So, a bit of background.... When we moved into our house, there was a pregnant feral cat on the property. She had her kittens, and the family started hanging around our place. Then the mom (Aggie) got pregnant again. I contacted a local shelter, and they suggested that the cats enter the TNR program. The cats were all successfully trapped and spayed/neutered, with the exception of Aggie, who I agreed to foster until the kittens were born. She had to remain caged, because she was terrified and very aggressive. Once night, she somehow squeezed through the bars of the cage and escaped into the basement. This put her into premature labour, and none of the kittens survived. I can't even describe how devastated I was for her, and the guilt I felt! Afterwards, she was also spayed, and returned outside, but she harbours a very deep resentment towards me. (Understandably).
Fast forward one year. The four cats (Aggie, Frankie, Rusty, and Ghost) stay around our property for the most part. I feed them, de-worm them, have built shelters for them, and spend as much time with them as they'll let me. We've progressed to the point that I can pat Ghost and Frankie while they're eating. (Otherwise they keep their distance). I love these cats like I love my four indoor cats, and do as best I can to keep them safe, warm, and well-fed.
Aggie is apparently part Maine Coon, according to the vet. She has incredibly thick and long fur. I noticed the other day that she's losing her winter fur, which has allowed me to see what lies underneath. And it's heartbreaking. All along her back, her sides, around her ears.... it's all huge mats. Some of it is actually hanging there in chunks. I was able to touch her the other day (although I got hissed at and slapped), and it's just lumps EVERYWHERE. The discomfort has got to be incredible. As much as I wanted to avoid the stress of trapping her and putting her through all that again - and risking destroying the tentative bond we're developing - I tried. And she's not having any of it. There's no WAY she'll go near any sort of trap, no matter how well disguised it is, and how tempting the treats are. (Which our trapper from the shelter warned me about - he said it would be near impossible to make her fall for that again). So I'm stuck. How do I help a cat that refuses to fall for a trap, and who won't really let me touch her? Those mats look so painful. Any suggestions?
Fast forward one year. The four cats (Aggie, Frankie, Rusty, and Ghost) stay around our property for the most part. I feed them, de-worm them, have built shelters for them, and spend as much time with them as they'll let me. We've progressed to the point that I can pat Ghost and Frankie while they're eating. (Otherwise they keep their distance). I love these cats like I love my four indoor cats, and do as best I can to keep them safe, warm, and well-fed.
Aggie is apparently part Maine Coon, according to the vet. She has incredibly thick and long fur. I noticed the other day that she's losing her winter fur, which has allowed me to see what lies underneath. And it's heartbreaking. All along her back, her sides, around her ears.... it's all huge mats. Some of it is actually hanging there in chunks. I was able to touch her the other day (although I got hissed at and slapped), and it's just lumps EVERYWHERE. The discomfort has got to be incredible. As much as I wanted to avoid the stress of trapping her and putting her through all that again - and risking destroying the tentative bond we're developing - I tried. And she's not having any of it. There's no WAY she'll go near any sort of trap, no matter how well disguised it is, and how tempting the treats are. (Which our trapper from the shelter warned me about - he said it would be near impossible to make her fall for that again). So I'm stuck. How do I help a cat that refuses to fall for a trap, and who won't really let me touch her? Those mats look so painful. Any suggestions?