Feral cats

Re: Feral cats

wendy scott — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 23:57:14 GMT

Well guys, little update.

Giles as i have now called him, is making a little progress. I am using some ham on the feather tickler every time i go to see him to make positive associations. At the weekends i am just leaving the kennel open so he can wander, he is completely litter trained which is great and he is moving his head the way he enjoys being touched which is good. he will still bite the tickler if i move it a little too quickly but he seems a little more relaxed. We are currently reading breaking dawn together and he's gone from ears flat not happy to ears up as if he is listening.

We will get there, it is very ealy days but he is eating and toileting and wandering around at weekends so i feel we will get there with time.

Better get back to his reading.

Thanks for all the tips guys, so very much appreciated.

Wendy :) x

Re: Feral cats

Mrs Dot Dot — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:50:16 GMT

I took on a 14wk old scarily feral kitten ( one that jumps forward at you with claws, paws and teeth!) years ago who lived in my bedroom for a few weeks and under my bed. (He would of had to be euth'd otherwise- I worked at a rescue place and he and his sister and mum came in at about 5 wks of age- mum was a spay and return to the wild, the sister came round really easily and was rehomed at 10 wks old)

I just left him too it for a lot of the time.... he became litter tray trained really quickly which was good..... the feather contact worked really well especially when he was eating--- use to just spend ages sitting in the room reading a book, and having my 3 legged cat in there- he took to Spooks really quickly and that also helped enormously - they became really really close and lifelong friends... at about 6mths of age I could pick him up and after that he became so attached to me and in many ways was like a little dog......

I lost both of them within 2 months of each other, at 11.5 and 12.5 years of age.... I will never have another cat who so obviously adored me as much as my feral cat, Moses did, so patience and perserverance will get you there eventually...... just don't force the issue, and he will come round eventually... good luck!

Re: Feral cats

sarah sharp — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 11:23:43 GMT

How's the little feller getting on? I got drawn in by above- great advice from all.

Re: Feral cats

wendy scott — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 13:57:19 GMT

Thank you guys so much you have made me feel so much better about the whole thing, fed him some ham from the tickler today and he was quite accepting but wouldn't eat until i left which is fair enough, he is sitting watching the weather so have left him too it as he seems nervous when i'm in the room and he's not in his littel house but we will work on this. Have a feliway plug in and will drape the crate with a blanket, thank you lesley.

Had a bad day at work yesterday so think his reaction was just the straw to break the camels back and just felt like a complete failure.

thank you again guys will update you when we have some progress using baby steps.

Wendy :) x

Re: Feral cats

Lesley Stinson — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 10:56:03 GMT

Hi Wendy

Another idea is to drape a large towel over the cage ( I presume it is a crate that you are using) so that it feels more safe for this cat. I spent hours sitting beside the cage reading a book out loud so that the cat i was taming got use to the sound of my voice.

Sitting and relaxing will give off a calm vibe and the little feral should pick up on this. Have you tried using a feliway plug in diffuser.

Also handfeeding should help to build trust but make sure you sit or knee to reduce your size so as not to intimadate the cat. You can gentle throw a small amount of food just in front of the cat so that he can get a whiff of the food. Try not to stare at him and if he looks at you directly then blink slowly and look away . This should help him to except you also.

He is the one who needs to take that first step.

Best of luck but the most important thing to remember is stay calm and quiet in his presence with only slow movements.

Re: Feral cats

Nicola Smith — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 08:24:38 GMT

We have a group of ferals at the farm where my horse is and we didnt get them till they were 6 months - we just petted them when they were being fed and never pushed anything - we have 1 tha is now completely soft, 1 who likes fuss but wont be picked up and 2 who avoid human contat at all costs so think it depends on the cat and not all will be tameable but can still live happy lives in the right type of envrionment.

Re: Feral cats

wendy scott — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:54:32 GMT

Thank you for the reply Lesley, i've been doing T Touch with a feather tickler and before this evening he was tolerating it more times than not. The rescue is supplying me a box like bed for the kennel so that should make him feel more safe.

I will keep trying, though just had a run of foster cats that needed a lot of attention to one that doesn't want any attention has been a difficult transition so i will start again and re-group. He is free in the spare room and i think i will leave him to his own devices for the rest of this evening, hopefully he will go back into his kennel for food and then i can close it. We will see.

The advice is very much appreciated lesley thank you so much.

Wendy :) x

Re: Feral cats

Lesley Stinson — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 22:29:10 GMT

Hi Wendy

I too did the advanced course with coape and found it excellent.

I would advise placing in the kennel a cardboard box for him to be able to hide in. I would cut a peep hole so that he can look out and this will help him feel safe. He needes to develope coping skills in how to deal with this new life. The box can be pushed up against the side of the kennel when you need to clean him out and because he will be hiding he should stay calm.

Also it is worth trying T Touch which i have found works wonders on the real nervous cats. To start with place a feather attatched to the end of a cane and touch him on the rear flank or back . This will let him get use to the feeling of being touched in a non threatening manner. Our hands reaching for a cat can be very intimadating and they will strike out in reflex. Once he gets use to being touched by the cane you can shorten it until he will permit your hand to touch. Using short circular motions is better on his flank or rear end as it is less threatening and also reminds them of being groomed by there mother. Most feral cats are head shy and by starting on the flank and as he gets use to it will then begin to tollerate your hand moving up his body. Please ensure that the surroundings are quiet while attempting this as he will feel more safe.

I have also tamed down a feral cat (8 months old ) this way and it took about 4 weeks before any progress was made but then he made great leaps in progress. They need to develope coping skills and once they start to learn there is no turning back. My cat now lives very happily with an elderly lady who dotes on him and he on her.

It is always worth trying for these cats and as they can be turned around with kindess and gentle handeling.