Bring Feral With Me Or Leave Behind?

Yes, definitely!

Kittychick, I'm sorry that your feelings were hurt. I was expressing my personal feelings about creating, but in no way intended to criticize you or suggest that you were in any way mistreating any of the cats you foster. I did say that different people use different methods successfully, and I gave your post a purraise. I don't think it is a bad thing for people to suggest different strategies, because each cat and each caregiver is different. Aside from the philosophical issues involved, practically speaking, some people don't have access to a large dog crate, or the money to buy one. I often suggest that a six foot cat tree from eBay or Amazon is a great tool to use in a spare cat proofed room for the socialization process because it provides height and cubby holes to hide in, and yet the cat is free to come and go on it as he pleases, so it is less restrictive than a crate. But not everyone has the funds or the space to purchase one. Also, some people who crate/cage feral cats also insist on having the cat eat from their hands inside of the cage as a way of forcing socialization, and others suggest wrapping the cat in a towel like a burrito for socialization as a way of breaking the feral cat (as one breaks a wild horse) . I don't employ these methods because I don't want to break a cat's spirit. I am not implying that you employ these methods, and I am not even suggesting that those who do are mistreating the cats. I am just stating my personal feelings on this subject. I have never crated a new cat or feral cat and doubt I ever would for anything other than medical reasons. But I understand that others do and are comfortable with it. Sorry if I expressed myself in a way that was hurtful to you. I have spent too long trying to write this post in a way that won't hurt anyone's feelings, but I have to get ready to go to work now so I hope this will do.

Evansmissy, that is very kind of you! I would love to take you up on that - I need to figure out where the PM's are on this site?

sweetblackpaws said:

Evansmissy, that is very kind of you! I would love to take you up on that - I need to figure out where the PM's are on this site?

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You're welcome! I hate to see it just sit there and I don't need it. I bought several of these and after using 2 decided Bob just wasn't susceptible to whatever calming influence they have (I did read that they don't work with all cats). I hate to see it go to waste. I think clicking the member name starts a private message, it said "start a conversation" when I clicked yours.

Kittychick and I have been corresponding and processing our discussions together, and I think we are at least 95% on the same page on the subject of socializing cats. She fosters kittens on a regular basis in order to make them adoptable to others, so her goals are a bit different than mine. She uses techniques that move the process along perhaps a bit more quickly than mine, for the purpose of making as many kittens, mostly semi-feral and strays, completely adoptable for re-homing. Initial crating can achieve this goal. By contrast, the cats my neighbors and I have taken in and socialized have all been completely feral, older kittens aged 4 months to 12 months, and our goal was (and still is since we're still working on another older feral cat right now) is to socialize the cats to become our forever cats. We have the time, the spare rooms, and the luxury of not needing to make the cats adoptable to anyone else but ourselves, so we use the least restrictive methods, which don't involve crating. When I take a rescued cat into my home, he can take his time to adjust to me and my other cats and to my house because I know that he will be my forever cat. And the cat doesn't have to become a certain way, it's okay that Mia only enjoys playing with me and the wand toy but doesn't like to be petted or touched in general. I am able to handle her to get her to the vet, groom her, and clip her nails--so we're good. The young feral cats we adopt can have the time and space to adjust and be who they end up being, as long as we perceive they are content to become one of our cats inside of our homes. Kittychick and I also agree that many older feral cats (over a year) cannot ever adjust to being an indoor only cat and will be too stressed and unhappy with any kind of confinement--and when it becomes clear this is the case, the kindest course of action is to release them back outside after the recovery from the spay/neuter and continue to care for them outside. For these older feral cats, confinement in a crate, cage, room, or even inside of an entire house is not what they want, and not true to their nature. Trying to "break" these cats like one would break a wild horse is not in their best interest (and this is also the view of Alley Cat International). It sometimes takes time and patience to discern what is best for each cat. In the case of the true adult feral, I do truly believe that caging them is extremely stressful. Strays and young kittens have an easy time dealing with confinement than an adult feral, and crating can be a tool used to foster a young kitten who only has a certain window of time to become the kind of cat that is considered to be adoptable. I am very thankful that there are kind and patient people like kittychick who are able to bring dozens of cats through this process on a regular basis (I know I couldn't do it, and declined when the local Humane society asked me to be a foster). I also admire folks who TNR and care for colonies of cats outside, because the four and a half years I did it (and the largest number of cats we had on our block at one time was only five) was too stressful for me. So we all have different callings and skills, and sometimes we have a difference of methodology and even philosophy--but as I've said many times, each cat caregiver knows their cat the best and will figure out, and after all advice is given, will know in their heart how to best care for the cat they love.

Interesting discussion msaimee and Kittychick. Can you actually get a feral to not be afraid of strangers if you crate them at the beginning? My two former ferals will be 4 years old in June. Demi was about 1 month old when I took him in, Maggie was about 6 months old. I did the best I could, but they still fear all strangers.

Why is it necessary for a socialized feral cat to not be afraid of strangers? My domestic cats have all been afraid of strangers, too, and will hide upstairs under the bed. I don't understand why that is a problem? Four of my five cats will now come downstairs when my boyfriend is over, but that has taken years. I don't understand why people think it's necessary for every cat to be friendly and personable to strangers. Crating a cat will not make that cat have a different personality, and socializing a cat in a spare room will not give a cat a different personality. A shy cat is going to remain a shy cat.

Also, keep a carrier in her room and she will begin to use it as her hiding place & bed. I use a small bungee cord to prop the door open. (You’d be able to close her in it to take the trip.). I’d lightly cover it (to help her think she’s hiding) keeping air flow-very important. She will run into it when you enter the room-sorry, I’m frustrated not being able to do explain better!! Hope you can fill in the blanks!
Also, prepaid a light cover to throw over the trap as soon as she’s in it- it will settle her down a lot faster- making sure that there’s plenty of ventilation.
I hope your trap has two doors.
Also -I cut cardboard for the floor so that paws don’t get hurt-and,
it would be great to get her to a vet to confirm she’s okay to be with your other fur babies.
PS I don’t vaccinate unless required by law-this is controversial I know, but I stand firm in that opinion-and I’ve done a lot of research to make that statement.

I must have misunderstood that long post you just wrote. I thought you were saying that Kittychick could socialize ferals at the very beginning so they wouldn't be afraid of strangers in the future. Feral cats are not the same as shy housecats. My former feral cats are terrified of all strangers, even a small child walking down the road. They lose their mind when the mail lady or UPS guy comes. It doesn't seem very fun for them to be scared like that all the time. I just wondered if I could have done something differently at the beginning, that's all. I just thought it was a very interesting discussion. It's like you can't say anything on here or ask a question without being jumped on. And no, I don't want a dog, I love my cats.

Maggie, I was being tongue in cheek when I wrote the comment about dogs being better suited to being friendly to strangers--I thought it was clear by the "lol" that I was joking. It's generally thought that cats do what they want to do and don't care about pleasing their caregivers, while dogs live to please their caregivers. I meant nothing hurtful by the comment.

To answer your question, kittychick said she mostly socializes strays and semi-ferals, which are much easier to get socialized to strangers than true ferals. Very young feral kittens (5-9 weeks) can be socialized completely, and some will be outgoing to strangers and some won't, depending on their personalities. Older feral kittens and adult cats generally only bond deeply with their caregiver(s) and remain stand-offish and fearful of strangers. They were raised by their feral cat parents to fear humans, and this remains ingrained in them. Very young kittens can overcome this fear when socialized by people early. But my point is that many domestic cats run and hide when strangers enter the house, as well. My guess is that cats who live in households with a large family are probably more comfortable around strangers than cats who live in a single or two person household. I live alone and don't have people over more than every couple of weeks, so it makes sense that my cats are wary around strangers--they've adopted my hermetic tendencies. If you grew up with 9 cats, I'm guessing there were several people in the household, so it makes sense the cats adapted to being comfortable around other people. As far as formerly feral cats getting anxious when the doorbell rings or someone unfamiliar comes into the house--I don't think they suffer--they're reacting on instinct. I don't think they're actually worried that someone in the house is going to hurt them--they recognize a kind tone of voice. I didn't realize this was your concern, and I apologize if you felt I was responding in a snarky manner (that's the limitations of social media--you can't see someone's face or hear their tone of voice). Some people are truly bothered that they don't have friendly, social cats who run to the door to greet anyone who comes inside--and I questioned why people would have that expectation. I think I've had only two cats in my life who had that kind of temperament (and ironically they were strays that I didn't raise). Please don't stay away from the forum. It must be the change of season and the early darkness that is making all of us so sensitive lately.

In video's I have watched about socializing cats they recommend exposing them to a variety of people. I think my foster cats were shy because I live by myself and don't have much company. The kittens who are friendlier at adoptions are the one's who get adopted.

My Tru-Catch 30 LTD feral cat trap arrived today and I can't figure the worthless thing out. I am SO upset. There is NO way I can catch her without a feral cat trap. Calling the company tomorrow. On a more positive note, she is still coming around and is eating well.

sweetblackpaws said:

My Tru-Catch 30 LTD feral cat trap arrived today and I can't figure the worthless thing out. I am SO upset. There is NO way I can catch her without a feral cat trap. Calling the company tomorrow. On a more positive note, she is still coming around and is eating well.

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I use that model, maybe I can help. You push the door up that has the little rings on it, by pushing the rings up on both sides. One side of the door has a little metal piece that pokes out a little. The bar inside that turns is going to rest against that metal piece to hold the trap open. I hope that helps.

Thank you, Surya - I did get it to work. I guess I went into panic mode when I couldn't figure it out right away. It seems to be very sturdy. It was noisier than I had expected when I tested it. I guess there are no "quiet" cat traps. I will start by sitting it out for a few mornings before I set it up for her. My sweet feral will be soon be safe and sound.

Do you have someone that is a veteran at trapping cats that can do this for you? Sometimes an animal shelter will provide this help.

Floor has packing paper and the top has a cover that falls loosely around the sides. This is my last cat I plan to trap-Sunnee (Sunny)-he’s now inside.

Do put cardboard on the bottom. It's very uncomfortable for a cat otherwise.

Great that Surya could help with how to use it!