Susie, around here we refer to it as a "kitty cottage." I certainly wouldn't want my feline girls to get a bad reputation.
MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !
- Thread starter susieqz
- Start date
Susie, around here we refer to it as a "kitty cottage." I certainly wouldn't want my feline girls to get a bad reputation.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
i wouldn't object if she had male visitors. i'd love a litter.
i can support a bunch of outside cats n a house cat too.
actually, the mortality rate would be high.
unless mom's ability to avoid coyotes is passed down.
i can support a bunch of outside cats n a house cat too.
actually, the mortality rate would be high.
unless mom's ability to avoid coyotes is passed down.
As has been mentioned, sometimes they surprise you.
The stray/abandoned little kitty, that adopted me several years ago, would run away if I even made eye to eye contact with her, when she first appeared with her head sticking out from under the fence.
I kept giving her food every day & she stayed just out of view but slowly, after going thru two winters, slowly she got closer & closer until one day I touched her tail & she didn't run.
Now she stays by the patio in the fair weather & comes into the garage in the winter when I call her.
Even my son had to shake his head & admit he was wrong in thinking she'd never be more than a scaredy cat.
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susieqz: I hope things work out with your little helper.
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- Lil Kitty catching some rays on a cold morning -
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Just keep feeding it and making appearances. When it gets to the point it doesn't run off, speak to it in a quiet gentle voice. Just become part of its normal world. Let it get used to you. I too have had wild cats slowly come to trust me. It even works with deer. In the winter I regularly set out some feed for the deer that come through my yard. They got so that they would be waiting in the mornings for their treat. Slowly the distance that they ran away when I came out to spread out the alphafa pellets or corn got shorter. Then I started backing off a bit and gently talking to them and they would approach the feed and eat getting less nervous everyday. Now they will stand there while I throw carrots and apples at them. A couple of the older ones will let me within a few feet and there was a fawn we named piglet that got to taking crackers and such out of your hand. He was a little buck though and either something happened to him or he got moved off.
Food, exposure and time.
Food, exposure and time.
joeintexas
US Veteran
Growing up on a farm we had several feral cats show up, my grandmother would throw scraps to them. Unfortunately we were never able to get them to be pets, way too skiddish. She did have one that she could hand feed, couldn't pet but would take food from her hand. Great mousers! Pretty sure I never heard my dad or granddad say they were going to a cat house!
Good luck susie!!
Good luck susie!!
chaparrito
Member
I had 6-8 feral barn cats for years. We had trapped, spayed and released them all and they stayed around. Kept the place free of gophers and mice. Then last year this big, mutant coyote came into the area. We think he was a dog hybrid. Looked 100% coyote but was a half size bigger than the normal scrappy little 'yotes we have all over the place. A six foot fence was no challenge to him from a standstill.
He slowly picked off all but one of our feral cats, and our livestock guard dogs never could get him. Real smart. He would come in broad daylight when the dogs were napping and unprepared. Left the goats and sheep alone and instead nearly wiped out our poultry. I never could get a good shot at him, but another neighbor finally did. I didn't find out about it for several weeks or I'd have gladly paid to have a DNA analysis done on the beast, I am quite sure he was no ordinary coyote.
Anyhow, the sole remaining feral cat works overtime now on the gophers and mice and interestingly comes to the door when she's had a bad day hunting and lets me pet her a little and takes some dry food. She's getting old, I'd love to convince her to come in the house and retire, but I doubt she'll get that friendly.
He slowly picked off all but one of our feral cats, and our livestock guard dogs never could get him. Real smart. He would come in broad daylight when the dogs were napping and unprepared. Left the goats and sheep alone and instead nearly wiped out our poultry. I never could get a good shot at him, but another neighbor finally did. I didn't find out about it for several weeks or I'd have gladly paid to have a DNA analysis done on the beast, I am quite sure he was no ordinary coyote.
Anyhow, the sole remaining feral cat works overtime now on the gophers and mice and interestingly comes to the door when she's had a bad day hunting and lets me pet her a little and takes some dry food. She's getting old, I'd love to convince her to come in the house and retire, but I doubt she'll get that friendly.
nachogrande
Member
NOT A FERAL ANYTHING FAN.
They don't have such a great life & kill way to many birds that I would rather see. Owls, hawks, snakes, coyotes, bobcats prey on rodents as well. Snap-n-kill rat traps with a little peanut butter don't cost much. TEHO
They don't have such a great life & kill way to many birds that I would rather see. Owls, hawks, snakes, coyotes, bobcats prey on rodents as well. Snap-n-kill rat traps with a little peanut butter don't cost much. TEHO
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OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
natcho, traps are only so-so. some pests are too smart. plus those traps rust real fast.
i've tried them. the only workable solution is poison. that can harm the critters you mention, if they eat a poisoned mouse.
i've tried everything.
nothing is as good as a cat.
if some bird is eating my figs, let him be lunch for feralcat.
i've tried them. the only workable solution is poison. that can harm the critters you mention, if they eat a poisoned mouse.
i've tried everything.
nothing is as good as a cat.
if some bird is eating my figs, let him be lunch for feralcat.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
Try tuna it gets there attention quickly.
nachogrande
Member
LIKE FISHING,
You can't catch them all. Traps only kill 1 animal. Poison is effective, but too indiscriminant for me. A bolt action rifle using 22 short CB caps is my quiet garden defender during daylight hours, it used to be a bow. Squirrels are a more realistic target than mice.
A couple times back while turning over my compost I had a rat kabob. They don't freak me out that much anymore, just doing what rats do. Getting old & soft maybe.
You can't catch them all. Traps only kill 1 animal. Poison is effective, but too indiscriminant for me. A bolt action rifle using 22 short CB caps is my quiet garden defender during daylight hours, it used to be a bow. Squirrels are a more realistic target than mice.
A couple times back while turning over my compost I had a rat kabob. They don't freak me out that much anymore, just doing what rats do. Getting old & soft maybe.
I've been enjoying reading this thread. I have 3 rescue cats currently.
But ya know, gun people are supposed to be a bunch of knuckle dragging, grumpy old farts that dislike everything and everyone.
You guys are killing our reputation!
But ya know, gun people are supposed to be a bunch of knuckle dragging, grumpy old farts that dislike everything and everyone.
You guys are killing our reputation!
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
it's interesting how much knowledge is available on this forum.
no matter what i ask, gun related or not, i get help.
people here are experienced in most everything.
looks to me like gun people are just smarter than the general population.
hugzzz to you all.
i hope you post anything further than you can think of.
i know house cats n barn cats but not feral cats.
oh, i notice that during the night, feral cat gave up on her hunger strike n ate half the friskies.
no matter what i ask, gun related or not, i get help.
people here are experienced in most everything.
looks to me like gun people are just smarter than the general population.
hugzzz to you all.
i hope you post anything further than you can think of.
i know house cats n barn cats but not feral cats.
oh, i notice that during the night, feral cat gave up on her hunger strike n ate half the friskies.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
When I go bear hunting with my 338wm I'm the baddest thing walking in the woods. Even the chipmunks fear me but they love my fifth avenue candy bars. The whole apple orchard comes to life. There sugar high sounds unbelievable there bouncing off the trees. I don't need any stinking tv. Natures music. Never had to kill to eat the market in town isn't the world class markets at home but they do have fresh local grown beef, portabella mushrooms, potatoes, fresh corn. It sure does eat good.
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Honest truth. My wife tells me to ask the Forum if I have a question about anything, from plumbing to wiring to RVs to mole traps......
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
some of you guys seem to think you are telling stories.
stories they may be, but i consider them valuable training aides.
stories they may be, but i consider them valuable training aides.
BigBill
Absent Comrade
You can't catch them all. Traps only kill 1 animal. Poison is effective, but too indiscriminant for me. A bolt action rifle using 22 short CB caps is my quiet garden defender during daylight hours, it used to be a bow. Squirrels are a more realistic target than mice.
I used decon once I pushed the boxes under my wood pile I had rats move in from the old farm at the old house. It was killing birds somehow, decades later I been still using cats. A Lot safer to use.
My three cats that go outside like friskier over can food.
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Grip_Maker's_Wife
Member
Hi Susie! You are doing the right thing by feeding her, if you want her to stick around. Seems she really likes milk but I wouldn't give her anymore because it can cause GI upset. Most likely she is thin from being feral and slightly malnourished but she is probably healthy otherwise.
The problem with an unspayed female is a healthy fertile female can have 4 litters a year so one cat can quickly turn to 30. If she is not in tip top shape and at least a year old, having a litter could be her demise. If you can find a vet that will handle ferals, spaying is a good option. Plus, deworming and vaccinations are things to consider. We have never had a cat run off after releasing from spaying. They might "disappear" for two days but will come back because they know where the source of regular food is. Some shelters have "barn cat" programs where you could get more cats if you have somewhere safe for them to sleep like a barn or coyote proof cat dwelling.
As many people said here, it takes a lot of time, effort and patience to get a feral cat to trust you but most will come to trust you. This will take months and maybe even a year or more. Just like people, every cat has their own personality and some will eventually let you touch them and some will bat your hand or run if you try. Food is a great way to start bonding. You might want to put a worn t-shirt near the food so the cat will become used to your smell. As others have said, once she comes around regularly, and is a little less spooky, start talking to her in a calm, gentle voice and sitting a comfortable distance from the food. Eventually, with time you will be able to get closer and closer depending on what the cat allows. Everything is always on their own terms but I think you already know this.
If you ever have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer any or reach out to my fellow cat rescuers/cat network if I can't answer.
I wish you the best with your new buddy mouser.
The problem with an unspayed female is a healthy fertile female can have 4 litters a year so one cat can quickly turn to 30. If she is not in tip top shape and at least a year old, having a litter could be her demise. If you can find a vet that will handle ferals, spaying is a good option. Plus, deworming and vaccinations are things to consider. We have never had a cat run off after releasing from spaying. They might "disappear" for two days but will come back because they know where the source of regular food is. Some shelters have "barn cat" programs where you could get more cats if you have somewhere safe for them to sleep like a barn or coyote proof cat dwelling.
As many people said here, it takes a lot of time, effort and patience to get a feral cat to trust you but most will come to trust you. This will take months and maybe even a year or more. Just like people, every cat has their own personality and some will eventually let you touch them and some will bat your hand or run if you try. Food is a great way to start bonding. You might want to put a worn t-shirt near the food so the cat will become used to your smell. As others have said, once she comes around regularly, and is a little less spooky, start talking to her in a calm, gentle voice and sitting a comfortable distance from the food. Eventually, with time you will be able to get closer and closer depending on what the cat allows. Everything is always on their own terms but I think you already know this.
If you ever have any specific questions, I would be happy to answer any or reach out to my fellow cat rescuers/cat network if I can't answer.
I wish you the best with your new buddy mouser.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thanks, jen.
thing is, if she agrees to live in my garden, instead of just visiting, i'd very much like a litter.
i'd like a house cat or two n i'll feed all the barn cats she can produce.
it is very hard to find kitties to adopt out here. lots of puppies, but no kittens.
the coyote predation is very high.
if you know anyone who would ship a just weaned kitty to me, i'd pay all costs.
thing is, if she agrees to live in my garden, instead of just visiting, i'd very much like a litter.
i'd like a house cat or two n i'll feed all the barn cats she can produce.
it is very hard to find kitties to adopt out here. lots of puppies, but no kittens.
the coyote predation is very high.
if you know anyone who would ship a just weaned kitty to me, i'd pay all costs.
Grip_Maker's_Wife
Member
We have coyotes too and my husband saw a cougar in our backyard the other night. The ferals we look after are fairly protected by industrial fencing in the business complex they reside. Have only lost a few from colony #2 and we don't know if it was coyotes or if they just moved on. The dynamics in cat colonies are always changing. It took a few years but all the ferals in the 2 colonies are fixed except for 2 males who guard the colony so no more kittens for us unless more transients move in.
A simple way to build a cat shelter is to use a plastic storage bin that you cut a small hole in just big enough for the cat. You can insulate it with styrofoam if needed, and line the bottom with hay that can be cleaned out. Maybe this would work in the fenced in garden?
I do hope your little Missy decides to stay and comes to trust you. Who knows she might become an inside/outside cat.
A simple way to build a cat shelter is to use a plastic storage bin that you cut a small hole in just big enough for the cat. You can insulate it with styrofoam if needed, and line the bottom with hay that can be cleaned out. Maybe this would work in the fenced in garden?
I do hope your little Missy decides to stay and comes to trust you. Who knows she might become an inside/outside cat.
joeintexas
US Veteran
suzie, next time you go into Clovis shopping you might try checking their animal shelter there, might be a good start on finding a good house cat. Just an idea.
