trapping ferals

Cheryl wrote:

In ,
Gail composed with style:


Rent a have a heart trap. Put a smelly fish in the trap (ie tuna).
Bring the feral inside in a room of its own with food, water,
litter, and a bed. Gradually sit in the room where he is while he
is eating. Taming a feral takes much time and patience. After
months (maybe) you can gradually expose him to your cat if he has
been medically cleared by a vet. One of my four cats was feral and
I love her to death. It literally took years to tame her and she is
still shy and runs from people other than my spouse and myself.
Cats will instinctively use a litter box. Use clumping unscented
litter with no hood on the box.
Gail



Ed, I agree with Gail but I think you should take the cat straight to
the vet *in* the trap the same day, or next day if trapped overnight.
The cat should be neutered (if it isn't already), given shots and
dewormer, advantage or frontline for parasites and checked over
thoroughly. From there with that out of the way, the socialization
can begin. Good luck to you, and it is really rewarding! My feral
was exposed to my resident cats in a cage, and while I thought it was
inhumane at the time (because I'd never done it before), it turned out
to be the best thing that could have happened. She's only been in my
household since May but she has fit in with my other cats for months
now. Though still timid and wary, she is a lovebug and has started
coming out of hiding with only certain visitors.


Ed, I agree with Gail and Cheryl. Always best to be safe than sorry.
Good luck with your feral, hope it all works out!

I hope you manage to trap him quickly. That food exposed to sun (UV),
air and rain might kill the cat pretty soon. If I were you, I'd try to
either remove that food (if the person dumps 21 lbs at a time, the
person probably doesn't come around that often) or spoil it for the
cat by throwing some water with kitchen soap over it and mixing it up
with dirt. That food will also attract rats (or allow the rats already
present to reproduce like crazy) and that's going to be a problem for
the neighborhood.

Thanks for taking the cat in. I have some ex-ferals myself and they
are as sweet as the cats that were born here (all of them from
ex-feral moms).

I hope you manage to trap him quickly. That food exposed to sun (UV),
air and rain might kill the cat pretty soon. If I were you, I'd try to
either remove that food (if the person dumps 21 lbs at a time, the
person probably doesn't come around that often) or spoil it for the
cat by throwing some water with kitchen soap over it and mixing it up
with dirt. That food will also attract rats (or allow the rats already
present to reproduce like crazy) and that's going to be a problem for
the neighborhood.

Thanks for taking the cat in. I have some ex-ferals myself and they
are as sweet as the cats that were born here (all of them from
ex-feral moms).

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 21:35:42 -0400, "Cheryl"
wrote:


Ed, I agree with Gail but I think you should take the cat straight to
the vet *in* the trap the same day, or next day if trapped overnight.
The cat should be neutered (if it isn't already), given shots and
dewormer, advantage or frontline for parasites and checked over
thoroughly. From there with that out of the way, the socialization
can begin. Good luck to you, and it is really rewarding! My feral
was exposed to my resident cats in a cage, and while I thought it was
inhumane at the time (because I'd never done it before), it turned out
to be the best thing that could have happened. She's only been in my
household since May but she has fit in with my other cats for months
now. Though still timid and wary, she is a lovebug and has started
coming out of hiding with only certain visitors.


Agreeing here, too. And I also had my former feral in a cage for a
time, which I believe speeded up the "taming" tremendously and made
him feel a lot safer. It took two months from trapping to being a
part of our household, and he is the most loving big guy I could ever
have imagined.

Best of luck to you!

Ginger-lyn

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 21:35:42 -0400, "Cheryl"
wrote:


Ed, I agree with Gail but I think you should take the cat straight to
the vet *in* the trap the same day, or next day if trapped overnight.
The cat should be neutered (if it isn't already), given shots and
dewormer, advantage or frontline for parasites and checked over
thoroughly. From there with that out of the way, the socialization
can begin. Good luck to you, and it is really rewarding! My feral
was exposed to my resident cats in a cage, and while I thought it was
inhumane at the time (because I'd never done it before), it turned out
to be the best thing that could have happened. She's only been in my
household since May but she has fit in with my other cats for months
now. Though still timid and wary, she is a lovebug and has started
coming out of hiding with only certain visitors.


Agreeing here, too. And I also had my former feral in a cage for a
time, which I believe speeded up the "taming" tremendously and made
him feel a lot safer. It took two months from trapping to being a
part of our household, and he is the most loving big guy I could ever
have imagined.

Best of luck to you!

Ginger-lyn

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:41:30 GMT, Ed Christie
wrote:



There is a feral cat at the local waste disposal site that I use.
I have been feeding it in the hope that I will be able to bring it
home. Progress has been slow but steady until another person decided
to feed it. He just dumps kibble on the ground 2lbs at a time.
Needless to say the cat is no longer hungry and my progress has halted
completely. I think that I may be able to trap the cat by cleaning up
the kible before the cat can get to it. Assuming that I can trap this
cat what is the best way to domesticate it. We currently have a
neutered male that is approching 2 years. I realize that no cat is
ever really domesticated but I would like to get it as close as
possible. As iI see it there are three problems. Training to use the
litter box, Having each cat tolerate each other and last geting the
new cat to at least tolerate my wife and I Any and all ideas and
suggestions will be carefully considered.

Ed Christie

To reply via email change junk1 to ed


Put out a trap for the cat yesterday evening about 5 pm.
Went back this morning ane he was in it. Yes the vet said that it was
a male. Everything checked out positive. Will need some booster shots
in about 3 weeks. I'll Have him get a rabies shot and have him
neutered then too. The cat in residence (BJ) took a long look at him
and his been under the bed since. Francis the new addition has been
lying in the cage since coming home from the vet. At the vets, the
tech held and petted him and I joined in. Ipicked him up once since he
came home and he just layed in my arms and let me pet him. I think
things are going ok. He just seems somewhat inactive but I am sure
that as he becomes more accustomed to his new environment he will
become more active. He was very active at the dump site, but that was
mostly trying to stay away from people.


Ed Christie

To send e-mail change junk1 to ed

On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:41:30 GMT, Ed Christie
wrote:



There is a feral cat at the local waste disposal site that I use.
I have been feeding it in the hope that I will be able to bring it
home. Progress has been slow but steady until another person decided
to feed it. He just dumps kibble on the ground 2lbs at a time.
Needless to say the cat is no longer hungry and my progress has halted
completely. I think that I may be able to trap the cat by cleaning up
the kible before the cat can get to it. Assuming that I can trap this
cat what is the best way to domesticate it. We currently have a
neutered male that is approching 2 years. I realize that no cat is
ever really domesticated but I would like to get it as close as
possible. As iI see it there are three problems. Training to use the
litter box, Having each cat tolerate each other and last geting the
new cat to at least tolerate my wife and I Any and all ideas and
suggestions will be carefully considered.

Ed Christie

To reply via email change junk1 to ed


Put out a trap for the cat yesterday evening about 5 pm.
Went back this morning ane he was in it. Yes the vet said that it was
a male. Everything checked out positive. Will need some booster shots
in about 3 weeks. I'll Have him get a rabies shot and have him
neutered then too. The cat in residence (BJ) took a long look at him
and his been under the bed since. Francis the new addition has been
lying in the cage since coming home from the vet. At the vets, the
tech held and petted him and I joined in. Ipicked him up once since he
came home and he just layed in my arms and let me pet him. I think
things are going ok. He just seems somewhat inactive but I am sure
that as he becomes more accustomed to his new environment he will
become more active. He was very active at the dump site, but that was
mostly trying to stay away from people.


Ed Christie

To send e-mail change junk1 to ed

How wonderful. Obviously this kitty was a pet that was dumped. You and he
are two lucky fellas, and you deserve a big pat on the back for saving his
life!

"Ed Christie" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:41:30 GMT, Ed Christie
wrote:



There is a feral cat at the local waste disposal site that I use.
I have been feeding it in the hope that I will be able to bring it
home. Progress has been slow but steady until another person decided
to feed it. He just dumps kibble on the ground 2lbs at a time.
Needless to say the cat is no longer hungry and my progress has halted
completely. I think that I may be able to trap the cat by cleaning up
the kible before the cat can get to it. Assuming that I can trap this
cat what is the best way to domesticate it. We currently have a
neutered male that is approching 2 years. I realize that no cat is
ever really domesticated but I would like to get it as close as
possible. As iI see it there are three problems. Training to use the
litter box, Having each cat tolerate each other and last geting the
new cat to at least tolerate my wife and I Any and all ideas and
suggestions will be carefully considered.

Ed Christie

To reply via email change junk1 to ed


Put out a trap for the cat yesterday evening about 5 pm.
Went back this morning ane he was in it. Yes the vet said that it was
a male. Everything checked out positive. Will need some booster shots
in about 3 weeks. I'll Have him get a rabies shot and have him
neutered then too. The cat in residence (BJ) took a long look at him
and his been under the bed since. Francis the new addition has been
lying in the cage since coming home from the vet. At the vets, the
tech held and petted him and I joined in. Ipicked him up once since he
came home and he just layed in my arms and let me pet him. I think
things are going ok. He just seems somewhat inactive but I am sure
that as he becomes more accustomed to his new environment he will
become more active. He was very active at the dump site, but that was
mostly trying to stay away from people.


Ed Christie

To send e-mail change junk1 to ed

How wonderful. Obviously this kitty was a pet that was dumped. You and he
are two lucky fellas, and you deserve a big pat on the back for saving his
life!

"Ed Christie" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 24 Oct 2003 23:41:30 GMT, Ed Christie
wrote:



There is a feral cat at the local waste disposal site that I use.
I have been feeding it in the hope that I will be able to bring it
home. Progress has been slow but steady until another person decided
to feed it. He just dumps kibble on the ground 2lbs at a time.
Needless to say the cat is no longer hungry and my progress has halted
completely. I think that I may be able to trap the cat by cleaning up
the kible before the cat can get to it. Assuming that I can trap this
cat what is the best way to domesticate it. We currently have a
neutered male that is approching 2 years. I realize that no cat is
ever really domesticated but I would like to get it as close as
possible. As iI see it there are three problems. Training to use the
litter box, Having each cat tolerate each other and last geting the
new cat to at least tolerate my wife and I Any and all ideas and
suggestions will be carefully considered.

Ed Christie

To reply via email change junk1 to ed


Put out a trap for the cat yesterday evening about 5 pm.
Went back this morning ane he was in it. Yes the vet said that it was
a male. Everything checked out positive. Will need some booster shots
in about 3 weeks. I'll Have him get a rabies shot and have him
neutered then too. The cat in residence (BJ) took a long look at him
and his been under the bed since. Francis the new addition has been
lying in the cage since coming home from the vet. At the vets, the
tech held and petted him and I joined in. Ipicked him up once since he
came home and he just layed in my arms and let me pet him. I think
things are going ok. He just seems somewhat inactive but I am sure
that as he becomes more accustomed to his new environment he will
become more active. He was very active at the dump site, but that was
mostly trying to stay away from people.


Ed Christie

To send e-mail change junk1 to ed

Good work! Another homeless animal brought to safety.

I am a little concerned that he is already mixing with your other cats,
but all will most likely be fine. I am assuming the vet combo-tested this
guy for possible FIV/FeLV.

I am so glad you took a chance and trapped him. Those abandoned pets can
fool you into assuming they are feral-born or otherwise "wild." And just
as often, those feral-born cats can quickly (or eventually) prove
themselves to be lapcats.

Keep us posted.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus (feral) Cats
www.campuscats.org