Thanks, everyone - this is helpful. It's what I figured - yep, keep the little cutie in. If we are outside with him, he's fine, but only if we give him all our attention - if not, he will pull some daredevil stunt like climbing the highest tree, or running under the gate and start scratching my car's tires :) I worry that he's just so alone out there, no other babies, and he knows mom and dad and the inside kitties are all together. I'll have to watch him very carefully for any signs of depression. Today was the first day and he was ok, but restless. Once it's 20 below of course, it will be an easier sell! I figure winter will be a good thing for him this year and might help make him a total house cat. I spent about 1 - 3 hrs a day every day since August 2009 with him, (with the exception of those few days he never appeared) so that's why he can be picked up and cuddled now. thanks everyone. your kitties are so lucky to have you. Shannon and Whimsy
--- On Wed, 10/20/10, Bonnie Hogue <ho...@sonic.net> wrote: From: Bonnie Hogue <ho...@sonic.net> Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] how to make Whimsy an inside only? To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 11:38 AM My experience: Started Stormy at 12 weeks as being "indoor only." She will occasionally sneak out, only to go directly under the deck. Some adventure! After 15 min. she's ready to come in. She's 14 yrs. old now. Will, likewise, found as tiny kitten, bottle fed, indoor only. He's never offered to sneak out. Miya Chan, once feral, had a litter of kittens at the creek and was the last one caught. She got out once but when I called her in at 3 a.m. she came home. I think she was just very frightened and hiding. Never offers to rush the door. Right now I'm working with Lucky, my mom's formerly feral cat. He is having some difficulties adjusting. The Feliway spray helps, but is very expensive. Lately I notice he's peeing on the bed (yuk). We're going to the vet today to rule out a urinary tract infection. I hope it is not behavioral, because then I'm stumped. Not wealthy and can't let the cat ruin what furniture I do have. I think the cold turkey thing is the way. In my experience, time and attention tame them. ~Bonnie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Beth" <create_me_...@yahoo.com> To: <felvtalk@felineleukemia.org> Sent: Wednesday, October 20, 2010 5:47 AM Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] how to make Whimsy an inside only? > I agree. > My former ferals usually won't go near the door once they have been inside > for awhile. If they do go out they come right back in. I did have one former > tame outside cat who took a couple years to get acclimated to being inside, > but he was eventually fine. > > Beth > Dont Litter, Fix Your Critter! www.Furkids.org > > --- On Wed, 10/20/10, Natalie <at...@optonline.net> wrote: > > From: Natalie <at...@optonline.net> > Subject: Re: [Felvtalk] how to make Whimsy an inside only? > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Date: Wednesday, October 20, 2010, 8:30 AM > > I'll write more later - am feeding and cleaning litter boxes right now for > cats that are strictly indoor and were either truly feral, reverted > abandoned cats at one time. And when I say feral, you couldn't even get > near them for a long time until they trusted us. It's easy - you are the > one that controls the door. Most decide that it's so great inside that they > don't even want to use the outdoor enclosure! Speaking with 18 1/2 yrs of > experience - having started trapping ONLY feral cats when we started our > rescue group. Some become the most adorable, friendly ever - some don't - > but being indoors, with a nice soft bed and regular feeding, they always > accepted our hospitality very gratefully! Natalie > > -----Original Message----- > From: felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org > [mailto:felvtalk-boun...@felineleukemia.org] On Behalf Of Emeraldkittee > Sent: Tuesday, October 19, 2010 11:22 PM > To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > Subject: [Felvtalk] how to make Whimsy an inside only? > > > I would be interested in hearing others' stories of bringing inside an FeLV > 'former feral' - to permenantly indoor. I don't let out my kitties, but > Whimsy has gone from a cagey feral to "almost house cat" status. He has the > sunroom to himself, and has been out in the daytime and with us some > evenings. When out, he was staying in the yard, but the past few days has > started to explore like he used to, and we have caught him across the > street, etc. Obviously, it's a big fright for us and since we were planning > on him being inside 24/7 with Halloween coming up, this might be the time to > break the news to him....it's not safe for you to be out at all without your > mom and dad. > > Because he was so feral, and it's taken him so long to get to this point, we > have worked at his pace - we didn't have a choice when we couldn't trap him, > couldn't handle him. Now he comes when he's called. I want to make the > leap now for peace of mind and his safety, and now that I can handle him > (picking up, cuddling) it seems like the right time - I don't want to stress > him more - he does sometimes get upset being cooped up. Should we just > toughen up and keep him in all the time, except when he is with us? > > He does get lonely and paws at the door to be let out if he's alone too > long, and I don't want him to get depressed. Adding another FeLV kitty > would not be the best financial move, given the whole clan we have with > various ailments. I also wonder if another FeLV could make him worse off, > if that new kitty had a more serious 'version' of FeLV. Whimsy for now has > been asymptomic, and is around 2 yrs 3 mos old. I hope he's one of the ones > that can sustain health for a long time. I also don't know how he'd act > around another kitty. > > so, in summary - > > 1) is forcing him to be inside only the best thing to do? > 2) any ideas on how to make the transition emotionally easier for him? > > thank you, > Shannon and Whimsy > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Felvtalk mailing list > Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org > http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org > _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org _______________________________________________ Felvtalk mailing list Felvtalk@felineleukemia.org http://felineleukemia.org/mailman/listinfo/felvtalk_felineleukemia.org
