To refresh, I trapped a kitten and in the trap was a one-year-old male feral. Took him to vet clinic for neuter and shots, then took him home. He bit me, so he went to my vet's for some therapy to make him less feral. After about a month, I took him home. He was throwing up everyday. Got in a fight with my vet (who insisted I was overfeeding him). Called another vet for an opinion. She asked me to bring in stool sample. It turns out my vet had never dewormed him...and the feral had lung worms. Gave him meds, and he is no longer throwing up. He still, however, lives in my closet. Rarely comes out or plays with the kitten. I don't like to pet him b/c he still nips at me, and I am afraid of him.
I was talking to a very experienced cat rescue lady, who said I MUST handle him more, or he will never improve. She says he is picking up on my fear, and will end up a neurotic cat. I told her I'm still afraid to pet him a lot or pick him up, and she said after the first of the year, she would maybe take him from me and work with him and then find him a new home. She is excellent with cats. The only problem is that her rescue goes to a Petco in a rural area, and I don't think they get the best adopters there. I actually told her that, and she disagreed with me. I do respect her a lot, but she can only do so much with the clientele she has.
I am torn about this. The feral seems unhappy, but what do I know? I'm not crazy about him living in a closet all day, but I am also afraid he will never get a good home. I'm not sure this cat rescue woman can help him anymore than I have...but maybe she can? He comes out of the closet at dinner time, only to rub my legs. I'll pet him a few times, but that's it. I'm not sure he has joy in life. He rarely plays with the kitten, rarely leaves the closet. But it has been about 3 months since I caught him.
It seems there are two separate groups of feral cat people: those who think you handle the cat as much as you can, and those who say you let the cat determine his own timeline.
I'm so torn on what to do for this guy.
I was talking to a very experienced cat rescue lady, who said I MUST handle him more, or he will never improve. She says he is picking up on my fear, and will end up a neurotic cat. I told her I'm still afraid to pet him a lot or pick him up, and she said after the first of the year, she would maybe take him from me and work with him and then find him a new home. She is excellent with cats. The only problem is that her rescue goes to a Petco in a rural area, and I don't think they get the best adopters there. I actually told her that, and she disagreed with me. I do respect her a lot, but she can only do so much with the clientele she has.
I am torn about this. The feral seems unhappy, but what do I know? I'm not crazy about him living in a closet all day, but I am also afraid he will never get a good home. I'm not sure this cat rescue woman can help him anymore than I have...but maybe she can? He comes out of the closet at dinner time, only to rub my legs. I'll pet him a few times, but that's it. I'm not sure he has joy in life. He rarely plays with the kitten, rarely leaves the closet. But it has been about 3 months since I caught him.
It seems there are two separate groups of feral cat people: those who think you handle the cat as much as you can, and those who say you let the cat determine his own timeline.
I'm so torn on what to do for this guy.
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