food and water! I just need to know things for the future.

:hellosmiley: and welcome to TCS!

Thank you for saving them and for bringing them indoors.

You are doing right by giving them their little space. Leave them in there with sone water and a litterbox and set the water apart from it. Give them food and see of they'll eat. They may not eat or use the litterbox as as the surround is new to them and it may take them awhile to get use to it. Make sure that there is no escaper route in the the space that there are in.

What you can do for the moment is get one or two of your clean unwashed, non perfumed garments and leave with them. This is to let them get used to your scents. Have the doors close and turn on the lights or leave a night light on for them. Make as little noise as you can as not to startle them because they have to be kept as calm as they can be so that they can overcome the fear and get use to the place.

Once they are sort of settle down for the time being, there's nothing much you can do now till tomorrow's visit to the vet and back. After that, move one to the next step.

Feel free to ask questions and members with experience may be able to help you out better. In the meantime, :hangin:
 

tabbytom

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I don't think I can do too much, but they for sure can't get out of that room! I will try to get clothes with our scent as soon as we can but we can't exactly safely open up the room the cat is in at the moment... They already have food and water! I just need to know things for the future.
Get your scents in first so that they get use to you as they acclimatize themselves in that room.

As for the future, after the vet's visit, if you are planning to keep them, all they need is much love from you and on your side, much patience and keeping top with the routine is the way to go. It may take awhile or it may take a longer time but the battle is not lost yet if steps are followed closely.

So don't be too anxious but remain calm. Do feel free too ask questions and we'll try our best to help answer them.
 
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Skiploom

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My mom wants to let the cat out of the bathroom and into the whole bedroom, however we are worried about the disaster it may create.

I don't think it's right for the cat to be in that tiny bathroom but we don't exactly have much we can do in such a small apartment.
 
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Skiploom

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Oh yeah we can't take them to the vet cause the poor cat got traumatized more than they should have.
 
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The cat just stayed in the bathroom... This cat isn't really violent they more so try to avoid trouble and only attack when threatened.

My mom wants to let the cat out of the bathroom and into the whole bedroom, however we are worried about the disaster it may create.

I don't think it's right for the cat to be in that tiny bathroom but we don't exactly have much we can do in such a small apartment.
 

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Thank you for rescuing them! It is better for them to be temporarily in the bathroom and I have done this myself with kittens. If you do let them into the apartment, you will need to choose maybe one other room which can be closed off, like a bedroom, but block off all places they can hide, like under a bed or in the back of a closet or under a piece of furniture. It would be good if you could get them to the vet, but if you have no other pets and the kittens seem healthy enough and are eating, drinking, and eliminating there is nothing wrong with giving it a few days for them to settle in.
 
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The cat is starting to get aggressive, they have not hurt anyone but the small space is getting to them. We need people who can help and educate now. We live in Oregon, so keep that in mind. The cat isn't really feral and does not want to harm others.
 

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You could try a calming diffuser such as feliway or a natural calming product such as zylkene. I use both with my cat (construction work around my area stressing him out) and also on a semi feral I brought in two weeks ago and it has made it much easier and less stressful for both cats.

Do you have anything in the bathroom for the cat except water and food? Maybe a small scratcher (even one of the cardboard ones), maybe a cardboard box for them to feel secure in, something of the sort?

Have you managed to leave them some items imbued with your scent to let them familiarise?
 
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Skiploom

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We have done all but the feliway. Well, I feel we could do the smell part better but the cat is somewhat used to our scent. I wasn't sure about getting it because well, we're low on money but I'll see if I can convince the others.
 

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How does the cat act when you open the door/when they see you?
 
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Uh I'm not too sure but they'll look at us, and even blink or wink when we do. Sometimes I think they hide though.
 

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If they are blinking, especially slowly, it shows that they are relaxed around you or trust you to some point. A few days ago you mentioned that your mom wanted to let them in the bedroom. That might be okay now, but block off the places they can hide....if you want to. If you want to allow them into the bedroom, they will probably hide, but that does not mean that they won't adjust and come out once they know what is going on. It is not the worst plan if you think that they are getting upset in the bathroom. How old do you think that they are? How did you get them?

10 Must-know Tips For Happy Living With A Shy Cat – TheCatSite Articles
How To Help An Abused Cat Recover – TheCatSite Articles
The second article also expands on ideas for shy cats. I don't mean to imply that these cats were abused.
 
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Oh we already know blinking is a sign of trust but thank you, that's something people should know if they got a cat. The cat has already been allowed in the bedroom and we tried to let them out further, too early probably and they're back in.

The cat was showing up for three months to our house and we captured them in a capture cage, though it was handled poorly.
 
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Actually the cat is kinda familiar with the inside of some of this place. They would come in sometimes. My mom thinks they're a younger cat. At most 2 years old.
 

fionasmom

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Nothing wrong with having used a trap.I would agree with you that it is too early to give them free reign of the house but a bedroom is definitely not inhumane or mean.
 

tabbytom

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Let the cat roam the house at her own pace. By letting her move around at her own pace will let her build her confidence slowly and also leave the bathroom door open so she can retreat into it as it was her first place when she first came in and that place is familiar to her.

Another thing you can help boost her confidence if you want her to move around, place towel in. the bathroom where she lays and soak up her scents and after the towels have her scents on it, place the towels around. the room or house so that when csh ventures around, there's familiar scents, just like leaving your clean unwashed garments with her.

Let her roam around and discover places at her own time, otherwise she'll feel intimidated at new things and will form a fear of seeing things and moving around.

Cats will always find a place where they feel safe and comfortable.
 
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The cat actually knows this part of the house from coming in, and hasn't been able to go into rooms they haven't seen. the poor kitty is just desperate for escape. The bathroom door has already been left open for the cat in the bedroom. We now have the feliway and are getting rescue remedy tomorrow. The cat moves around, they just keep trying to get out. We need help keeping them calmer.
 
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