Feral in my garage

[Bitsy's Mom]

The swamp cooler sounds great but it can get humid here - so it won’t work?

 

[tabbytom]

Thanks for caring about us

Great to see Oscar and also great to see you!

Oscar looking good and I guess he knows how to choose his menu well

Yes, do keep us updated regularly.

 

[rubysmama]

Thanks for the update. So glad Oscar continues to be happy, and safe. I still wish he could learn to trust you, so he could get kisses and snuggles from his human, but you're probably right that we don't appreciate "how traumatic a lifestyle it is to be a single cat alone out in the wild". Give him time, though. One day he might surprise you with greeting purrs.

 

[shadowsrescue]

Thank you for the update and picture of sweet Oscar. He looks so happy.

I have a portable AC unit we use in 2 upstairs bedrooms. It is loud and the tube going out the lower half of the window takes up a decent amount of space. I have a cat living in the 2 rooms upstairs and he is petrified of the unit. It does cool the space nicely.

 

[tarasgirl06]

The swamp cooler sounds great but it can get humid here - so it won’t work?

They don't do much in humid weather--except up the humidity. So no, not recommended. There are a lot of portable air conditioners being sold, but I've never had one so couldn't comment on their efficiency.

 

[Bitsy's Mom]

So I got a portable AC and we shall see how he does. I hate to take his window away . . . he is in it every night looking out. He started getting brave and going to it about 7 pm when it is still light out . . but when I go out with the dogs, he immediately retreats back to his loft. He really is so very feral.

On another note - this showed up today in my memories on FaceBook. One year ago - and I am still amazed that I caught this wise old guy.

UPDATE: I drive down here - handled the raw liver with surgical gloves - made a trail of small pieces leading to the trip plate where I put a whole lot.
He went into the trap and ate only the small pieces leading to the trip plate. He didn’t touch what was on it and then backed out and left. I’m crestfallen

—————————-
Gosh - I am trying to trap the feral cat I have been feeding to bring with me to safety, and he won't go in the trap. Raw chicken livers were recommended for me to buy to entice him. Well, I bought them. As a vegan, I literally got light-headed and dizzy like I was going to pass out from even seeing them! Tomorrow I have to cut them up and put them in the trap . . I hope I don't toss my vegan cookies . .ugh.

 

[tabbytom]

Ple

So I got a portable AC and we shall see how he does. I hate to take his window away . . . he is in it every night looking out. He started getting brave and going to it about 7 pm when it is still light out . .

Please don't take his window away. That is his only view to the outside world and it seems that he's enjoying the view and probably that is keeping him happy.

 

[rubysmama]

So I got a portable AC and we shall see how he does. I hate to take his window away . . . he is in it every night looking out. He started getting brave and going to it about 7 pm when it is still light out . . but when I go out with the dogs, he immediately retreats back to his loft. He really is so very feral.

At least it's portable so you can maybe move it when it's not so hot. Do you have a thermometer in the shed to monitor the temps?

As a vegan, I literally got light-headed and dizzy like I was going to pass out from even seeing them! Tomorrow I have to cut them up and put them in the trap . . I hope I don't toss my vegan cookies . .ugh.

I didn't know you were vegan. I'm vegetarian, so would feel exactly the same way about handling raw chicken livers.

When is Oscar's Gotcha Day, btw. Was it the chicken livers that finally enticed him into the trap?

 

[Bitsy's Mom]

Ple

Please don't take his window away. That is his only view to the outside world and it seems that he's enjoying the view and probably that is keeping him happy.

Of course I don’t want to take his window away. That said - he will die in there in the summer and so I need some kind of air conditioning. I got a portable unit just for him and so hopefully he will still look out top half but not sure he will. And yes I have a thermometer in there and when it’s 85 outside - it’s close to 95 in there. Last summer I used a window unit and this year I will try the portable.

 

[Bitsy's Mom]

At least it's portable so you can maybe move it when it's not so hot. Do you have a thermometer in the shed to monitor the temps?



I didn't know you were vegan. I'm vegetarian, so would feel exactly the same way about handling raw chicken livers.

When is Oscar's Gotcha Day, btw. Was it the chicken livers that finally enticed him into the trap?

Oscar was finally trapped on July 7 with good old fancy feast. It was my 29th try and he just screwed up that day. I am still shocked.

 

[tabbytom]

Of course I don’t want to take his window away. That said - he will die in there in the summer and so I need some kind of air conditioning. I got a portable unit just for him and so hopefully he will still look out top half but not sure he will. And yes I have a thermometer in there and when it’s 85 outside - it’s close to 95 in there. Last summer I used a window unit and this year I will try the portable.

Maybe you can also fix an exhaust fan in there so that the fan can draw out the heat from the catio on hot days.

Oscar was finally trapped on July 7 with good old fancy feast. It was my 29th try and he just screwed up that day. I am still shocked.

Bless your heart that you never gave up else there'll be no Oscar.

 

[catapault]

Two thoughts:

When we had a room air conditioner in our bedroom, back when we lived in Connecticut, we had a carpenter make a hole in the wall beneath the window. Air conditioner stayed there year round. This meant that spring and fall we could open the window. In winter the outside portion of the air conditioner was wrapped in a tarp-like cover.

Also - passive systems: is it possible to install a vent - gable or cupola. Hot air rises and this would provide some release of the hottest air in summer. Con - in winter, cupola will allow cold air in. Gable vent can be covered,

 

[Kwik]

Hi Bitsy's Mom
Nice to meet you,thrilled you got Oscar and he's loved,safe and will have a great life(looooong ,healthy life expectancy )Congrats & Blessings
A/C unit I'm the wall under the window sounds best imo plus an exhaust fan as tabbytom suggested so you can control the temperature when you don't really need the unit running
I live in Florida,everyone has ceiling fans here( up to pull hot air out),down for the breeze & circulation.....I don't even need the A/C on my patio with that fan going- maybe consider it if you can open the window and cage the screen...just a thought

 

[tarasgirl06]

Excellent thoughts, Kwik C catapault & tabbytom ! Between all of those, there should be something workable, Bitsy's Mom , don't you think?
Very grateful for "Oscar's mistake"!

 

[Bitsy's Mom]

Thank you for the suggestions. I couldn’t install an air conditioner in the wall since that is where the catio is. There is a platform against the shed wall. He’s yet to venture out to the catio but still- I don’t want to dismantle the platform out of the window there.

As far as an exhaust fan - they would have to cut into the side of the shed to do it. When I had them install the window - the siding cracked and had to be glued back. Plus - not sure who I could get to do it since I had so much trouble getting someone to patch that hole in the soffit and they did a crappy job.

if I get extra money / I’d rather had electricity run out there. Right now I have an extension cord from the house and I hate doing it that way.

I’ll try the portable rolling AC.

 

[tarasgirl06]

Thank you for the suggestions. I couldn’t install an air conditioner in the wall since that is where the catio is. There is a platform against the shed wall. He’s yet to venture out to the catio but still- I don’t want to dismantle the platform out of the window there.

As far as an exhaust fan - they would have to cut into the side of the shed to do it. When I had them install the window - the siding cracked and had to be glued back. Plus - not sure who I could get to do it since I had so much trouble getting someone to patch that hole in the soffit and they did a crappy job.

if I get extra money / I’d rather had electricity run out there. Right now I have an extension cord from the house and I hate doing it that way.

I’ll try the portable rolling AC.

Really hope that works well for Oscar!

 

[Kwik]

Thank you for the suggestions. I couldn’t install an air conditioner in the wall since that is where the catio is. There is a platform against the shed wall. He’s yet to venture out to the catio but still- I don’t want to dismantle the platform out of the window there.

As far as an exhaust fan - they would have to cut into the side of the shed to do it. When I had them install the window - the siding cracked and had to be glued back. Plus - not sure who I could get to do it since I had so much trouble getting someone to patch that hole in the soffit and they did a crappy job.

if I get extra money / I’d rather had electricity run out there. Right now I have an extension cord from the house and I hate doing it that way.

I’ll try the portable rolling AC.

Those work pretty could,you just have to stick the drain somewhere,someway outside -:when my Central A/C went kaput I borrowed one and it did a great job of keeping a room cool. .. no like ceiling fan idea? You can even just hang it away and use an extension cord until you get electric in there.. they really help tremendously

 

[Kwik]

Those work pretty could,you just have to stick the drain somewhere,someway outside -:when my Central A/C went kaput I borrowed one and it did a great job of keeping a room cool. .. no like ceiling fan idea? You can even just hang it away and use an extension cord until you get electric in there.. they really help tremendously

Forgive my typos please-:stupid phone predicts everything wrong!
Work really GOOD,not ",could,"
Hang is SWAG,not " away,lol. Sorry🫣

 

[Bitsy's Mom]

Forgive my typos please-:stupid phone predicts everything wrong!
Work really GOOD,not ",could,"
Hang is SWAG,not " away,lol. Sorry🫣

A ceiling fan would be positioned right next to his sanctuary - his loft. Fans don’t work in there. I bought two on Amazon and had them both set up. They made it hotter by blowing hot air around in there. I am sticking with an AC.

 

[Kwik]

A ceiling fan would be positioned right next to his sanctuary - his loft. Fans don’t work in there. I bought two on Amazon and had them both set up. They made it hotter by blowing hot air around in there. I am sticking with an AC.

Gotcha,No doubt you'll make Oscar very comfortable in his new indoor suite God Bless your heart