- Joined
- Jan 19, 2018
- Messages
- 178
- Purraise
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Hello everyone! I've been reading all the wonderful help, advice and love from everyone on this forum for days now and have to decided to join in hopes of obtaining some guidance and emotional relief. First off, I've had cats/kittens all through my life, all taken from shelters but this past Sunday was the page turner. I noticed a stray/feral cat strolling about in our front and backyard and didn't bother it. One day in early November, I went onto my our enclosed porch and saw him strolling by our steps. I tapped the window, bent down and opened the mail box slot which made this curious kitty could me up the front steps and investigate. I was hooked. Instantly named him Silo. I began to put out food in the back. Initially his presence was sporadic, especially once the weather turned colder but then, he began to appear, regularly actually. He would hang out, waiting for food and not really letting me get close. When I stepped back he would then approach and eat. I would speak to him softly, sometimes ignored him while I walked around, threw out the trash. In December, I got braver and attempted to get closer, cause he's so darn cute and special, I came within an arm to lay down food before he would move a foot or so, and when I stepped back, he would come and eat. At end of December, I was able to almost sit next to him while he ate, but never petted him, I felt he would've ran. This past Sunday, he didn't show up for breakfast but did show up later for lunch and he was bloody. And I was done. No more cold, no more chances. I called up a local animal shelter and rented a humane trap. He didn't go in that night but next morning when I put it out, there he was...hanging out and curled in the cage. I totally freaked out, "now what do I do??". He was calm as can be when I approached the cage and brought him into our basement. I contacted our local shelter which does TNR and brought him in after half a day (they were closed for Holiday). He got neutered, vacinnated, ear tipped and flea mess. I didn't have him checked for diseases because it would have been instant euthanasia if it came out positive. So, here I am, picked up a super smart cat, currently stinking up my home (basement), loving and fearing every minute, and not knowing what I'm doing. Today is the end of day two after neuter and release. He has a safe room (basement), he has been eating and today he pooped on my old stinky shirt I left.????? Why? Yesterday he pooped on the floor? I have a mixture of garden soil and kitty litter in 2 boxes and he's not interested. I put a Feliway plug in (after reading nearly all the threads). So today, I came home from work and went downstairs, and he's curled up, comfy in my children's little kitchen set. Not interested in the boxes/caves I've provided. I laid down, like a crazy person and started jibbering about my day. He looks at me, I look away and then I noticed he is startled to fall asleep!? I left him be today, it's only day 2 of confinement. So, after my little no intro, comes the questions and begging for help. What do I do? I've never taken in a stray/feral before. Is he a stray or a feral? He is not a kitten, maybe 1 or 2 years old? I don't want to stress him for now by trapping him and bringing him to the vet for further check up. His poops look okay ( a novice estimate, lol). How can I figure if he's tameable? Or should I just release him rather than make him miserable? Did I do ok? Or should we just let Silo be Silo in the wild? Any thoughts would be more than appreciated. Thanks for reading my thoughts....