Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 I have one. We call him " the cat who lives under the bed " . Background. About a month ago I got a phone call. This woman called saying she had trapped 4 feral Manx kittens aprx 4 months of age. Would I like one? DARN TOOTIN! Managed to snag a snarling black and white critter, not SURE of the sex, pretty sure he's a male. Brought him home and put him in my bedroom. He's been under the bed ever since. Okay, that's not accurate. Just seems like it. At first he would come out only at night when I was sleeping or no one was around (oh yeah, he loves his litter box, no problems there!). Now he comes out when the other cat is on the other side of the door, will come out if I'm sitting at my computer, if he's hungry, won't leave if I talk to him or turn a bit in my chair and the last couple of days he's come out and I've said cheerfully " Hi Max! " and he runs towards me like he's real happy to see me, stops a foot short and then dives back under the bed. He IS getting better. He's got a cat climbing tree, some toys etc. But I'd like to know if there is someway to make him happier quicker. I don't REALLY want him to spend the rest of his life under the bed... he's getting DUSTY! ;-) K -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Find a treat that he really likes and coax him closer and close to you with it. It will take some patience but it does work. He will begin to associate that treat with you and good things. I did it with a feral kitten when mom lived in Kentucky. You have a head start. This one already lives in your house. I had to start from scratch. LOL Evelyn www.alternasense.com If you don't talk to your cat about catnip, who will? ---- Woobey Queen 10/25/2006 1:29:13 PM Oils_herbs_etc advice needed on feral kitten/ot I have one. We call him " the cat who lives under the bed " . Background. About a month ago I got a phone call. This woman called saying she had trapped 4 feral Manx kittens aprx 4 months of age. Would I like one? DARN TOOTIN! Managed to snag a snarling black and white critter, not SURE of the sex, pretty sure he's a male. Brought him home and put him in my bedroom. He's been under the bed ever since. Okay, that's not accurate. Just seems like it. At first he would come out only at night when I was sleeping or no one was around (oh yeah, he loves his litter box, no problems there!). Now he comes out when the other cat is on the other side of the door, will come out if I'm sitting at my computer, if he's hungry, won't leave if I talk to him or turn a bit in my chair and the last couple of days he's come out and I've said cheerfully " Hi Max! " and he runs towards me like he's real happy to see me, stops a foot short and then dives back under the bed. He IS getting better. He's got a cat climbing tree, some toys etc. But I'd like to know if there is someway to make him happier quicker. I don't REALLY want him to spend the rest of his life under the bed... he's getting DUSTY! ;-) K -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Try catnip or calamintha on a toy. Or do a Hansel and Gretel with kitty treats leading to you. A child's fishing rod with a toy tied on very well (liberally smelling of catnip) may work. Barb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 25, 2006 Report Share Posted October 25, 2006 Don't know if this will help. I've brought 4 ferals into my house, and every one of them has turned into lap lovin' hella-annoying attention hounds. This is my procedure. First night they come into the house (and you can do this now, just watch or he may revert), I lock myself into a room with them. I used the guest bedroom, or the office, bathroom... whatever. The room is one where they can't get behind anything, they can get under maybe one thing, but I like to remove ALL furniture if possible, which is why I used the bathroom once. They have one place where they can go into a box, to feel safe, but they are within eyesight of me at all times. They literally cannot get away from me. LOL. I did this all three times (one time I brought in a pair of them together) and brought them into the house on a Friday night. I slept in that room with them, kept it locked when I wasn't there, and spent as much time as I could with them in that room. Two or three times during the day, pick them up, cuddle with them, etc. Expect you'll be scratched at least once. Expect you may get peed on. It happens. They're terrified, unused to people who do anything except shoot at them in most cases. It's okay. By Sunday morning, I always wake up and find the cat asleep on my makeshift bed with me. You'll find they come to check you out when you're asleep, and that's safe for them. They realize you can't hurt them, and they do want the companionship after all. Being that your cat has been in the house for some time, he may take longer to break, I don't know. My last one I did this with him (Elliot) but then he was sort of left to his own devices for a few months (the other feral and he did NOT get along at all, so we had to separate them in different parts of hte house and Elliot got significantly less handling than Winston did). Now that he's a single kitty, I can't get rid of him to save my life. When he's frightened, he still heads for under the bed in a heartbeat, but you can get him out a LOT easier now. Best of luck! Kirstin Evelyn Millican <edandevmil wrote: ----Woobey Queen10/25/2006 1:29:13 PMTo: Oils_herbs_etc: advice needed on feral kitten/otI have one. We call him " the cat who lives under the bed " .Background. About a month ago I got a phone call. This woman called saying He IS getting better. He's got a cat climbing tree, some toys etc. But I'd like to know if there is someway to make him happier quicker. I don't REALLY want him to spend the rest of his life under the bed... he's getting DUSTY! ;-) K -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 He IS getting better. He's got a cat climbing tree, some toys etc. But I'd like to know if there is someway to make him happier quicker. I don't REALLY want him to spend the rest of his life under the bed... he's getting DUSTY! [Dave:] I’ve tamed a couple feral cats. Sounds to me like you’re getting there, but at his speed. The more time you spend with him, talking to him and just letting him be around you, the quicker you’ll gain his trust. Once he learns how cool it is to have someone pet him and scratch his chin etc. he’ll be yours. Some cats are just aloof though, and some ferals never really get 100% domestic. Just like dogs and horses and crows and us, they all have their own personality and identity. -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.11/497 - Release 10/25/2006 -- Version: 7.1.408 / Virus Database: 268.13.14/501 - Release 10/26/2006 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 This is my second feral, my first was THE best cat. wonderful personality and loved everyone. This little guy is hilarious. Today for the first time I pointed my finger at him and he even came close enough to sniff it, I felt his whiskers on my hand... then he of course dove under the bed and hissed. Couldn't tell if he were pissed at me for suckering him or pissed at himself for being suckered! ROFLMAO! What is it about a pointed finger cats cant resist. K -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Just like the old saying that a way to a man's heart is thru his stomach the same is true with animals. Food makes for trust and they tend to start looking at you as " momma " even if you are a man. lol I make horse cookies that I use to help a frighten horse relax. It works like a charm !! Now my own horses get real excited for a cookie and well go to great lengths to get them. If I were you I'd coach the kitten out from under the bed with some real good treat and sit there talking to it while it ate. If I really liked the cat I'd use some of my husbands fresh smoked Salmon to treat the kitten. ( knowing that hubby was going to yell at little about his Salmon ) Sally - David Lambert<dlmbrt < > Thursday, October 26, 2006 6:49 PM RE: advice needed on feral kitten/ot He IS getting better. He's got a cat climbing tree, some toys etc. But I'd like to know if there is someway to make him happier quicker. I don't REALLY want him to spend the rest of his life under the bed... he's getting DUSTY! [Dave:] I've tamed a couple feral cats. Sounds to me like you're getting there, but at his speed. The more time you spend with him, talking to him and just letting him be around you, the quicker you'll gain his trust. Once he learns how cool it is to have someone pet him and scratch his chin etc. he'll be yours. Some cats are just aloof though, and some ferals never really get 100% domestic. Just like dogs and horses and crows and us, they all have their own personality and identity. -- Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Hi Kathleen, If you can find some Baby Lamb (I think its Heinz - small jars of babyfood) and put a little on your finger, he will be your slave for life, Mary Well, Naturally - Woobey Queen Thursday, October 26, 2006 6:12 PM Re: advice needed on feral kitten/ot This is my second feral, my first was THE best cat. wonderful personality and loved everyone. This little guy is hilarious. Today for the first time I pointed my finger at him and he even came close enough to sniff it, I felt his whiskers on my hand... then he of course dove under the bed and hissed. Couldn't tell if he were pissed at me for suckering him or pissed at himself for being suckered! ROFLMAO! What is it about a pointed finger cats cant resist. K -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 27, 2006 Report Share Posted October 27, 2006 Hey Sally I like the salmon idea. Himself has some smoked salmon.... he'd prolly scream but Mighty Max is worth the decibles ;-) At this point I don't think it will take much to tame him down. He is so much better today than even a few days ago. I think the fact that I haven't gone chasing after him and talk to him ALL the time, even when I can't see him has helped to build up a small level of trust. Just a couple more steps and we're on our way to a house cat instead of a dust bunny! LOL! K On 10/26/06, Sally Trew <SallyTrew2 wrote: > > . > > > -- Cheers! Kathleen Petrides The Woobey Queen Http://www.woobeyworld.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.