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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / January 2007ADIVCE ON HOW TO CATCH A OVERLY TIMID CAT
I have a visitor that frequents the communal feeding bowl with a regularity that you could almost set our clock by.Unfortunately ,she is so shy that the moment another cat arrives,she slinks away growling with her tail between her legs.She has been coming to the bowl for around 3months now-I happened to see her this morning up close for the first time in over a month, & I notice that she has a collar underneath that shag pile furr that is cutting into her neck...it looks really sore!! I will happily take her to the vet & ensure that she is seen to &treated &spayed if she needs to be..My problem is how on earth can I catch her?She won't come near the house if she knows that there is anyone about @ all. I noticed the posting regarding traps & considered the idea, but I am not entirely sure that it would work for her,because she is one of those very few cats that would rather starve,than allow a human(or other felines) near her.I have even tried to put extra boxes out for her in our recent freezing weather,away from all of the other cat shelters,but she won't even entertain the idea of sleeping near other cats either!!Nevertheless,If you do feel it would be the best Idea,then some helpful comments would be more than appreciated asap(because of xmas holidays ect) I have never come across such a timid cat before & in most prior cases I have managed to build up a trust with most of them-but in this instance I cant afford the luxury of time to do so in this case.I really would appreciate any idea's that anyone might have on this one? I have already called the Rspca(Royal society for the prevention of cruelty to animals), in to see if they can help me to catch her,but they feel that I would have a better chance of catching her than they would!!?Their advice was to catch her, then call them & they will take her to a one of the local shelters-it would seem easier to catch her & just have the work she needs doing done myself, then keep her here until such time as I can release her again S. Sheelagh, I copied this post from Phil from another thread: on Fri, 22 Dec 2006 10:02:48 GMT, "Phil P." <phil@maxshouse.com> wrote: > In your situation, since you know when the cats show up, you might > want to use a drop trap. Since you'll be trapping on your own [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > http://maxshouse.com/Feral/maxtrap-folded.jpg  SignatureLynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ > Sheelagh, I copied this post from Phil from another thread: > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > > > http://maxshouse.com/Feral/maxtrap-folded.jpg This looks like an excellent idea.I am certain that it would do the trick in this case because I can watch her from a downstairs window & slip the trap as soon as she enters to eat(assuming there are no other cats around of course!). My next question might not be so easy for you to answer though.... Has anyone got any idea where I might find a trap like this one in the Uk?I would love to buy one as it really would come in handy for some of the other awakward customers we get that frequent out community food bowl. Failing buying one,has any one got any idea where I could even borrow one in the Uk?I have already asked mty cat protection League rep in my are,& she told me that they don't keep them;only pens and cat carriers... :o( Thanks for your help Lynne. S. > This looks like an excellent idea.I am certain that it would do > the trick in this case because I can watch her from a downstairs > window & slip the trap as soon as she enters to eat(assuming > there are no other cats around of course!). I have no doubt that a drop trap would work, but I wonder how you would get the cat into a carrier for vetting? Phil may have explained before, but I probably missed it. I'd go for a havahart trap, mostly because it doesn't require intervention and you can keep the cat in it prior to vetting. I had luck by putting the trap into a paper lawn refuge bag (looks like a big paper grocery sack). It covers the trap completely and insulates it so that it's warmer inside than outside. If you can master how to set the trap, and place the food bait in a way that the trap's trigger will unfailingly snap when stepped on, you have it made. Good luck. Sounds like this girl needs your help. SignatureCheryl >> This looks like an excellent idea.I am certain that it would do >> the trick in this case because I can watch her from a downstairs [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > would get the cat into a carrier for vetting? Phil may have > explained before, but I probably missed it. http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/droptrap.pdf > I'd go for a havahart trap, mostly because it doesn't require > intervention and you can keep the cat in it prior to vetting. I had [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > the trap's trigger will unfailingly snap when stepped on, you have > it made. Good luck. Sounds like this girl needs your help. >> I have no doubt that a drop trap would work, but I wonder how you >> would get the cat into a carrier for vetting? Phil may have >> explained before, but I probably missed it. > > http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/droptrap.pdf Thanks, Wendy. Excellent description, and brilliant design. SignatureCheryl > I have no doubt that a drop trap would work, but I wonder how you > would get the cat into a carrier for vetting? Phil may have > explained before, but I probably missed it. I take feral cats to the vet in the trap, without transferring them - but I do use livetraps only, which are solid enough for transportation. If you can get hold of a livetrap (sorry, I have no hints for the UK, but I would think that the RSPCA has live traps?!?!), put a blanket over the top to convey a feeling of safety. I trap in my yard, so I can watch the area and chase the 'wrong' cats away. The vet will sedate the cat in the trap and then take it out for treatment. If necessary, I will leave the cat in my bathroom in the trap for a few hours until the vet opens, but I never let them out of the trap. This also ensures that the cat has not eaten if surgery is due. Tried transferring a feral cat once, cat got out, wrecked the bathroom in total panic. I did eventually get her inside a large dog carrier by putting on my most sturdy clothes and welding gloves, but the panic the cat was in was way worse than anything she needed to be had I kept her in the trap. Best of luck Sheelagh, hope you can catch her quickly and get her treated, Petra > > This looks like an excellent idea.I am certain that it would do > > the trick in this case because I can watch her from a downstairs [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > would get the cat into a carrier for vetting? Phil may have > explained before, but I probably missed it. Butt the transfer cage door to the trap's transfer door and raise the doors at the same time- most cats run right into the transfer cage because they think they're escaping from the trap. If the cat doesn't run into the cage on her own, I use two dowels to guide her in. If I'm using a carrier instead of a transfer cage, I butt the carrier (with the door open) to the trap's transfer door. I remove the transfer door of the trap and use it to block the carrier doorway after the cat goes in the carrier. Then I slide the transfer door out as I'm closing the carrier door. Its a lot simpler than it sounds. > I'd go for a havahart trap, I wouldn't recommend Havaharts--they're unreliable and poorly made. Tru-Catch, Safeguard, and Tomahawk traps are made much better and have better triggers. The Tru-Catch has the best trip plate of all the traps and has more room inside than other traps the same size-- makes a better recovery cage, too. The 36D fits inside RB 36 duffle bag perfectly- makes an excellent trap cover and great camouflage. Phil > I wouldn't recommend Havaharts--they're unreliable and poorly made. > Tru-Catch, Safeguard, and Tomahawk traps are made much better and have [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Phil Thanks Phil,I have been on the net today & I have found a trap from some friends who happen to work for usaf,& most fortuitously it hapens to be a a tru-catch.I am just on my way down to a base in Mildenhall in uk to collect it before he fly's out on a posting.I really do appreciate your input on this one.The fellow who is lending me the traps,wife also does a bit of rescueing so happend to have a trap of her own(& has offered to demonstrate it for me too)~I cant find any for sale in the Uk,& I was worride about the time factor of not catching her soon enough,because the bit around her neck looks a bit infected & very red too.So the sooner the better on that one! With any luck I should have it up and running tomorrow am.I have been advised to put some warm meat out for her as it will tempt her in a bit mopre~is this the case?(ie:micro wave her meaty chunks a bit to make the smell more appetising?) I am praying that she turns up by 10am like she normally does, because the vet is still open until 6pm gtm.. I have already warned the vet to expect us,& with any luck,she should be able to tranquize her(only), if needs be, just so that we can get that wretched too tight collar off her asap.Whilst @ the vets,if she needs spaying, then I will allow them to do her @ the same time~But right now, my main concern is to get that constriciting/too small collar off her..from where I was standing,it looks like it is weeping,bleeding far too tight around her neck.. I will keep you up to date on her& hope to have a bit better news tomorrow morning. Thanks to everyone that has posted on this one-I couldn't have done it without all of your collective help.I had no idea how to start on it at all!Thanx loads, S. > > I wouldn't recommend Havaharts--they're unreliable and poorly made. > > Tru-Catch, Safeguard, and Tomahawk traps are made much better and have [quoted text clipped - 33 lines] > all!Thanx loads, > S. Just make sure you test the trigger pressure on the trip plate a few times before you deploy the trap. Its very easy to misjudge the pressure and set it too high. Tap the trip plate with a hanger or short stick to make sure it trips with very little pressure. Good luck, Phil > Just make sure you test the trigger pressure on the trip plate a few times > before you deploy the trap. Its very easy to misjudge the pressure and set [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > > Phil, Hi Thanks very much for all of the advice,it has all proved to be invaluable.After a 4hour round trip last night to go and collect the trap,I was exhausted this moring,but did test it a couple of times on one of our own cats,until I was satisfied that I wouldn't get it wrong,or hurt her in any way.At 9.30,I heated some canned cat meat up, then as sure as eggs are eggs,she turned up @ 9.45 to see what was on offer today.I waited until I could see that she was clearly in the trap, then triggered it & went straight out to see that she was ok.Appart from a huge amount of growling and spitting & hissing at me,I could see that she was fine,so went back in to,call my vet,Lola.She very kindly came straight out to me & took one look at her & asked me to help her restrain her(I knew those welding gloves would come in handy one day!),whilst she administered a sedative to calm her down. Once done,Lola shaved the area so that we could see it,& as we thought, the collar was actually embedded into the poor things neck.It appeared to be similar to a dogs collar,having no elasticated strip mechanism to release a bit of give if it got caught-Please everyone,note that these are highly dangerous!!As soon as she put a bit of pressure on the site,it exploded with puss & blood,& the abcess started to weep.I got on with cleaning the site with warm saline soloutin,whilst she gave the cat a shot of antibiotics, then she started to stitch the site up again after it was thoroughly cleaned and disinfected;she also treated another gash on her leg that was infected as well whilst she was restrained.Poor, Poor cat! After fitting her with a restraint collar,I asked if she was going to take her into the clinic for observation,but she didn't think it was nessacery,telling me that I was perfectly able to keep an eye on her,so we put her straight out in to one of the outside runs with heated housing,so that she doesn't feel totally threatened or is too alien to her either.This way we can keep an eye on her,but leave her in peace too. The vet has left me with a weeks supply of antibiotics,& advised me to call her if there any problems in the meantime.If not,I am to take her back to clinic in just under a week when she will have her stitches removed & be spayed at the same time whilst she is under anasthetic, to kill two birds with one stone so to speak.(It looks like she has recently weaned a litter by the look of her teats) The cat is on a mixed wet & dry diet(antibiotics go into the wet food because she doesn't leave a scrap!!).I have been out there a few times just to have a quick peep @ her,& she is eating and drinking normally,so I am really pleased with her progress.When it came time to settle my account with Lola, she didn't charge me a single penny for coming out or treating her either-How is that for generositiy & festive spirit?!!!!!!! All she charged me for were the shots she had & the antibiotics too.If there were an award for vet of the year, she would get my vote every single time.I thanked her of course! I really was so grateful to her. When we take her back & she is spayed, I intend to hang on to her & If there is any hope of rehabilitating her,I intend to keep her until she is, then try & home her;if she is not,I have two options.Take her down to the shelter, or release her.I am inclined to do the later of the two.My reasoning for this is that I very much doubt that she would ever be homed.If I release her, at least she knows where to come at dinner time,& I can rest asurred that @ least only she will come to dinner, rather than her & all of her offspring too for the next possible 6or so years of breeding that she would appear to have left in her. If you have other thoughts or ideas on this,I would gladly accept advice.I am no expert,I just know how to care for them. last but by no means least,thank you very much for the advice and support that you offered Phil.I don't think that I would have actually had the confidence to go ahead without it,& we could have lost this little one for sure.Seaons greeting's to you & yours & to all @ the shelter too.With Gratitude, Sheelagh <snip> With Gratitude, > Sheelagh whew! THANK GOD FOR PHIL > <snip> > With Gratitude, > > Sheelagh > > whew! THANK GOD FOR PHIL Thank god for anyone who is kind enough to give anyone the confidence required to do something they wouldn't other wise have had the confidence to try. HAPPY XMAS BARRY & the furballs too,LOL!;o) S. on Sun, 24 Dec 2006 18:07:34 GMT, "sheelagh" > Thanks very much for all of the advice,it has all proved to be > invaluable WOW, Sheelagh! GREAT WORK. That little girl is so fortunate to have chosen your home to visit. I hate to think of how much pain she must have been enduring with that collar embedded in her neck. It makes me sick to think that someone put a collar like that on a cat and abandoned her. What a lovely thing you have done, your vet, too! SignatureLynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ > > Thanks very much for all of the advice,it has all proved to be > > invaluable [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > > -- Thank you for your kind words Lynne,but to be honest, the real hero's are the ones that inspired me to me believe in myself,& the vet who so kindly did the real work for no fee too.I am just glad as you say that the right cat came to right community feeding bowl,& that I didn't foul the whole operation up !!Lola was brilliant too-not any old vet would be so kind as to do that,would they? As I type, she is fast asleep & oblivious to the happy ending she has caused.I wouldn't have been able to live with myself knowing that I didn't interveen if you understand what I mean? I hope that you have an excellent day tomorrow too with you and your's and your feline family too, Hugs n stuff, Sheelagh > Thank you for your kind words Lynne,but to be honest, the real hero's > are the ones that inspired me to me believe in myself how sickening why can't you just be yourself I have no idea what sheelagh is saying in any of her posts I have no idea what sheelagh thinks about stuff or anything you got f.cking toilet paper hanging from your skirt, your press-ons are due! your roots are showing, your peg leg is losing its suction CAN ANYBODY BE REAL? poor thing, all she wanted was a friend bookie will be your friend if you want friends sheelagh, it starts with being yourself this way, ITS NOT TIRESOME TO BE AROUND YOU > Thanks very much for all of the advice,it has all proved to be > invaluable.After a 4hour round trip last night to go and collect [quoted text clipped - 22 lines] > treated another gash on her leg that was infected as well whilst > she was restrained.Poor, Poor cat! <snip> Congrats! It just takes a little persuasion when you're clearly an animal lover such as yourself. You couldn't let that poor cat suffer and you did what you had to do to get her, and you got her quickly. Kudos to you and your vet for her pro bono work on this cats behalf. Turns out to be a very happy holiday for her and for you. And for those of us reading. Thank you. SignatureCheryl > > Just make sure you test the trigger pressure on the trip plate a few times > > before you deploy the trap. Its very easy to misjudge the pressure and set [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > offer today.I waited until I could see that she was clearly in the > trap, then triggered it I don't understand. If you were using a Tru-Catch the cat would have triggered the trap when she stepped on the trip plate- you didn't have to tigger it. How did you trigger it?? & went straight out to see that she was > ok.Appart from a huge amount of growling and spitting & hissing at me,I > could see that she was fine,so went back in to,call my vet,Lola.She [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] > shelter too.With Gratitude, > Sheelagh Great news! Well done! You've probably saved her life- and many more lives after she's neutered. Phil > > one of our own cats,until I was satisfied that I wouldn't get it > > wrong,or hurt her in any way.At 9.30,I heated some canned cat meat up, [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > triggered the trap when she stepped on the trip plate- you didn't have to > tigger it. How did you trigger it?? I have just read through it again,& now understand why you thought I triggered it.I should have said, once she was fully inside, *she triggered it* whilst I watched from the kitchen window,lol!My mistake,soz! Just been out to see her again, & she pressed against the wall of the pen,but wasn't nearly so angry today &allowed me to fill her bowl,then fell on it with with a favour & passion too,which also means she took this mornings antibiotics fine which is brill news isn't it? > & went straight out to see that she was > Great news! Well done! You've probably saved her life- and many more lives > after she's neutered. Hey thanks,but never forget that it was you that gave me the confidence to try! I will give you updates as it happens too.Have a good xmas! Sheelagh > Phil > > > one of our own cats,until I was satisfied that I wouldn't get it > > > wrong,or hurt her in any way.At 9.30,I heated some canned cat meat up, [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > triggered it* whilst I watched from the kitchen window,lol!My > mistake,soz! No- its my mistake. Your statement was clear. I asked how you triggered the trap because some people have trouble setting the trigger bar on Tru-Catch traps and just prop open the trap door with a stick with a string tied around it. When the cat enters the trap they pull the stick out and the door closes. This is easy to do with Tru-Catch traps because the trap door is attached to the end of the trap and opens all the way out. With other traps, the trap door is almost completely inside the trap. > Just been out to see her again, & she pressed against the wall of the > pen,but wasn't nearly so angry today &allowed me to fill her bowl,then > fell on it with with a favour & passion too,which also means she took > this mornings antibiotics fine which is brill news isn't it? I guess so! ;) > > & went straight out to see that she was > > > Great news! Well done! You've probably saved her life- and many more lives > > after she's neutered. > Hey thanks,but never forget that it was you that gave me the confidence > to try! Don't sell yourself short. You had the motivation and desire followed with effort and determination. > I will give you updates as it happens too.Have a good xmas! > Sheelagh Thanks. I did- and a belated Merry Christmas to you. Phil > Don't sell yourself short. You had the motivation and desire followed > with effort and determination. worth repeating! SignatureLynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ > > Don't sell yourself short. You had the motivation and desire followed > > with effort and determination. [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > -- > Lynne Thanks Lynne. I have just been out there to go and see how she is doing.She looks good.We go tommorow to have the rest of the stitches taken out.I am looking forward to seeing how she gets on once they are out.I have decided not to let her go just yet too.I was worride that I wasn't getting anywhere with this young lady....but just when I was about to throw the towel in,she came up to me today as I took her fresh water & food, & she must have had an incling of what I was thinking cuz she gave me a nice little head butt then a semi leg weave before backing off & waiting for the food to be put down.Antibiotics are all finished now as well. Once the horride neck lamp comes off( the thing that the vet uses to stop her nibbeling at her wounds?Any idea what they are called?).The kids have called her Lucy(furr),ROFLOL. She iss much better with my little girl for some reason.Maybe an adult has hurt her in the past?She does not like men, that is for sure!!I think I sam going to keep Lucy(furr) for another week and see how it goes, then take it from there..... OT.I was reading about your little girl,.I hope that she gets better soon too.Cant have been much fun spending the whole holiday indoors? S:o) on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:29:20 GMT, "sheelagh" > I have just been out there to go and see how she is doing.She looks > good.We go tommorow to have the rest of the stitches taken out.I am [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > off & waiting for the food to be put down.Antibiotics are all finished > now as well. I'm so glad she is healing and coming around to realize that some humans are trustworthy! I still cannot believe someone left that poor girl with a collar that she couldn't escape and also one that would become too small for her as she grew. ARGH! > Once the horride neck lamp comes off( the thing that the vet uses to > stop her nibbeling at her wounds?Any idea what they are called?) E-collar, where the e in this case stands for Elizabethan (as opposed to electronic). They are also called cone collars sometimes, and probably a lot of other stuff, too. > The > kids have called her Lucy(furr),ROFLOL. I LOVE THAT NAME! I wanted to name Rudy Lucifer but my daughter wouldn't hear of it. > She iss much better with my little girl for some reason.Maybe an adult > has hurt her in the past?She does not like men, that is for sure!!I > think I sam going to keep Lucy(furr) for another week and see how it > goes, then take it from there..... I wonder if it's just the size of your daughter that makes her feel less threatened? Roxy, my dog, is very wary of men in our home, even though I know for a fact she has never been abused by one. I think their size intimidates her. (Oddly, when we are out--no matter where--nothing intimidates her!) > OT.I was reading about your little girl,.I hope that she gets better > soon too.Cant have been much fun spending the whole holiday indoors? > S:o) Thank you, Sheelagh. We found out yesterday that on top of the mono she also has strep throat. She started antibiotics last evening and is starting to perk up a bit. Thank goodness! Her holiday has been miserable and it truly sucks being stuck at home, but now that her fever is down and she's eating a bit, I'm feeling more relaxed. :) SignatureLynne http://picasaweb.google.com/what.the.hell.is.it/ > We found out yesterday that on top of the mono she > also has strep throat. She started antibiotics last evening and > is starting to perk up a bit. Thank goodness! Her holiday has > been miserable and it truly sucks being stuck at home, but now > that her fever is down and she's eating a bit, I'm feeling more > relaxed. :) Poor lil girl. Good to read that she's feeling a bit better. That stinks that she got so sick over Christmas. Next year will be that much more special. SignatureCheryl > on Fri, 29 Dec 2006 21:29:20 GMT, "sheelagh" > [quoted text clipped - 50 lines] > -- > Lynne Good.I am ever so Pleased to hear that.With 5of my own, I know only too well what It is like to have a sick little one when everyone else seems to be partying.You can't help but worry, can you?Hopefuly within 24 hours of the antibiotics, she should turn the corner once they kick in & she will start to feel a lot better too.At least she has the moggies to help her out & keep her all wsarm & furry as well.There is nothing that can beat a real live hot water bottle & that gives you cuddles & strokes you also,is there?It is just a shame about the holiday's, but as cheryl point's out,I am sure that she will make up for It this time next year.I think this is the first year for a many a year that no one had toothache, tonsilitis, or ear ache for a change ,so we did pretty well there. > I wonder if it's just the size of your daughter that makes her feel less > threatened? Roxy, my dog, is very wary of men in our home, even though I > know for a fact she has never been abused by one. I think their size > intimidates her. (Oddly, when we are out--no matter where--nothing > intimidates her!) You could be right there.I hadn't thought of that one.I assumed( as we all do from time to time), that someone has let her down big time~ as you say, fancy putting a collar on that had no extension elastication?!!!BLOOMING IDIOTS...I am just pleased that Phil gave me the inspiration to at least try,because things are looking so much better now than they were around a week ago.I had got to the stage where I thought I was just going to have to count my losses & allow her to roam free again-so It is a huge ego boost that she is finally accepted that we won't hurt her, & only want to help her If we can. > > The > > kids have called her Lucy(furr),ROFLOL. Yes, I thought It was rather funny too.Isn't It strange what the kids come up with.She is jet black,so lucifer would have bween rather apt, but when Tilly came out with that one, I just thought "perfect",lol :o) get it...? god I am so not funny-Purr-fect :o) Presently got Ringo on my lap, wating for me to go and make a cup of tea, so that he can drink the sweet bit left In the bottom of the cup-He nakes me leave at least 1/2 a cup full, so that he can get his big fat muzzel in & still reach it too. Well, It is 05.00am over here, so It is time I crashed out for a littlel while before I end up nose down on the Pc-It wouldn't be the first time,I assure you! We have 80miles per hour wind over here right now & It is howling with rain too.Poor old Pussy cats haven't got a clue whats happeneing so they are holed up hiding all over the house, except for the braver one's, such as Ringo spice & Lilly too.I think I am going to have to seperate her later.Taz Is doing his pre-mating dance in front of her, & she keeps swiping him one around the chops,so It would appear I had better move her out for a little while until she stops calling.Maybe later in the year I will allow her to have a supervised mating so that she can have a smaller litter with Biffy.I have some really nice homes lined up, but I would rather wait until the ringworm incident is well and truely out of the way before even consider it.I could sure do with the cash injection to help out with all of the other projects that we have running presently...a new run would help out no end as we have no room left at the Inn,lol!! Hope your little girl gets a lot better very soon, S. > > > I don't understand. If you were using a Tru-Catch the cat would have > > > triggered the trap when she stepped on the trip plate- you didn't have [quoted text clipped - 40 lines] > > Phil Hi, thanks and same to you too. I was just telling Lynne that we take her to have her stitches took out tomorrow.I was on the verge of letting her go tomorrow, but when I went in to see how she was today & to give her the last of her antibiotic's, she stood out of the way very politley,allowed me right in, then must have read my mind...Then she gave me tiny little head butt, then a semi leg weave & got on with her food.She is being spayed tomorrow too. After I take her to clinic tomorrow,I have decided to keep her for a further few day's,possibly a week, to see how she gets on.I think that she could do with the rest and recovery time, & hopefully she might even calm down a bit further .My kids all help with the cats, & they have given her a name-we couldn't keep calling her cat!!So they came up with Lucy(furr!!)It seemed so apt & made me laugh too:o)So, Lucy(furr),It is. Tilly, my youngest one(10),seems to have devleoped a good relationship with her now.L will allow her to pet her & even sit down in the run with her whilst she eats, then she purr's her little head off, for Tilly.I figured that one more week wouldn't hurt her or us either for that matter, & If she manages to calm down just a little bit more, then I will be happy to release her & allow her to come and go as she pleases.As long as she is spayed, then there is only her to think about;rather than her & her the feeding of the 25,000 kittens too. She is now frontlined,wormed with drontal & combed through by Tilly I might add.Her future Is looking a bit brighter as each day passes.I can't help but feel a little bit more optomistic that we might even manage to rehome her too.I had a lady come by today who wanted a kitten, but when she saw Lucy(furr),she asked about her.I have explained that she has a few issue's to work through & she is prepared to give her a month to see If we can get her to accept *being belonged to*..Owned would be an inapropriate word I think. Here is to high hopes for her!! Thanks Phil. S:o) I'm so glad you take the trouble to keep us updated on her progress. So many times, there's just silence on the posts after all he advice thas been given. Now there's at least the satisfaction of knowing the poor thing has been taken care of. Such stories haunt me if I don't know how they ended. I'm so glad she found you and got a second chance. > > > one of our own cats,until I was satisfied that I wouldn't get it > > > wrong,or hurt her in any way.At 9.30,I heated some canned cat meat up, [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > Sheelagh > > Phil > I don't understand. read with your heart, not your eyes she's thick fingered Phil, don't make her conscientious about it > > I don't understand. > > read with your heart, not your eyes > she's thick fingered Phil, don't make her conscientious about it Thank you Barry:o) S. > > she's thick fingered Phil, don't make her conscientious about it > Thank you Barry:o) > S. I see you found the cap lock key lmao I LOVE IT DON'T PAY ME NO MIND I GOTTA GET DRESSED AND TRUCK ACROSS THE RIDGE TO DINNER it's raining, so I have to cover up my truck load of presents. JUST KIDDING WE AIN'T GOT NO GAS CAUSE WE AINT GOT NO MONEY i thought about stealing some money last night, but then I pictured sitting in the downtown jail. so I just came on back to the house. you know.. take a sledge hammer to a few pay phones! (i was riding around with a sledge hammer, lmao) > > > she's thick fingered Phil, don't make her conscientious about it > > Thank you Barry:o) > > S. > > I see you found the cap lock key yup! > lmao > > I LOVE IT > DON'T PAY ME NO MIND I won't from now on.I know you just love it...winding people up keeps you smiling, the trick is not to fall for it...I took me a couple of weeks to figure it out,but I'm there now:o) > I GOTTA GET DRESSED AND TRUCK ACROSS THE RIDGE TO DINNER you can come here if you want to, just don't use British Airways-I think they are still 3days behind on flights<loadsa very angry people in london right now> > it's raining, so I have to cover up my truck load of presents. JUST > KIDDING It took all of 10minutes to kill a years hard savings this morning,I think it cou;ld be either a bit overated,or we simply lost the true meaning nower days! > WE AIN'T GOT NO GAS CAUSE WE AINT GOT NO MONEY > > i thought about stealing some money last night, but then I pictured > sitting in the downtown jail. so I just came on back to the house. you > know.. take a sledge hammer to a few pay phones! (i was riding around > with a sledge hammer, lmao) I am ever so glad you didn't, your cops sound pretty mean over there when it comes to tolerance for antisocial behaviour-am I right? S. Hi Sheelagh, Please disregard my message,I didn't realize that you have cought the kitten untill I read the message later.I am glad that there was a happy ending to this,and that the kitten/cat is doing fine for now,Perhaps if you would goahead and have her spaded,she would stand a better chance of getting a new home,and better for her health aswell. Goodluck. ~Ginger~ Oh Sheelagh, Please dont place her in a Animal Shelter if they dont get a home in a serten amount of time,They put them to DEATH They can't afford to keep animals for the rest of thier lives.I don't know about England,but Sadly thats the way it is in America. Please try to find a loving home on your own. ~Ginger~ > Oh Sheelagh, Please dont place her in a Animal Shelter if they dont get > a home in a serten amount of time,They put them to DEATH They can't > afford to keep animals for the rest of thier lives.I don't know about > England,but Sadly thats the way it is in America. Please try to find a > loving home on your own. ~Ginger~ Hi Ginger, Thankyou for your posting,It Is brilliant to read most of them, & I have had some excellent support throughout this one. I will try and bring you up to speed with what has happened so far ,very briefly. I caught her In a Tru Trap that a very kind Usaf american family lent to me.As you say, Once caught,she was like a true Tasmanian Devil.(As I think I said in an early posting,I knew those welding gloves would come in handy one day, & true to form, they did,lol:o). Once caught, she went ballistic, but I put her into our extension, then called the vet.Even though It was so close to xmas, she came out to see us & In true festive spirit, didn't even charge me a single penny for coming out, or the consultation fee either-all I had to pay for, were the drugs that she administered & the anibiotics that she left with me, to treat her with in the coming week. Rest assured that when I spoke of taking her to a shelter, that in UK, we have many shelters that do not believe in killing cats that are un-homable.(one such group would be the cat protection League).I would *never* have dreamt of taking her anywhere that would have possibly euthanaised her.In any case,Now that she has been with us for a week, She has now officially been downgraded to a Lucy(furr),get it...lol?She is much improved in nature, even though It has only been such a short time.She seems to respond to my youngest daughter (10!) best, so this morning when It was time to take her to the vets to go and have her spayed(I think that you might call it desexed?)...we all voted her as the best candidate to break the news to her & try & get her into the dog basket.Tilly managed to do this with the minimum of fuss too. Having got to the vets clinic, we took her in & I got my trusty welding gloves out & helped restrain her whilst they administered an anasthetic to her so that they could remove her stitches in her neck @ the same time as spaying her too.I was asked to wait in the waiting room whilst the opreation was performed-So Now I know how my partner felt when he had to wait outside the operating theater when 3of our children were born;the other two he attended because they were planned c.sections. The operation went very well indeed, & we are asked to leave her there for a few hours for observation,just to make sure that she didn't start chewing at the site where she had the stitches taken out & the collar was embedded into her poor little neck , & also to make sure that she had no adverse effect's from the anasthetic.A few hours later, we picked her up & brought her straight home.Sice bringing her home, we have put her back into her run & I have bee doing 1/2 hourly check's on her to make sure that all is well.. & I notice that she is drinking well & but not so very intersested in food, but who can blame her?I am sure that she must be feeling extreemly sore!I have also noted that she is passing urine with no problems, but no bowel movements yet,probably due to lack of food because we starved her in view of her being spayed.I feel sure that her appetite will return with fervour soon though as she has a very healthy appetetite indeed.. Having spoken to our vet, she recommend's that we keep her in the pen for a further week to ensure that there are no post operative problems such as infection, and suchlike.This is no problem as we do have the room to spare at the moment anyway..& also I think my daughter would most vociferous had I suggested any differently!! Now that she has started to respond to us in a positive manner, It is my intention to try and get her to accept all of us without fear, in the hope that I might be able to re-home her with a lady that came to see me yesterday about adopting a kitten.I asked her if she was willing to take a look at her, & she agreed to.After seeing her & her wonderful black shinny coat & huge green eye's too, she has decided that she is prepared to wait for a month and see how we get on with her.Having never owned a cat before, I can see that I will have to educate both of them to accept each other & also how to love each other too, just until It comes naturally to both parties. I had intended to let her loose & just allow her to come over for dinner every day & to stay if she wished to.I had no problem with letting her loose again because she is so obviously an outdoor cat & used to things such as traffic, & even nasty humans too.But If this lady is willing to accept her, then It would be the best mutual answer for all parties involved.I have invited this lady to visit her as often as she wishes to so that they can become aquainted with each other as much as possible so that when Lucy(furr!) is ready, she can can go home with this lady who happens to live about 6miles away in a village, nearby. I intend to keep her out in the pen for a another few day's, then allow her to start coming indoors by this time next week, so that she can get used to the idea of being indoors again. It is also worth mentioning that when the previous owner of this little young lady got her, there must have been some caring involved, because the collar that we removed looked extreemly expensive, If inapropriate for her.I just think that It is a shame that it came to this.Nevertheless, I am certain that It will be possible to rehome her,& now we even have a possible owner who want's her too.I couldn't have asked for a better ending to such a sorry story really, could I?Thanks for the input and advice all the same though:o) Sheela > Butt the transfer cage door to the trap's transfer door and > raise the doors at the same time- most cats run right into the > transfer cage because they think they're escaping from the trap. > If the cat doesn't run into the cage on her own, I use two > dowels to guide her in. After seeing the design, it looks simple! Good to know. > If I'm using a carrier instead of a transfer cage, I butt the > carrier (with the door open) to the trap's transfer door. I [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > inside RB 36 duffle bag perfectly- makes an excellent trap cover > and great camouflage. I haven't used any other type, but good to know there are others. Thanks for the explanation. SignatureCheryl > Failing buying one,has any one got any idea where I could even borrow > one in the Uk?I have already asked mty cat protection League rep in my > are,& she told me that they don't keep them;only pens and cat > carriers... :o( > Thanks for your help Lynne. > S. just get a broom and chase them off, they'll leave you alone Hello "S" I also had the same problem myself, It was a" Beautiful" stray Angora long hair female kitten about 6 months old,I didn't want to see her get hit by a car or something. I got one of those "Live traps" from a Farm Feed & grain store, and used Can Catfood like 9 lives,and place the Catfood to the" back of the trap" where the kitten would trip the trap closed.Just make sure that it is the desired kitten you catch,not another cat when the kitten is around because the suprise would be lost and the kitten too. "Another Warning" When and If you catch her or him and bring it into the house to release,Its going to act like a "Tasmainian Devel" because it is "Scared as hell" the poor thing, Have No-other pets and Children around to get scratched and bitten because it my have rabies or not,you don't know, take it to a small room with little to hide and that can catch her again by hand." Wear Protective Gloves and Clothes" so you wont get scratched and bit.Work Slow,and be kind to her,"Shes Scared" and so would you if you would be her right?. When you tale her out gently,Pet her slowly till she calms down,and give her food and talk to her softly,Shes got to build a trust in you that you won't hurt her,and in Danger.Warm milk helps alot. ~Ginger~ |
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