Rescuing a cat

Cold

We have had a lot of rescue cats. Some have come from animal shelters and others we have literally found dying in our garden - I think some people abandon them in the forest near our house but by winter there is no food ...

It is always good to offer a home to a hard to adopt cat - older cats, bonded pairs, cats with medical issues.

We currently have 3.

Two came from a shelter as a hard to adopt bonded pair that had been removed for neglect/cruelty when they were tiny kittens. One is very nervous (but will take a Dreamie from my hand) the other is sociable and friendly but lost an eye from neglect.

The other was a kitten that we found surviving by eating our birdseed and fatballs in the garden and living under a barn. My DD spent 3 weeks trying to get her in as the weather was extreme (minus 20-25C). 9 years later she thinks she is a princess and spends most of the winter on a pink fluffy pillow above a radiator.

ooops I spoke too soon.

Now have a 4th cat that was eating stale bread and bird food in the garden

Whitewavemark2 Poor little thing. I expect she'll settle down soon. Our vet prescribed Gabapentin, in a liquid, for me to syringe into the cat's mouth (I waited until he was asleep and then held him down). Best of luck.

Definitely going to ask about a sedative.

Well we got to the vets this morning and it has completely set her back😢. Yesterday she was as happy as a lark, spending lots of cuddle time, pottering in and out of the garden, sleeping in her room on her climbing frame, but after this morning she simply can’t settle. Hasn’t been once upstairs, has hardly slept, drank or ate and is doing stuff she never has done before, like wondering around with big eyes, jumping at the least sound etc.

It is very stressful to watch her, but we are hoping a nights sleep might help. Poor little soul, she was frightened rigid. I always knew she would be traumatised, but never thought to this extent.

We reckon that cat carriers are associated with everything horrible in her little life. I tried everything advised - treats etc, but no joy, so in the end I picked her up and put her in very gently - she doesn’t struggle - just goes rigid with fear.

Oh dear! She has a booster in 3 weeks time. Doesn’t bear thinking about!

She comes out around 11.30pm to eat, then disappears again, but this morning she came to eat around 11am, so maybe a small advancement.

Grannylynj . I can think of many more. Shall I ist them?

I think that ‘gain your trust’ is the most annoying phrase on the planet

Still not seen Candy yet today.

Yes that’s true.

We aren’t doing bad together. As soon as I sit down she jumps onto my lap, but is still frightened of legs.

She’s just had her lunch with the dish at the entrance to the carrier. Food is definitely her prime motivation, more so than dreamies etc, although she does quite like them.

Our cat was a stray when we took him in last September. I had to get some medicine from the vet, to sedate him, before I could get him in the carrier. Now, he walks in it with no bother. . Your cat has to gain your trust (and gardening gloves will probably frighten her).

Yes that’s plan A😄😄

Just hope I don’t get as far as plan F

Fail!!

Whitewavemark2 You could try leaving the cat carrier open and a few Dreamies inside. She might just go in (if you stand behind her to give her a nudge)

No😊 it is good to read!

That’s her three days trauma completed.

Now it’s her 3 week getting used to her new routine.

I feed Roo the same time every day, and keep to the same routine, and she is getting quite good at reminding me now. But it has given her the ability to build up her confidence. Things like keeping everything in the same place etc, makes a difference.

Vets on Friday - should be interesting - getting her into the carrier. I haven’t lifted her yet. I think I’ll wear garden gloves!

She suddenly appeared at 11.30pm last night, had a wander around the living room, went into the kitchen and ate the stale food I`d planned to throw out, then disappeared again, through the door to the stairs. When I went to bed, she appeared at the top of the stairs, went into my bedroom, but no sign when I got up there. Saw her on the landing a couple of times in the night, but no sign of her this morning.
Anyway, I`ll stop boring you for a while.

Hopefully Candy will come out of her shell over the next couple of weeks. It is such a gradual process.

Roo hasn’t been out since the panic.

Nothing new to report, Candy is still playing hard to get. She eats after I go to bed. It`ll be 3 days by tonight.

When my beautiful Amie had to be put to sleep two summers ago I thought the grief would kill me , I still fill up when I think of her and have photos of her on my windowsill.

After a few months without a cat I went back to the same rescue centre and adopted 6month old kittens who were brother and sister and very bonded so the centre wouldn’t separate them. I’ve had them 16 months now and they are very different but very affectionate in their own ways and I am definitely their “person” although I live with my family .

Do get another cat/cats you’ll be so glad you did . Mine can never replace Amie ( I think I still love her best) but they have helped fill part of the void and I love them

Yes we’ve been looking, but they do seem very big and come with a collar that releases. Still thinking about it.

And yes it is stressful😬😬

Might it be worth getting a tracker? Can you get them for cats?I don’t think I could cope with having a cat these days, I’m too much of a worrier.

Have you found her yet?

Cats protection say 3 days getting over the moving trauma. 3 weeks getting used to the new routine and 3 months to really feel at home.

Roo has done that almost to the day so far but another 6 weeks to go to complete the 3 months.

She asked to go out earlier, and jumped the fence 😮😮 Our neighbour returned from work and she tried to hide under their outdoor furniture then ran like mad and eventually jumped the fence back again. I don’t think I can stand many days of stress like that!

Safely in now.

PS, Roo is gorgeous!

No pictures as yet. I haven`t se eyes on her today, so assume she`s inside the settee still! Last night she jumped on my bed, mooched around for a few seconds, then disappeared. Later I found her asleep on the landing, but she didn`t stay there all night. I`m off to shake the Dreamies packet in a minute, see if that brings her out!

https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-ctb0gh-img-1715.jpeg https://www.gransnet.com/uploads/talk/202503/medium-e9xrj3-img-1741.jpeg

Perhaps her safe space?

With Roo, we have never let her know that we know where her safe space is, although after 6 weeks, she is rarely dashing to it now.

Yesterday was her first day allowed out😬😬. It was the most glorious day, and no wind. I opened the conservatory door and out she crept. She explored almost the whole of the garden with me following her - on tenterhooks in case she dashed over the fence. But all was well and after more or less doing a complete tour she walked back into the house and slept all day. I think it exhausted her!

She is improving day by day. Still frightened of legs, so us walking around the house is still a problem if we have to walk past her, which is why letting her outside could be problematic, as she runs away if we get too close, but other than that Roo is nearly there.

It sounds as if your new little moggie is much less traumatised than Roo, so hopefully will settle much more quickly.

Any photos?

Here more of Roo,

I had a British Shorthair years ago who disappeared for a while and she was inside the settee. Another time she was found inside my neighbours wardrobe.

Inside the settee! . I hope she emerges soon - maybe the lure of Dreamies will entice her out? I hope you live long, happy lives together. ❤️