We have had many feral cats here i Wild Wonderful Wyoming. They lived in an outbuilding (since torn down) And the coyotes just loved the place. I thinned the yotes a bit and my wife used the havaheart trap to catch the kitties. Took 'em to the vet and had 'em spayed/neutered and rabies worm shots etc.. We have two cats now..one was an uncatchable feral that we fed. he came up after fighting with a coon. Saw the fight. It was a draw I think. Skinny little 6 pound cat agains a very large coon.. Wife fixed him up...took him to the vet...and eventually he was neutered cause he didn't leave. He now weighs 16 lbs and is still a great critter getter when outside. The other one is a much smaller cat that lives inside and kills anything it sees in the house...from bugs to mice. I went outside the other evening and the cat was out there. Yowling at me to pick him up or something. A very large coyote came running to exploit the cat and ran right into me. He stopped at about 3 ft,,snarled,,,cat was already up a tree. The yote didn't make it past the ol Wilson Combat. BTW..this cat will not allow any other cats on the place. Really unusual as he was the only uncatchable one of 14 wild ones. Wife used left over chicken salad as bait in the trap. He still won't eat it. Raw chicken and raw beef...oh yeah. He is now approx 12 years old or so.
MY GARDEN IS PROTECTED !
- Thread starter susieqz
- Start date
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
boy oh boy, did i screw up.
i went out with a perfectly reasonable training plan n wrecked it.
see, the idea was to wait til she was comfy, then walk out the shooting gate at the far end, then fire three shots.
i usually shoot from my bench inside the garden but the walls magnify the sound.
when i had fired 3 shots i had a sudden attack of stupid n emptied the mag.
so, of course, she split.
i have no idea if she'll come back.
not only has she not learned anything, but this has probably made the fear worse.
i need her to get used to gunfire but have no idea how to do that.
i went out with a perfectly reasonable training plan n wrecked it.
see, the idea was to wait til she was comfy, then walk out the shooting gate at the far end, then fire three shots.
i usually shoot from my bench inside the garden but the walls magnify the sound.
when i had fired 3 shots i had a sudden attack of stupid n emptied the mag.
so, of course, she split.
i have no idea if she'll come back.
not only has she not learned anything, but this has probably made the fear worse.
i need her to get used to gunfire but have no idea how to do that.
prairieviper
Member
We don't leave food out as it does attract other animals, especially raccoons. We put food out at about the same times every morning and evening and pick it up when the cats are done eating. The cats soon learn when feeding time is.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
well, i still have a kitty.
i have no clue how to train her for gunfire, tho.
i have no clue how to train her for gunfire, tho.
Yep, I found that out too!
Once he brought his girlfriend with him & that was the end of that. (...but they're so cute. )
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Racoon eating the outside cat's food
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bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
HPK came back after you did a mag dump, so it seems you've already trained her.
I've seen friend's long-term house cats run for cover when the vacuum starts. Maybe it's self-defense instinct or maybe the noise hurts their ears.
A friend made an effort to modify her home for her house cats. They added a couple of small empty shelves that allowed the cats access to the top of the tallest furniture. Maybe your hunter would like access to a high place in your yard.
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vonn
US Veteran
Never seen a cat that would put up with loud noises but none that left permanently because of them.
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
well, i got some pics. i put them in the comp but they can't be found
they are in some file, someplace.
cat is currently up on the roof. she found a ladder i had leaning up against the house n climbed it.
she better be able to get herself down.
i don't have the equipment to rescue her.
the minimum would be heavy leather elbow length gloves n a
helmet with face shield.
they are in some file, someplace.
cat is currently up on the roof. she found a ladder i had leaning up against the house n climbed it.
she better be able to get herself down.
i don't have the equipment to rescue her.
the minimum would be heavy leather elbow length gloves n a
helmet with face shield.
bigwheelzip
Absent Comrade
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
rained all night n most of the morn.
weather broke around noon.
i saw i could go out if i put a tarp on the wet deck.
i opened the door n asked if there was a kitty out there. she said ''yes''. then i asked if she wanted company. another yes.
so i got my stuff n went out to read.
once i was there, she was nagging for food.
i ended up getting her a handful of friskies but i decided if she was gonna eat between meals, she could darn well eat where i wanted her to eat.
so, i put her dish 18'' from me.
she wanted those friskies so she came with no hesitation.
i had been moving the bowl closer to me every day, but i was only up to 3'.
i could have reached out n grabbed her, if i didn't mind a visit to the ER.
after she ate she was bubbling over with affection, so she moved 10' away to hang out.
that's her idea of cuddling.
weather broke around noon.
i saw i could go out if i put a tarp on the wet deck.
i opened the door n asked if there was a kitty out there. she said ''yes''. then i asked if she wanted company. another yes.
so i got my stuff n went out to read.
once i was there, she was nagging for food.
i ended up getting her a handful of friskies but i decided if she was gonna eat between meals, she could darn well eat where i wanted her to eat.
so, i put her dish 18'' from me.
she wanted those friskies so she came with no hesitation.
i had been moving the bowl closer to me every day, but i was only up to 3'.
i could have reached out n grabbed her, if i didn't mind a visit to the ER.
after she ate she was bubbling over with affection, so she moved 10' away to hang out.
that's her idea of cuddling.
Usually, there are shelter cats available for adoption. Lots are tame and would like an inside home.
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OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thanks, dix, but the closest shelter i'm aware of is 90 miles away. same as the closest gun shop.
since driving hurts, that's out.
but you have me wondering if there is some small shelter around.
i'll look.
i don't much like bringing an adult cat into the house, but if drifter wants to come in, i'll welcome her.
she is now taking breakfast within arm's reach of me, but when finished, she retreats to 10'.
part of that is geography.
there is good overhead cover there.
this critter never ever lies down in the open. she is never visable from the air.
i don't know if she's been attacked from the sky or if this is normal feral cat behavior.
other cats i've known would bask in the sun, but not her.
she is a big fraud. anytime i get up she leaves, but when i'm bringing food she tolerates me upright just fine.
she is now fully comfy in the garden. she is there when i come out in the morn.
i hadn't intended to feed twice/day, as i don't think it necessary for a working cat, but she spends more time in safety because of it.
she does have a safe place somewhere. i now realize she has been here for months, judging by bunny body count.
by this time of year i should have shot 8 bunnies. i only got 2 so far, so she is thinning the herd.
i prefer to shoot them myself, but dead is good.
since driving hurts, that's out.
but you have me wondering if there is some small shelter around.
i'll look.
i don't much like bringing an adult cat into the house, but if drifter wants to come in, i'll welcome her.
she is now taking breakfast within arm's reach of me, but when finished, she retreats to 10'.
part of that is geography.
there is good overhead cover there.
this critter never ever lies down in the open. she is never visable from the air.
i don't know if she's been attacked from the sky or if this is normal feral cat behavior.
other cats i've known would bask in the sun, but not her.
she is a big fraud. anytime i get up she leaves, but when i'm bringing food she tolerates me upright just fine.
she is now fully comfy in the garden. she is there when i come out in the morn.
i hadn't intended to feed twice/day, as i don't think it necessary for a working cat, but she spends more time in safety because of it.
she does have a safe place somewhere. i now realize she has been here for months, judging by bunny body count.
by this time of year i should have shot 8 bunnies. i only got 2 so far, so she is thinning the herd.
i prefer to shoot them myself, but dead is good.
Grip_Maker's_Wife
Member
Glad things are working out Sue. You are doing exactly what you should about moving food bowl closer and letting the cat have her own comfort zone. You do not need to train her to get used to gun fire. She will on her own with time from your use see that it brings no harm to her. I have never known a cat that didn't run and hide from a vacuum. Mine even run when I use a broom or mop. Many cats do like to climb up high and usually can find their way down even if they whine and cry. It is amazing how far they can jump too without injury. They always land on all fours and their bodies are designed for it.
Keep up the good work!
Keep up the good work!
That's been my usual vacuum experience with our ~dozen cats over the years, but our current kitty, the mighty Webster, broke tradition. He's so mellow, he lies there and watches the beater head get closer and closer and only moves a couple feet when it's upon him, then gives me a dirty look like "That's my spot."I have never known a cat that didn't run and hide from a vacuum.
Many cats do like to climb up high and usually can find their way down even if they whine and cry.
Keep up the good work!
As to getting down, have you ever seen a cat skeleton in a tree?**
**HT to Gallagher or George Carlin
Suzie, you're doing just fine, keep it up.
Well, les, we don't know what kitty has been through, so I don't think it is unreasonable for her to be skittish, I think that susie has made tremendous strides in building trust and developing a relationship with the cat. I have to admit that I get a sort of vicarious pleasure from "watching" a frightened and very cautious feline's response to susie's slow and deliberate effort to bridge the gap between them. I predict that a strong bond is developing which will be mutually beneficial!!
Keep up the routine, susie!!!
Best Regards, Les
Keep up the routine, susie!!!
Best Regards, Les
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
oh, not one sided at all.
she hired on as a killer, to eliminate vermin for me.
before she came, i was catching several mice every week.
i have not trapped one for over a month.
i stopped catching them even before i knew she was here.
i'm very happy with the quality of her work.
on saturday, i'll be smoking a nice beef roast. that will get her attention
then, i bet i can feed her the fat cap from my hand.
when i took her supper out today, i did something different. i sat next to the bowl. i did not lie down.
not standing, but errect.
she ate happily.
not bad for a wild animal.
do not think of her as a normal cat. when a cat has never met a human, she thinks more like a bobcat than housecat.
she hired on as a killer, to eliminate vermin for me.
before she came, i was catching several mice every week.
i have not trapped one for over a month.
i stopped catching them even before i knew she was here.
i'm very happy with the quality of her work.
on saturday, i'll be smoking a nice beef roast. that will get her attention
then, i bet i can feed her the fat cap from my hand.
when i took her supper out today, i did something different. i sat next to the bowl. i did not lie down.
not standing, but errect.
she ate happily.
not bad for a wild animal.
do not think of her as a normal cat. when a cat has never met a human, she thinks more like a bobcat than housecat.
Well, sort of a wild animal. felis catus, sometimes refered to as felis domesticus, has been domesticated for thousands of years. When cats revert to the wild, most still have the heritage of those thousands of years of partnership with humankind, and gentle, patient trust building routine such as susie's, will most often be rewarded by a renewal of the bond that has existed over those thousands of years.
Definitely a symbiotic relationship, vermin control is an obvious reward for the human, and a source of high protein diet for the cat, but the caring bond is perhaps even more rewarding for both parties.
Keep up the good work, susie!!
Best Regards, Les
Definitely a symbiotic relationship, vermin control is an obvious reward for the human, and a source of high protein diet for the cat, but the caring bond is perhaps even more rewarding for both parties.
Keep up the good work, susie!!
Best Regards, Les
kthom
Member
I am not a cat lover, but have always tolerated "barn" cats that did not desire any personal contact from me since they paid their own way for the most part. But I am beginning to think that this cat is smart enough to recognize the high quality of the lady whose yard she found shelter in. And she definitely is not so high toned that (the cat, I mean!) as to disregard good chow that is available regularly. That cat ain't allowing this close proximity to happen without having determined that suzieqz can be trusted. The cat may never be a housecat or one that wishes to be touched, but methinks this cat has found a home, at least until something happens to disabuse it of that notion. And I seriously doubt that suszieqz is gonna let that happen! I am amazed at the short period of time it has taken to make this much progress with the cat. Suzie, you are definitely doing a lot of things right!!!
OP
susieqz
Absent Comrade
thank you.
i'm determined to keep her alive.
the cooler has just been delivered. i'll cut a cat door tomorrow. if she moves in, i believe she can live a long life.
i admit i'm oddly developing a lot of affection for an animal i've never touched.
i'm determined to keep her alive.
the cooler has just been delivered. i'll cut a cat door tomorrow. if she moves in, i believe she can live a long life.
i admit i'm oddly developing a lot of affection for an animal i've never touched.
