Welcome to PetForumz.com!
FAQFAQ      ProfileProfile    Private MessagesPrivate Messages   Log inLog in

socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible?

 
   Pet Problems (Home) -> Rescue RSS
Next:  Success! My friend the ex-stray, but need advice  
Author Message
windwatcher

External


Since: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 4



(Msg. 1) Posted: Sun Jan 08, 2006 5:28 pm
Post subject: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible?
Archived from groups: rec>pets>cats>rescue (more info?)

not sure if this is the right place to post it. Buddy Boo is a young
feral cat who was trapped and had a tumor removed (recovering well),
was vaccinated, spayed, etc. I want to let him out of his cage but the
weather is not good. My house has 4 cat doors for my other
(approximately 30) socialized cats. He is in a large cage. He seems
very alert and content but I don't think it's good for him not to get
any exercise. Does anyone have any experience with ferals coming in and
getting socialized into multi-cat households? I'm sure he could
shelter outdoors in my garage, but it seems heartless with the snow and
ice. He is more afraid of me and my partner than the other cats. His
cage is on one shelf of many where other cats also can sit: this is a
cat-friendly home and we have made sacrifices most people wouldn't
consider to make the cats comfortable. Any advice or thoughts much
appreciated.

 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
Sharon Talbert

External


Since: Dec 26, 2003
Posts: 101



(Msg. 2) Posted: Mon Jan 09, 2006 1:16 pm
Post subject: Re: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Ginger's advice is right on the money. Your little guy will be glad to
meet your other cats but he needs to be gently introduced to this whole
new life ahead of him.

If you want to chat more about this kitten, I would be glad to talk to
you. Email me privately.

Sharon Talbert
Friends of Campus (feral) Cats
Seattle

 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
windwatcher

External


Since: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 4



(Msg. 3) Posted: Tue Jan 10, 2006 5:54 pm
Post subject: Re: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

I really appreciated hearing about Brando. Now I don't feel so
terrible about keeping him in the cage for a couple of weeks. We
already have him about 4 feet up, above a dining table that cats jump
up on in a 3x4foot cage with a box in it for him to lay. We're
re-thinking our strategy of letting him out of the cage. If we could
let him loose in the house it would be good but there are too many ways
outside and I'm sure he's seen our other cats go out the kitty doors in
every room.

We have another cat that was given to us recently "Little One" who
suffered serious injury with a car running over its tail. We thought
he was feral but found from the animal hospital that someone declawed
his front feet long ago. He's suffered a LOT since it took us two to
three weeks to trap him after the accident. He is in the only spare
room that has no cat door and needs a lot of extra care several times a
day. They are both males and about the same age so I thought maybe put
them in the same room together; there is a draft under the door and
other cats sniff through the door, as did Ginger's cats, and then BB
would not be confined to a cage. I was worried and still am that Buddy
Boo doesn't get sufficient exercise: he has a bowel movement only every
few days: we tried giving him small amounts of lactulose but he still
is not pooping for at least 3 days. He is not handleable. If we leave
him alone in the room he eats his food. He stays in the carton
otherwise and ventures out to pee and drink and eat. Our cat litter
supplier no longer has unscented litter. We are also worried about him
drinking his water when he has kicked the deodorized litter into it,
changing water several times daily.
 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
windwatcher

External


Since: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 4



(Msg. 4) Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:17 am
Post subject: Re: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Update on Buddy: he is still in a cage near the window and enjoys
watching the birds at the feeder ten feet away. He interacts (sniffs,
touches noses) with cats who are on his shelf which runs the length and
width of the room. He doesn't try to escape when we leave the door open
to change his litter. When winter is truly over (this is New England:
March?) we plan to leave the door open. Does anyone think we should
not? Hope he does not disappear. Main reason: we're worried over his
lack of exercise.
Little One the tailess cat is now free to go wherever he wants and is
fitting in very well. He's on two meds right now for bladder and other
than a few spots on his knees he's healing well.
 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
windwatcher

External


Since: Jan 08, 2006
Posts: 4



(Msg. 5) Posted: Sun Feb 05, 2006 8:24 am
Post subject: Re: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

BTW: Buddy is likely a few years old, and truly feral.
 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
Will-Lee-Cue

External


Since: Jan 02, 2006
Posts: 6



(Msg. 6) Posted: Mon Feb 06, 2006 4:49 pm
Post subject: Re: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? [Login to view extended thread Info.]
Archived from groups: per prev. post (more info?)

Windwatcher, If he is a true feral cat he will most likely take off if let
outdoors.
He might enjoy having a steady supply of food and attention on demand for
awhile.
He might even like being around the other cats.
But I would guess sooner or later he will wander off seeking adventure
elsewhere.

Willee

"windwatcher" <stoye.TakeThisOut@mac.com> wrote in message
news:1139156652.783714.5940@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
> BTW: Buddy is likely a few years old, and truly feral.
>
 >> Stay informed about: socializing feral cat to non-ferals: impossible? 
Back to top
Login to vote
Display posts from previous:   
Related Topics:
No Help Available For Ferals? - Hi, This is more of a vent than anything else, and this group seems like the right place for it. Who knows, maybe you guys can offer suggestions. I've just spent my entire morning trying to get trapping and spay/neuter information for the 4 feral cats...

Arboreal Ferals? - Has anyone else experienced their feral colony taking to the trees? My colony's feeding station is under a thick bramble bush which is sheltered by a healthy fir tree that extends up 35-40 feet in the air. It's at the edge of an industrial campus..

Getting one of my ferals to come back - Hi --- I've been getting a number of neighborhood cats neutered. Several were feral and stuck around for a long time. I put out food and beds on the front porch. Two months ago, a big bully cat came along and started attacking my three ferals. Two..

Winter Shelter for Ferals - I am taking care of three feral kittens (7 months+). I've gotten two out of the three spayed/neutered.....the third is pretty crafty! Of course, I am worried about the coming winter and I'd like to know what others have done to protect their ferals....

Question about strays and ferals when the colony disappears - I am a bit concerned. Ok, this isn't really a full colony but several strays that have been hanging around feeding from sympathetic humans start being rehomed. One of three was just rehomed last week. The second was to be rehomed to the same home thi...
   Pet Problems (Home) -> Rescue All times are: Pacific Time (US & Canada) (change)
Page 1 of 1

 
You can post new topics in this forum
You can reply to topics in this forum
You can edit your posts in this forum
You can delete your posts in this forum
You can vote in polls in this forum



[ Contact us | Terms of Service/Privacy Policy ]