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Post by gianna on Aug 20, 2022 11:31:51 GMT -5
A couple months ago I saw a cat on the side of the house. It was extremely nervous, and ran. Then I saw it two more times that week or so, but it remained quite afraid. One neighbor asked if it was mine.. No. (At least not yet.) And at the time, I checked various lost and found lists, asked other neighnors, but nothing. It was a pretty young thing, and did not look feral at all, just fearful as if it had had some sort of very negative experience. A week or so later, coyotes were very loud right down the hill and I thought it must have met its end. Then nothing for a month. We do not have feral cats here. Well, except for that one grizzled tom 30 years ago who lived in the storm drain...
So a week or so ago, I saw it again at the front of my property running into the back yard. I ran and got some dry kibble and also went into the back yard. I shook the container of food, and the now thin cat seemed very interested from a distance. I put some in a bowl, and it came forward when I went inside. It ate like it hadn't had a meal in a long time. It appears healthy, good orange coat, no obvious scratching or wounds. So I seem to be feeding it now. It appears in the morning and evenings, and while I cannot get close at all, it greatly appreciates the food. It's quite thin but not skeletal, so it's been eating something.
It does not let me get too close, but the past couple days has been more relaxed. I'd love for it to hang out in the garden when I work there. I miss having cats in the yard. But I'm not sure I want to get too attached to a totally outdoor cat living in a dangerous place. Indoors is not an option. Guess I'll have to play this by ear.
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Post by lilolpeapicker on Aug 20, 2022 17:50:50 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 20, 2022 20:31:22 GMT -5
Food and a safe outdoor place to curl up can help her/him a lot. (porch, under stairs, or...) If this kitty has already relaxed some it's probably only a matter of time before you are petting her.
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Post by emmsmommy on Aug 21, 2022 1:28:10 GMT -5
gianna, if kitty decides to stay, you can make an easy house out of a tote. Turn it upside down, draw an opening on one end and cut it out with a utility knife. Put the lid back on and stuff an old towel or blanket inside and put it in a protected area. I always kept a couple on the porch of my old house and easily got five years out of them. Of course totes were made better then and I didn't have your extreme heat. Putting some kibble nearby will entice kitty to check it out.
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Post by gianna on Aug 21, 2022 22:58:48 GMT -5
Food and a safe outdoor place to curl up can help her/him a lot. (porch, under stairs, or...) If this kitty has already relaxed some it's probably only a matter of time before you are petting her. He/she must already have a safe place to sleep. I suspect under the very low deck outside. But that would be no good when it rains. It is already relaxing some, but still very watchful and nervous - always alert, looking around when eating. But he/she has been seen lying in a pathway with eyes drifting closed, and with a full stomach. It is a pretty thing. Light orange tabby with pale green eyes. There is something about it I like. gianna, if kitty decides to stay, you can make an easy house out of a tote. Turn it upside down, draw an opening on one end and cut it out with a utility knife. Put the lid back on and stuff an old towel or blanket inside and put it in a protected area. This is a great idea. I've been thinking of making one and putting it under a metal desk outside I use as a garden table. That would provide 3 metal backstops, and also putting concrete blocks in front to prevent a predator from dragging it out. There are coyotes and bobcats here. I've got a tote that should work. This is about 6 feet away from where I'm already feeding the cat.
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Post by gianna on Aug 24, 2022 13:43:15 GMT -5
He/she must already have a safe place to sleep. This morning Little Kitty was spotted peering out from the crotch of the oak tree next to the deck, and over-looking the slope below the house. Good look-out spot. There are gentle branches a cat could sleep on, with good enough balance. When I had outdoor cats, they went up into this tree too. OK as a refuge when it's warm and dry. Little Kitty shows up early every morning and in the later afternoon for food - which I give it, usually with seconds. It still eats with gusto. After breakfast this morning, the cat was seen sleeping on the black weed barrier in the blueberry semi enclosure. It's still wary, but less so. A long way to go before I'd ever be able to pet it. No hurry for that. I'm thinking about a name, lol. The point of no return.
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Post by desertwoman on Aug 24, 2022 21:01:19 GMT -5
I'm thinking about a name, lol. The point of no return. Little Kitty is a pretty cute name, and already past the point of no return, if you ask me!
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Post by gianna on Aug 26, 2022 14:17:56 GMT -5
...and already past the point of no return, if you ask me! I think so too. I'm concerned about getting too attached to it however since here outdoor cats are at great risk... It is getting calmer, but always keeps its distance. Most likely not feral, but shows the reactions of having been treated poorly by humans. It sure does love to eat and I give it plenty. It's still quite thin and needs a bit more body fat as colder weather approaches. Even my indoor cats are putting on their winter coats already. Hard to believe. Crazy Cat Lady in training.
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Post by gianna on Aug 28, 2022 8:50:10 GMT -5
Finally yesterday, after its 3rd separate morning meal, it didn't finish everything in its bowl. 1st time. I want to give it as much as it will eat, yet not leave food sitting outside in the yard to invite other critters. I've seen a couple places where it goes into a dense vine to nap, or feel safe, or whatever cats do. Unfortunately it's in projected critter habitat that I want to remove. The good part is that lately there seem to be a reduced number of day-time critters that I've seen. Fewer ground squirrels and bunnies. Perhaps this hungry cat is responsible for deterring them somewhat. He also has spent some time behind the rain barrels at the back of the house, just outside the bedroom window. Late last night he was sitting on the deck in that area and I saw him looking in just before turning in. But he just can't come inside. Not that he would want to. Well, it's time to put out breakfast #2. edit: As I was about to go feed him(?) again, the indoor cats informed me there was something of interest in the side yard - the yard I see as I sit here. And there he was, the little orange orphan, next to another rain barrel, about 4 feet from the window, and driving the indoor cats crazy. So I went to the back, and fed him. Again. His.... er... my training is going very well.
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Post by gianna on Sept 3, 2022 11:35:27 GMT -5
The little cat is still coming around several times per day. Tentative name is Lucy, orange fur and all. 'Little Kitty' is cute, but I often call the other 3 cats that too.
He(?) is more at ease, but still very wary. Will probably stay that way for a very long time, or even forever. It is looking better, maybe a little rounder, but still thin. It really does like its food. I made a mistake a few days ago when I was up at 3 am, and fed it... So last night, very warm, it was outside the open bedroom windows, meowing. So no more food in the middle of the night. I didn't want to scare it away, so I put on some music so I could go back to sleep. It's been in the yard this morning a couple times, and was amply fed. I have not seen a bunny or ground squirrel since I've been feeding Little Lucy, so we are both winning.
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Post by binnylou on Sept 3, 2022 12:19:33 GMT -5
gianna , you have been adopted. Been there, done that. I didn’t want a cat…the day was cold and she was at the patio door. So, I gave her some food. She returned, I let her inside to warm up a bit…more food. More time inside. It was cold out there. We referred to her as “Kitty”. Grandkids called her “Marigold”. She knew what a litter box was for. She became my lap kitty. If she was going to stay, she was going to be neutered. Doc called to say she was shaved and ready for the procedure, but she had already been spayed. Kitty stayed for about 10 years. But, once feral, always feral. She never lost her fear of strangers. She let us know if something/somebody was on the yard. And she was a hunter. Every time the Ups man delivered, she would disappear under the loveseat. Still miss that calico cat.🥲
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Post by breezygardener on Sept 3, 2022 15:34:17 GMT -5
Doc called to say she was shaved and ready for the procedure, but she had already been spayed. Honestly?? I've yet to meet a vet who couldn't immediately tell whether or not a cat - male or female - had already been neutered/spayed without having to shave & prep for surgery first. With males it's obvious; with females, they can tell by just palpating. Geesh.
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Post by claude on Sept 5, 2022 14:05:12 GMT -5
Hahahaha…my daughters girl friend left a kitty who was an indoor cat until she could get her a flight to cA. So she stayed w us..3 weeks..a year…2 years…4 years. She became my cat..would come when called..brought me prizes on the doorstep nearly Daily. There was nothing temporary about our relationship. She was an indoor cat who discovered the outdoors…. She was a very good cat.
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Post by gianna on Sept 5, 2022 19:17:21 GMT -5
I'm loving your cat stories. I'm getting more and more hooked on this stray. Though on these hot days with the windows fully open, he's driving the indoor cats a bit crazy by hanging out very near the windows. Nothing like being awakened again at 3am by growling, hissing and screeching of the docile, sweet indoor cats. Ya gotta love 'em.
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Post by breezygardener on Sept 6, 2022 10:37:04 GMT -5
Though on these hot days with the windows fully open, he's driving the indoor cats a bit crazy by hanging out very near the windows. Please be sure that all of your indoor cats are totally up to date with all of their vaccinations. You wouldn't think it, but cats can transmit all sorts of diseases via contact through windowscreens.
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