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Now I''M the one with the stray/feral cat!

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YAY!!! I''m so glad to hear that Sumbride - that sounds completely reasonable, and I''d be willing to bet you can trap him with minimal effort. I''ll keep my fingers crossed for you and lightning. And I think it would be fine if the kitty just "happened" to be living in your house when your FI gets home from Vegas - after all, if he just "wanted" to come inside, and you got him neutered and treated and everything for cheap, what can you do, right?
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FG - that sucks that Holly was more expensive than that. I suspect it was because we are in such a HCOL area...
 
If he has a problem with it, I''ll just have to tell him that PS told me to do it!
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FG - I think I''m lucky to be living in a rather poor city in that prices are a little lower for vet care, and also very lucky to be going through this organization. The $79 is very reasonable and I''m ecstatic that I don''t have to pay the $150 I was originally quoted!

More to spend on cat toys and such, right? Um, I mean food, yeah... that''s it...
 
Perfect - we all know that PS can have a corrupting effect...and if he complains, just remind him that kitties are less expensive and more affectionate and furry than diamonds
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First attempt at capture did not go well. He allowed me to stand behind him and I picked him up and attempted to put him in the carrier, but he used all his might to prevent it and then jumped away from me. I didn''t want to go after him for fear of injury. He gave me a dirty look and stormed off... to sit under a chair. I left his food out but eventually he left without eating more. I think I may have just lost his trust... we''ll see. If he comes back tomorrow I''ll know it wasn''t a permanent feud.

The vet is only open until 7 during the week and today was the only day I was already home... which means I won''t be able to try again until Saturday morning. But I WILL try again.
 
SO glad to hear that Sumbride. Great news. Trapping is going to be hard, but wear heavy gloves and don''t hesitate at the wrong moment. Can''t wait for more updates and... pics??? I really love that cute little furball.
 
Date: 6/6/2007 5:17:11 PM
Author: sumbride
First attempt at capture did not go well. He allowed me to stand behind him and I picked him up and attempted to put him in the carrier, but he used all his might to prevent it and then jumped away from me. I didn''t want to go after him for fear of injury. He gave me a dirty look and stormed off... to sit under a chair. I left his food out but eventually he left without eating more. I think I may have just lost his trust... we''ll see. If he comes back tomorrow I''ll know it wasn''t a permanent feud.

The vet is only open until 7 during the week and today was the only day I was already home... which means I won''t be able to try again until Saturday morning. But I WILL try again.
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will he come in the house? Because if he will I''d attempt the trapping inside so that in the end there''s no option. Kinda rough I guess but my thinking is get it overwith, I doubt he''ll ever just be like okay put me in the box LOL
 
I wouldn''t trap him indoors. Here''s why: He''ll have a bad association with the smells of the house and he won''t consider a safe place. You don''t know if he has diseases yet, so bringing him indoors at this home may contaminate your house. He''s going to be stressed enough without being exposed to your other animals, even thier just their scents might stress him out.
 
He might. M would freak if I did that, and there''s always a chance he could find something to hide behind. We have a great open floor plan... which means we can''t close off the main level at all.
 
Date: 6/6/2007 5:24:32 PM
Author: Gypsy
I wouldn''t trap him indoors. Here''s why: He''ll have a bad association with the smells of the house and he won''t consider a safe place. You don''t know if he has diseases yet, so bringing him indoors at this home may contaminate your house. He''s going to be stressed enough without being exposed to your other animals, even thier just their scents might stress him out.
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Reason enough, ok.
 
Date: 6/6/2007 5:26:26 PM
Author: sumbride

Date: 6/6/2007 5:24:32 PM
Author: Gypsy
I wouldn''t trap him indoors. Here''s why: He''ll have a bad association with the smells of the house and he won''t consider a safe place. You don''t know if he has diseases yet, so bringing him indoors at this home may contaminate your house. He''s going to be stressed enough without being exposed to your other animals, even thier just their scents might stress him out.
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Reason enough, ok.
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gosh... good luck! I helped my neighbor trap the feral tomcat (the dad of this litter) and she has a no kill trap and she set it here since he hung out more here.... and we got him at like 11pm and by the next morning he was bloodied he was so pissed off. I felt so sorry for him.... but he needed off the streets. He was a terror. I didn''t know about fix and release programs before this but with *that* cat I don''t know that it would have changed anything.
 
I was worried Lightning wouldn''t come back but his hunger has triumphed over his fear and he''s been back every day, though of course, not during the hours that the vet is open. Last night when I went out to feed him I noticed he had a sore on his tail. Looks like he''s been in a fight! I''m worried he may be getting an abscess right above his tail. He was a little lethargic, but it was also really hot. He was sleeping on the porch after dinner, but we had a party last night, so as soon as the first guest ventured onto the patio, Lightning left. He was back this afternoon, too late for a vet trip again, but he seemed to be feeling a little better. He let me pet him and I tried to avoid his tail, but I did touch it accidentally once and he growled a bit. I''m sure it hurts... it looks like a puncture wound... i.e. cat bite.

I do have tomorrow off, so I''ll try again in the morning. Now that he''s injured, it''s even more important that he get to the vet.
 
oh sumbride good luck! I really hope Lightning is OK - poor guy, a puncture wound sounds like no fun!! Could you trap him and keep him in the carrier with food and water overnight and take him to the vet first thing in the morning? I''ll keep my fingers crossed you can get him tomorrow without a problem!
 
Date: 6/10/2007 1:38:37 PM
Author: sumbride

I do have tomorrow off, so I''ll try again in the morning. Now that he''s injured, it''s even more important that he get to the vet.
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Poor baby. I hope you caught him and he''s on his way to the vet...I''d be scared every day he''s still out there, as I''m sure you are.
 
No luck today. He was here really early this morning and M fed him before I could say "WAIT!!!" He hasnt'' shown up for dinner yet. I honestly think he knows when the vet is open and is avoiding me!!

Ideally I''d hate to bring him in the night before the vet because I don''t think it will be pleasant for anyone, and there''s no way I could do it with M here... BUT he''s leaving for Vegas tomorrow morning, so we''ll see....
 
Date: 6/11/2007 6:06:54 PM
Author: sumbride
No luck today. He was here really early this morning and M fed him before I could say ''WAIT!!!'' He hasnt'' shown up for dinner yet. I honestly think he knows when the vet is open and is avoiding me!!

Ideally I''d hate to bring him in the night before the vet because I don''t think it will be pleasant for anyone, and there''s no way I could do it with M here... BUT he''s leaving for Vegas tomorrow morning, so we''ll see....
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Sum, I thought the same thing when trying to catch Holly. I called the vet and said, ''I''m going to try and catch the stray tomorrow morning, can I walk in with her cuz I can''t make an appt for a cat that''s not in my possession and don''t know if I can catch!" They said it wasn''t a problem.

I intended to try and catch Holly in the morning and then bring her to the vet, but when she showed up the night before I didn''t want to chance her not coming the next morning so I grabbed her. I had already set up a closed off room with a larger carrier (big enough to fit her, a small litterbox, and food bowls) to keep her in overnight. Yes, she yowled and thrashed in her carrier, didn''t eat, flipped over the water bowl, etc etc but it was just the one night. I got her to the vet and checked out, and you know the rest. If you can only catch him at night so be it - it''ll be okay if you''re prepared. And if M''s gone.....maybe it will be easier!
 
True, FG, but then Holly was a pregnant female where Lightning is a scrappy intact male... capable of spraying! I''m a little nervous about that. I don''t have a big carrier and don''t want to buy one, so short of leaving him in the tiny one all night, he''d have to be put in the small bathroom... which we JUST repainted!!!

He never did show up for dinner last night, but he was on time for breakfast. I saw him sitting on the neighbors''s shed, peaking over our fence. I got his food ready and went outside and embarrassed myself a wee bit as the workmen across the alley watched me say "Are you coming for breakfast? I have your yummy FOOD right here!!!" (I DON''T think they could see the cat!) He worked his way over to me and happily ate his breakfast and then asked for seconds, which I gave him. I''ll be telecommuting tomorrow, so hopefully, I''ll have more luck.
 
Date: 6/12/2007 11:24:33 AM
Author: sumbride
True, FG, but then Holly was a pregnant female where Lightning is a scrappy intact male... capable of spraying! I'm a little nervous about that. I don't have a big carrier and don't want to buy one, so short of leaving him in the tiny one all night, he'd have to be put in the small bathroom... which we JUST repainted!!!
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In hindsidght, yes that's true! Though I wasn't positive she was even a female when I caught her. I guess ignorance is bliss...I wouldn't have wanted her to spray the house if she had been a male either.
 
Okay... here''s what I''d do. I would get a bigger carrier. I really would. You can donate it to a shelter that will be really grateful for it if you decide to give him away. You can get one for 25 bucks or so... or you can call second hand and thrift shops in your area and ask them if they have any. If you buy new... get a top loading for trapping.
 
We don''t have anywhere to keep a bigger carrier, and don''t need it for the long term, so after my capture attempt crashed and burned this morning, I emailed the rescue group again and said "can I please borrow a trap????" So hopefully they will let me. I don''t think he''s going to let me pick him up again, especially now that he''s injured.

And the cats must be talking about me. ANOTHER cat showed up last night!!! Around 11 pm, a big orange and white cat was peeking in our kitchen door. He gave me a look so I gave him food. I''m such a sucker. He''s also an unneutered male. And I think he went for a roll in my cat mint because he didn''t mind at all when I petted his head. I think this is getting deeper than I thought! I may end up catching him first, but hey, 1 less intact male cat on the streets is good. Of course, he may be the one that beat up Lightning. He''s a lot bigger.
 
The humane trap sounds like the way to go. I hope you can get one quickly, esp. since Lightning has been injured.

Yes, we have 2 more roaming cats in the backyard too. I wonder if one of them got Holly pregnant.
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At least with Holly inside there''s one less female to keep having babies. You are making some impact!
 
So here''s the newest project... he showed up again today. And he is covered in scratches and scabs. I''m about 100% sure he''s sick too, but he needs medical attention, and he''s an unneutered male as well, so the "luring with food" has begun. I think this big boy will almost require a trap. He scares me.

I''m starting to feel like the witch living in the gingerbread house... I lure them in with cat mint and fancy feast and then I have them killed.
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He is so cute! My MIL use to always take in stray's and that is always how she ended up with a Kitty.
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Can you take him to the vet; I hope he is okay.
 
Hey Skippy - The goal is to get him TNR''d (trapped, neutered, returned) but after Lightning was found to be FIV+, I am fairly certain this guy is sick too. Judging by the amount of scars on him, he''s been in a lot of fights. If that''s true, we''ll need to put him down.
 
Date: 6/18/2007 8:33:01 PM
Author: sumbride
Hey Skippy - The goal is to get him TNR''d (trapped, neutered, returned) but after Lightning was found to be FIV+, I am fairly certain this guy is sick too. Judging by the amount of scars on him, he''s been in a lot of fights. If that''s true, we''ll need to put him down.
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Oh no. I am so sorry.
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Date: 6/18/2007 8:35:00 PM
Author: Skippy123
Date: 6/18/2007 8:33:01 PM

Author: sumbride

Hey Skippy - The goal is to get him TNR''d (trapped, neutered, returned) but after Lightning was found to be FIV+, I am fairly certain this guy is sick too. Judging by the amount of scars on him, he''s been in a lot of fights. If that''s true, we''ll need to put him down.
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Oh no. I am so sorry.
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Me too! I''m trying to help, but unfortunately where there is one injured male that is FIV+, the other injured male probably had something to do with it too.
 
Sum, I can only imagine how heartwrenching the whole thing with Lightning was, and quite possibly with this guy too. I would have cried my eyes out. Even when you know you''re doing the right thing by helping this thing not spread around more than it has, it''s still hard. When I found out that Holly was pregnant after I took her in to get spayed I felt SO guilty. But in the end it was best for her and the babies were already likely affected by the immunizations I gave to Holly before I knew. It''s hard sometimes.
 
I''m sorry, this must be hard. You are doing the right thing.
 
Date: 6/19/2007 7:57:36 AM
Author: rainbowtrout
I''m sorry, this must be hard. You are doing the right thing.
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Ditto honey. It took me a while to respond, because well... I was very attached to lightening.... even from just the pics. I know that for you, it was harder... because everytime I thought of responding I would get really choaked up. ((HUGS)....

And you really are doing the right thing. It''s the hard thing... but definitely the right thing.
 
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