Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2005
Feral cats invade my life
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Charlie Wilkes - 15 Apr 2005 03:08 GMT Cat#1...
...is living in the crawl-space under my singlewide residence. The insulation is sagging and she holes up in there. She is pregnant and oughta be due any second from the looks of her. I monitor her with a nannycam near the feeding station I have set up under the trailer. The camera has an IR light, and I talk to her (from within the house) when she shows up. She seems to sense that the camera is a benevolent eye, and spends a fair amount of time in front of it.
My plan is to trap the cat after she has had the kittens, because I have been reluctant to stress her in the late stages of pregnancy, nor do I want to do anything that will interfere with lactation.
Somehow I want to get the whole family transfered to a big, safe enclosure in my back yard so I can socialize the kittens and look after the health of mom and litter. A nearby feed store will put the kittens on display and sell them for vetting/spaying costs. At that point I will have the mother spayed and release her and continue to feed her if she decides to hang around.
QUESTION -- When should I trap the mother cat?
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Cat#2...
...is a young unneutered male about a year old. I found him sprawled across the road, dazed from a head injury and bleeding from his eyes, ears, nose and mouth, but otherwise sound. He was a feral from a nearby livestock barn. He recovered over the course of a week and soon revealed that he was not meant to be a feral, but rather an indoor lap cat. He is quite needy and troublesome, but his personality also has many endearing features.
But he has taken to pissing on everything and crapping on the kitchen floor, even though he has a litter box and has shown he knows how to use it. Moreover, he harrasses my dog. It is comical to watch a 3 pound cat beat his tiny paws on a dog who will stop a full-grown man in his tracks, but the dog doesn't like it. She wants to be friends with the cat, and actually they are most of the time.
QUESTION -- How soon after neutering can I expect this behavior to stop? The neutering will happen in the next couple of days.
Also, what other measures can I take to modify the cat's behavior? I hope to keep this cat as a pet and an animal companion for my dog, who will protect him and dote on him if given a chance. I have named him Tweaker, BTW.
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Thank you for your help.
Charlie
Karen - 15 Apr 2005 03:43 GMT > Cat#1... > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > QUESTION -- When should I trap the mother cat? Others with more experience will answer, but I would trap kitty before the kittens are born and give her a safe place to have the kitties and also then begin working on socializing. Has she actually seen YOU? She needs to connect you as being food bearer.
> ===================================================== > [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > > Charlie My mom's intact cat began spraying and she took him in to be neutered two days later. The spraying stopped immediately. I don't know how long yours has been spraying but it will probably stop pretty quickly. Did you take kitty to the vet when injured? It didn't necessarily sound like it. Be CERTAIN you tell the vet about this if not. Vet may need to be extra cautious about the anesthetic. You are good to take care of these cats.
zuzu22@webtv.net - 15 Apr 2005 05:11 GMT >When should I trap the mother cat? Trap her NOW. It will make things much easier and you will be able to access the kittens at any time. If they're under the house and problems arise you'll likely be SOOL. Don't worry about the stress of being trapped affecting her pregnancy. It won't. I trapped a pregnant feral that was about ready to give birth and she adjusted well. In fact, with a warm, clean place to sleep and unlimited food and water, she almost seemed relieved. Even though she was extremely feral, she let me handle the kittens right away and was a very good mother. So catch mom and set her up inside in safety where she can have the kittens and they'll get used to humans immediately, (which will make them easier to adopt out.)
WRT your other cat, it will take several weeks after neutering for hormonal changes to be complete, so be patient and the disagreeable behaviors he is exhibiting should go away.
Megan
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"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
-Edmund Burke
Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com
Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22
"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."
- W.H. Murray
Phil P. - 15 Apr 2005 07:44 GMT > QUESTION -- When should I trap the mother cat? Now! Just be sure you don't leave the trap unattended and to get her out of the trap and into a safe pen as soon as possible - this will keep her stress at a mimimum. Keep the pen in a warm, quiet, dimly lit, low-traffic area. Feed her as much kitten food as she wants. Kitten food is packed with nutrients - pregnant and nursing moms need all the nutrition they can get.
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> Cat#2... > > QUESTION -- How soon after neutering can I expect this behavior to > stop? Hard to say for a year-old male - a few weeks to a month or longer - depends on how ingrained the behavior is.
Even though the hormones dissipate after a few weeks, the behavior could take longer to "unlearn". This is why its always better to neuter a cat before he develops the behavior.
Best of luck,
Phil
Charlie Wilkes - 15 Apr 2005 10:03 GMT Thanks for your replies. I will trap this cat tomorrow, if it's not too late. She won't have to stay in the trap long as it will be in front of the nannycam, which I check often.
I posted a couple of pictures at:
www.geocities.com/wallofgrays/catcam.htm
As for the other cat, I am doing what I can to reduce his stress. My dog, Holly, is showing her noble character by indulging him and keeping a paw of friendship cautiously extended.
Charlie
Ashley - 15 Apr 2005 10:06 GMT > As for the other cat, I am doing what I can to reduce his stress. My > dog, Holly, is showing her noble character by indulging him and > keeping a paw of friendship cautiously extended. Give Holly a pat for me, and tell her to hang in there ;-)
Phil P. - 15 Apr 2005 11:08 GMT > Thanks for your replies. I will trap this cat tomorrow, if it's not > too late. She won't have to stay in the trap long as it will be in [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > www.geocities.com/wallofgrays/catcam.htm That's a great idea! She looks about ready!
I have a wireless Linksys internet camera that has its own URL so I can monitor my clinic cats from anywhere - even from my truck on my laptop using my cell phone as a modem --- but I can't figure out how to monitor my traps in the field on camera! ;-(
> As for the other cat, I am doing what I can to reduce his stress. My > dog, Holly, is showing her noble character by indulging him and > keeping a paw of friendship cautiously extended. They'll probably become life-long friends!
Post some pictures of the kits when they're born.
Best of luck,
Phil
CatNipped - 15 Apr 2005 14:06 GMT > Thanks for your replies. I will trap this cat tomorrow, if it's not > too late. She won't have to stay in the trap long as it will be in [quoted text clipped - 9 lines] > > Charlie Wow, she is *very* pregnant! ;>
Charlie, bless you for doing this - you've earned your place in heaven with the size of your heart!
Hugs,
CatNipped
Libby - 15 Apr 2005 14:20 GMT Now that's a big cat! She looks like the back end of a bus...After she gives birth, she has to use Suzanne Sommers Thigh-zer-cize contraption for the next six months to get her figure back!
Mary - 15 Apr 2005 15:13 GMT > Thanks for your replies. I will trap this cat tomorrow, if it's not > too late. She won't have to stay in the trap long as it will be in [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > > www.geocities.com/wallofgrays/catcam.htm Oh, she's a tabby! That's a neat setup you have, is it a special camera?
> As for the other cat, I am doing what I can to reduce his stress. My > dog, Holly, is showing her noble character by indulging him and > keeping a paw of friendship cautiously extended. Good luck, Charlie, you're great for helping these kitties.
Charlie Wilkes - 16 Apr 2005 16:13 GMT Again, thanks for your helpful advice and flattering comments. Here is an update on the situation:
Cat #1, the crawlspace cat, ate a meal consisting of two cans of Safeway Select catfood and about a dry pint of Friskies Ocean Fish kibbles. She still hasn't given birth. After dinner she faced the camera and groomed herself for about 15 minutes, as she generally does. She looks healthy, and her coat is glossy from all the rendered sewage fat in her diet.
I tried to rent a trap today, but they are all in use. I don't want to spend $65 to buy one at the farm store.
When she gives birth, I will find the litter so I can set it up with proper bedding and get the trusted camera on it. Then I will disturb the scene on a daily basis to interact with the kittens. This cat avoids me because of instinct and habit, but she is aware that I am giving her lots of food and taking a friendly interest in her. I expect she will merely keep a distance until I am gone, and soon accept my interruptions as part of the normal pattern.
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Cat #2, Tweaker the road casualty, has greatly improved his behavior.
He wanted my constant attention, and he was pissing everywhere and sh.tting on the floor after having used a litter box for a couple of weeks. He was also harrassing my dog, who has been friendly to him.
I have had good luck with my dog by spending a lot of time with her and indulging her needs. So, I decided to dote on the cat by encouraging him to sit in my lap as much as he wants, spending a lot of time grooming and petting him etc., and talking to him. He has been soaking it up with pleasure. He has also gone back to using the litter box, and now he is consistently friendly toward Holly. He seems to have stopped spraying as well. Next week I will get him neutered and vetted.
I should mention that I also plugged in Jerry Howe's ultrasonic tone box and squirted the joint with feline-facial-horomone-analogue spray from Rite Aid. Everything is working 100% as advertised.
I posted a picture of Tweaker at www.geocities.com/wallofgrays/tweaker.jpg
Charlie
zuzu22@webtv.net - 16 Apr 2005 17:46 GMT >I tried to rent a trap today, but they are >all in use. I don't want to spend $65 to buy >one at the farm store. Please, try the rent-all place *every day* as you might get one when someone returns it. Better yet, since time is of the essence, bite the bullet, spend the money and get a trap today. You could donate it to a non-profit rescue when you're done and deduct it from your taxes. You can't wait on this.
>When she gives birth, I will find the litter >so I can set it up with proper bedding and >get the trusted camera on it. Then I will >disturb the scene on a daily basis to >interact with the kittens. NO, NO, NO! Please don't do this. You are more likely to upset the mother and she will move the kittens and then you'll have a bigger problem on your hands. Again, please get a trap and get her before she gives birth (have you tried contacting animal control/shelters/escues to see if you can borrow one?)
Megan
 Signature
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
-Edmund Burke
Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com
Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22
"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."
- W.H. Murray
Charlie Wilkes - 17 Apr 2005 02:04 GMT >>I tried to rent a trap today, but they are >>all in use. I don't want to spend $65 to buy [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >non-profit rescue when you're done and deduct it from your taxes. You >can't wait on this. Ok, Megan. Your impassioned plea did the trick. I am on your program as of now. I went to the farm store and bought the trap, and it is now set and baited in front of the nannycam in my crawl space. I hope it's not too late.
I also bought a jumbo pet porter to lodge the cat in once she has been secured. I rationalized this purchase because I will need it for Holly if I ever decide to fly somewhere and take her along, which is quite possible.
Charlie
zuzu22@webtv.net - 17 Apr 2005 03:36 GMT >Ok, Megan. Your impassioned plea did >the trick. Yay! Thank you! :-)
>I am on your program as of now. I went >to the farm store and bought the trap, and >it is now set and baited in front of the >nannycam in my crawl space. I hope it's >not too late. Me too. However, if you can't trap her before she has the kittens and you have the ability to retrieve them from where they are, I would definitely continue to set the trap and hopefully you can catch her while the kittens are still very tiny and don't have the ability to run away. When you catch her get her set up in her new acommodations, grab the kittens, and put them back in with her.
Thanks for looking out for this kitty. You're a good soul.
Megan
 Signature
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
-Edmund Burke
Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com
Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22
"Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way."
- W.H. Murray
Mary - 16 Apr 2005 18:37 GMT > Again, thanks for your helpful advice and flattering comments. Here > is an update on the situation: [quoted text clipped - 37 lines] > box and squirted the joint with feline-facial-horomone-analogue spray > from Rite Aid. Everything is working 100% as advertised. What is this? It sounds intriguing.
> I posted a picture of Tweaker at > www.geocities.com/wallofgrays/tweaker.jpg Another Tabby! He's handsome.
Charlie Wilkes - 17 Apr 2005 02:20 GMT >> I should mention that I also plugged in Jerry Howe's ultrasonic tone >> box and squirted the joint with feline-facial-horomone-analogue spray >> from Rite Aid. Everything is working 100% as advertised. > >What is this? It sounds intriguing. The tone box or the spray? I know nothing about the spray except it is sold at Rite Aid for the purpose of calming cats and it's expensive at $20.
The tone box is made from a chip used in cell phones and sold as the "DDR" (Doggy Do Right) by Jerry Howe, who posts in rec.pets.dogs.behavior and is disliked by most of the regulars. I get a kick out of him and I think he is more right than wrong. Ultrasound seems to be an effective teaching aid for autistic children, so it is not impossible that it has some benefit for stressed-out pets.
Mainly I think Tweaker needs more hands-on that I had been giving him, and now that he is getting it, his behavior has improved dramatically.
Charlie
Mary - 17 Apr 2005 16:22 GMT > >> I should mention that I also plugged in Jerry Howe's ultrasonic tone > >> box and squirted the joint with feline-facial-horomone-analogue spray [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > seems to be an effective teaching aid for autistic children, so it is > not impossible that it has some benefit for stressed-out pets. Jerry's heart is in the right place, that's for sure.
> Mainly I think Tweaker needs more hands-on that I had been giving him, > and now that he is getting it, his behavior has improved dramatically. This simple and astute observation appears to escape many people, who instead spray water, make loud noises, etc. I share your experience with positive reinforcement.
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