My hubby has enlisted in the Navy and we will be moving from SC to CT probably in August-September. One of my many animals is a feral cat. She has been with me about 1 1/2. She came in originally through my rescue, it was a litter of 6 3/4 month old feral kittens. I had success in socializing and finding homes for all of them but her. (I split with my rescue and didn't want her to spend the rest of her life in the director of the rescues home because it just isn't a good place so I adopted her myself) She has made progress very very very slowly with me over the last year but you still can't touch her and she is still very much feral. She is indoor only. I am just looking for suggestions and advice on the easiest possible way for me to travel from SC to CT with her. I've been given some good ideas and suggestions on another site but wanted input from you guys as well as I know many of you deal alot with ferals.
I am going to have to go the live trap routine w/ a divider because she cannot be touched and I can't get food, water and a litter box to her without loosing my hand. Would this be the best way to do it?? I'm driving the entire 14 hours in one day so she won't have to be in there overnight. I am trying to get my vet to prescribe some sort of sedative for her. Is this recommended?
Also, how far back is this move going to push her progress back? She has gone from a terrified feral to she just isn't quite sure about me. In the last couple of months she has finally stopped running and hiding when I walk into a room. Like if she is sleeping on the bed or on a cat perch she use to immediately get up and run and hide so I wouldn't get her (which i wasn't trying). Now she will lift her head up and just watch me, if I look like I am going to get her she will run but if I just am walking in to get something, she actually will stay laying down. As long as I am completely laying on the ground with my head turned not looking at her in the past couple weeks I have been able to get her to start licking wet food from my fingers. I can't stand or sit and do this yet but its still progress. She is very interested in what I am doing and has started following me around more and keeping an eye on me. I know this probably doesn't sound like alot in a year but to me that is tremendous progress. I know this is really going to push that progress back but do you think it will push her all the way back??
Any suggestions, thoughts, input or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!
I am going to have to go the live trap routine w/ a divider because she cannot be touched and I can't get food, water and a litter box to her without loosing my hand. Would this be the best way to do it?? I'm driving the entire 14 hours in one day so she won't have to be in there overnight. I am trying to get my vet to prescribe some sort of sedative for her. Is this recommended?
Also, how far back is this move going to push her progress back? She has gone from a terrified feral to she just isn't quite sure about me. In the last couple of months she has finally stopped running and hiding when I walk into a room. Like if she is sleeping on the bed or on a cat perch she use to immediately get up and run and hide so I wouldn't get her (which i wasn't trying). Now she will lift her head up and just watch me, if I look like I am going to get her she will run but if I just am walking in to get something, she actually will stay laying down. As long as I am completely laying on the ground with my head turned not looking at her in the past couple weeks I have been able to get her to start licking wet food from my fingers. I can't stand or sit and do this yet but its still progress. She is very interested in what I am doing and has started following me around more and keeping an eye on me. I know this probably doesn't sound like alot in a year but to me that is tremendous progress. I know this is really going to push that progress back but do you think it will push her all the way back??
Any suggestions, thoughts, input or ideas are greatly appreciated. Thanks!!