- Joined
- Nov 4, 2013
- Messages
- 78
- Purraise
- 17
Hi everyone, I'm new here to this forum, live in Chicago, IL. Our city supports TNR efforts, and I've been the "feeder" for a small group of TNR cats on my block. One of the cats has been coming around since she was just a kitten, in 2009. She is bonded to me pretty well, and will rub her face on my ankles and chase my fuzzy slippers, waiting for me each morning to feed her. About a month ago, she suffered a broken leg, and I was unable to trap her for another 17 days. She had an open compound fracture of a rear leg, that had been untreated all that time, and there was no saving the leg. It was hard deciding amputation vs. euthanise, but I opted for amputation. She's now 3.5 weeks post-surgery. I kept her in a large animal crate, with a carrier as her den for the first 2 weeks after surgery, then the stitiches were removed, and I moved her and the crate to a large bedroom, opened the crate door and gave her free access to the room. She has hidey places, toys, and I visit her 2-3+ times a day, twice w/ food, then other times to just sit, or attempt some play, although she doesn't really "get" how to play. She figured out the litter box immediately, and has been very good about it.
Overall, she is recovering beautifully, and will peek out and come to see me when I open the door and it's feeding time. She rubs on my ankles, and will take a treat placed very close to my arm. She doesn't attack, swat, or hiss. VERY curious about the door, and the closet where I keep some supplies. Not jumping up on things, she's a "bush dweller", staying low for now. I cannot touch her, but she will sniff my feet, and is not afraid to eat or defecate with me in the room. I have not gotten a "slow blink" out of her, but I continue to work with her.
So the big question is; do I continue my work with her, and gradually expand her world in the house, or should I consider returning her to the outdoors? She was never a house cat, not a stray, but born to a stray mom. I would be sad to think she will be miserable indoors, although she *seems* content enough. BUT as a tripod now, I wonder if letting her back out is simply putting her in harms way unnecessarily. How long before I know if she can acclimate to indoor living? Winter is coming...
Overall, she is recovering beautifully, and will peek out and come to see me when I open the door and it's feeding time. She rubs on my ankles, and will take a treat placed very close to my arm. She doesn't attack, swat, or hiss. VERY curious about the door, and the closet where I keep some supplies. Not jumping up on things, she's a "bush dweller", staying low for now. I cannot touch her, but she will sniff my feet, and is not afraid to eat or defecate with me in the room. I have not gotten a "slow blink" out of her, but I continue to work with her.
So the big question is; do I continue my work with her, and gradually expand her world in the house, or should I consider returning her to the outdoors? She was never a house cat, not a stray, but born to a stray mom. I would be sad to think she will be miserable indoors, although she *seems* content enough. BUT as a tripod now, I wonder if letting her back out is simply putting her in harms way unnecessarily. How long before I know if she can acclimate to indoor living? Winter is coming...