How can I help my poor cat

[happyhoix]

Mar 10, 2024 0:28:06 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Mar 9, 2024 23:22:51 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Y’all this is nuts. I think Big Boy has some Vulcan mind meld with me or something. He knows I’m talking about him.

Starting around 10:00 PM this evening, this chunky fluff has been repeatedly running back and forth through the living room - from the foot of the stairs to our bedroom door way. Pause at each end to stare at us. An occasional sneak partly up the stairs, then he’s back, trotting over to the bedroom door again. But he’s NOT going under the bed. He even paused to eat the MC’s food in the kitchen, and then again later, paused to hit the cat fountain. When he gets to the stairs, he slows down, and if I pat my leg and make encouraging sounds, he even stops and stares at me. Twice he even came next to the sofa I’m sitting on before trotting back to the bottom of the stairs.

He wants something - pets, belly rubs, cuddles. Right now he’s back under the dining room table, making his tiny chirping mews.

Now he trotted over to the stairs again, then actually STROLLED back to the dining room table. Laying down and licking his paw!

This is a huge break through. I think we’re almost there

I found that meat baby food is like crack to cats.  Maybe a bribe?

I’ll try that - Big Boy is very much food motivated.

[azucena]

We skipped the rabies shot for a good long while with our first cat at the beg of our marriage. With Dhs illness, we didn't have people over. Cat loved us but hated everyone else prob bc he didn't get to meet any when little. The vet was scared of him. We resumed his shots when we had the girls bc we had more visitors.

We adopted a feral cat who did all the things you're saying. She never ended up taking to people. For whatever reason, she ignored dd1, but when dd2 started crawling, black cat would dart from under furniture and scratch her completely unprovoked. Wasn't going to stand for that so gave her to a farmhouse without kids to go back to living outside but with food and barns.

All that to say consider your situation and if yours really needs shots. Trapping her is going to set you back. I forget if you have a partner or maybe even a friend who could be the bad guy if you must get shots.

[TheOtherMe]

With the sun porch, please get the FeLV vaccine.  It's usually given to kittens.  I also had a cat die from that awful disease.  

My city requires rabies shots, but they don't do anything about checking on it.  They also require $5 to register the pet with the city.  I've never done that in 14 years and I have had cats most of that time.  

Good idea to let someone else be the bad guy when it comes to get cat in carrier.  They do hold grudges.

[bookkeeper]

Growing up on the farm, all we had were feral cats.  I have domesticated a few into the house in my lifetime.

I have found that animals and small children really like it when you get on the floor, down to their level.  If you have some time, lay down on the floor to watch tv with a dish of food near you.  You will not be so imposing to the cat if you are not 5 or 6 feet tall.  The food will draw your greedy feral buddy close to you.  Then you can just be still and let him smell you and learn about you without being threatened.

It sounds like you are very close with this one.  My son has a barn kitty that has grown into the most beautiful long haired cat.  He is not much of a people person, except when everyone is in bed.  Jasper prefers spending time outside hunting.

[nidena]

When it comes to carriers, I just make them part of the environment.  They're always out and never something that I need to get out of a closet, attic, or basement.  They're a piece of furniture in the cat domain.  Because of this, they smell familiar to all my cats.  If you have the space to do it, leave the carrier out all the time.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 10, 2024 3:16:12 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Mar 9, 2024 20:47:24 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

I cannot speak for your state but the 14 cats I have had (indoors only) here living in Tennessee were never required by the vets (and all saw a vet at least once in their life) they needed to have a rabies 'booster' shot. Oh I would receive a notice now and then but it never stated Tennessee mandated multiple rabies shots over the cats' lifetimes.

I am over on the other end of TN, but maybe it is our county that has the law?

Hmmm, the domestic animal requirement is on page 2 under Prevention.


www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/reportable-diseases/rabies/TN-Rabies-Manual-2023.pdf

Skimming the link, I don't see anything about how to administer rabies booster shots to feral cats who are/were part of the state-wide TNR (trap, neuter, release) program. I very highly doubt these cats are being retrapped and given rabies booster shots. And TN health official know this.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Mar 10, 2024 11:36:05 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar 10, 2024 3:16:12 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

I am over on the other end of TN, but maybe it is our county that has the law?

Hmmm, the domestic animal requirement is on page 2 under Prevention.


www.tn.gov/content/dam/tn/health/documents/reportable-diseases/rabies/TN-Rabies-Manual-2023.pdf

Skimming the link, I don't see anything about how to administer rabies booster shots to feral cats who are/were part of the state-wide TNR (trap, neuter, release) program. I very highly doubt these cats are being retrapped and given rabies booster shots. And TN health official know this.

I guess I was interpreting it to mean for animals that are pets rather than feral. It seems to me that vaccines are/can be administered to some wild animals like raccoons with the use of putting it into some kind of food. I wonder if that is possible for feral domestic animals?

The whole idea being reducing rabies in outdoor critters I guess.

[Tennesseer]

Mar 10, 2024 11:57:58 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Mar 10, 2024 11:36:05 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Skimming the link, I don't see anything about how to administer rabies booster shots to feral cats who are/were part of the state-wide TNR (trap, neuter, release) program. I very highly doubt these cats are being retrapped and given rabies booster shots. And TN health official know this.

I guess I was interpreting it to mean for animals that are pets rather than feral. It seems to me that vaccines are/can be administered to some wild animals like raccoons with the use of putting it into some kind of food. I wonder if that is possible for feral domestic animals?

The whole idea being reducing rabies in outdoor critters I guess.

I remember a number of years back regarding scientists were trying to develop a food product which would also act as birth control for maybe deer? or other wild animal whose numbers were wiping out available food in nature. Never knew if the idea was successful.

Develop something like that for rabies protection for wild/feral cats, dogs, raccoons and other rabies prone animals.

[weltz]

Mar 9, 2024 13:47:34 GMT -5 resolution said:

My boys will battle with me when it's time to go into the traditional cat carrier. I have one that will brace all four of his legs on the outside of the door and start scratching and biting if I try to cram him in. If I take the top off, he will escape while I try to get the top clipped back on.

To resolve it, I got one of the soft sided carriers with a zipper opening on the top. I can pick him up and set him right down in it, push him down, and zip it up before he knows what is happening.

   

We had a hell of a time putting Sushi into his regular carrier. The usually calm and Zen cat turned into a chainsaw. Simon would put on his leather gloves so he wouldn't get bitten.
Then I bought a soft-sided carrier. What a difference!  I can even get him myself with no problem.

[weltz]

After about four years of hearing the two sisters caterwauling when they were in heat I had enough of that and it was time to get them spayed. Also got them declawed. There was no way in hell of getting them into pet carriers to bring them to the vets to get spayed. What I did have on hand were several live traps I used to get the other outdoor cats spayed/neutered. So I set the baited traps up in one of my bedrooms and caught both of them. I had to get them their shots while they were being spayed. They would not ever be going outside anyway, so I didn't have to bother getting them future shots.

You had them declawed? That's so cruel! It's like cutting off your fingers to the the first knuckle. Would you like that? The vets here refuse to it. It's against the law, as they passed a cruelty bill. No more cropping dogs' ears or docking tails, or declawing cats.

[weltz]

I still use the hard carrier. I put a towel over it, and it's Sushi's step stool to jump on my bed to sleep with me. Poor boy can't jump that high anymore.

[happyhoix]

Mar 10, 2024 12:09:34 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Mar 10, 2024 11:57:58 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

I guess I was interpreting it to mean for animals that are pets rather than feral. It seems to me that vaccines are/can be administered to some wild animals like raccoons with the use of putting it into some kind of food. I wonder if that is possible for feral domestic animals?

The whole idea being reducing rabies in outdoor critters I guess.

I remember a number of years back regarding scientists were trying to develop a food product which would also act as birth control for maybe deer? or other wild animal whose numbers were wiping out available food in nature. Never knew if the idea was successful.

Develop something like that for rabies protection for wild/feral cats, dogs, raccoons and other rabies prone animals.

I think they do? I live in a rural area and every few years they will run an ad in our little paper saying that the government will be air dropping rabies bait, warning people not to let kids or pets mess with them. They always show a picture of one of them. Pretty sure (but not certain) it was for rabies.

[countrygirl2]

My cats don't mind carriers, they will get in generally. When we go somewhere or to the vet I just set them in the den. When I took them with me to Washington on a trip in the car I took out. They would get in their carriers and go to sleep. Sometimes one of them would ride on the console with me too. I had the litter box in the back and they could use it. They were really good to travel with. Of course Tiggy wasn't as big as he is now.

Smoke is on the recliner with me, I just covered him up with a blanket and he is snoozing away. For some reason he must get cold as he doesn't mind. He will follow me to where I'm working, sleeping, or whatever and generally curl up close by and go to sleep.

[happyhoix]

Mar 11, 2024 16:34:19 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

My cats don't mind carriers, they will get in generally. When we go somewhere or to the vet I just set them in the den. When I took them with me to Washington on a trip in the car I took out. They would get in their carriers and go to sleep. Sometimes one of them would ride on the console with me too. I had the litter box in the back and they could use it. They were really good to travel with. Of course Tiggy wasn't as big as he is now.

Smoke is on the recliner with me, I just covered him up with a blanket and he is snoozing away. For some reason he must get cold as he doesn't mind. He will follow me to where I'm working, sleeping, or whatever and generally curl up close by and go to sleep.

Years ago DH and I had to relocate from west TN to east TN (about six hour drive) with two big half Siamese male cats and a small female calico. I asked the vet for sedatives because the big boys howled when traveling in cars, and he told me to give all of them half a tablet each at first, and another half if we had to.  It worked fine for the calico and the smaller brother, who slept like angels, but the biggest brother got kind of catatonic, except that he would let out a blood curdling howl about once every two minutes. Every two minutes!! After about an hour, DH told me we would have to leave the cat at a truck stop if I couldn’t get him to pipe down, so I gave him the other half of the tablet and that finally simmered him down. 

What a nightmare. We didn’t take him anywhere else after that, other than the vet.  

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Mar 12, 2024 19:33:10 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Mar 11, 2024 16:34:19 GMT -5 countrygirl2 said:

My cats don't mind carriers, they will get in generally. When we go somewhere or to the vet I just set them in the den. When I took them with me to Washington on a trip in the car I took out. They would get in their carriers and go to sleep. Sometimes one of them would ride on the console with me too. I had the litter box in the back and they could use it. They were really good to travel with. Of course Tiggy wasn't as big as he is now.

Smoke is on the recliner with me, I just covered him up with a blanket and he is snoozing away. For some reason he must get cold as he doesn't mind. He will follow me to where I'm working, sleeping, or whatever and generally curl up close by and go to sleep.

Years ago DH and I had to relocate from west TN to east TN (about six hour drive) with two big half Siamese male cats and a small female calico. I asked the vet for sedatives because the big boys howled when traveling in cars, and he told me to give all of them half a tablet each at first, and another half if we had to.  It worked fine for the calico and the smaller brother, who slept like angels, but the biggest brother got kind of catatonic, except that he would let out a blood curdling howl about once every two minutes. Every two minutes!! After about an hour, DH told me we would have to leave the cat at a truck stop if I couldn’t get him to pipe down, so I gave him the other half of the tablet and that finally simmered him down. 

What a nightmare. We didn’t take him anywhere else after that, other than the vet.  

I drove D’Art from San Antonio to Lexington.  The vet gave me a sedative for him, and I gave it a trial run when I went to Austin with him.  OMG!  There was such a blood curdling yowl that I thought that there was no way I was going to get through TX, AR and TN with that.  I did not sedate him the second day.  The first 30 min, I got a plainative meow, but then he was quiet.  The next day, the same.

Strangely, I flew with Gizzy from KY to WA and he howled like he was being killed on the car ride (his vet was across the street from me) to the airport.  I was wondering if he was going to be as obnoxious on the flight.  When we got out of the car, he was utterly silent.  The airport, and later the flight fascinated him.  

[Tennesseer]

Back in 2004, I flew up to Massachusetts to collect my parents.  My sister and I were driving them to South Carolina where they would be taken care of by my brother and his wife.  My mom had full blown Alzheimer's disease and dad was getting weak because of metastatic cancer.  

Along with a few belongings of my parents in the van, we also had their cat.  Throughout the two day drive, and every thirty or so minutes, my mom would surface and ask where was the cat.  And each time she asked, my sister or I would reply the cat is in her carrier in the back of the van (which she was).

My mom, once she was told the cat was in the van, would reply we needed to stop at a vet hospital and put the cat down.  And then mom would add "The vet needs to put me down too."

We told mom each time she said that stuff that the answer was no for both of them.  

The cat outlived my parents by about six years.  She lived with my brother and his wife.

[happyhoix]

Mar 12, 2024 20:08:42 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Back in 2004, I flew up to Massachusetts to collect my parents.  My sister and I were driving them to South Carolina where they would be taken care of by my brother and his wife.  My mom had full blown Alzheimer's disease and dad was getting weak because of metastatic cancer.  

Along with a few belongings of my parents in the van, we also had their cat.  Throughout the two day drive, and every thirty or so minutes, my mom would surface and ask where was the cat.  And each time she asked, my sister or I would reply the cat is in her carrier in the back of the van (which she was).

My mom, once she was told the cat was in the van, would reply we needed to stop at a vet hospital and put the cat down.  And then mom would add "The vet needs to put me down too."

We told mom each time she said that stuff that the answer was no for both of them.  

The cat outlived my parents by about six years.  She lived with my brother and his wife.

So sorry about your mom. My dad also had Alzheimer’s and once told my mom if he had a gun he would kill himself. Mom was shocked by his comment, but I silently thought “that’s what I’d do.”  Has to be terrifying to stop remembering EVERYTHING that way.  Such a horrible disease. 

[toomuchreality]

Mar 12, 2024 20:50:49 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Mar 12, 2024 20:08:42 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Back in 2004, I flew up to Massachusetts to collect my parents.  My sister and I were driving them to South Carolina where they would be taken care of by my brother and his wife.  My mom had full blown Alzheimer's disease and dad was getting weak because of metastatic cancer.  

Along with a few belongings of my parents in the van, we also had their cat.  Throughout the two day drive, and every thirty or so minutes, my mom would surface and ask where was the cat.  And each time she asked, my sister or I would reply the cat is in her carrier in the back of the van (which she was).

My mom, once she was told the cat was in the van, would reply we needed to stop at a vet hospital and put the cat down.  And then mom would add "The vet needs to put me down too."

We told mom each time she said that stuff that the answer was no for both of them.  

The cat outlived my parents by about six years.  She lived with my brother and his wife.

So sorry about your mom. My dad also had Alzheimer’s and once told my mom if he had a gun he would kill himself. Mom was shocked by his comment, but I silently thought “that’s what I’d do.”  Has to be terrifying to stop remembering EVERYTHING that way.  Such a horrible disease. 

Having seen my mom suffer from it, it's what I would want to do, if I had it too.
Sorry about your dad.

And about your parents too, Tennesseer. I didn't know your dad had cancer. So did mine.

How's the cat doing? Anything new?

[Tennesseer]

Mar 12, 2024 20:50:49 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

Mar 12, 2024 20:08:42 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Back in 2004, I flew up to Massachusetts to collect my parents.  My sister and I were driving them to South Carolina where they would be taken care of by my brother and his wife.  My mom had full blown Alzheimer's disease and dad was getting weak because of metastatic cancer.  

Along with a few belongings of my parents in the van, we also had their cat.  Throughout the two day drive, and every thirty or so minutes, my mom would surface and ask where was the cat.  And each time she asked, my sister or I would reply the cat is in her carrier in the back of the van (which she was).

My mom, once she was told the cat was in the van, would reply we needed to stop at a vet hospital and put the cat down.  And then mom would add "The vet needs to put me down too."

We told mom each time she said that stuff that the answer was no for both of them.  

The cat outlived my parents by about six years.  She lived with my brother and his wife.

So sorry about your mom. My dad also had Alzheimer’s and once told my mom if he had a gun he would kill himself. Mom was shocked by his comment, but I silently thought “that’s what I’d do.”  Has to be terrifying to stop remembering EVERYTHING that way.  Such a horrible disease. 

And toomuchreality: Watched a movie on Hulu the other night titled Supernova. Stars Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci. They play a couple and one of the two is going through the beginning stages of Alzheimer's. I don't want to spoil the plot but the Stanley Tucci's character, happyhoix's dad and my mom had a lot in common besides just Alzheimer's disease.

Good movie.

[TheOtherMe]

I tranquilized 3 cats for a 2 hour move.  Two went to sleep.  One howled like I have never heard before or since.  Then when we got to the new house and were trying to get the bed made so we could sleep, she didn't think she had any legs.  She totally freaked out.  My poor mom had to make up her bed and my bed.  

At least the cat was her normal bitchy self the next morning.

[Cookies Galore]

Mar 10, 2024 11:34:09 GMT -5 nidena said:

When it comes to carriers, I just make them part of the environment.  They're always out and never something that I need to get out of a closet, attic, or basement.  They're a piece of furniture in the cat domain.  Because of this, they smell familiar to all my cats.  If you have the space to do it, leave the carrier out all the time.

One of our two carriers lives under our dining room table. It's become one of my boy Charlie's favorite hidey spots. I have three cats and zero issues getting them in the carrier because they don't associate it with anything bad. Thankfully I have the space to leave it out and the lack of give a fuck to care that it's out in the open.

[TheOtherMe]

I have the space here to leave the carrier out, too.  It really makes a difference.  They don't run when they see me near it because it's something they see daily.

[happyhoix]

Mar 12, 2024 21:17:45 GMT -5 toomuchreality said:

Mar 12, 2024 20:50:49 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

So sorry about your mom. My dad also had Alzheimer’s and once told my mom if he had a gun he would kill himself. Mom was shocked by his comment, but I silently thought “that’s what I’d do.”  Has to be terrifying to stop remembering EVERYTHING that way.  Such a horrible disease. 

Having seen my mom suffer from it, it's what I would want to do, if I had it too.
Sorry about your dad.

And about your parents too, Tennesseer. I didn't know your dad had cancer. So did mine.

How's the cat doing? Anything new?

Big boy is back to hiding again. His current routine is to roam the house at night, sometimes pausing to sing his silly little chirpy meows five or six times in a row. He comes into our bedroom (I find white hair tufts sometimes.) when I get up in the morning he is back up stairs - I stand at the bottom of the stairs and talk to him a bit. At some point while I’m getting ready for work he hurries down the stairs and makes a bee line for the master bedroom where he hides.

When I come home from work he’s still under the bed (I think during the day when DH is in his man cave big boy probably comes out and enjoys the rest of the house). He’ll stay under there until we go to bed, then he comes out and plays with his yarn balls and does his tiny chirps.

I’m taking a few days off work soon and I’m going to sit down on the floor with a jar of baby food (meat) and see if I can lure him out in the open.

[Tiny]

I haven't read all the replies.

I'd suggest finding time everyday to spend time in the same room with Big Boy - either trying to invite him to play (dangling a feather toy for him while he's under the bed for example. You might not get much of a response at first.) You could try talking to him or reading to him or just hanging out with him while you talk/chat on the phone with a friend.


I adopted a very sweet 4 year old male cat who was "shelter shocked". His person became ill and could no longer take care of him. I spotted his adorable HUGE back end sticking out from under a blanket in a room at the shelter. I thought he was playing - but he was terrified. He'd slink around the room and would push his face into a corner of the room if he didn't have something to hide behind or under. I eventually adopted him (and another cat he got along with). I didn't see him without dilated eyes for 4 months once he came home. He would hide and avoid me. I did the how about playing? thing and just sitting in the room with him and trying to be in the same area when he was fed. AFter 4 months he would stay on the couch when I came in the room. Somewhere around 6 months his eyes finally weren't always dilated (in stress/fear). He was the biggest cat at the shelter. and he had the nicest biggest pale green eyes. (once they weren't dilated all the time). And then little by little I became his Person. He wanted me to pet him, play with him, feed him. He started sleeping with me at night. He'd join me on the couch to watch TV. He was a very good boy. He was always terrified of going in the crate and for trips to the vet. It's like he remembered how awful he felt while at the shelter and he did NOT want to go back to that feeling. He was always so relieved when we returned home - and his toys, his bed, his chair, his food, his cat box were just like he left them.

He always hid when I had company.  He would come out and look everyone over if we were doing something predictable - like sitting at the table playing games or sitting watching TV.   I was ok with this - he was always out and about and very interactive with me (I once wrapped him like a present with wrapping paper and big bow. And he just went along with it.    ) 

Patience is your friend.    Also try some catnip or a catnip toy... my Big Boy would "self medicate" with catnip.  He loved a big pile of nip or his yellow banana toy.  He could get a little ferocious so no petting while he enjoyed the pretty colors.    

[thyme4change]

Slather yourself in Tuna and sit very still near his bowl. Start a little further away and inch closer each day. He will eventually get used to you.

[toomuchreality]

Mar 14, 2024 18:31:21 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Slather yourself in Tuna and sit very still near his bowl. Start a little further away and inch closer each day. He will eventually get used to you.

🤣🤣🤣

[Rukh O'Rorke]

Mar 9, 2024 11:30:17 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

I’ve been sending money to a local cat/dog/goat shelter in my little rural town for several years now. She’ll post pictures of some of the residents periodically, and last year she posted one of a 3 year old male cat that was the only one left from a litter she had hand raised, and she said he was so sweet she was surprised he had never been adopted. I told her I might be interested, if he got along with other cats (I have a 15 year old MC). She said he was currently living in the ‘cat house’ with other cats and had no problems. I offered to come look at him, but she said the adult cat house was at the back of her property, and she was the only one who visited out there, so it would be better if she brought him to my house. After about two months of trying to come up with a mutually good time, she finally brought him by. 

The poor boy is feral. My family have had cats since I was born, and I remember once we adopted a ginger kitten who lived behind our sofa for a week. We put his litter box at one end of the sofa and his food and water at the other, and after a week he started venturing out.  But it’s been three months now, and Big Boy is still living upstairs (we have two bedrooms up there that we don’t use). His litter box, food and water are up there in the bathroom, and I go up and check on him every day, but if I get within four feet of him he flees downstairs and hides under the master bed until it gets dark and we go to bed - then he sneaks back upstairs. 

He does come downstairs at night. He leaves his white hairs on the back of our sofa (I think he sleeps there). I also find tufts of it around the first floor, even in our room. 

Only improvements in the last 3 weeks - they both get hard food all day, but I put out a small amount of wet food in two bowls for them at night. I put the Big Boy’s on the stairs. In the last couple weeks, he has started to come to the top of the stairs to watch me put the food out. In the last few days, he has actually snuck downstairs right before I normally put the food out - he comes down and hides under our bed. 

In the last month, he has started calling when he’s downstairs. My MC has a raucous screaming cry - Big Boy has what I would call a chirp, and he chirps four or five times in a row. 

Two mornings last week, he came downstairs and scurried (but did not scramble) to get under our bed. I work full time so I don’t know if he goes back up stairs at some point or if he hides under the bed all day. 

Last night he came downstairs and headed to our bedroom door, but I called “Big Boy” to him and he paused, looked carefully over at me, glanced over to DH, back to me again, then continued his scurry under our bed. 

I’ve never had a truly feral cat. Is he always going to be this way? Will he ever feel comfortable in our house? We have a great screened porch with a cat tree and a cat walk around the perimeter of the porch (MC lives out there in the warmer months) - I know he would enjoy it, but I’m afraid he’ll stay the permanent upstairs cat, stuck up there by himself. 

Also, he needs his shots. I don’t think trying to chase him down and cram him in a carrier would help him right now. Plus, how do I get him back into the carrier once we get to the vets? The only good thing is he doesn’t turn violent when you try to pin him, he just panics and freaks out until he can scramble away. 

By the way, Big Boy is not his name. I wait until I get a feel of their personality until I pick a name, so I don’t end up with a big tough Tom named marshmallow. Because he is a big orange and white fluff, he’s just Big Boy right now. Poor scaredy cat Big Boy. (DH calls him Casper the Ghost). 

I had some kittens I took in about 2 years ago. For a while I thought I had made a mistake - that they were too feral. But after winter passed then they were accustomed to inside not outside and it didn't seem like they could transition out either.

Be patient. Every time they got to a certain level and stay there for 3 months or so, I'd think that's it, that's as far as they can go. But then they'd take another step closer unexpectedly.

I have another cat that I've had 7 years now, and I realize how feral he was. Took years for him, but he was too sick and weak to survive outdoors anymore. He doesn't like picking up at all, but will come to me and is extremely affectionate. Be in an enclosed space with big boy and have some nice treats. temptations, or greenies, etc. have a yoga mat or something comfortable and just lounge there handing out the treats. Or just lay down to meditate and put the treats around you and stay still till he get them. Then maybe after a while of that put the treat where he would have to step on you with his paw.


I would sit with P for an hour or so everyday twice if I could, first just sat till he got comfy I was there then the treats came out.  I'd put them neear his hidey hole so he could get them safely and it took month for him to come out and eat them openly, but after he got into a feeding frenzy I'd position the treats so he'd have to  step on me to get them.

[happyhoix]

Mar 14, 2024 18:31:21 GMT -5 thyme4change said:

Slather yourself in Tuna and sit very still near his bowl. Start a little further away and inch closer each day. He will eventually get used to you.

Perhaps, but DH will probably move back home with his mom. 

[happyhoix]

This morning was a good morning! Started out bad - had a panic attack and had to get up at 4:30 AM to go sit in the living room, but that turned into an opportunity to sit quietly with Big Boy. He darted upstairs when I first came out of the downstairs master bedroom, but the way to his heart is through his stomach, I’ve figured out. I got some of those lockable treats for the Maine Coon and she sat on the coffee table eating those while he snuck downstairs and checked that out. He wouldn’t get close enough to lick them himself, but I put some in a bowl and set it on the floor near us, then just sat quietly on the sofa and let him eat that, then he got bold enough to jump on the coffee table himself, then onto the arm of the sofa. I noticed he was ‘making bread’ with his front paws and purring - so I slowly reached over and started rubbing his ears.

Big boy suddenly blossomed - he started aggressively rubbing his head against my hand, arching his back, purring, even doing little love nips to my hand. First time he volunteered to let me pet him!!!

Now he’s backed off again and won’t come over to me - but he’s sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room, still a little tightly wound but not hiding. We’re getting there!! Need to upload a picture, he’s really an attractive big white poof.

[toomuchreality]

Mar 18, 2024 5:23:00 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

This morning was a good morning! Started out bad - had a panic attack and had to get up at 4:30 AM to go sit in the living room, but that turned into an opportunity to sit quietly with Big Boy. He darted upstairs when I first came out of the downstairs master bedroom, but the way to his heart is through his stomach, I’ve figured out. I got some of those lockable treats for the Maine Coon and she sat on the coffee table eating those while he snuck downstairs and checked that out. He wouldn’t get close enough to lick them himself, but I put some in a bowl and set it on the floor near us, then just sat quietly on the sofa and let him eat that, then he got bold enough to jump on the coffee table himself, then onto the arm of the sofa. I noticed he was ‘making bread’ with his front paws and purring - so I slowly reached over and started rubbing his ears.

Big boy suddenly blossomed - he started aggressively rubbing his head against my hand, arching his back, purring, even doing little love nips to my hand. First time he volunteered to let me pet him!!!

Now he’s backed off again and won’t come over to me - but he’s sitting on the floor in the middle of the living room, still a little tightly wound but not hiding. We’re getting there!! Need to upload a picture, he’s really an attractive big white poof.

That's great news and progress! I'm happy for you.
Keep up the good work!