Semi-feral: Bring Them Inside Or Not?

  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #202

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Finally, I'm going to try to post some photos!

Here is my handsome little Palmer.
20180405_151248.jpg
View attachment 275804
20180416_190324.jpg


Here is Lucky.
20190221_151639.jpg

20190221_145156.jpg


Here is little Rosie.
20190221_053440.jpg

20190222_131947_resized_3.jpg


Here is Ruby. She is Palmer's mom!
20190227_152045.jpg


20190227_152205.jpg


And a few of Palmer and Lucky together!
20190221_145250.jpg

20190219_163415.jpg


A few glitchy things that I can't seem to fix, like the note above to click on an attachment (don't bother - I think it is just one of the photos) and a little thumbnail at the bottom that is shown as a big photo above! Yeesh, I'm no good at this!!
 

Attachments

Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #204

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Thank you! I am having trouble with a few of these photos.... check back in a minute!! OK... I fixed the photos up, but I added a note at the bottom that there are a few "extra" things that I can't seem to remove. Tried it once and deleted everything!
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #206

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Since I've been experimenting all evening with these photos, I decided to try to figure out how to give myself an avatar! So Palmer is it!!
 

shadowsrescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
7,023
Purraise
5,084
Location
Ohio
I just love the pictures. Rosie is just so tiny and just precious! Palmer is gorgeous. I forgot that Ruby is a tortie! She is one beautiful mama. Lucky is a big boy and so very handsome. Is he related to any of them? Also does he have something with one of his eyes? Sorry I just can't remember. I also Love the ear tips!

Thank you so much for posting these pictures. It's nice to have a face with the names.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #208

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Thanks for all the nice comments! I'm happy to now have a better idea of how to post pictures so I can show everyone what a nice family I have!!

Lucky is not related to anyone and yes, he has one bad eye. When I first got a good look at him when he was outside, my heart just sank. When I finally trapped him and got him to the vet, the vet didn't know what was wrong -- could have been born that way, could be an old injury, could be something medical, but she didn't think he could see out of that eye. I have an appointment in about a month with a vet eye specialist to find out what is wrong. I don't intend to take any drastic measures because he does very well as he is, but we'll see if there is a fairly easy fix. The only time I notice any problem is when he tries to catch something like a wand that I'm waving around -- he doesn't always reach up to quite the right spot. Also, when I put a treat down, he sometimes seems to miss it and I just have to be sure he knows where it is. Other than that, he had no problem catching a few bunnies outside and thank heavens those days are over!
 

rubysmama

Forum Helper
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
Messages
25,278
Purraise
62,764
Location
Canada
Yay! Pictures! :clap2: Palmer is gorgeous. His mom, Ruby, is a pretty girl. His buddy, Lucky, is a handsome boy. And little sis, Rosie, is a cutie pie. :catman:
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #212

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Thanks for asking, rubysmama rubysmama ! Things are going very well with my gang of four. Lucky is a joy and really a part of the family now. He and Palmer play nicely together with a very rare time when I think he is being too rough. I will be taking him to the eye specialist on April 1 and I have some concerns with getting him in a carrier. While I can pick him up, he is a big boy and very squirmy... so we will see!

A few weeks ago, I noticed that Ruby is still over-grooming the inside of her back legs and one of them has a red sore spot. She had been doing this outside and, while it was upsetting, there wasn't much I could do about it and I figured it had to do with fleas. Now that she is inside and was given a dose of Advantage Multi, I kind of forgot about it. So I have been doing a ton of research and it appears that this could be lots of things, including behavioral/stress problems or allergies to environmental things or food. I started by ordering Jackson Galaxy's Obsession Solution, which is supposed to help with over-grooming behaviors and I have been using that for a few days. I still have the Feliway plugged in.

I was ready to start her on a grain-free single novel protein food (like rabbit or duck) but decided to call my vet today and we had a very good talk. She said we should start with medical issues, then go to behavioral ones. She understands that Ruby is a tough one to bring in and examine so she gave me a good plan to try at home. She is ordering Bravecto which she said she uses for cats with allergies. It is a three-month application for fleas and ticks and it also covers mites. Although I don't see any fleas in the house, I guess this can't hurt and the way Ruby is licking and also biting at her leg makes me think it is possible she has mites, even though I don't know how she got them. I also am to give her half a Zyrtec (5 mg) daily for about a week. It must taste awful because I tried three different ways today (tuna, baby food, butter/ham) and she wouldn't touch it! So I'll try a few more tricks tomorrow! The plan is to wait about a month after the Bravecto and if she is still over-grooming, we will try a new diet to see if she has a food allergy. The vet has some ideas for next steps if these don't work, so I was very glad that I called her for some guidance. I am not freaking out about this since apparently Ruby has been doing this for a long time, but I am looking forward to helping her stop feeling itchy!

I also decided that I need to spend more time with Ruby. She is doing well, coming out of the safe room more, and even going downstairs -- not sure how far she gets, but I have seen her at the bottom of the stairs! She still only lets me pet her when I am giving her treats and she pulls back when I try to reach out to brush her or touch her. It is too easy to spend my time with the other three, who share the downstairs couch with me and let me pet them whenever I want! So I'm going to try to play more with Ruby and hang out with her upstairs to make her more comfortable with me.

Once again, a very long message! Thanks for listening! I'll keep you posted about Ruby's progress and about Lucky's eye doctor visit!
 

rubysmama

Forum Helper
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
Messages
25,278
Purraise
62,764
Location
Canada
So thrilled to see that your Ruby is getting braver! Hearing that you've seen her on the bottom of the stairs is amazing! Hopefully one day she'll decide to hop up on the couch with you and the others. :hearthrob:

Fingers crossed the Bravecto helps with her over-grooming her leg. :crossfingers: If not, it's good to know your vet has other ideas to try.

About getting Lucky in the cat carrier, is it a regular front opener. If so, here's a method my vet suggested for my super squirmy Ruby.

Put the carrier on the edge of a high table or counter with the opening facing outward. Then quickly pick up cat and face it towards the opening. Because they have no where else to go, they go inside the carrier to turn around. While they are turning around, you close the carrier door. I know it sounds simple, but it does work with Ruby.

When I first started trying this method I would put on sunglasses and gloves and long sleeves to protect myself from her accidentally scratching me. I don't do that anymore, but it might be worth doing, at least the first time try to get Lucky in the carrier. You don't want to end up cancelling his appointment so you can go to your doctor to get scratches looked at.

Thanks for the update. Will be looking forward to the next installment. :)
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #214

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
That is a neat idea to get Lucky in the carrier! Thanks for sharing it. I had envisioned trying to throw treats in or setting the carrier on end and dropping him in, but putting the carrier on the end of a table sounds like it might work better and be a little gentler! I can picture how that would work. I can't decide if I should practice or just surprise him on the day of the appointment!
 

rubysmama

Forum Helper
Staff Member
Forum Helper
Joined
Nov 25, 2013
Messages
25,278
Purraise
62,764
Location
Canada
Hope it works with Lucky. But do ensure you at least protect your eyes. Believe me, those 4 legs seems like 20, when they're wiggling and struggling to get out of your arms, which is another reason why this method works better than putting the carrier on its end and trying to drop them into the carrier.

As for a practice run, I'm thinking a surprise might be your best bet. Do make sure doors to rooms where he could run and hide are closed. And be prepared for a couple failed attempts, though I have to say, this method usually works on the first attempt with Ruby, and we always end up arriving at the vet early now.
 

shadowsrescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
7,023
Purraise
5,084
Location
Ohio
One of my feral boys is an over groomer. When he lived outside he would groom and groom and groom.... He too did it on one of his back legs. I used to treat them for fleas and didn't think it was fleas. Although it could have been mites I guess. I used Jackson Galaxy's Obsession remedy and it helped a bit.

Once inside my boy had some bouts of vomiting. I had no idea if he vomited much outside. I would see some occasionally, but never knew which of the 3 had done the deed. Now I knew. I switched him to a limited ingredient diet from Merrick. He has done much much better. I do suspect he has some digestive issues. He has bouts of nausea. I am using slippery elm powder for him.

Good luck with getting Lucky to the vet. The trick given by rubysmama rubysmama is a really good one.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #217

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
I bought three small cans of limited ingredient food, thinking that I might end up having to switch Ruby over, and I put a spoonful in her bowl with her regular food. She loved it! I gave Lucky a tiny bit, too, since I feed them together and he is always interested in Ruby's food, and he loved it! Are you able to give the limited ingredient diet JUST to the boy who needs it, or did you switch everyone over? It is certainly more expensive, but I'm wondering if it would be easier in the long run for everyone to be eating the same thing.
 

shadowsrescue

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Apr 27, 2011
Messages
7,023
Purraise
5,084
Location
Ohio
I had to give to all 3. There was no easy way to separate them. My boys love the turkey and chicken, but not as fond for the salmon. I have also tried the duck which they like.

I recently started to try Dr. Elsey's clean protein wet and dry food. The cats love it. Yet last week I noticed someone threw up, but it was just a small amount. Shadow has been nauseated the past few days. This morning he threw up twice. I am now wondering if it's the new food. They are only getting it for the evening meal and I started slow. I assume it will be a fail for him.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #219

Avery

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Aug 5, 2018
Messages
459
Purraise
1,299
Thanks for the quick reply! The one I tried with Ruby and Lucky was rabbit, which I had read is a good choice since it is something they have never had before. It does make me feel sad since I love bunnies, but my sister reminded me that both Ruby and Lucky killed bunnies outside! I don't think they ever ate them, just played with them. Anyway, I still have about a month of trying Zyrtec and Bravecto before I need to decide on a limited diet food. I did read good reviews of Dr. Elsey's -- too bad it might not be working for your guys.
 

kittyluv387

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
3,368
Purraise
5,177
Top