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#11
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On 8/2/2014 1:40 PM, Joy wrote:
About a week ago I adopted a cat from the shelter. He's a four-month-old neutered male. He's also feral. I've been keeping him isolated for the time being, but I'll be trying an introduction on Monday. He spends all of his time hiding, changing his hiding place whenever I find him. He is eating and using the litter box, but that's it. Any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable when I stop shutting him up? Joy Make sure he has his own "safe place". Preferably not hiding under something. Jill |
#12
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Anybody tamed a feral?
"Joy" wrote in message ... About a week ago I adopted a cat from the shelter. He's a four-month-old neutered male. He's also feral. I've been keeping him isolated for the time being, but I'll be trying an introduction on Monday. I assume you mean he was born feral but surely he was in the shelter for a while before he was neutered? Do you know his story? He's only 4 months old so you have a good chance of making him into a housecat, but if he was truly wild with no human contact for his first (important for soclalising) 8 weeks, it will need a lot of work but it can be done. He spends all of his time hiding, changing his hiding place whenever I find him. He is eating and using the litter box, but that's it. Which is normal for a not very socialised kitten. Humans have probably not been his friends until now. Any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable when I stop shutting him up? Let him do what he wants and come to you when he is ready. I've never tamed a true feral but Boyfie was half-way to it through being lost, and it took months to get him inside, more months before I could touch him. For the first two years I had to leave the back door open so he could rush outside if he wanted to. But now he thinks I am the best thing in the world and is always on my lap given the chance, he is extremely attached to me and there's no need for open back doors . However, even though he's had to get used to other people feeding him when I've been in hospital -which he will accept obviously, he sees no need to remain their friend afterwards. It kind of hurts their feelings.. I'm sure your new kitten will get used to you and will be fine but will need much more patience than usual. Don't expect him to be comfortable with your visitors either if he's been feral or half-feral even if he's become happy with you. June fed Boyfie for 8 weeks once, does he stay in the house when she comes to visit? No. Claire has been looking after me and Boyfie for months, at first 3 times a day, but now I am getting independent so she only comes to see me twice a week but he tries to be outside when she visits. Your new cat might always be a bit more difficult and need more understanding throughout his life if he's been feral or even half-feral but it's worth it in the end. |
#13
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On 8/4/2014 2:25 PM, Christina Websell wrote:
"Joy" wrote in message ... About a week ago I adopted a cat from the shelter. He's a four-month-old neutered male. He's also feral. I've been keeping him isolated for the time being, but I'll be trying an introduction on Monday. I assume you mean he was born feral but surely he was in the shelter for a while before he was neutered? Do you know his story? He's only 4 months old so you have a good chance of making him into a housecat, but if he was truly wild with no human contact for his first (important for soclalising) 8 weeks, it will need a lot of work but it can be done. Yes, he was in the shelter for a while. I don't know his story, but they told me at the shelter that "He's still a little bit (I think that's an understatement) feral and doesn't trust people." He spends all of his time hiding, changing his hiding place whenever I find him. He is eating and using the litter box, but that's it. Which is normal for a not very socialised kitten. Humans have probably not been his friends until now. Any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable when I stop shutting him up? Let him do what he wants and come to you when he is ready. I've never tamed a true feral but Boyfie was half-way to it through being lost, and it took months to get him inside, more months before I could touch him. For the first two years I had to leave the back door open so he could rush outside if he wanted to. But now he thinks I am the best thing in the world and is always on my lap given the chance, he is extremely attached to me and there's no need for open back doors . However, even though he's had to get used to other people feeding him when I've been in hospital -which he will accept obviously, he sees no need to remain their friend afterwards. It kind of hurts their feelings.. I'm sure your new kitten will get used to you and will be fine but will need much more patience than usual. Don't expect him to be comfortable with your visitors either if he's been feral or half-feral even if he's become happy with you. Oh, I won't expect that. Pickles isn't comfortable with visitors, and neither was Waffles, so that will be nothing new. June fed Boyfie for 8 weeks once, does he stay in the house when she comes to visit? No. Claire has been looking after me and Boyfie for months, at first 3 times a day, but now I am getting independent so she only comes to see me twice a week but he tries to be outside when she visits. Your new cat might always be a bit more difficult and need more understanding throughout his life if he's been feral or even half-feral but it's worth it in the end. I do hope he'll come to accept me, but even if he continues to hide all his life, I'll still consider it worth it just to have gotten him out of the shelter. It is trying to become a no-kill shelter, but it still isn't a happy place for an animal. Joy -- Joy Unlimited Colorful Crocheted Critters Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9 |
#14
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Anybody tamed a feral?
"Joy" wrote in message ... On 8/4/2014 2:25 PM, Christina Websell wrote: "Joy" wrote in message ... I do hope he'll come to accept me, but even if he continues to hide all his life, I'll still consider it worth it just to have gotten him out of the shelter. It is trying to become a no-kill shelter, but it still isn't a happy place for an animal. Joy All shelters here are no kill (except for the RSPCA, who are still suspect for me) I got a dog from there years ago - she was on death row. 7 days and no one claims you, you are dead 2 weeks later. She was very challenging and difficult but I sorted her out and we lived happily together for 14 years. Trim was for the needle (they'd stop electrocuting by then) But remember it was the RSPCA that got hold of KFC and put her down. Maybe they have changed in the last few years and all the dogs you see on the TV programmes about them will stay there until they get good homes. I'd like to think so. -- Joy Unlimited Colorful Crocheted Critters Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9 |
#15
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 15:26:46 -0400, jmcquown
wrote: On 8/2/2014 1:40 PM, Joy wrote: About a week ago I adopted a cat from the shelter. He's a four-month-old neutered male. He's also feral. I've been keeping him isolated for the time being, but I'll be trying an introduction on Monday. He spends all of his time hiding, changing his hiding place whenever I find him. He is eating and using the litter box, but that's it. Any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable when I stop shutting him up? Joy Make sure he has his own "safe place". Preferably not hiding under something. Jill All of mine have a spot where they know I will not bother them other then maybe a scratch when passing by them or such. They know I will not pick them up or bother them there EXCEPT if they have a vet vist and I have to but even then I will try to get them to move before I grab them so they always know they will have a spot regardless where it is that they will be left alone!! |
#17
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:35:48 -0700, Joy wrote:
I do hope he'll come to accept me, but even if he continues to hide all his life, I'll still consider it worth it just to have gotten him out of the shelter. It is trying to become a no-kill shelter, but it still isn't a happy place for an animal. But it's really especially rewarding when you start getting those small breakthroughs, like when he does approach you and when he does let you pet him. |
#18
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On 8/5/2014 7:10 AM, dgk wrote:
On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:35:48 -0700, Joy wrote: I do hope he'll come to accept me, but even if he continues to hide all his life, I'll still consider it worth it just to have gotten him out of the shelter. It is trying to become a no-kill shelter, but it still isn't a happy place for an animal. But it's really especially rewarding when you start getting those small breakthroughs, like when he does approach you and when he does let you pet him. Oh, yes. I'm sure of that. Unfortunately, I think that will be a very long time coming, if it ever does. The latest is that a fecal test shows that he has an infection, and I not only have to keep him isolated for another weeks, I have to give him medication every day. The first time was relatively easy, but now he's back hiding under the bed. I don't know if I'll even be able to give him all the doses. I do know that if I do, it will certainly put off the day when he decides he can trust me. Joy :-( -- Joy Unlimited Colorful Crocheted Critters Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9 |
#19
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Anybody tamed a feral?
On Tue, 05 Aug 2014 21:21:48 +0100, Judith Latham
wrote: In article , Joy wrote: On 8/5/2014 7:10 AM, dgk wrote: On Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:35:48 -0700, Joy wrote: I do hope he'll come to accept me, but even if he continues to hide all his life, I'll still consider it worth it just to have gotten him out of the shelter. It is trying to become a no-kill shelter, but it still isn't a happy place for an animal. But it's really especially rewarding when you start getting those small breakthroughs, like when he does approach you and when he does let you pet him. Oh, yes. I'm sure of that. Unfortunately, I think that will be a very long time coming, if it ever does. The latest is that a fecal test shows that he has an infection, and I not only have to keep him isolated for another weeks, I have to give him medication every day. The first time was relatively easy, but now he's back hiding under the bed. I don't know if I'll even be able to give him all the doses. I do know that if I do, it will certainly put off the day when he decides he can trust me. Joy :-( Just think how Spicey was with Tak and how she has changed. Judith Oh, good point. |
#20
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Anybody tamed a feral?
One of the hints I've heard about taming a feral is to spend time in the room with him Every Day. (when you're not trying to medicate him, anyway). Just sit quietly and read a book. Out loud, even. He needs to hear your voice, and he needs to make the connection between you and Not Threat. It'll take time, but apparently once you get them acclimated, ferals become the best Lap Fungus you could ever want.
Jane - owned and operated by the Princess Rita |
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