Feral cats...

by **Michael Jones** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 10:45 am

The Probiocin gel and the Albon liquid seems to be doing the job. LOL He rushes the door now when we go into the kitty room. He figures that he's been in here cooped up away from the action for long enough now. The vet wants to see him and give him his shots the next time he goes in. His strength will be such that he can have that done. He is starting to get a little meat on his frame. YAY!!

It will be nice to finally introduce him to the pack.

by **CarolC** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 11:08 pm

Michael Jones wrote: we don't need to keep buying the a/d at $8.00 a can. (whew)

I pay $1.50 a can.

by **Michael Jones** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 10:01 pm

My bad Carol...the CliniCare is 8.00 a can. We are also paying 1.50 for the a/d. You can tell who went and actually bought the food!! It wasn't I!

I set the trap out this afternoon to get Leo's Mom. She looked at it for about three hours and then crept off somewhere. This one might proove difficult to trap. The trap will be out all night. I'll check it when I go in to work tomorrow.

by **Michael Jones** » Sun Oct 19, 2008 9:41 pm

Well rats...

No, cats.

No cats in the trap that is...two attempts. Both unsuccessful. This is proving more difficult that I first thought it would be. I won't give up though, I have received $38.00 from my co-workers to help defray my costs and I know that I can get this trap to work. It has one door and a ramp on the closed side. The animal goes up the ramp to get the food and the door is supposed to slam behind them. I had this trap set on as sensitive a setting as it could go. I will try hanging a piece of KFC from the top of the cage and as far back as I can, that should force the cat to go up all the way and pull off pieces of the meat to get it. This should trip the trap. The cat has been in the trap twice that I know of, so she is not as wary as she would be going in the first time.

The bad news...she's carrying again. So I'm starting to feel the stress. Another kitten is NOT an option...

Leo is continuing to improve. He spent the last seven days pretty much just eating and sleeping. He has lots of energy now, it is so good to see him running around and playing. The vet said he had more tape worm in him than he had intestines. One of the worst cases she ever saw she said. His diarrhea is under control now too. The enzymes that are in the Probiocin are starting to take effect. We are still four or five days from lifting the quarantine on this little guy.

by **critters** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 7:55 am

Too bad she's carrying again. sigh. Maybe it won't be too late to get her spayed... How NICE of your coworkers to chip in to help!! :trophy:

I'll see if Jan has any trap tips for you; she's the trapping Queen!

by **critters** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 8:49 am

Oy....I'd tie the trap open for several days at least, and NEVER leave the trap un-attended! Too risky for either someone taking the trap, or another animal going in and flipping out, which in turn tells the mom cat not to go near that adrenaline producing 'silver diner'. I use small rubber nubbed back car mats Walmart often has them for less than $2.00 for the small back floor size, and cut them to size so they go up to the trigger, and if not super sensitive trigger, slightly over trigger to disguise it to the wise cats.They also help as a trail of food can be put in the trap without falling thru, and if need be the trap can be picked up without food falling everywhere. In the past for tough to trap cats, I've left that mat in a non-working trap (tied open) and let the cat get up the nerve to go in regularly, thus marking the mat up with paw smells etc. Then when the time comes, I move that filthy dirty mat into a functioning trap, and set it to go off. ALWAYS cover the trap when the chosen cat goes in to calm them down. Another trick I've used (in a safe place of course) is to get a trash barrel that is rectangular, and stuff the trap into the barrel to protect it from the elements, and watching eyes of other felines as well. Cover not needed ;-)

And yes, spay that girl ASAP as it's going to be a wicked winter me thinks....and we don't need anymore little ones to suffer thru it ;-)

by **critters** » Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:36 pm

more from Jan:

One more thing...withhold food for a day before so they are real hungry. And for tomcats a good pinch of catnip just past the trigger (in a non-windy area) put on the ground, and then put trap on top works wonders. ;-)

BTW there's no way that Leo is any 9 weeks old! He looks like he's pushing 4 months! Unless I missed something...

by **Michael Jones** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 7:57 am

Wow Critters!! Please thank Jan for me and of course thank you very much for the great tips. The mat idea for the floor of the cage is brilliant. And the part about using a trap that is tied open.

But SUCCESS!! Sunday night the male went into the trap. He was heavy enough to trip the trigger. My co-worker Rick told me that about 5:00 am he saw that the trap had a live one in it. I did leave it unattended and Jan's right...we discussed what I would do if a raccoon or a skunk went in and got trapped. I didn't have the foggiest notion of what to do in that case. I will not leave the trap unattended again. When I go after the female it will have to be either on my time off or while I am working and able to at least give the trap some of my time. I am trying to keep this feral cat situation from attracting the attention of the management of the terminal where I work. I know that would hire an exterminator to trap them. They would go right to the pound then. We all know what that means for them. Any way Leo's dad is in my garage right now as I write this, he is surely going to hate me forever!! It was only 50.00 for the rabies shot and the neuter. The vet didn't think he needed any boosters as his health seems fine. Remarkable for a feral she said. This guy weighs almost 12 pounds!! He is stocky and just a beautiful cat! His head is as big around as a big grapefruit. We will take him back out to the Port about 9:00 or so this morning. Before we do, I'll get some pictures of him. I wish this guy wasn't feral, I'd keep him!!

No...I can't think like that can I...

Still have the female to trap. I didn't see her at all yesterday, I wonder if she saw her mate in the trap...

by **critters** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 8:49 am

Congrats!!!! I've passed along your message; she's the trapper queen, I tell ya!!

by **GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily** » Tue Oct 21, 2008 11:39 am

Glad you found your nanners, there, critters!
Someone had lost their bananas, Michael, but never fear, they been found!
Nothin worse than findin a 4 week old 'FOUND' banana, critters, wot wot (second only to a 4 week old boiled egg behind the couch)? :hysterical:

by **Michael Jones** » Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:44 am

http://picasaweb.google.com/nasus858/Le ... 0110606050

We snapped a few shots of Leo's Daddy just prior to releasing him. This guy was glad to get out of this little trap. It is hard to see the ear notch, I was trying to get that, but the lighting wasn't right I guess.

Anyway when he saw the open door, he shot out of there like a cannon ball. Was still running when I lost sight of him.

Feels good to do the right thing by this big guy...

by **athenesan** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 1:55 am

Very cool! Good job, and if you need any more tips, e-mail the folks at Fix our Ferals. They're really awesome.
Thanks for all you're doing for Leo and his parents =).
Ashley

by **LisainCAN** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:20 am

What a handsome cat.

You certainly did a wonderful thing and saved many more little kittens from a hard life.

:thankyou:

by **Michael Jones** » Fri Oct 24, 2008 9:47 am

Thanks you gals!! Your words mean so much to me!!

And MORE SUCCESS!! I was able to get the female last night. I went to feed them and they hadn't been fed in a couple days. She walked right in and the door slammed behind her. She was not happy as you all can imagine. I even saw the male after I trapped the female!! So he's back to his dumpster diving self.

But Susan is as we speak at the vet's office dropping the female off. YAY!! No more kitties to have to suffer through what will be I'm afraid a very cold winter.

And Leo continues to improve. I'll have to get some more pictures up, he looks like another cat. Heck, he is. He just this morning left a nice NORMAL healthy scat in his box. The vet said this would be the last hurdle for little Leo to get himself over. I can't say enough about this vet....top notch service and honest concern for all the animals she treats.

I'll get more pics up soon all...thanks again for your support!! I can't tell you all how much it means!! :thankyou: