Feral Cat Situation Deteriorating, New Hssing

[wannahelp]

In reaponse to he question from OrangeandWhite, there is at least one other cat that I’ve seen on my camera recently.
After another four or five phone calls, I was told that th okder female showed no evidence of nursing but that could have been just to get me to stop calling. I have to say that I really didn’t appreciate the treatment that I got at that offide. I’d been a client there for over 15 years and all I eanted was an answer to a simple question. The receptionist was very nasty and instead of anseering my question, she just kept pareotting, “she appeared to be either going into or xoming out of heat.” That tells me nothing about nursing. I read that cats can go into heat a week after fiving birth. That may not be th norm but the point is, I shouldn’t have had to beg for an answer.

 

[maggiedemi]

Yeah, I would keep your face back from them, and watch out for the palms of your hands. One of my ferals got me on the palm of my hand and it was really hard to heal, I had to tape it up. Can you use a backscratcher, long handled duster, or sock taped to a stick to pet them? And wand toys to play with them. Hopefully orange&white can give you some more advice. She was able to teach her ferals not to scratch her.

 

[orange&white]

Yes, just keep your face away from the kittens. When I started setting the wild backyard feral on my lap, I always faced her away from me so that she could jump down on the ground and not be inclined to jump into my face or over my shoulder. They shouldn't try to attack your face unless they feel trapped and see that as the only direction they can run.

The first time Misfit approached me and gave me a face-to-face head butt, I wasn't sure exactly if she might bite or scratch me, but she was being affectionate. I did not touch her when she pushed her face into mine. She was on a table outside and I just leaned down with my hands behind my back to see what she would do. I had worked with her several months by that time, so I had to learn to trust her at the same time she was learning to trust me.

 

[wannahelp]

It's getting to be a burden, keeping them in the garage. I need to move them into the house or let the feral expert take them. My parents would let me bring the crates into the family room but what about my cats? What if there were fights and attacks, or if my cats became depressed? Regardless of where they're located, I don't know that I'm the right person to make any progress with them but the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen to them, if somebody else takes them, makes me leery as well. They might end up on a farm, which I'm apprehensive about, since other local farms have told me that they won't take cats, due to coyotes.
The other obvious issue is getting them from the garage into the house.

 

[maggiedemi]

I don't think they could hurt each other through the cage. My cats had a gate between them. They punched each other, but they didn't get hurt at all. Maybe your cats will help you tame the ferals, once the ferals see you petting and playing with them.

 

[wannahelp]

What kind of gate is high enough to keep them separated?

 

[maggiedemi]

We built ours, so it was pretty high. I know a lot of people stack 2 baby gates on top of each other.

 

[orange&white]

I would swap cat blankets for a few days. Move the indoor cats' blankets out to the garage cats, and vice versa. They'll pick up on the other cat's scents that way, and be more likely to accept each other as "family" once they are face to face.

 

[wannahelp]

I will try that with the male. It's easy to do. The two sisters are going with the feral expert too. I might take them back, once they've calmed down a bit. I'm not sure but I am not having success and she thinks I'm too inexperienced to deal with their level of feralness, if that's a word. The male is doing well, though. At this point, I'm wondering how to get him to the next level. I'm trying to expand his area but he is, of course, apprehensive. Hopefully, the blanket swap will help introduce my cats to him and I can go from there.

 

[orange&white]

Yes, I introduced my senior and the feral kitten I adopted very slowly. I didn't do a blanket swap because they could smell each other under the bedroom door. I socialized her in my bedroom and he had run of the rest of the house. After they got used to each other's scent, I started taking him into the bedroom for a few minutes at a time to let them interact with constant supervision. Then I'd separate them when they had both had a good experience, before anything got combative, and slowly increased the number and length of visits.

I think it is good that the feral cat lady is taking the two wilder cats. She does have a point about experience. Most of us working with ferals today had a long history with domestic cats first and a strong familiarity with cat behavior which makes us less fearful of the little wild ones.

 

[maggiedemi]

Hope you are having a good new year with boy kitty. Have you named him yet?

 

[wannahelp]

We named him in November, I think. He’s sleeping on my bed, as I type. My female is tolerating him and he’s learned to just try to avoid her. He’s adjusting well to having access to the whole house but he is still fearful. He will run and hide under the bed and he isn’t comfortable with everybody(all the humans) in the household, yet. However, he has learned when and where to eat and that there are treats in the closet. He also comes running when he hears the closet or redrigerator door open. He thinks my male is his big brother and wants to do eveything he does. He’ll be spoiled in no time.
I’m concerned about maintaining normalcy for my other cats. My female used to sleep in my bed but since the little male has been there, she won’t. I feel bad about her feeling displaced.

 

[maggiedemi]

That's wonderful! What's his name? That's great that he has a buddy in your male cat. I think the cats will work it out, it just takes time. My female cat is the same way, she gets sick of my male cat.

 

[humanracer]

I think people are being too harsh on wanna help.
He isn't a cat expert but is doing all he can to help ferals. He is scared about what will happen to him if he releases.
Personally I think he should release them. I also think, in America at least, it is not a bad thing if they are euthanized. Feral cats who grow up without socialisation cannot be rehomed and have a nasty brutal life on the streets. It actually is not better than living in a cage in a garage.
Ideally there would be no feral cats but we have to deal with the situation as it exists.
Just my opinion.

 

[maggiedemi]

She already gave the 2 feral female cats to a feral cat expert. They are no longer in her garage.

 

[orange&white]

That is a good update wannahelp ! It’s great that he’s getting integrated into the household. A laid back domestic male cat is a great role model for the kitten. I owe most of the credit for socializing my ferals to my senior cat.

Did the feral expert definitely come take the other two cats? You might have posted that in another thread, and I missed it. Do you have any updates on how they're doing?

 

[Furballsmom]

I’m concerned about maintaining normalcy for my other cats. My female used to sleep in my bed but since the little male has been there, she won’t. I feel bad about her feeling displaced.

Maybe in time - cats are funny that way. Hang in there!

 

[wannahelp]

That is a good update wannahelp ! It’s great that he’s getting integrated into the household. A laid back domestic male cat is a great role model for the kitten. I owe most of the credit for socializing my ferals to my senior cat.

Did the feral expert definitely come take the other two cats? You might have posted that in another thread, and I missed it. Do you have any updates on how they're doing?

She took the females some time ago. I did mention that in an earlier post. I don’t get too much info on them. I know that she said they will take a lot longer than the male to socialize. They are indoors, though.

 

[orange&white]

That's super! I know you were worried they'd be tossed back out as barn cats. So sounds like you've done a terrific job helping the whole lot of them.

 

[maggiedemi]

You really did a great job helping all of them.