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Cat Forum / Rescue / February 2005Feral kitty sleeps in litterbox
THREE days ago we took a feral female cat (about 1yr old) to be tested/vaccinated/spayed. We've been working with her outside for about 5 months. In the beginning we'd only see her once a week or so, and she always ran away. After she decided to follow us when we walk our dog, come when called, live on our porch, let us pet her, and meet my wife at her car in the morning when my wife leaves for work, we decided to adopt her. She is doing great, and after being zonked out after surgery for 24hrs she has started to eat and drink and get back to her purring ways. Her health checked out A-okay. We are keeping her in her own room, and in a large wire dog cage with kitty bed, food/water, and a litter box at the back of the cage. The only problem is that the first day in a half she slept and stayed in the litter box. She also has not gone to the bathroom at all. Starting the 2nd day, she likes the kitty bed now and stays there. But I noticed when she got scared today (3rd day since surgery) from a noise outside (garbage truck) she jumped into the litterbox for a minute. Considering her body probably shutdown after surgery, is 3 days okay to let her go without using the bathroom? If she doesn't go by the morning of the 4th day (tomorrow, Saturday) then I might put her in a bathroom with a litterbox to get her out of the caged environment. We plan to let her out of the cage for supervised play once she is using the litterbox. Any advice would be great! Other than not using the bathroom, she seems very content, purring, stretching, napping... Thanks! I rather doubt your kitty was a true feral, she warmed up to you much to quickly, but obviously she had been socialized with humans and also abandoned by them. Good on you for for taking her in and doing right for her. Sleeping in the litter box is usually a sign of insecurity, hence jumping into it at the sound of the garbage truck, or any really loud noise. As she becomes more familiar with recurrent loud noises she'll calm down. Getting her out of the cage is what you need to work on., keeping her in a closed room is a step in the right direct, though she will still, technically, be caged, it will not feel as confining to her. However, I would only keep her there when you or your spouse are not home to supervise her and give her reassurances. If the room is big enough, set the dog crate in with her, with only bedding, food and water, and the door left open. Drape an old sheet over the cage to give the illusion of security and she will probably sleep in it or on top of it. This will become her "safe haven" and unless she will be left alone for an extended length of time, there should be no need to lock her into it. Since your kitty had to live on her own for several months it will take her some time to adjust to life as a house cat, be patient and give her constant reassurance. You've done a good thing; keep doing it! Hemmaholic I agree with Hemmaholic advice. It sounds like you are doing good. I had my first experiance with semi feral cats last fall. You can read about it at http://kittens-3.blogspot.com/ Ann >I rather doubt your kitty was a true feral, she warmed up to you much > to quickly, but obviously she had been socialized with humans and also [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Hemmaholic looking for help, we've had a calico ferrel living on our porch for a year, we made a bed for her and fed her every night and morning. we started to leave the kitchen door open as the temperature went down to 10 above. she would come in, sit for awhile then run out. 3 days ago, she came in and my wife shut the door. she hid behind the freezer, for a day. this is the 3rd day, shes not afraid of our 2 shiztsus or our cat. while not afraid of us she wont come near us, running into a closet or some dark corner if we are near. the proble...we haven't seen her eat or use the litter box, we had one "poop" on the floor. can be she be trained? are we better off letting her outside again? >looking for help, we've had a calico ferrel living on our porch for a year, >we made a bed for her and fed her every night and morning. we started to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] >one "poop" on the floor. can be she be trained? are we better off letting >her outside again? I have one (Kitty is her name) that hid under the sofa for almost two weeks when I first got her and did not eat or use the litter box for almost a week. I would slide food under the sofa for her and lay by sofa and look under and talk to het softly. Finally I would hear her at night exploring and some of her food would be gone in AM but she would still hide. After a couple weeks she would venture out in the evening when the lights would be off and I would be laying on sofa watching TV. She slowly would come closer and closer. She was 4 years at the time and as far as I knew had been a stray all that time. She is now like 10 and still jumpy and stand offish. The slightist noise and she is gone into the bedroom which is her safe spot. She now sleeps on my bed at night as long as she does not get too close but she loves to be petted as long as I do not try to hold or pick her up. I hold my hand down and wiggle my fingers and she will come running to be petted. She was my first and in her own way is the most lovable of all 4. There was an excellent article in the March issue of Cat Fancy called "How to Soothe Sacredy Cat" that dealt with your problem if you can find a copy. Just do not give up on your baby. Give her time and work with her. My babies: http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ ***************************************************** E-mail address altered to foil spam. Remove spam and junk to reply via e-mail. ***************************************************** > My babies: > http://members.aol.com/larrystark/ I tell you, one of the best things about the Internet is seeing stuff like this. Thanks for sharing them with the rest of us. How is she doing by now? She can be trained to use the litter box, she just has to feel safe using it and has to know what it is. If she leave a poo on the floor, try picking it up with a paper towel and putting it in the box. Hope you've worked it out by now. Working is a stray, scardy kitty is so rewarding. They learn to love you and show affection in their own way. Rhonda > looking for help, we've had a calico ferrel living on our porch for a year, > we made a bed for her and fed her every night and morning. we started to [quoted text clipped - 6 lines] > one "poop" on the floor. can be she be trained? are we better off letting > her outside again? Bill, If Minnie (my former feral) is anything like this calico, you have have some work ahead of you. But the first time that cat comes up to you and wants your attention is priceless and makes all past aggrivation worthwhile. Good Luck Mike http:\\minnietcat.blogspot.com Please see other thread of same name in group rec.pets.cats.health+behav Thanks! http://groups-beta.google.com/group/rec.pets.cats.health+behav/browse_thread/thr ead/e5e37112bb5e13ac/d511697dd75a941d
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