Glad to see that Phoenix is warm this morning. It was bitter cold last night. She hasn’t eaten, she worried the cat litter but didn’t produce anything. When I knelt down to see her, she scrambled for her favorite spot, between my knees, demanding to be petted and loved. Her eyes are still wide and not relaxed and I am sure she is thinking, “What in the world happened to my life?”
She is just so loving. One of the kittens jumped up on the ramp outside and walked by the window, and I could feel her stiffen. No growls, just an alert posture. She did not charge the window and I take that for a good sign.
This morning, she got a hot meal, but I suspect she won’t be eating any of it. She is still trying to figure out her new world. I wish I could just bring her inside, but without adequate protection, testing and the spay- that is impossible. I’ll be out to visit her again later and give her more lovins.
One of the cats rescued from that hoarder’s home months ago, has been crying almost non-stop. I am so close to gaining her trust and being able to capture her and get her to the vet. This morning, instead of ducking under the deck, she sat some distance away and just cried as I filled her food bowl and gave her fresh water. I am sure she is full of fleas and other parasites, but she won’t go in a trap (that’s how I caught her in this man’s filthy home. She won’t go under the drop trap or into the wooden box that Mike built that doubles as a cat trap as well. It is just a small building of trust that will capture her and get her the help she needs.I have found that males trust quicker than females. I wonder if it has to do with some maternal instinct that keeps strangers at bay?
Phantom is staying indoors for the most part now, but she is still just within my reach. It’s frustrating to know these cats need help and wanting to help them becomes almost a full-time job. Patience is the key. Hmm maybe that would be a good name for the hoarder’s cat, because that is what it is going to take to catch her.
Hang in there, Phoenix. You might not feel like it right now, but things are looking up.
We know about the not-quite-trusting kittie that lets you ‘almost touch’. There are a lot of stray/feral in our area, and it is kind of frustrating.
Maybe worse is how a kittie will finally let you just touch them a time or two, then just disappear. You always wonder if some one else has adopted them, or their letting their guard down a little with you got them into trouble.
It sounds to me that Phoenix is actually doing pretty well. Considering what she’s gone through, wanting some affection is a very good sign. She’ll eat soon, I’m sure.
I have recently befriended a feral cat and her 3 kittens. I been feeding them for a little over a month and I’m almost able to get close enough to the mother to pet her. The kittens will come as close to eating from me. At night the mother leaves and actually leave her kittens on my porch. I just afraid due to the cold weather approaching both mother and kittens won’t make it. How can I help them threw the winter, if they won’t come to me.
You can help them by feeding them warmed canned food when it gets so cold. Provide them a warm sheltered area to get out of the elements (even anything as simple as a cardboard box stuffed with straw will help them. If you can make an area to block out the wind (if your porch is screened) that will help as well. Also be sure they have fresh water available at all times. Set up a schedule for feedings and stick to the times as strictly as you can. This way, they will learn to trust you faster because they know at such-and-such a time, the food will arrive. When you feed, make NO eye contact with any of them and stay as low to the ground as you comfortably can.