Topic: Gaining a strays confidence??? (Read 3916 times)

Millys Mum · « **Reply #20 on:** February 25, 2008, 16:26:41 PM »

Quote from: Dawn F on February 25, 2008, 13:51:58 PM

update on friends stray - he is living in the conservatory and has been neutered, had flea treatment, been wormed and had antibiotics for the wound on his leg - I think she loves him and he may stay! He is pure black and looking for a name - any suggestions??

Ha ha, once a cat gets named its not likely to be going anywhere

I like Roma for a black cat

Michelle, Tramp looks sooooo comfy

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #19 on:** February 25, 2008, 14:02:39 PM »

Well I haven't seen my stray for a few days so i'm still putting food out, but think it's being eaten by the foxes!

Manybe it was owned and has returned to it's home.... i'm going to keep my eyes peeled and keep putting grub out anyway!

An all black cat is dying to be called Sirius I think!

Michelle (furbabystar) · « **Reply #18 on:** February 25, 2008, 13:59:49 PM »

It took me nearly 6mths to be able to touch Tramp and he hated my other cats but you should see him now !

As somebody else has said, Feed at regular times.
Speak to him all the time you are putting his food out, Hopefully over time he will get used to your voice, keep in the background and gradually over time get a little closer each time.

It can take along time and sometimes it doesnt work at all. I had a feral cat for 10yrs and he never allowd me to touch him

Tramp is the Tabby and white in pics

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Dawn F · « **Reply #17 on:** February 25, 2008, 13:51:58 PM »

update on friends stray - he is living in the conservatory and has been neutered, had flea treatment, been wormed and had antibiotics for the wound on his leg - I think she loves him and he may stay! He is pure black and looking for a name - any suggestions??

Hippykitty · « **Reply #16 on:** February 22, 2008, 20:08:47 PM »

Birmingham CP pts fiv and flv cats.

The only way to gain the trust of a stray or feral cat is with time and patience. Don't approach them, let them approach you. They will see any approach from you as a threat and this will reinforce their fears.

The best way to catch them is using a feral trap.

Most ferals are tameable. I'm currently rehoming a colony I trapped in Nov and have spent the winter taming, which was just a question of accustoming them to human company through play, feeding, and merely being with them. Nothing happens quickly, they need to slowly realise that you don't intend to hurt them but to provide nice things like food and warmth and play.

Desley (booktigger) · « **Reply #15 on:** February 22, 2008, 19:13:52 PM »

Fingers crossed for him. I agree, I like people like your friend who are willing to help the charity out.

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #14 on:** February 22, 2008, 10:46:44 AM »

Oh that's great. It really makes a huge difference to us when people do that - we love people like your friend!!!

If your closest CP branch is like ours she need to get him on their list and if they have a website, they can advertise him on there and then they will vet anyone who comes through. If not, he needs to be on their list so that they know he's avaliable for adoption.

Dawn F · « **Reply #13 on:** February 22, 2008, 10:40:18 AM »

oh no she is happy to pay, she even said she would keep him until a home came up, she would keep him herself but her oh has drawn the line on that one!

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #12 on:** February 22, 2008, 10:37:47 AM »

Oh dear, poor thing (and poor lady - it's always distressing to find an injured cat). Hopefully the CP will be able to help or if she can't pay, a local PDSA hospital would be a good option.

Bear in mind that on average we get around 5 calls a day to pay for treatment to injured cats and unfortunately we do have to turn people down. PLEASE don't think that it is that we don't care, we just don' have enough money! We tend to prioritise very serious cases where we feel other charities might not help (such as FIV cats, very timid strays etc)

Fingers crossed for your friend. Hopefully they can treat the wound, neuter him and then release him to come round and re-home him from the current situation.

Dawn F · « **Reply #11 on:** February 22, 2008, 08:37:13 AM »

there has been a development, she caught him last night, well he let her pick him up if that is that same as being caught! he has a wound on his leg, her oh is livid because she put him in the conservatory and he sprayed everywhere but she was keeping him in there the night and when I was on the phone her oh was sorting out a litter tray and stuff, she is going to try mayhew and cp this morning, she got the rspca last night but wasn't happy with him going to them, she said she will take him to the vet this morning

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #10 on:** February 21, 2008, 17:13:25 PM »

MillysMum - which CP branches are putting FIV cats to sleep????!!!!

Millys Mum · « **Reply #9 on:** February 21, 2008, 15:53:44 PM »

Celia Hammond and Mayhew rehome fiv cats, there are CP branches putting them sleep too so he wouldnt be safe at many places

Lets hope hes healthy

I have another tom on the scene now, annoyingly around here they are wayyyy too smart to go in the trap

Dawn F · « **Reply #8 on:** February 21, 2008, 15:27:17 PM »

she is in Hayes West London not sure who she phoned but I know rspca was one, I will check with her over the weekend - her oh is all for throwing water over him so she is up against it from all directions!

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #7 on:** February 21, 2008, 14:31:53 PM »

Yes I totally understand her predicament. Here at Leeds CP we're quite fortunate as we have quite a large number of full time volunteers and it does make it much easier to help people when they need it. If she's going down the rescue route, I would get her to do it sooner rather than later, as in a couple of months kitten season will hit and rescues will be even more stretched.

Hmmm not really sure what to advise apart from keeping her cats in until they know about the FIV status. Of course there's always the RSPCA but I think that they put down FIV cats whereas we would always re-home.

I would ring CP headquarters so that they can try to get the local branch moving. Where abouts are you?

Dawn F · « **Reply #6 on:** February 21, 2008, 14:17:59 PM »

we had a chat about it last night - we got a big wiff of spray when she opened the door to the curry man! unfortunately she contacted a few local rescues last time she had him and didn't have much joy, I've tried to explain that most are unpaid and doing it in spare time but she was a bit peed off when nobody could help - anyway she has thought a bit more about it and decided to try again, the main concern is her cat has had two abcesses (sp) from this boy and so now they are worried she could have fiv - the receptionist at the vets said she knew where he belonged apparently it was a house rented by students but I imagine they may have moved on by now - just sad that people take them on without considering the long term - still you don't need me to tell you!

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #5 on:** February 21, 2008, 14:06:50 PM »

Thanks Dawn,

I would tell your friend to contact her local CP branch as most of us have a trapper who can come out and set a humane trap which is easier. Many times of course they are so busy, but I would at least find out whether they can help or not.

I'm quite glad that this one is staying where it is, as my own cat is VERY dominant had hates all other felines so at least it's not trying to get etc etc.

I'm not sure whether vets have traps that they lend out either, but worth asking. In the meantime, it would be a case of sorting the neutering as a priority as he will probably calm down once this is done. Then it's a case of getting him on as many rescue waiting lists as possible. Where it is possible I would advise your friend to take him to a rescue centre when they have space and not let him get collected. Some of the so called "rescues" around us are no better than the cats being on the streets!

Always make sure that they have a stringent re-homing policy in place and a high standard of cat care - soz i've waffled!!!

Dawn F · « **Reply #4 on:** February 21, 2008, 13:54:11 PM »

I'll be interested to hear how you get on - my friend is trying to do the same at the moment, there is a big black tom who keeps beating up her cat and spraying all over her front door, she is determined to catch him and have him neutered and try and get him into rescue, she managed to catch him before christmas, he was really bald so she took him to the vet and they treated him for flea allergy, she had him booked in for a neuter on the monday but over the weekend he escaped from the garage - at the moment he has fur but it is only a matter of time before the flea allergy comes back I would have thought

clarenmax · « **Reply #3 on:** February 21, 2008, 13:50:05 PM »

No advice to offer as I have no experience, just wanted to say best of luck with this little one

Millys Mum · « **Reply #2 on:** February 21, 2008, 12:04:12 PM »

Feed at a regular time to establish a routine and hopefully if you with hold a meal it will go in the trap when you get hold of one. If not then take the sliding door out and feed in the unset trap until confidence is gained....

wharfevalley catsprotection · « **Reply #1 on:** February 20, 2008, 19:50:09 PM »

Hello!

I'm currently feeding a cat which I think is a stray. It's turned up in an abandoned garden where we know the gentleman left and abandoned his other cat, who we have subsequently re-homed. I'm worried that this other one has always been there, but i've not just seen it before!

Anyway, i'm postering and leafletting the area and contacting vets. It's VERY timid and goes to hide under the greenhouse when I go too near. I've arranged our feral trapper to come at some point so we can check for a chip and whether it's neutered or not (at the moment I don't even know if it's male or female). I'm feeding it through the fence (as the gate is locked and I can't get in). I'm trying to talk to it when I approach, so that it can get used to my voice and hopefully link it with the food! Is there anything else I can do, or is it just a matter of time? It's obviously finding somewhere warm to sleep (under the greenhouse I think), but is there anything else I can do?

Jen

PS: It feels wierd to deal with a problem of my own, rather than other people who ring the branch!!!

Author Topic: Gaining a strays confidence??? (Read 3916 times)