We are currently working on getting the feral colony in the neighborhood park TNRd and I thought it would be a good idea to get a thread started to seek advice when needed. Like now!
We got into kitten foster last year when we had a pregnant stray wander in my home office and refuse to leave. It has been a wild adventure and turned into so much more than I could have expected. We expanded to TNR when a couple of the neighborhood kids alerted me to some kittens in a trash can in the park across the street. We socialized the two healthy ones, trapped mama and gave her the TNR treatment and sadly had to take one of the babies in for EU due to a malformation of the rib cage.
We just trapped what we thought was a handsome boy who was oddly calm for a feral. I held him an extra Day in a large dog kennel so I could take the time to ask around the neighborhood to see if he belonged to anyone. No one was familiar so we dubbed him Frank Sinclawtra and took him to the vet for TNR. When we picked up we were informed that “Frank” was really a Francine and she had been in heat! Just in time.
Since Frankie is so calm.. and seems terribly sad along with terrified, of course. I have decided that we are going to socialize her and adopt her out. She has allowed me to touch her softly through both the trap and the large dog kennel we used for her set up. She doesn’t move a muscle as long as I am in the room, but she has been eating and using the litter box. So... any advice on socializing an adult who is shy and scared?
Is it pretty on par with kitten socialization? We had a smashing success with the two healthy feral babies we trapped a few months ago using a smaller kennel as a “ social box” and would have them in the office with me when I was working, watching tv, etc. In less than two weeks they were seeking attention and treats. Would this work with an older cat?
Thanks in advance for any advice, and apologies on being long winded.
We got into kitten foster last year when we had a pregnant stray wander in my home office and refuse to leave. It has been a wild adventure and turned into so much more than I could have expected. We expanded to TNR when a couple of the neighborhood kids alerted me to some kittens in a trash can in the park across the street. We socialized the two healthy ones, trapped mama and gave her the TNR treatment and sadly had to take one of the babies in for EU due to a malformation of the rib cage.
We just trapped what we thought was a handsome boy who was oddly calm for a feral. I held him an extra Day in a large dog kennel so I could take the time to ask around the neighborhood to see if he belonged to anyone. No one was familiar so we dubbed him Frank Sinclawtra and took him to the vet for TNR. When we picked up we were informed that “Frank” was really a Francine and she had been in heat! Just in time.
Since Frankie is so calm.. and seems terribly sad along with terrified, of course. I have decided that we are going to socialize her and adopt her out. She has allowed me to touch her softly through both the trap and the large dog kennel we used for her set up. She doesn’t move a muscle as long as I am in the room, but she has been eating and using the litter box. So... any advice on socializing an adult who is shy and scared?
Is it pretty on par with kitten socialization? We had a smashing success with the two healthy feral babies we trapped a few months ago using a smaller kennel as a “ social box” and would have them in the office with me when I was working, watching tv, etc. In less than two weeks they were seeking attention and treats. Would this work with an older cat?
Thanks in advance for any advice, and apologies on being long winded.