Subject: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 06 Nov 07 - 11:51 AM For those who kindly advised me, here's the pros and cons. I'd have to take kitty 150 km. to find a vet who won't charge me arms plus legs for a whole day quarantining and cleaning their surgery, due to fears about feral diseases. SPCA here only offers euthanising, really. I haven't given up yet, but am not lookin' forward to hauling a wild cat that far and back. 'She' turned out to be a 'he'. I'd previously looked for the usual male appendages at the back of the cat and didn't find any, but the cat has thick long fur. Then a couple weeks ago I caught kitty licking his unmistakable penis. I think the cat is younger than I previously thought, since it's grown to twice original size since I started feeding it, and has not started spraying, AFAICT. Progress: I can pick this cat up, pet and cuddle it, call it and it will come. Nobody else can get near it, unfortunately, because I want him calm enough to take him to a vet. He let me cut mats out of his coat with scissors, put flea stuff on his neck, will eat from my hand, has never shown aggression towards me, just skittishness if I move too fast. Survival: I gave up and made him a warm little house on the deck in time for TS Noel, from which he can see in through the patio doors. He likes looking at us, and will come in for brief visits if I'm alone. Our own cat thinks he should keep the heck outside, though, and inevitably starts beating on the stranger, who is half his size. Hope: I dunno... I've decided to just try to get him tamer for a while before going any further. My own cat's up to date with needles, and this fella appears to be perfectly healthy, although i know you can't always tell. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 06 Nov 07 - 12:07 PM Sounds like you've made some real progress. I know of plenty of tame cats who go bonkers when one tries to use scissors on them, etc. Good for you! We used to get natural calming tablets to settle our dog and some of the cats when we moved across the country with them; drove all the way from Massachusetts to Wyoming that way! HERE'S some info on one product with customer reviews. Maybe that will be helpful. kat |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 06 Nov 07 - 12:21 PM Thanks Kat! My vet is sympathetic but understandably will only go so far. I asked about cat tranks and she said (and SPCA also said) it is illegal to prescribe any without first seeing cat: catch 22. I'm almost considering being devious and just taking him to a vet. My own cat is the product of an indoor outdoor unvetted housecat and an unknown tom, and the vet didn't turn a hair when I went in with him. How much difference is there in danger of diseases between the two of them? But then, if he injured anyone or did spread a disease in the clinic, I'd turn myself in out of guilt. I'm an admitted sucker for even an old scruffy one-eyed raggedy flea-ridden street cat, but this little guy has no stops on cuteness. All white and fluffy and soft, with a short nose, almost human-looking face, fluffy grey tail and brown tabby spots on shoulders and head and ears. Plus a really loud purr. Goes limp when I cuddle him, purrs like amotorboat and rubs his face on my sleeves. Erk. Melt. Act foolish. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: maeve Date: 06 Nov 07 - 12:39 PM Your feral cat sounds like mine- my mum's actually- he lived with me for a year or so. My mother's local vet (South Carolina)was fine about prescribing a tranquilizer for the cat, sight unseen, to enable my parents to bring him in for care. He was given all the care needed, including neutering, without any complaints from the vet. Since that time he's developed into the most beautiful cat, with intelligence, a definate sense of humor, and lots of love to give. When my folks moved from SC to Maine, the cat came too, tranquilized and in a carrier. He stayed at my house for a year while they worked on their new house, and that was the time during which he really became a fully socialized pet. It's worth all the trouble. It would seem that if you could weigh him when he's there feeling safe with you, your vet should be able to legally write a script for you- is that possible? The weight would enable him/her to prescribe the correct dosage. Best wishes for yours! maeve |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Liz the Squeak Date: 06 Nov 07 - 12:47 PM Sounds like he's not so feral as you thought - if only because he reacts to human kindness... either that or he didn't suffer human unkindness before you adopted him. Good luck and persevere! LTS |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Mr Red Date: 06 Nov 07 - 01:56 PM Joy has a cat she feeds - he is at the point of nosing food as it goes into the dish but touching is a no no. He hisses at me even though I put food out occasionally. Joy lives on a farm so he has plenty of hiding places. No rats now either! He has a flea collar which must be a year old at least. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Greg B Date: 06 Nov 07 - 04:55 PM Take a look at this: http://www.forgottencats.com/ I found them on a Google search. We took three barn cats to them. There are similar organizations in various places. 150km is ridiculous. And not all vets are as particular as yours. On the other hand, if he's a tom, you may want to just leave him fertile. He'll never have kittens, and in a world with un-spayed females if it isn't him that knocks 'em up it'll be another. I'd only neuter him if I intended for him to come indoors, at this point, especially if it required driving that far. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 06 Nov 07 - 08:17 PM Greg, Nova Scotia has unique winter weather - every kind you can think of, from 30 below and blizzarding to driving sleet all day and night, with a mild day thrown in here and there. There may be times when this cat has to come in for the night to survive, little house or not. Plus, I think toms should be neutered - it's one less tom makin' kittens. I got a lead on a closer-by vet that might do it, today. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Sorcha Date: 06 Nov 07 - 08:30 PM Me, I'd just take him to a close vet and tell them I had a new cat. He needs a worm check, ear mites, etc. besides the cut job. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: wysiwyg Date: 06 Nov 07 - 08:43 PM Yes, and ear mites usually require daily treatment for several weeks... and then they re-infest. ~S~ |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 06 Nov 07 - 10:14 PM Thankfully, earmites are fairly rare hereabouts - I think they freeze to death outside the hothouse confines of urban areas. Wild Kitty's ears are very clean looking inside - he's overall a very clean looking cat, for a longhaired white critter. He does get lotsa stuff stuck on him, but seems to get most of it off without help... except for a big slug that had slimed into his side fur... ick. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Sorcha Date: 06 Nov 07 - 10:18 PM I am in a semi urban area, but NOT truly urban. Rural town and I have ear mite troubles. My friend who does live in 'the country' has them big time, so maybe it is the weather there. Be thankful. They can also cause brain damage if bad enough. Slug on fur....MAJOR ICK. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Becca72 Date: 07 Nov 07 - 06:18 PM Any word on the closer vet? I'd love to see pics of this young man if you can, too. :-) |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 07 Nov 07 - 10:54 PM Head vet wasn't in today, so I'm supposed to get a call back tomorrow. I fudged and said 'stray', not 'feral'. I'll take a trip into town and hit the health food places for cat calmers, and I'll wait a bit longer to see if I can get him to let other people handle him. I was searching through his fur today trying to see his skin condition (looks fine) and noticed he has a sharpish knob on one of his ribs, but doesn't seem to bother him. Pics? Maybe. I'm trying to figure out hooking up camera to computer - I finally have the right combo of cables, I think, but I've been procrastinating. This computer is very old. I warn you though, you'll want him if you see a pic! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Becca72 Date: 08 Nov 07 - 09:12 AM You have no idea how right you are, Bee. I cannot say no to a cute little kitty...which is how I ended up with 3 of them. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 12 Nov 07 - 01:09 PM A friend just sent me this. I thought it might find a "good home" in this thread: RULES REGARDING STRAY CATS Stray cats will not be fed. Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with a little milk. Stray cats will not be fed anything except dry cat food moistened with warm milk, yummy treats and leftover fish scraps. Stray cats will not be petted, played with or picked up and cuddled unnecessarily. Stray cats that are petted, played with, picked up and cuddled will absolutely not be given a name. Stray cats with or without a name will not be allowed inside the house at any time. Stray cats allowed inside will not be permitted to jump up on or sharpen their claws on the furniture. Stray cats will be permitted on furniture but must sharpen claws on new $114.99 sisal rope scratching post with three perches. Stray cats will sleep outside. Stray cats will sleep in the garage. Stray cats will sleep in the house, but not in our bed. Stray cats will sleep in our bed, but not under the covers. Stray cats will not play on the desk. Stray cats will not play on the desk near the computer. Stray cats are forbidden to walk on the computer keyboard on the desk when the human is using it. Stray cats are forbidden to walk on the computer keyboard on the desk when the human is asdfjjhhkl;ljfd.;oier puyykmm4hbdm9lo9jmdskdm.... USING IT! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Becca72 Date: 12 Nov 07 - 01:39 PM :-) Thanks, Kat |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 12 Nov 07 - 07:21 PM Bee - in the other thread I posted this link - they may be able to help you with suggestions for tranking widdle white kittie kuddles (well, kuddles you anyways!) Alley Cat Allies - Every Kitty Every City! http://alleycats.org/ |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:16 AM Thanks, guys. Kat, we're at 'allowed inside for a bit each day'. DW, I'll look there. This kitty has to get vetted pronto, as he now has an eye infection (which I gloomily suspect is conjunctivitis associated with FLV). I've been treating it with antibiotic goo (as suggested at a vet site), which seems to be having some good effect. It has not spoiled his appetite. He eats three times what my own cat does, and I feed him as much as he wants because little house or not, it's cold out there, he needs the calories... and he's growing like a weed. I'm aware there's some risk to my own cat, who has had his needles, etc., but I also know there'd be no way to keep him away from other cats anyway, since he's an indoor-outdoor country cat. I am trying so hard not to get attached to this cat, but it ain't easy. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Sorcha Date: 13 Nov 07 - 08:22 AM And still no pic! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 13 Nov 07 - 10:18 AM Readin' my mind, Sorcha. I gotta load the camera (which i barely know how to use!) software on the old computer, then we'll see. I've only had a digital camera for a few months, and I'm not sure if WIN98SE will even work with it. Little bugger is in the house somewhere right now, hiding. I brought him in out of the rain to check his eye, put some more goo on it (pra-a-aise the lord, it's almost completely cleared up!) and he promptly disappeared - even my cat hasn't found him. Not that I blame him, it's pouring cold rain out. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 13 Nov 07 - 12:17 PM Oh, you're a goner for sure, Bee, if he's already inside and found the hidey-holes. You might as well give up and give him a name, etc.!:-) |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:03 PM Reluctant and Highly Disapproving Husband has already named him Snowball - husband's naming criteria does not include high degree of creativity. And, hours later, I still haven't seen him, but then, my cat just sleeps all day if the weather's bad, so he's likely snoozin' somewhere. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Becca72 Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:05 PM It's all over if Husband had named him. He'll grunt about it but his heart is already melted by the little cutie. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 13 Nov 07 - 02:12 PM *snicker, snicker* Yes! The takeover continues. Operation Snowball is almost complete! Viva Kitty Le Mew! Oops! Sorry about that. Kipling, Trystan! Get away from that computer! kattroubled&lookingatherlittlefurryrebels |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Sorcha Date: 13 Nov 07 - 04:46 PM OH, HOW funny! Kat is right...if hubby named him, it really is all over. Sleeping on the bed will be next. Hubby's pillow if karma has anything to say about it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 13 Nov 07 - 09:04 PM Snowball. OK, I can't really talk now can I, having named my little black feral furball INKY. I was calling him LURK when he was lurking around the yard and house. That was in honour of a black cat an old boyfriend used to call LURK. That cat used to lurk around the windows of ex-boyfriend's home and hiss at ex-boyfriends then itsy bitsy kitten named Ted. (ex-boyfriend thought it would cute to name a cat after Ted Bundy - Note, he and I broke up shortly thereafter). Anyhoo, Lurk the big menacing black cat attained legendary status which was all shot to hell when it was disovered his real name was INKY. So, when I discovered I had my own little black LURK - I skipped a few steps and just started calling him INKY within a couple of days. He likes it - comes running to the front door when I call him which is all we need right? You know, somwehre on the Net, I recall there being a Pet names website that lists all the appropriate names for cats or dogs of certain colors of personalities in dozens of languages such as Rua for a red setter and so on. Let me go look for it. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 13 Nov 07 - 09:48 PM OK, I only found the names for dogs by color or country of origin. here are some suitably bad names for a white pet: Arctic Aspen Avalanche Blizzard Cameo Casper Cloud Coconut Cotton Edelweiss Frostie, Frosty Ghost Glacier Igloo Ice Ice Cube Ivory Lily Marshmallow Pearl Polar Powder Snow Snow Ball ************DING DING DING********** Snowflake Snow White Snowden Sugar Vanilla |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 13 Nov 07 - 10:23 PM OK - found it! Before I go on, let me vote for Leche (Lay-chay) if he is the color of milk or Bawny-Boy, I always liked that name. However, my all-time fave name for a white dog or cat is Alby which is short for Alban which is latin for the fair i believe. Go here: True Colour Names for your dog or Pet Now some of these listed these are actual names of colors or names associated with certain colors or hues. they are names of colors that ARE also names, get it?? Some fun but weird ones: EBURNEAN: of or like ivory; ivory-coloured *GWEN: white (Welsh) (You can call him Gwynn) LEUCOCHROIC: white or pale-coloured NANKEEN: buff-coloured; durable buff-coloured cotton *NIVEOUS: snowy; white (not bad, not bad at all) *ORAN: Very pale - (good name for a boy, yes?) THISTLE: milky cream colour WHEY: off-white means white in another language Chagan W™bigen ska Unega Janq'u **Wabiska (means white in OJIBWE - in case you live near any OJIBWE ) Bahn Txuri Arousha Zuri (white in basque - I like that one!) Here's some more: male and female color names: http://lowchensaustralia.com/names/colournames.htm Oh, here we go - what i ws after all along:White names Best ones I think - nice and regal sounding, as far away from snowball as possible: Berwyn Elgin Finbar Finnigan - who wouldn't love a cat named Finnigan? Eh? Galvin Gwayne - another variation on Gwynn Irving Kenyon Laban Nevada or Nevaska meaning white snow in Spanish or Portuguese Penwyn Shiro - I like this one too! Whittaker I also looked up Black names and see now I should have called Inky "Lon‡n" . Oh well. he's stuck with Inky now. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 13 Nov 07 - 10:55 PM I'm now helpless with laughter. See, Husband is in Good Company! DW, Niveous isn't bad. Keep in mind I have to shout this name out to call him, and my ringing tones can be heard by neighbours all the way up the road - which is a good reason for ditching the Snowball moniker. When we first moved in, our dog had a common man's name (though she was a girl - I'm not good at sexing young animals, am I?) and for weeks the neighbours thought I was talking to my husband, as in "George! Spit that out right now! George, get off!" and so on. Oh, kitty materialised just before supper. I just looked down and there he was, yawning. Tomorrow I'm makin' an earnest try at pictures - and some of my own kitty, who is a verra handsome classic tabby and has the left side collarbone area of all my natural fibre sweaters licked smooth. I keep expecting this thread to fall off the page, but I have obviously fallen into a nest of cat fans. Er... the cats have hit the fans, or something... |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 13 Nov 07 - 11:31 PM LMAO!!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 14 Nov 07 - 03:31 AM ooh- ooh! >>Raising hand<< I have another name suggestion and it has nothing to with him being white but everything with him being feral in origin and needing a bad-ass name. I grew up on a street that was rule with an iron paw by a semi-feral Tomcat named SOUSER which is pronounced "Soo-sir" or "Sue-Sir". Souser was one tuff puss. He only had one ear, the other having been torn off in a fight and he wasn't too pretty to look at but he was a champion mouser (Not pronounced moo-sir) and he lived to be 19 years old. If ever there was a more auspicious name, I haven't heard it. Souser the First would want to pass his name down to a little scrapper being threatened with a lifetime as "Snowball." Souser the First would have scratched anyone that dared give a boy-kity such a sissy name. Souser the First was a good cuddler to those of his loyal subjects who were worthy of his affection. Souser the First would likely be proud to know there might be a Souser the Second. C'mon - call the baby Souser! All hail Souser the Second! Long live Souser! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Leadfingers Date: 14 Nov 07 - 05:45 AM Bee - One thing to remember is that you havent got a cat - A Cat has got YOU !!! |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Becca72 Date: 14 Nov 07 - 06:55 PM My family has a habit of naming our pets with human names so I'm at a loss for names for he of the white coat. But I do like Finnigan or Snowden from DW's list. Snowball is just so....untough for a boy kitty. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Greg B Date: 14 Nov 07 - 07:13 PM You mentioned FLV up above. Before you get too attached, have him tested. Our policy with ferals and barn cats is that when we take them to be 'fixed' we have them tested for feline leukemia and AIDS. The instruction to the vet is that if they're positive for either, just put them down and let us know. No further discussion, and no heart-rending decision. The vets support this--- even the rescue places. These diseases are serious, and communicable, and result in a lingering awful death. Animals who have them need to be destroyed, unfortunately, to protect the healthy population. Yes, there's a vaccine for FLV, but it's not 100% effective and an infected cat who goes outside can be a 'Typhoid Tabby.' |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: The Fooles Troupe Date: 14 Nov 07 - 08:46 PM Having done sone literary research, I would like to point out that nominative determinism suggests that calling the little guy 'Snowball' is poptentially risky - look what happened on 'Animal Farm'... the pig took over... |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Sorcha Date: 14 Nov 07 - 10:44 PM Also, regarding FLV, the kits seem to get it from the mother, in the milk. If they are exposed from the milk it seems that no vaccine later will save them. It's the fertile females that need the vac so that the kits have some immunity until they can get vacced. It's not easy, Greg, but I applaud your decision. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 14 Nov 07 - 11:21 PM It's a strong possibility. However, I'm now less sure where he came from (long story, but he might have been dumped), so know even less. My FLV fear stems from the eye infection - it's a noted symptom. Also, as soon as one eye cleared, the other became runny and mucusy, so I've started treating that one. Poor little bugger! Still having reluctance on the part of vets (sterilizing after an FLV cat has been on the premises seems to be their big concern, though surely they must get cats in with it frequently enough), so I'm going to talk to someone at a no-kill shelter (an hour and a half away!). They may have some advice. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: GUEST,PMB Date: 15 Nov 07 - 03:41 AM Whatever happened to Kitty's feral bee? |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Dave'sWife Date: 19 Nov 07 - 02:59 AM So, I take it Souser was a no go? He's still Snowball, right? |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 19 Nov 07 - 07:37 AM Heh! The cat has a tenuous hold on Husband's affections as is - I dare not change his name! Both eyes have cleared up, though, either on their own or because I gooed 'em up, who knows? |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 24 Nov 07 - 08:27 PM I haz pichurz. On my computer.... Of kittehs.... Do I have to email them per Member Photo info, to let people see 'em? Or is there some other way? |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 24 Nov 07 - 11:01 PM You can put them online in your own photo account at places such as myopera, picasa, or flikr (I wish they'd spell it right!) and post a link here OR you can send them to joe@mudcat.org and one of us could put them in the Mudcat album which we just started at myopera, but I think we're trying to limit that to three pix per member and most want to post their own mugs, so...I could put them in my CAT ALBUM at myopera if you don't want to start one. OR, I could put them in the original Mudcat album I still have there under my user name. (Look over to the left and click on Mudcat when you get there.) You'd have to email them to me. Send me a PM if you'd like to do it that way and I'll send you my email addy. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: katlaughing Date: 26 Nov 07 - 12:20 PM We got PICTURES!! Thanks, Bee, he is a doll, so is Tommy! Just CLICK HERE! kat |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update From: Bee Date: 26 Nov 07 - 01:29 PM Thank you for this, kat - I never could have done it with my old dialup and cranky computer. Now anybody can see why I couldn't give up immediately on that little white cat. We've a ways to go, and things can always go wrong, but at least right now, this is one stray that gets food every day, has a warm shelter, gets a cuddle when he wants one, and isn't wandering hopelessly. He's yawning his way out of his house on the deck when I get up, and goes to bed three or four times before I do - comes out to look in and see what's up. He comes in for a warm up a few times a day, but is scared still of everyone but me. DW, like many a cat before him, he appears stuck with a silly name. I remember being infuriated with my cousins when we were all under ten - I wasn't allowed any pets, They always had litters of kittens and puppies and bunnies. They named black cats Blackie, grey cats Smoky, and white cats Fluffy and Puffy, while I was imagining romantic monikers like Black Diamond and Mystery and Rapunzel. So I end up with Tommy and Snowball - the cousins are revenged. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update - pix added! From: katlaughing Date: 26 Nov 07 - 01:35 PM Well, I'd say he definintely has MORE than a "snowball's chance in aitch-ee-double-el!" Lucky kitty and good onya both, Bee. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update - pix added! From: CET Date: 26 Nov 07 - 09:36 PM He looks like a smaller and fluffier cousin of Bill, the cat that ate Ottawa, who came to live with us seven years ago. |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update - pix added! From: JennieG Date: 27 Nov 07 - 01:20 AM He's a gorgeous boy! Cheers JennieG and her 3 kitties |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update - pix added! From: Sandra in Sydney Date: 27 Nov 07 - 03:48 AM he's gorgeous - how can he be a feral? He looks like a well-looked after no-longer lost kitten to me. sandra (by-the-by, your tabby is beautiful, too, you have 2 lucky cats) |
Subject: RE: BS: Bee's Feral Kitty Update - pix added! From: gnu Date: 27 Nov 07 - 05:23 AM Yup, Bee. I can see why. I may be in the same boat as I noticed "beds" in the leaves bwtween my house and the firewood pile. Um, how did you make the "warm little house" on the deck? |