Bob and Lizzie's other human, Reena, needs advice from formerly wild cats (or their humans) as to how best to ensure 'Pretty Kitty' and two kittens 'Sparky' and 'Silver' can be assured of warm, friendly homes this winter.
'Pretty Kitty' lives under a garage across the alley from Reena's parents place in Red Deer Alberta (where Reena is visiting). Reena's mum found out about her a few months ago and has been feeding her since (she was very thin), but can't have pets in their senior's condo. She can now touch Pretty Kitty just a little (although on Pretty Kitty's own terms only) and Pretty Kitty will even rollover and show her tummy when waiting to get fed. This is a big change from Pretty Kitty hiding away when Reena's mum first started feeding her.
It appears that Pretty Kitty has survived one Canadian Winter already, which is no mean feat given that somewhere along the way, something happened and the bottom of one of her back legs is missing. She has adapted and is able to get around pretty well.
A few weeks ago Pretty Kitty decided to allow out in public view her two beautiful kittens. We think they are now around 7 weeks old. Pretty Kitty is a very good mum, and keeps them safe - giving them signals about when they can come out and when to hide (e.g. whenever humans get to close).
The SPCA have been called but were not so helpful due to lack of resources. However a local cat organisation has been found and has kindly agreed to take all three and try and find them good homes - if we can get them to them. This means they need to be caught - and time is running short for Sparky and Silver. Suggestions are needed as to the best way to get the three to safety.
A cat trap may be available. It has been suggested that this would likely involve trapping Pretty Kitty first then trying to get the kittens after.
Neither Reena or her folks have any experience in this area, and would like suggestions about the best way to proceed. Should you have any, please feel free to leave them as comments."
Pictures to follow ...
We will return to our Ocilympic coverage soon , this is Bob signing out
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2 comments:
The trick with Pretty Kitty is going to be the nape of the neck. Some have said that it's not appropriate for adult cats, but sometimes it's the only way. Being held this way causes most adult cats to curl up like a carried kitten. You can add a little support under their hindquarters to help avoid undue injury.
Also, guard your intentions. Once you realize that you are going to capture, you will naturally carry a higher level of excitement when around Pretty Kitty. She will notice this, and it will take several days for her to get used to it. So do not go out planning "Today I'm going to capture her," but instead plan to go pet her every day, and just grab her when she presents the opportunity. Make changes to the house now, so it will be easier to walk in with a struggling wildcat.
All our captures in the past have involved having the food bowl just outside a sliding glass door, and then, after many weeks, moving the bowl inside the open door. If you can arrange things this way, you won't necessarily need to grab Pretty Kitty.
Sparky and Silver are getting old enough to be a matter of concern. I would think hard about trying to capture them very soon. If they're still small enough it may be possible to corner them, possibly using a blanket to entangle and control them. The nape of the neck is the spot to reach for when you get close enough. However, if they can already outrun you, the only option remaining may be to gain their trust as you have with their mother.
I'm not sure what to add to what my husband Daniel has just written. My part in the capture was to create tempting treats and slide the door shut. The big job for me was to domesticate the cats once we got them inside. Since you can't have the cats in the condo, I'm not sure this advice will be much help. But, on the off chance it is, or if it can be of help to anyone else out there, here it is...
Ok, so you have just closed the door and a wild cat is now in your home. What happens? Well, quite frankly, they panic. The thing to keep in mind is that you can't. Everything happens very fast, but a few simple preparations make things much easier.
Before you open the door to the cat (unless the perfect opportunity finds you unprepared - in which case take it!) it is a good idea to make sure that all the other doors in the house are closed, except for one that you want the cat to eventually be in. We chose the hall bathroom as basecamp for all new cats. The sooner you can steer the cat into the room you have chosen the better. This is critical if you happen to be introducing this cat into a multicat household! The bathroom is good because it is easy to clean, big enough that you can spend time in there with the cat, and is a reasonably sized place where the cat can explore his surroundings thoroughly and begin to relax and feel safe. It has the added benefit of being a quaritined area away from the other cats until a vet can check the cat out and give it the thumbs up as far as health is concerned.
In the bathroom, I would have waiting a fresh litter box, food, water, a warm soft bed (perhaps in a cat carrier that has the door fastened open), and if possible something that the cat liked from outside: a favorite twig, stone, or deck chair. (I'm sorry Tashi, I had to draw the line with the baby squirrel tail, I know how much you loved it though)
The length of time that the next step takes depends a lot on the cat, and how much time you can spend with it. I spent as much time as I could spare. In stead of enjoying a morning cup of coffee from the comfort of the couch, or bed, I would drink it on a low stool in the bathroom instead. I would take a book with me, and trade off reading silently and reading aloud. I home school my two children, and we would have several classes a day on the floor in the bathroom so that they could get used to us. For the first day or so the cat would generally hide behind the toilet, but there is a lot of truth in the saying that cats are curious. If you are patient and quiet (not silent, just gentle in your voice and demeanor), they will learn to trust.
There will eventually come a day, when they let you pet them again, even jump up on your lap and show you their tummy. Enjoy this for a little while if you have other cats in the house. Don't rush the introductions. Your cats know there is a stranger in the bathroom, and the stranger certainly knows he's on enemy turf. We have had cats where the whole process took about two days (she (Socks) was very VERY pregnant at the time though, so that changed things a bit), and we have had cats like Tashi that took more than two weeks. Freckles was somewhere in the middle.
When it finally comes time to leave the safety of the bathroom and explore the rest of the house, do it in pieces. If the cat is young enough to carry, you could take her on a tour. Show her where the other cats use the litter box, and where the regular food and water are kept. Try to keep the first outing fairly short, and don't go out of your way to make introductions to the other cats, unless the timing really seems right.
The next time you go walk-about, show her where the key items are again, and then if it seems right let her explore on her own. I would still limit access to just part of the house. Having all the bedrooms doors open at first can be a tricky proposition, esspecially if she gets spooked by another cat, and decides to hide under the bed. It is easy for them to get disoriented and forget they can go to the saftey of their bathroom.
Eventually, you won't need to keep the bathroom door closed anymore. Kitty will be part of the family. I can not begin to express to you how worth it it all is. I love my wild cats, and they continually express their love and thanks to me. Even our old, sweet, fuddy-duddy, aloof, store bought cat (Tiba), has made her piece with them.
I'm sorry this has gotten so long, and I wish that it could have been of a more direct help in this current situation.
Take care,
Vicki (the feeder, nurturer of the Ashton cats)
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