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Ferral
Hi, I rescued a ferral cat and she is about a year and a half old.
She stays indoors, and her claws get caught on things. She has a scratching post (carpet) and she uses it often but she is still getting stuck. I bought that emery scratcher but she won't use it and I cannot catch her so it is impossible to clip her nails.
I feel scared that if something happens how will I be able to take her to the vet, any suggestions?
I really want to keep her.
She stays indoors, and her claws get caught on things. She has a scratching post (carpet) and she uses it often but she is still getting stuck. I bought that emery scratcher but she won't use it and I cannot catch her so it is impossible to clip her nails.
I feel scared that if something happens how will I be able to take her to the vet, any suggestions?
I really want to keep her.
I have the exact problem. Feral cat inside, but won't let me get near her. I saw this, but am thinking about it still. Sounds good, though. www.emerycat.com
Heidi is almost 15 mo old now. She can still be skittish if she doesn't want to be held. She is very afraid of everyone but me. She even usually runs when my husband gets too close to her. She's come around more since I've kept her in the house most of the time. I rescued her mother who seemed feral but since she was pregnant she seemed to warm up to us pretty easily so even though I know she had been on her own practically her whole life because I rescued her from an old farmhouse where our former tennants had moved out and left dogs and cats. I know the father of Heidi was feral and she does have some of those innate feral tendencies even though she was born and raised in our bathroom. She's just always had a "wild streak." Your cat just sounds like one that doesn't care to bond with humans. How old was she when you rescued her, did the vet have any idea? Like I said on one of the other posts, Pip may be able to offer you some ideas.
Was Heidi a true wild cat? I seriously feel this cat will never be on my lap. but she acts just like a domesticated cat, lays out in the living room with me and at the front door just gazing at the sights, but if I go to close she runs away.
You might just have to catch her and take her to the groomer to have her nails trimmed. They have their ways and have dealt with lots of kinds of kitty personalities before. They may want to give her a mild sedative while performing the service. Seriously, she may never come around. My Heidi has become the proverbial lap cat. That would be the ideal outcome for you. Pip (Pipperskeggar) on here from time to time might have some good advice for you. You might want to read his journals about his cats.
Thank you everyone for your information.
She was at the vet when i trapped her and had her spayed. i don't think they did any tests on her.
she seems healthy no fleas or problems, she is only indoors, and seems happy, she plays with her toys and uses scratcher and litter box, i have had her over a year now.
I feel like grabbing her but I feel like it would set her back. she does let me pet her when i feed her the yogurt from the spoon but that is it. she does not come to me.
i feel that if i put her outside the other people in my townhome community will trap her and take her to the pound. I just want to clip her nails and think it will be impossible.
She was at the vet when i trapped her and had her spayed. i don't think they did any tests on her.
she seems healthy no fleas or problems, she is only indoors, and seems happy, she plays with her toys and uses scratcher and litter box, i have had her over a year now.
I feel like grabbing her but I feel like it would set her back. she does let me pet her when i feed her the yogurt from the spoon but that is it. she does not come to me.
i feel that if i put her outside the other people in my townhome community will trap her and take her to the pound. I just want to clip her nails and think it will be impossible.
Hello Merrily I totaly understand what you are going through. Last summer 2009 I rescued a kitty. We named her Rosey, she was given as a birthday present to a kid, not spayed and when she was in heat she was kicked out, she's also a beautiful gray and white long fur Maine Coon. I told my husband that she was pregnant, he asked me how do you know, I told him her belly looked swollen and her little teats were getting hard and bluish purple. She used to come to our back door where we left food at night for the homeless kitties and if the bowl was empty she would look up at us meow and look down at the bowl. Well with treats I tempted her and her sweet tooth got the best of her.
She wasn't ferral but we could not catch her simply because she hid under a chair (one of those that come with a sofa) so it was close to the floor we would lift it up and she was gone. When we finally caught up with her WE USED A TOWEL big enough to wrap around her. When you put a skitish cat in a carrier, put their backside in first, grab their feet gently and put them in, trust me it's a lot easier. As for her coming to you, well we left her alone but not too alone we would chase her, play with her when she would go bye, when we were able to catch her comb her, even if was for only a few minutes, as for cuting her claws, again we wrapped her in a towel my husband held her and I cut her claws, she would scream and I mean scream the house down the other cats would come to investigate, unfortunately it cuts through your heart when you hear the scream, but it has to be done, because you know you are not hurting the animal. Now 1 year later she is coming to us, with her loving little meow asking for lovings and she is much easier to pick up and comb her, and pamper her, but she is still very shy and likes her space. So my friend have lots of patience and love your kitty will come around. REMEMBER use a TOWEL and wrap the kitty. Good luck. I would like to hear if this works for you. You know where to write.
She wasn't ferral but we could not catch her simply because she hid under a chair (one of those that come with a sofa) so it was close to the floor we would lift it up and she was gone. When we finally caught up with her WE USED A TOWEL big enough to wrap around her. When you put a skitish cat in a carrier, put their backside in first, grab their feet gently and put them in, trust me it's a lot easier. As for her coming to you, well we left her alone but not too alone we would chase her, play with her when she would go bye, when we were able to catch her comb her, even if was for only a few minutes, as for cuting her claws, again we wrapped her in a towel my husband held her and I cut her claws, she would scream and I mean scream the house down the other cats would come to investigate, unfortunately it cuts through your heart when you hear the scream, but it has to be done, because you know you are not hurting the animal. Now 1 year later she is coming to us, with her loving little meow asking for lovings and she is much easier to pick up and comb her, and pamper her, but she is still very shy and likes her space. So my friend have lots of patience and love your kitty will come around. REMEMBER use a TOWEL and wrap the kitty. Good luck. I would like to hear if this works for you. You know where to write.
Marilee, isn't this the same cat you were talking on this forum about and debating about whether or not to keep....a few months back when my cats were still kittens? If she is the same one and you still haven't been able to get her to a Vet, then you have a real problem here. I thpught you had made considerable progress with her. What happened? I'll have to check back in the Spring to see the posts from then. This is the same cat, right?
You situation is equivalent to having a raccoon or squirrel or other wild animal in your house. Ferral cats are wild animals, not domesticated pets. The most humane thing you can do for her is to trap her, have her spayed, and then release her. What you see as a rescue is just the opposite from what the cat sees. She has been captured, not rescued. Shelters and rescue groups are filled with abandoned domestic cats who truly need homes.
I totally understand. Took in a ferrel years back. Actually I had been feeding her, and one night she slipped in and had three kittens in my closet. I was working then, so did the best I could.
She, too, was extremely shy. Had no understanding of litter box. Used to sleep in it to get away from her kits:). Long and short of it is that I did manage to get her to a vet; kittens as well. They were not nearly as skittish as she. Then again they were born inside:).
I loved her with all her funny ways for years. Had her spayed, tested, first shots. She was an inside outside kitty; retained her shyness. I rarely could even pet her. She finally became ill and was working her way back to my apt when she collapsed: Her last trip to the vet was in a blanket, she had a peaceful death.
Her ashes are in my bedside table. She was my furry girl, know she loved me, but never became completely domesticated.
You may be able to overcome your kitty's shyness. I have a friend who has several domesticated cats...all started their lives as ferrals.. Best luck!
She, too, was extremely shy. Had no understanding of litter box. Used to sleep in it to get away from her kits:). Long and short of it is that I did manage to get her to a vet; kittens as well. They were not nearly as skittish as she. Then again they were born inside:).
I loved her with all her funny ways for years. Had her spayed, tested, first shots. She was an inside outside kitty; retained her shyness. I rarely could even pet her. She finally became ill and was working her way back to my apt when she collapsed: Her last trip to the vet was in a blanket, she had a peaceful death.
Her ashes are in my bedside table. She was my furry girl, know she loved me, but never became completely domesticated.
You may be able to overcome your kitty's shyness. I have a friend who has several domesticated cats...all started their lives as ferrals.. Best luck!
I agree with Jade.
Food is the key. If you can't get her in the bathroom then just feed her where she normally eats, get a blanket or thick cloth to grab her, put her in the carrier and take her to the vet. Try to also cover her eyes while you are at it until she is in the carrier.
In the meantime, you will need patience to get her used to being a house kitty. Once you and her get to that point where she feels comfortable around you and with you petting her it will become easier for you to handle her. Give her food in your hands. Talk to her softly. Give her treats. Bring her catnip and toys. Spoil her......and she will come around :-)
Food is the key. If you can't get her in the bathroom then just feed her where she normally eats, get a blanket or thick cloth to grab her, put her in the carrier and take her to the vet. Try to also cover her eyes while you are at it until she is in the carrier.
In the meantime, you will need patience to get her used to being a house kitty. Once you and her get to that point where she feels comfortable around you and with you petting her it will become easier for you to handle her. Give her food in your hands. Talk to her softly. Give her treats. Bring her catnip and toys. Spoil her......and she will come around :-)
COMMUNITY LEADER
Okay, hmm...but she IS in your house...just like wild? I guess what I would do if I needed to catch her would be to feed her in the bathroom, shut the door and catch her like that. Have the carrier ready in the tub where kitty can't see it (maybe she's never seen such a thing though and it wouldn't faze her) get yourself some gardening gloves in case kitty bites and scratches. It may even take two people since this cat will likely freak.
I would again like to impress upon you that this cat should be seen by a vet ASAP simply because being a ferral she definitely has fleas, worms and God knows what else. If you're going to keep her, this would be in kittys best interest. I can tell it's not something you're looking forward to, but it's the best thing you can do for her.
Best of luck to you. Let us know how it all goes :)
I would again like to impress upon you that this cat should be seen by a vet ASAP simply because being a ferral she definitely has fleas, worms and God knows what else. If you're going to keep her, this would be in kittys best interest. I can tell it's not something you're looking forward to, but it's the best thing you can do for her.
Best of luck to you. Let us know how it all goes :)
I am sorry I did not make myself clear,
The ferral cat is totally wild so it would be hard to catch her. she does not come over to me i have to go to her and she runs. i was worried that if she had to go to vet how would i catch her. the second issue is that her claws are getting caught on things and i cannot catch her to clip her nails. i was wondering if anyone has had to deal with these things and maybe could give me some info.
The ferral cat is totally wild so it would be hard to catch her. she does not come over to me i have to go to her and she runs. i was worried that if she had to go to vet how would i catch her. the second issue is that her claws are getting caught on things and i cannot catch her to clip her nails. i was wondering if anyone has had to deal with these things and maybe could give me some info.
marilee,
What is the issue here? Is it the cat's claws that everything is getting scratched or is it the fact that her claws might prevent you from catching her in the future? I'm sorry. I don't think I understood your question.
What is the issue here? Is it the cat's claws that everything is getting scratched or is it the fact that her claws might prevent you from catching her in the future? I'm sorry. I don't think I understood your question.
COMMUNITY LEADER
Hi Marilee, first, congrats on your new addition! So sweet of you to rescue a cat in need. I'm a little confused by your post though - kitty stays indoors, but you can't ever catch her? Does she ever come to you for some loving? If so, you would just snatch her up, put her in a cat carrier and you're off to the vet. Is it not that simple? I'm so sorry if I'm missing something here.
And if kitty is brand new, she should be taken to the vet immediately for a check-up and shots, deworm - all that good stuff :)
Oh, and about the scratching post. Maybe the rope kind would suit your cat better. That's what we have and Jade never gets stuck. There's some carpet on the very bottom, rope in the middle where kitty scratches primarily, then a few inches of carpet above the rope.
And if kitty is brand new, she should be taken to the vet immediately for a check-up and shots, deworm - all that good stuff :)
Oh, and about the scratching post. Maybe the rope kind would suit your cat better. That's what we have and Jade never gets stuck. There's some carpet on the very bottom, rope in the middle where kitty scratches primarily, then a few inches of carpet above the rope.
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