Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Ferals Adjust
Greenmist and Rosefire, two feral females, just recently released from the bathroom to the house, are adjusting well. Greenmist, the least trusting, is gray with white feet. Rosefire is a faded calico. I was describing her as a tortoiseshell, but now that I have seen her better, I have noticed a white belly. Both still bolt from the room if I appear without warning, but Rosefire has found a den chair that she likes to sleep on.
Both ferals now eat with the other den cats while I am in the room. Rosefire always appears first, eager for breakfast. Greenmist darts in from the front bedroom, but she does eat with all the others. I have managed to pet Rosefire, but not Greenmist. I did have a long conversation with her, but she remains so suspicious.
What is clear is that Rosefire is dominant. Greenmist seeks her for comfort and watches her behavior, then follows suit. Perhaps, if I can convince Rosefire that people aren't so bad, Greenmist will relax too.
You may help support Rosefire and Greenmist by donating to the Karnak Street Kats.
Both ferals now eat with the other den cats while I am in the room. Rosefire always appears first, eager for breakfast. Greenmist darts in from the front bedroom, but she does eat with all the others. I have managed to pet Rosefire, but not Greenmist. I did have a long conversation with her, but she remains so suspicious.
What is clear is that Rosefire is dominant. Greenmist seeks her for comfort and watches her behavior, then follows suit. Perhaps, if I can convince Rosefire that people aren't so bad, Greenmist will relax too.
You may help support Rosefire and Greenmist by donating to the Karnak Street Kats.
Labels: calico, Feral cat, gray cat, taming ferals
Sunday, January 20, 2008
Ferals in the House
Greenmist and Rosefire, two feral cats that are temporary residents, had been staying in one of my bathrooms. See Ferals in the Bathroom. Since last Thursday, they are loose in the rear portion of the house which consists of two bedrooms, two baths and a den. They have both become phantoms disappearing from view when I enter that part of the house.
Rosefire, a faded tortoiseshell, is the braver of the two. I actually see her several times a day. Not so with Greenmist, a gray cat with white feet, only in the morning when I am feeding canned food do I catch a glimpse of her. Usually, she pokes her head out of the unoccupied bedroom for a nanosecond, then vanishes. This morning, she must have been hungrier than usual because she actually stepped into the den with me for all of five seconds. Rosefire was eating, but keeping an eye on me. Neither cat really trusts me.
The good news: Greenmist and Rosefire are having no problems with the other cat residents of that part of the house including Irene who is not tolerant of other cats. Rosefire has made it into my bedroom at least once. I know because Irene, who sleeps on my bed, hissed at her and alerted me to her presence. As soon as she and I made eye contact, she bolted from the room.
My goal is to tame these two, so that I can find homes for them. Otherwise, they will return to the farm come spring. If I get some help with their upkeep, they can stay longer.
Rosefire, a faded tortoiseshell, is the braver of the two. I actually see her several times a day. Not so with Greenmist, a gray cat with white feet, only in the morning when I am feeding canned food do I catch a glimpse of her. Usually, she pokes her head out of the unoccupied bedroom for a nanosecond, then vanishes. This morning, she must have been hungrier than usual because she actually stepped into the den with me for all of five seconds. Rosefire was eating, but keeping an eye on me. Neither cat really trusts me.
The good news: Greenmist and Rosefire are having no problems with the other cat residents of that part of the house including Irene who is not tolerant of other cats. Rosefire has made it into my bedroom at least once. I know because Irene, who sleeps on my bed, hissed at her and alerted me to her presence. As soon as she and I made eye contact, she bolted from the room.
My goal is to tame these two, so that I can find homes for them. Otherwise, they will return to the farm come spring. If I get some help with their upkeep, they can stay longer.
Labels: Feral cat, Tortoiseshell
Thursday, January 17, 2008
Sylvester the Old
Sylvester, a long-haired, black and white male, is eighteen years old. He is the oldest cat in the house. I have had Sylvester since he was about four months old, but to this day he barely tolerates me. Sylvester is feral. I trapped him in my neighbor's backyard. My neighbor had seen the wild youngster and asked me to catch him.
I took him to the vet, got him neutered and vaccinated, and brought him home. Released into the house, he became a black and white phantom that appeared for food, then disappeared. Eventually, he became more visible, sleeping on the sofa or on a window sill. He remained untouchable.
Over a very long time, I was able to pet when he was eating his morning ration of canned food. Even then, he would shrink away from my first touch. Slowly, so very slowly, he became accustomed to my touch. I could not pick him up, but I could run my hand across his body with no problem. Sylvester no longer bolted out of the room when I came in.
Sylvester got an upper respiratory infection. His nose dripping, his eyes mattery, he was miserable. I planned my moves carefully. I had a carrier beside his food bowl before I put out the morning repast. When Sylvester arrived to eat, I scooted him into the carrier and closed the door. Sylvester was not happy. He told me so with a mournful wail that dissolved into a cough.
Sylvester spent over a week at the vet on injectable antibiotics. He came home in good physical health, but traumatized by his time away from home. Once more, I had a black and white phantom, but now, one that would not let me touch him even when he ate.
It has taken years, but Sylvester once more allows me to pet him when he is eating and tolerates my presence in the same room as he. My vet thinks that unless Sylvester has obvious signs of illness that he should be left alone. Afterall, Sylvester is an indoor only cat, that has never gone near a door to the outside.
I took him to the vet, got him neutered and vaccinated, and brought him home. Released into the house, he became a black and white phantom that appeared for food, then disappeared. Eventually, he became more visible, sleeping on the sofa or on a window sill. He remained untouchable.
Over a very long time, I was able to pet when he was eating his morning ration of canned food. Even then, he would shrink away from my first touch. Slowly, so very slowly, he became accustomed to my touch. I could not pick him up, but I could run my hand across his body with no problem. Sylvester no longer bolted out of the room when I came in.
Sylvester got an upper respiratory infection. His nose dripping, his eyes mattery, he was miserable. I planned my moves carefully. I had a carrier beside his food bowl before I put out the morning repast. When Sylvester arrived to eat, I scooted him into the carrier and closed the door. Sylvester was not happy. He told me so with a mournful wail that dissolved into a cough.
Sylvester spent over a week at the vet on injectable antibiotics. He came home in good physical health, but traumatized by his time away from home. Once more, I had a black and white phantom, but now, one that would not let me touch him even when he ate.
It has taken years, but Sylvester once more allows me to pet him when he is eating and tolerates my presence in the same room as he. My vet thinks that unless Sylvester has obvious signs of illness that he should be left alone. Afterall, Sylvester is an indoor only cat, that has never gone near a door to the outside.
Labels: Feral cat
Friday, January 04, 2008
Ferals in the Bathroom
There are two feral cats in one of my bathrooms. Both cats are female and now have been spayed thanks to my cousin. Her husband took them to a local organization that provides low cost spay and neuter services after my aunt managed to lure them into carriers. These two were born on my aunt's farm, but never tamed. Because I was home for the holidays and my cousin was not, I kept the cats until time to spay. Now, they are with me until they are healed and the weather is better.
One is gray with white markings, the other is a faded tortoise shell like her mother. I have decided to call the gray one Greenmist and the tortie Rosefire. Greenmist was the first to arrive and spent several days alone in the bathroom. She was not happy. She literally climbed the walls even managing to turn on the bathroom heater by tripping its wall switch. After Rosefire arrived Greenmist relaxed a great deal. However, one of them managed to turn on the hot water in the sink one night.
I had no problem getting Greenmist into the carrier to go for spaying. Rosefire was a different matter. I spent a half hour trying to get her into the other carrier. I finally used an old wool blanket to throw over her so I could pick her up. I did get her in the carrier but included a soap dish, too. I had only a couple of bad scratches and one small nip. All bled freely and are healing without incident. I have been badly bitten by cats so am very aware of the danger. Interestingly, all the bad bites came from pets, not feral cats.
Both cats are recovering well and seem to have forgiven me for putting them in carriers. Both were in season when spayed, even though they are only seven months old. If my finances improve, I might keep them as house cats. If not, they will return to the farm. Ferals make very good house cats, but lousy pets. Most never become comfortable with human touch. Rarely do they become lap cats. If you would like to support Greenmist and Rosefire, please use the donate button.
One is gray with white markings, the other is a faded tortoise shell like her mother. I have decided to call the gray one Greenmist and the tortie Rosefire. Greenmist was the first to arrive and spent several days alone in the bathroom. She was not happy. She literally climbed the walls even managing to turn on the bathroom heater by tripping its wall switch. After Rosefire arrived Greenmist relaxed a great deal. However, one of them managed to turn on the hot water in the sink one night.
I had no problem getting Greenmist into the carrier to go for spaying. Rosefire was a different matter. I spent a half hour trying to get her into the other carrier. I finally used an old wool blanket to throw over her so I could pick her up. I did get her in the carrier but included a soap dish, too. I had only a couple of bad scratches and one small nip. All bled freely and are healing without incident. I have been badly bitten by cats so am very aware of the danger. Interestingly, all the bad bites came from pets, not feral cats.
Both cats are recovering well and seem to have forgiven me for putting them in carriers. Both were in season when spayed, even though they are only seven months old. If my finances improve, I might keep them as house cats. If not, they will return to the farm. Ferals make very good house cats, but lousy pets. Most never become comfortable with human touch. Rarely do they become lap cats. If you would like to support Greenmist and Rosefire, please use the donate button.
Labels: Feral cat
