Help Please With The Ink

jefferd18

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I think many of you are familiar with the story of Inky, the feral kitty that I took to my vet in the hopes that he and his rescue group could find a home for him.

Well, yesterday when I went in to visit Inky I was told that they could not do anything more for him and that I needed to take him home. Even though it wasn't said, I got the impression that Inky was going to be dumped somewhere if I didn't take him. I am very disappointed with this vet and his "rescue group". They kept him for the last four weeks in a deplorable situation, locked up alongside barking dogs, and then gave up on him when he didn't become tame. Seems like the rescue group only wants to deal with the easy cases, young kittens or totally domesticated cats.

To be honest, I have no idea of what to do with Ink. Right now he is locked up in his carrier in my living room.

Two thoughts:

1.Keeping him locked up in my bedroom and just gently talking to him every day.
2.Letting him lose in my bathroom but keeping his carrier in there so he has something to escape into.

If anyone has any suggestions on how to tame Inky, I would so greatly appreciate hearing them. This cat lunges every time I look into his carrier and he was never that aggressive before. I don't know if he can be saved.
 
Furballsmom

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Whew, thank everything there is that he's not in that situation any longer. Is he literally acting like the cat in that vid clip? That is perhaps a bit unfair to depict him like that, since none of this was of his doing and who knows what they did to him while he was there, plus even if they didn't do anything specific, he probably grew to hate that vet.

What I mean by this is that he now deserves all the respect and caring, gentle compassion in the world.

Of course he can be saved, but he is going to need time, love and patience, and peace and quiet. I'm not sure what the difference would be between the bedroom and the bathroom, but he needs the quietest calmest place. I don't know how he sees his carrier - he may not care about it, or it may be his safe place, that's up to him.

When you come anywhere near to him Do Not look at him directly - eye contact can put a cat into defensive mode, which is what it sounds like is happening with him.

Sit on the floor and read to him sometimes, for example gentle happy poetry so your voice reflects those emotions, or just sit quietly but again, don't look at him. You want him to feel less emotional pressure, and you don't want to hover over him :)

Give him as much good food as you can, he's been seriously stressed and his body needs the nutrients to help him recover.

The recipes here are for supplemental foods, and they are just as viable for adult cats as for kittens.

Kitten-Rescue.com

How To Help An Abused Cat Recover
 
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jefferd18

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Furballsmom said:
Whew, thank everything there is that he's not in that situation any longer. Is he literally acting like the cat in that vid clip? That is perhaps a bit unfair to depict him like that, since none of this was of his doing and who knows what they did to him while he was there, plus even if they didn't do anything specific, he probably grew to hate that vet.

What I mean by this is that he now deserves all the respect and caring, gentle compassion in the world.

Of course he can be saved, but he is going to need time, love and patience, and peace and quiet. I'm not sure what the difference would be between the bedroom and the bathroom, but he needs the quietest calmest place. I don't know how he sees his carrier - he may not care about it, or it may be his safe place, that's up to him.

When you come anywhere near to him Do Not look at him directly - eye contact can put a cat into defensive mode, which is what it sounds like is happening with him.

Sit on the floor and read to him sometimes, for example gentle happy poetry so your voice reflects those emotions, or just sit quietly but again, don't look at him. You want him to feel less emotional pressure, and you don't want to hover over him :)

Give him as much good food as you can, he's been seriously stressed and his body needs the nutrients to help him recover.

The recipes here are for supplemental foods, and they are just as viable for adult cats as for kittens.

Kitten-Rescue.com

How To Help An Abused Cat Recover
Click to expand...

Thank you so much, Furballsmom, for replying. :)

When it comes to the two suggestions put forth by me, I guess what I was saying was that I didn't know if he should be a one on one with me, in the bedroom, or if I should allow him to be able to move around in the bathroom. He would have to stay in his carrier while in my bedroom.

I don't want to allow him to roam freely in any room that has a bed to hide under but I don't know if I should keep him penned up while he gets use to my voice.

I forgot about the eye contact problem, thank you for reminding me. I have been looking directly at him and I will stop that.

My other cats have been coming up and sniffing his carrier, so far he doesn't seem to mind their curiousness.

Yes, he really does act like the kitty in the gif I provided. He hisses, growls, and lunges at people. He never did that before. :(
 
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jefferd18 said:
He hisses, growls, and lunges at people. He never did that before.
Click to expand...
He just needs time to recover from the incredibly stressful environment he was in and to realize that he is away from there, and I'm thinking the bathroom might be ok for starters, especially since he is still aggressive :)

If you can keep people away from him that would be best for a little while to ease his emotional duress, and tell them not to look directly at him as well :thumbsup:
 
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jefferd18

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Furballsmom said:
He just needs time to recover from the incredibly stressful environment he was in and to realize that he is away from there, and I'm thinking the bathroom might be ok for starters, especially since he is still aggressive :)

If you can keep people away from him that would be best for a little while to ease his emotional duress, and tell them not to look directly at him as well :thumbsup:
Click to expand...

Thank you, I just want him to get use to people.

This is a horrible mess I got that little cat into. I thought the vet would turn him over to his rescue group and that they would work with Inky. Now if I work with Inky, get him less stress, and then turn him back over to the vet, I am afraid the cycle will repeat itself. In fact, his life will be up-heaved three more times, the vet, the rescue group, and then his forever home. This stinks.
 
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jefferd18 said:
I just want him to get use to people.
Click to expand...
jefferd18 said:
In fact, his life will be up-heaved three more times, the vet, the rescue group, and then his forever home.
Click to expand...
Handle just one thing at a time, which for now is to get him recuperated and less stressed out. I realize that you want to get him used to people, but he needs a little time before he can handle having people looking directly at him.

You don't know, but maybe something will present itself in the near future that will be better for him without that vet in the picture. Think positively - that's also very important for this cat that you don't have negative thoughts - - we can handle them here :), but he needs to have no negative things even if you can't tell whether it makes any difference to him. I promise to you that it does.
 
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jefferd18

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I have four more cats for this vet. :(

I would love to keep Inky, but I have nine cats, in fact I just adopted a very sick female kitty from that same parking lot two months ago. The vet told me that Inky was taking up to much room at the clinic- give me a break.

No, I won't let Inky see any of my worries. I will keep it positive with him.
 
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jefferd18 jefferd18 ,

Great advice from Furballsmom Furballsmom .

I guess this cat has to be de-stressed and calmed down. This may take time and work but if you are consistent, patience and showing lots of love, it can be worked out.

Do what you've been doing and I suggest that you leave some clean unwashed garments with him so that he gets used to your scents and slowly sense that you are no treat to him.

Most important now is for him to gain his trust in you. Whenever you are with him in the room, sit on the floor and talk gently to him and always do the slow blink with him. Blink and and down and look away. This way shows your submission to him. Keep repeating this and once in a while blink and see if he blinks back at you. He may not show you the full blink but sometimes just a little means a lot and if he does that, you are on the way of gaining his trust till you get the full blink from him.

Don't give up and please don't abandon him.

Please keep us posted.
 
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Is it an option to release him back at his parking lot, or is it too unsafe? While most ferals can adjust to living indoors with the right people, they shouldn't be expected to become entirely tame like a pet cat. If the parking lot isn't an option, do you know anybody with a farm?

Anyway, yes, he's absolutely terrified and that's why he's hissing and lunging. I'd keep him in the carrier until he's not lunging anymore, and then release him into a small room so he can relax. If you have something other than the bathroom, that might be better, because I think you still have to use the bathroom! Unless you have two. But if that's all you have, that's fine too.

Don't try anything for at least a couple of days, because he's had a rough week. After that you can start trying to feed him baby food on a spoon taped to a dowel, and other taming things. But don't push.
 
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I have been worried about the two of you! As everyone has said, this will take time. If you have a choice, especially if you have more than one bathroom, I think that the carrier in the bathroom is the best choice for the present. Any bedroom will give him hidey holes unless you can secure the under bed area with storage boxes and even then he might move them in an attempt to find a cranny. I have used bathrooms for long periods of time and given what he has been through, your bathroom will seem like heaven. I am also not sure that leaving him in a carrier all the time is the best thing.

Because of the rescue you are still under some obligation to the vet to return him? I might be misunderstanding that part.

I don't think that Inky will probably ever be a lap cat, but you might be surprised at how much he will settle in his own way once he realizes that he is not at the vet's. I really believe there is a place for him once he can begin to trust a little bit.

When I worked dog rescue, any dog with a questionable temperament was excluded from receiving help due to liability issues. If a rescue shows at places like Petsmart it adds another dimension to that. I can certainly see their point, but this one in particular should have been more forthcoming with you.
 
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I think Furballsmom Furballsmom and the other posters have made some good suggestions. I would go with putting him in the bathroom, and out of the carrier. Just leave it open. Maybe put a blanket or towel over it, so it's a little cave like. Leave a t-shirt or other item of clothing you have worn so he can become acclimated to your oder.

When you visit him, take several treats. Just leave them in front of the carrier the first several times. How old is he? Is he in good health, shots, dewormed, etc?

Are there other non kill rescue groups you can work with? This vet doesn't seem willing to make a serious effort to accommodate the cats. Thank you for rescuing the cats! And Inky is a good looking cat!

Good luck, and please keep us updated.
 
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jefferd18

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tabbytom said:
jefferd18 jefferd18 ,

Great advice from Furballsmom Furballsmom .

I guess this cat has to be de-stressed and calmed down. This may take time and work but if you are consistent, patience and showing lots of love, it can be worked out.

Do what you've been doing and I suggest that you leave some clean unwashed garments with him so that he gets used to your scents and slowly sense that you are no treat to him.

Most important now is for him to gain his trust in you. Whenever you are with him in the room, sit on the floor and talk gently to him and always do the slow blink with him. Blink and and down and look away. This way shows your submission to him. Keep repeating this and once in a while blink and see if he blinks back at you. He may not show you the full blink but sometimes just a little means a lot and if he does that, you are on the way of gaining his trust till you get the full blink from him.

Don't give up and please don't abandon him.

Please keep us posted.
Click to expand...

Thank you, tabbytom! I have him still in his carrier and in my living room as of now. I have been sitting next to him on the floor. At first he would hiss and growl and retreat to the back of the carrier, but for the last two days he has been sitting up front. The hissing is still there but it has lessen. My cats have been going up and sniffing at the cage door but he doesn't seem to mind them, only me.

He is getting more curious with his surroundings and seems to want to get out and explore, but I want him to be a little more calm before I let him out.
 
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jefferd18

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fionasmom said:
I have been worried about the two of you! As everyone has said, this will take time. If you have a choice, especially if you have more than one bathroom, I think that the carrier in the bathroom is the best choice for the present. Any bedroom will give him hidey holes unless you can secure the under bed area with storage boxes and even then he might move them in an attempt to find a cranny. I have used bathrooms for long periods of time and given what he has been through, your bathroom will seem like heaven. I am also not sure that leaving him in a carrier all the time is the best thing.

Because of the rescue you are still under some obligation to the vet to return him? I might be misunderstanding that part.

I don't think that Inky will probably ever be a lap cat, but you might be surprised at how much he will settle in his own way once he realizes that he is not at the vet's. I really believe there is a place for him once he can begin to trust a little bit.

When I worked dog rescue, any dog with a questionable temperament was excluded from receiving help due to liability issues. If a rescue shows at places like Petsmart it adds another dimension to that. I can certainly see their point, but this one in particular should have been more forthcoming with you.
Click to expand...
Thank you fionasmom! :) Inky has been in his carrier which I placed in my living room after getting him on Thursday afternoon. I want to let him out soon because I know he needs to be able to move around, especially since he has been in a carrier or cage for the last four weeks. I think the bathroom would be a better room for that.

He is hissing and growling less but I am taking it extra slow with him. I hate to say it but I haven't even cleaned his litterbox yet because I don't want to stir him up. They had the strangest routine for doing that at the vet: they would put another carrier up to his and then bang on his carrier so he would fly into the other one, and then after they cleaned his litter, they would do it again. Yeah,, that would calm anyone.

I am fed up with this group but I don't know who else can help me with the remaining four cats- although they have not been that great of a help. The receptionist thrust his carrier at me on Thursday and of course he lunged at my face. I stepped back in horror and she said: "Well, that's a feral cat."
 
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