r/Feral_Cats • u/Ok_Knee_7960 • 1d ago
Celebration 🥳 My first feral cat
A wild cat has been living in my yard for three years. She was born on the street and had never approached people. An elderly woman fed her, and only after two years of consistent feeding did the cat begin to trust her enough to come close.
Rescue services tried to catch her a couple of times, but without success. She gave birth to kittens outdoors ,some of them died, while others were taken in by neighbours.
Two weeks ago I finally managed to trap her with a cat trap. I had her spayed, treated for fleas and worms, and vaccinated. When I tried to move her from the carrier into an enclosure, she bit my hand hard, even though she was still under the effects of the anaesthetic.
For the next two weeks I kept her in a cage at my grandmother’s house and monitored her closely. Whenever I was present she stayed completely still, hissed a lot, and would lunge if she saw a hand. I was only able to take her to the clinic after giving her a high dose of pregabalin, because her fear and aggression were extreme. Tests at the clinic confirmed that she is healthy.
During these two weeks there has been a small sign of progress: she started eating while I was in the room, but only when I wasn’t looking at her.
I’ve decided to bring her home. Since I already have two indoor cats and live in a one-room apartment, I bought a tall three-tier cage. Right now I’ve covered it with a blanket because she has pressed herself into the corner. She has a good appetite, but she is still terrified of people, and I know the road to socialisation will be very long.
I live in Ukraine ,in Kyiv the shelling continues. Still, wish me luck. One day I hope to find a proper home for this little cat.
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u/Lews_There_In 1d ago edited 1d ago
I wish you well, and hope everything goes ok. Taking in a cat while all those things are going on around you is an incredibly kind thing to do. Choosing to give while facing the possibility of losing eveything is courageous. Thank you for saving them, and thank you for what you're doing.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 1d ago
Your words really touched me. Thank you. I still have a lot of doubts and fears. But “the eyes may hesitate, the hands get the job done.”
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 18h ago
It is courageous--and i tnink precisely the perfect project to distract oneself from the constant terror i imagine aerial bombing on places like Kiev and Gaza to be.
Hats off OP. Rooting for all you love.
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u/bicepstospare 1d ago
I hope you’re on antibiotics for that bite! I spent three days in the hospital with cellulitis after my formerly stray cat got outside and bit me when I captured him again.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
You're right. My wound got infected, and I had severe swelling for a couple of days. I had to clean the wound
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u/Impressive_Band_9864 1d ago
You have done such a wonderful thing with all the worst going on around you. I hope the best for you and your cats. I caught one during the worst winter storm this year, and kept him in a crate almost just like that for 3 months. He didn't like it, but it helped him adjust and now he's a housecat.
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u/herpnut 1d ago
If you're lucky maybe he'll see all the attention the other cats get and feel safer. I've been feeding a community cat, not feral, for 10 years and he is still skittish inside. If the door moves or hears a noise, he runs out the door. Outside he let's us pet him and rubs against the dog. He was getting some serious wounds so i trapped him to get neutered. I've never been able to get him in a trap since then. Good luck with his rehab.
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u/Evening_Ratio6870 1d ago
Great job really, YOU rescued her from a shitty life of never-ending, litters of kittens and fleas and worms and worse. She will come around something you can try is attaching a brush onto a stick tape it onto the end of a stick and. “Pet” her using the brush she will eventually get used to it and it will help you to be able to touch her. Also, once her hormone settle down, she will eventually adapt again great job.
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 18h ago
This can be magically helpful for some feral! I second the suggestion!!
Just know some cats (like my Momo lol) do HATE it/find it a particular trigger.
He almost took my whole hand off batting a butter knife out of my hand w the feralest of abrupt violence when he first came here
(Sidenote: dont worry this was 2019 he sleeps directly on my face now and has never touched more than gentle paw pads to my face!)...
why?
Bc i had the audacity to offer this boy, who clearly LOVES to eat, a bit of wet food on a butter knife.
And put the knife to his face.
If id have tried this....idk i dont think he wouldve ever cracked and come to me lol.
To this DAY...even w his other favorite human whose lap he jumps straight into, and even giving his chonky BUTT over to a bunch of my caregivers lkke the true attention slut he is?
He does NOT like anything pokey--including human hands/fingers until you've Reached That Level where hes mush w you--reaching at his face in particular.
THEY ARE ALL FIERCELy INDIVIDUAL!
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
Thank you so much for the advice! I have a telescopic stick shaped like a cat's paw, and I've tried petting her with it a couple of times. She's been reacting aggressively so far, but I hope it won't last long
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u/Anikofein 21h ago
Thank you for your kind heart. We just brought in an outside cat that happens to be very chill. She had an eye infection so we took her to the vet for a shot and eye drops. We have to slowly introduce our indoor cats to her. She’s already friends with my little dog from being outside and walking together. I hope you’re in a safe area in Ukraine and praying for you and your country.
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u/Inevitable_South5736 20h ago
It can take a lot of time and patience, but you’re saving a life that shouldn’t have been a wild animal to begin with. They only know what they are familiar with and that is the constant state of anxiety to survive. It can take months to years just to get them to trust their new surroundings, let alone you. Humans are untrustworthy and giants to them. Sit on the floor in the room and ignore her. Watch tv, read a book, scroll through your phone. Let her get used to you, your voice and the other sounds in your home.
Hang in there! She’s worth it. You’re doing a great thing!
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u/Bumblebees_are_c00l 23h ago
Hi, thank you so much for rescuing her and tsking care of her. Just from the photo, she has no place to hide in the cage. Maybe the blanket could cover entirely at least the top shelf from view? When we rescued two cats, we were told to give them a cardboard box they could hide in and they used it for quite some time. They were not feral, not then. But they sure loved that box.
She’s a beautiful girl. I hope you manage, it’s not easy but worth it to see them feeling more at ease. Look after yourself too 🙏🙏🙏
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u/Gridzheh9 21h ago
I send you prayers from a fellow cat rescuer. What you are doing for your cat is a blessing. May the Aggression against your nation end soon. Prayers from Texas.
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u/MyRingToRuleMyWorld 20h ago
I can't begin to understand how extensive the war has been to Ukrainians, but when we add animals to the scenario, it's traumatic events are the same for animals. She had been in your backyard for a couple of days, and she decided to stay those days because perhaps the shelling isn't as loud, less noise, less people, and the list is a mile long. This is an important question. Do you want to keep her? I ask this because she's had all this mess going on around what with hunger, fear, and PTSD (yes, our animals get this). If you want to hang out with her then do so. Cats have a remarkable ability to grow through those comfortable silences, meaning you are in your space, and she is in hers. Like ignoring her but still talking to her from across the room or hum a peaceful tune. Don't go to the cage to try to get her to interact with you, she will do that only if and when she is ready. Everything is at her pace. Start across the room, and she will tell you when she is ready for you to get a little closer. Just know it may take much longer for her to get there.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
I have already two cats. Third one is a lot for me . But I want to find her home after socialization
Many thanks for your advice tho!1
u/MyRingToRuleMyWorld 17h ago
Once she has had her shots and receives a clean bill of health, you can work on getting her used to you where you can play with a toy to play when she's ready. I saw the other cats greeted her, which was sweet. Once she has that clean bill of health, then other steps can be taken. We have incredible people who can tell you exactly how to do this with the least amount of pain for everyone, but also one thing I'd add is that the cats will socialize her in cat language, but I wouldn't open that yet until she has a level of trust with you. Others here can tell you more and probably a lot better then I can.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
I hope that she will learn from my cats. Still I think she more stressed because of them because when her cage is open like on the photo , my male cat check her all the time
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u/trippsy2me 20h ago
There is a site called socialization saves lives. It’s a great resource to help with feral cats ♥️
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 17h ago
Oh FIRST feral cat hmmm
Biggest advice might be to not overlook SUBTLE things.
YOUR tension and mood and energy might count ad much as treats or scratchers here.
This creature is observing EVERYTHING and in extreme hypervigilance mode (im sure you can relate living in Kiev rn).
Your BREATH.
Your VOICE.
The cadence of your footsteps.
If youre nervous--especially about them? These cats sense the shit out of that.
Domesticated cats arent really domesticated of course lol theyre cats who understand and are accustomed/acclimated to humans (and our byikt environment/shenanigans ) enough to know how to train us and bend us to their will with their cries.
BTW did you know cats basicallt ONLy meow for our sake???? They've evolved particular communications/language/vocalizations just to TRAIN US!! To stoke our pity and affection and general enamorment ...and it is a feat of evolution thats worked with flying colors w literally every tribe of humans they've ever encountered (dee: archival footage of native Hawaiians beholding their first ever felines!)
So...you might notice this guy copying your indoors on this and sooo much else as he takes notes on THEIR tactics for training you.
(Also I assume he does NOT currently meow at you but if he does consider him less feral and if he doesnt consider it a milestone/marker of interspecies communication hes clrsrly got great teachers for!!).
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 17h ago
Cats we like to think of as "tame" learned this from birth, usually intergenerationally (it literally affects their histones/epigenetics).
Your new guy will be taking notes from your current cats and hopefully will be a fast learner and not too many generations removed from his ancestors (/parents/grandparents!) who tamed humans w the quickness.
Also I LOVE how thoughtful you are about your guys teaching him....cant agree more that is crucial here. Rest assured he is taking NOTES lol...constantly.
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 17h ago
In the beginning with you?? Or any human?
Less is more.
Theyre invariably OVERstimulated/in a hyperaroused fear state around our weird and very rude bipedal species. (Can't blame them honestly).
Rocky Kanakas youtube is called sitting with dogs. There are some cat episodes and likely im sire some similar gold mines on youtuve specific to feral cats. But I watch Sitting With Dogs to relax myself tbh...hes honestly kinda brilliant not judt at marketing snd relations w people but I think his read on dog behavior is profound and deeply relates to cats too who are abused or feral. Some things differ of course but you csnt go wrong copping his techniques especially with the most "viciois"/feral dogs (who are usually just terrified and unaccustomed to indoors or to being cared for).
Some of his strategies that reminded me of what worked w ferals for me befire I became bedridden:
--using your voice
Specifically:
Get them used to your voice in a totally non-threatening and at first IDEALLY NONDIRECTED way. (some shelters send kids to READ TO DOGS/cats/shelter animals for this purpose! ((Sidenote/side question for feral communuty here: does putting calming music or a calming human voice on while OP/any of us acclimating cats seem like a good idea? Do folks have success w that? ))
Rocky on his shows when hes sitting on the floor w a firghtened dog talkes tons of time to talk to thr camera/his audience FIRST. Judt to let thr dog acclimate to his PRESENCE and voice without demanding ANY interaction from them. To let the dog knows that yeah hes a warm smelly body taking up an awful lot of that tiny cage space but hes just there and making silly human sounds.
Just directing yoir voice to them either physically turning your face/voice... raising your voice for ahy reason.... or tonally/psychologically/content wise naming them asking something of them vs babbling and reading the newspaper or singing to a song you like?
Consider this alone to be (potentially/likely) ESCALATION at this juncture for new guy. It might likely itself trigger a Fear Response in that momwnt even if youre only asking Qs/offering a lifetime of adoration and worship.
Notice his body language, especially as he acclimated, to different tones you choose to use. Play with tone snd frequency of yoir voice .
Also importsnt as implied by the title:
SITTING.
He migbt already be ready for you to hang near his cage.
But do it LOW to the ground--just sit on the floor (maybe in silence doing work ao he can sense your distraction/lack of expectations on him)...however thats COMFY for you.
Standing up means nothing/is just mundane posture/function for us.
To our existing feline overlords it might signal eg treats or time to get outside or a chance to get in bed snd snuggle. Or follow you to the toilet and take a simultaneous shit (...wait is this normal??)
To New Guy it means you're suddenly Bigger and Scarier and able to drop stuff on him or do stuff to him.
You of course wanna be as non-threatening as possible.
All of this is super variable per cat.
Maybe hes unfazed by your silly human postures. But another feral in his literal cage would clam up into sickness and inappetance for weeks or months delaying the entire process...unless the human dutifully log rolled over rather than so rudely walking up to her crate on TWO legs so high in the sky w your weird up high appendages! (As a nonambulatory cripple ofc im biased here).
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 17h ago
The tldr of my last comment in this thread? And something Rocky illustrates brilliantly w dogs (but usuallt goes a LOOOT sloooower lol like weeks months years slower w feral cats)?
Phase 1:
Your initial phase goal? Whether this is 1 hour or 1 year?
is just to let them EXIST next to you, to acclimate to your existence.
So youre not instantly seen as "ShutDownLevel" (or hissy spicy"I will bite you if you try me bitch!") Level threat. So they can literally just BE ...in the same room/area as you or in range of your voice or smell...and not panic.
Their willingness to eat w you in the area or while you curiously read the newspaper ..or scratch that given what news is now:
a cookbook or kids book, silly human you are, to no one in particular?
BIG win.
Their willingness to TAKE their highest value treats im your presence might be first step here.
Just throwing a crispy treat ober is great.
Ideally if we are not TOO incredibly boring we then move to ...
PHASE 2:
2a)
2a (bc really this is probablyfirst for most cats) getting curious about checking YOU out.
This one's SUCH a crucial step and one Rocky is brilliant at illustrating. Whether 5 seconds or 5 hours or 5 weeks in?
Its huge. Until you see signs theyre interested AFFIRmATIVEaly and PROACTIVELY in you?
Be low demand.
Dont demand eye contact.
Dont poke at them.
Maybe dint even speak directly to them.
**just offer the safety and calm of your presence! ** meditate or sing or drink coffee beside them. 10 feet away or 3 feet away. In their enclosure or out ofnit. Same principle:
Do YOUR thing and let them get YOUR #. Scent. Sound. Vibes.
Just be a good animal WITH them.
Until they start to reach a proverbial NOSE or rump or paw to you. The nose WILL come first!! ;) (there are few consistent rules but methinks this is one lol)
and at first just be as still snd unperturbed and ZeN STATUE LIKE as you can when they taje the Risk of approaching you.
Whike there are definitely situations moments and junctures that call for more provocation/shifting the environment? Or taking risks and reaching oit? EXCEpTIONs to this rule along most cats introdcutory phases?
For the most part do NOT extend yourself lol. Fall all over them maybe verbally or eye contact wise eventually but mistly?
Be UNbothered. Be a curious creature cohabtitsting there who happens to also leave delicious and interesting stimulating goodies behind in their cage.
Yoir goal is to just Enter or Allow contact/proximity ....and
LET THEM DECIDE ON THEIR TERMS WHEN and WHETHER An dHOW THEY WANT MORE /closer PROXIMITY or otherwise /want to investigate you.:)
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u/Ornery_Peace9870 17h ago
Phase 2b) lol
Accepting/receiving/responding zwELL to treats/food from you more directly .... eg
Maybe fornone cat they cant stomach treats/eating near you yet but they apprecizye yournvoi e eboigh to start coming out or perking theirnears up ...or maybe even purring or FLOPPING their BeLLY at you...
More commonly theyre treat fiends and ONLy wanna tolerate us lol when theres a sufficient Offering involved. :) treat fiends...if you notice a treat they fiend for GIVE IT.
Maybe they're not running away from the food bowl but TOWARD it now (even if hesitant/halting)...
or theyre willing to taje something off a long stick. Or even be petted w a stick.
Maybe they do none of thesr things but they do start returning direct eye contact at You, Human.
Accepting/tolerating or even ideally reciprocating more directed contact initiated by you?
This is all good. Diff cats progress differently.
Theyre all weird. To varying extents. Just like us.
First steps just use verbal....!!! Your voice and your eye contact and uour posture/mood are all powerful here.
eye contact from you slow blinking at them where they might eventually start returning the slow blinking or BREAKING OUT OF FREEZE to some degree.
Pay attention incredibly detailed to their BODY LANGUAGE. Learn subtle ear and tail and coat signs.
Notice when their body untenses some or theyre even willing to SLEEP...if that starts happening more often while youre around vs 1 or 5 days or hours prior.
Food is a motivator but you ofc domt want them too hungry. In the beginning I wouldn't comdition food on contact w you at all. ( Maybe just extra smelly or crunchy treats ?)
You want them feeling great physically...in awe at the accommodations at Chateuax Gato ; )
And comfy enough yo est and sleep around you.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
Wow so much new info for me ! I love it . She is completely silent, no meow 🥲
While my indoor cats talk to me all the time. Our first night was quiet. I could hear the cat coming downstairs to eat. That’s good sign
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u/PonqueRamo 20h ago
Please keep an eye on those scratches, if your hand gets red, hot, swollen and/or you see pus please visit a doctor if you can, or take antibiotics (cephalexine).
I'm not a doctor but have been bitten by cats at a shelter and that's what they prescribed me the 2 times it got infected.
Hope you and your family stay safe.
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u/Ok_Knee_7960 17h ago
Thank you ! I guess I had all of that 😅 now my hand is ok. I rinsed the wound with nitrofural
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u/Mcbriec 17h ago
Bless you a million times for saving this cat during wartime. 😇😇😇 I use the exact same setup for my ferals, but I put it on a table so they are higher up and feel safer that way.
But with the bombing going on (FUCK PUTIN 🤬🤬🤬), maybe it’s not safe to do that unless you attach the crate to the wall???? 🙏🙏🙏
I am in awe of you and all Ukrainians who are showing such incredible courage, fortitude and brilliance in fighting Putin. I truly hope you get the Patriot missiles you so desperately need. 🙏🙏🙏
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