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#1
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making friends with a stray/homeless
Hello everybody. I hope someone can give me some advice about getting a
stray to be friendly towards me. Firstly, I've not had a pet cat since I was four years old but now after a long career away from home, I'm ready to start living normally again, that includes having pets. There's this stray kitty I've seen hanging around my neighborhood for months now (I've asked all the neighbors and all say it must be a stray-no collar). So far, the cat appears to be only afraid of humans, not the dogs across the street (the cat likes to come around in the evening and just sit and "stare" at the dogs for a long time). The cat has eaten the tuna I've left out for him, but only only after I've placed it a fair distance away. The cat has also shared my meals of sausage links and fried chicken , but only after I've tossed it to him from 50 ft. away. I've only given him a total of four meals so far. As I've said, the cat seems afraid of humans, but not of other animals including dogs, so what's wrong? I'm hoping to get this cat wanting to hang around my place and if he likes it here, then I'd like to keep him as a pet. Any ideas how to get this shy kitty to see me as a "good guy"? |
#2
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making friends with a stray/homeless
I've been working with homeless cats for a long time, and I recommend that you live-trap the cat, get him to the vet for an exam (include combo-test to rule out FeLV/FIV), vaccination, worming, spay/neuter, flea treatment -- and don't forget to look for an id chip in case a current owner is involved), then confine him inside (cage or in a room of his own). If he is someone's abandoned/lost pet, he will soon begin relating to you in a friendlier way and will bond with you. If he is an outright feral and wants no part of you, he can still live out his days in your backyard with regular feedings from you. This may sound like a pretty aggressive way to make friends, but it is in the best interest of the cat. He will be vetted and safe while you make his acquaintance with food and shelter and hands-on contact. Work with your vet on evaluating the cat's temperment; try to find someone who has experience with feral cats and a reputation for humane handling. Campus Cats has an article of socializing shy cats (Taming the Tiger), but our website is not in good shape right now. I could try to find that for you if you are interested. I can also give you lots more advice on catching the cat and getting is safely to your vet if you are interested. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats Seattle |
#3
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making friends with a stray/homeless
On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:45:49 +0000, Simple Simon Met a Pieman Going to the
Fair wrote: Hello everybody. I hope someone can give me some advice about getting a stray to be friendly towards me. Firstly, I've not had a pet cat since I was four years old but now after a long career away from home, I'm ready to start living normally again, that includes having pets. There's this stray kitty I've seen hanging around my neighborhood for months now (I've asked all the neighbors and all say it must be a stray-no collar). So far, the cat appears to be only afraid of humans, not the dogs across the street (the cat likes to come around in the evening and just sit and "stare" at the dogs for a long time). The cat has eaten the tuna I've left out for him, but only only after I've placed it a fair distance away. The cat has also shared my meals of sausage links and fried chicken , but only after I've tossed it to him from 50 ft. away. I've only given him a total of four meals so far. As I've said, the cat seems afraid of humans, but not of other animals including dogs, so what's wrong? I'm hoping to get this cat wanting to hang around my place and if he likes it here, then I'd like to keep him as a pet. Any ideas how to get this shy kitty to see me as a "good guy"? Step I Keep good food and water coming. It will happen in time if he/she feels safe. Good luck. MLB |
#4
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making friends with a stray/homeless
Pleased to hear from you, mlbriggs. Will do on the f&w. Any idea how long
this usually takes? The cat sometimes looks at me as if he's trying to make up his mind to come closer, but always opts to go away after eating; once he meowed at me very quietly from his safe distance but I could barely hear it. is this a good sign? "mlbriggs" wrote in message news Step I Keep good food and water coming. It will happen in time if he/she feels safe. Good luck. MLB |
#5
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making friends with a stray/homeless
Thx for the helpful tips! I'm considering eventually resorting to using a
trap if I have to, but first, do you think there's much of a chance that this cat might someday want to come to me of his own free will so that he won't mind if I pick him up peacefully and drive him to the vet? I'm unable to determine whether he's feral or not, but he looks well-groomed and at a healthy weight, and seems self-reliant. He must have been living on his own for a long time. Maybe some family left him behind when they moved? I've seen him in an empty wooded lot near my home, socializing with another cat, and eating from a discarded burger bag. "Sharon Talbert" wrote in message ashington.edu... I've been working with homeless cats for a long time, and I recommend that you live-trap the cat, get him to the vet for an exam (include combo-test to rule out FeLV/FIV), vaccination, worming, spay/neuter, flea treatment -- and don't forget to look for an id chip in case a current owner is involved), then confine him inside (cage or in a room of his own). If he is someone's abandoned/lost pet, he will soon begin relating to you in a friendlier way and will bond with you. If he is an outright feral and wants no part of you, he can still live out his days in your backyard with regular feedings from you. This may sound like a pretty aggressive way to make friends, but it is in the best interest of the cat. He will be vetted and safe while you make his acquaintance with food and shelter and hands-on contact. Work with your vet on evaluating the cat's temperment; try to find someone who has experience with feral cats and a reputation for humane handling. Campus Cats has an article of socializing shy cats (Taming the Tiger), but our website is not in good shape right now. I could try to find that for you if you are interested. I can also give you lots more advice on catching the cat and getting is safely to your vet if you are interested. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats Seattle |
#6
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making friends with a stray/homeless
"Sharon Talbert" wrote in message ashington.edu... I've been working with homeless cats for a long time, and I recommend that you live-trap the cat, get him to the vet for an exam (include combo-test to rule out FeLV/FIV), vaccination, worming, spay/neuter, flea treatment -- and don't forget to look for an id chip in case a current owner is involved), then confine him inside (cage or in a room of his own). If he is someone's abandoned/lost pet, he will soon begin relating to you in a friendlier way and will bond with you. If he is an outright feral and wants no part of you, he can still live out his days in your backyard with regular feedings from you. Or you could make him an indoor feral; I have several mixed in with my tame ones. As Sharon has said, you do have to keep him in a room with no hiding places until he gets used to being out in the open. Once he gets used to sunning himself by the window and eating in the middle of the floor with you in the room you can "release" him into the rest of the house. I accidentally left my sliding glass door wide open for an hour once and not one of my indoor ferals bother to get up off the sofa and walk across the room to freedom. They learn where it's warm, dry, and soft. ron This may sound like a pretty aggressive way to make friends, but it is in the best interest of the cat. He will be vetted and safe while you make his acquaintance with food and shelter and hands-on contact. Work with your vet on evaluating the cat's temperment; try to find someone who has experience with feral cats and a reputation for humane handling. Campus Cats has an article of socializing shy cats (Taming the Tiger), but our website is not in good shape right now. I could try to find that for you if you are interested. I can also give you lots more advice on catching the cat and getting is safely to your vet if you are interested. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats Seattle |
#7
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making friends with a stray/homeless
On Tue, 13 Dec 2005 16:38:25 -0500, "Ron Herfurth"
wrote: "Sharon Talbert" wrote in message . washington.edu... I've been working with homeless cats for a long time, and I recommend that you live-trap the cat, get him to the vet for an exam (include combo-test to rule out FeLV/FIV), vaccination, worming, spay/neuter, flea treatment -- and don't forget to look for an id chip in case a current owner is involved), then confine him inside (cage or in a room of his own). If he is someone's abandoned/lost pet, he will soon begin relating to you in a friendlier way and will bond with you. If he is an outright feral and wants no part of you, he can still live out his days in your backyard with regular feedings from you. Or you could make him an indoor feral; I have several mixed in with my tame ones. As Sharon has said, you do have to keep him in a room with no hiding places until he gets used to being out in the open. Once he gets used to sunning himself by the window and eating in the middle of the floor with you in the room you can "release" him into the rest of the house. I accidentally left my sliding glass door wide open for an hour once and not one of my indoor ferals bother to get up off the sofa and walk across the room to freedom. They learn where it's warm, dry, and soft. ron This may sound like a pretty aggressive way to make friends, but it is in the best interest of the cat. He will be vetted and safe while you make his acquaintance with food and shelter and hands-on contact. Work with your vet on evaluating the cat's temperment; try to find someone who has experience with feral cats and a reputation for humane handling. Campus Cats has an article of socializing shy cats (Taming the Tiger), but our website is not in good shape right now. I could try to find that for you if you are interested. I can also give you lots more advice on catching the cat and getting is safely to your vet if you are interested. Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats Seattle Trap them, place them indoors and feed them. That's the way to get them to love you! |
#8
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making friends with a stray/homeless
On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:45:49 GMT, "Simple Simon Met a Pieman Going to
the Fair" wrote: I'm hoping to get this cat wanting to hang around my place and if he likes it here, then I'd like to keep him as a pet. Any ideas how to get this shy kitty to see me as a "good guy"? Once upon a time - sometime in the mid seventies - I was living in a mobile home park and there was a tiny feral calico cat in the neighborhood. I started making friends by putting out food, then going back inside, then staying outside but at ever decreasing distances. Over a period on some months, she eventually let me touch her, but not pet her, and then only when she was eating. She also got very pregnant during that time and eventually had her kittens under a nearby trailer. Things took a turn for the strange on 4 July of that year. It had been raining for a couple of days when she came to the front door and meowed. I was startled, but opened the door. She came in and started inspecting the place. She found that there were already three cats living there, that there was plenty of food and water (she even stopped for a snack to test the food), and that there were litter pans. She also inspected for hiding places. Then she wanted out. A little while later, she showed up again, this time with a red tabby kitten in her mouth. I let her in and she put the kitten under the couch. Then another red tabby kitten, and a third under the couch. After delivering the third kitten, she lay down on the door mat and called them - they came and nursed. She went out and was never seen again. Since red tabbies are males, I gave them boy names. After a month or so, the kittens became tame enough to handle, and low and behold, all three were females. They grew up to be mostly outdoor cats, but were quite friendly when they were inside. (Note: after some research, I discovered that a calico queen and a red tabby tom produce red tabby kittens regardless of their sex.) -- T.E.D. ) SPAM filter: Messages to this address *must* contain "T.E.D." somewhere in the body or they will be automatically rejected. |
#9
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making friends with a stray/homeless
On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 01:56:10 GMT, John Ross Mc Master wrote:
I've been working with homeless cats for a long time, and I recommend that you live-trap the cat, get him to the vet for an exam (include combo-test to rule out FeLV/FIV), vaccination, worming, spay/neuter, flea treatment -- and don't forget to look for an id chip in case a current owner is involved), then confine him inside (cage or in a room of his own). If he is someone's abandoned/lost pet, he will soon begin relating to you in a friendlier way and will bond with you. If he is an outright feral and wants no part of you, he can still live out his days in your backyard with regular feedings from you. Or you could make him an indoor feral; I have several mixed in with my tame ones. As Sharon has said, you do have to keep him in a room with no hiding places until he gets used to being out in the open. Once he gets used to sunning himself by the window and eating in the middle of the floor with you in the room you can "release" him into the rest of the house. I accidentally left my sliding glass door wide open for an hour once and not one of my indoor ferals bother to get up off the sofa and walk across the room to freedom. They learn where it's warm, dry, and soft. My mother-in-law has 3 so called wild ones that live indoors with her othe 5 former strays. She calls them Wildone 1, 2 & 3. After about 3 years they are getting to the point where they venture out but are ready to run at the strangest noise. http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ |
#10
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making friends with a stray/homeless
On Wed, 14 Dec 2005 07:54:24 -0600, Ted Davis wrote:
On Mon, 12 Dec 2005 18:45:49 GMT, "Simple Simon Met a Pieman Going to the Fair" wrote: I'm hoping to get this cat wanting to hang around my place and if he likes it here, then I'd like to keep him as a pet. Any ideas how to get this shy kitty to see me as a "good guy"? Once upon a time - sometime in the mid seventies - I was living in a mobile home park and there was a tiny feral calico cat in the neighborhood. I started making friends by putting out food, then going back inside, then staying outside but at ever decreasing distances. Over a period on some months, she eventually let me touch her, but not pet her, and then only when she was eating. She also got very pregnant during that time and eventually had her kittens under a nearby trailer. Things took a turn for the strange on 4 July of that year. It had been raining for a couple of days when she came to the front door and meowed. I was startled, but opened the door. She came in and started inspecting the place. She found that there were already three cats living there, that there was plenty of food and water (she even stopped for a snack to test the food), and that there were litter pans. She also inspected for hiding places. Then she wanted out. A little while later, she showed up again, this time with a red tabby kitten in her mouth. I let her in and she put the kitten under the couch. Then another red tabby kitten, and a third under the couch. After delivering the third kitten, she lay down on the door mat and called them - they came and nursed. She went out and was never seen again. Since red tabbies are males, I gave them boy names. After a month or so, the kittens became tame enough to handle, and low and behold, all three were females. They grew up to be mostly outdoor cats, but were quite friendly when they were inside. (Note: after some research, I discovered that a calico queen and a red tabby tom produce red tabby kittens regardless of their sex.) This is a very interesting story. I can't help wonder what became of the little mother. MLB |
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