feral cat in heating vent

**Catty1** · 02-19-2006, 01:41 PM

Do that! Post the outcome...I hope kitty is ok...

**Lizzie** · 02-19-2006, 01:52 PM

Where are your parents?

The cat sounds to me like an abandoned cat who is going feral, rather than a born in the wild true feral. This makes things a little less frightening since it makes it more likely that the cat will come out at night when it's quiet and he's tempted by food. You are right in thinking that he could have tried the vent, got out and found another secure place. Please keep us posted since I know a lot of people on this forum are going to worry for the cat until we hear he is out and okay.

**catmandu** · 02-19-2006, 06:02 PM

Lets Pray That That Little Cat Will Be Tempted Out By You,and Will Not Put Himself Into Any Danger.
My Heart Goes Out For Cats Who Once Had A Home,and Then Through No Fault Of Thier Own,are No Longer Wanted.
I Hope These Scum Are Dumped Into Cheap Nursing Homes,and Forgotten When Thier Time Comes And They Are Not Wanted Anymore.

**rg_girlca** · 02-19-2006, 07:01 PM

Poor Kitty. I pray that he/she isn't in the heating vent and hiding somewhere else in the house. Has your Mom look in every possible place in the house that she could think of. Under, behind, and in things.

Bless your Mom for taking in the cat. You must thank her for us and I pray that the outcome will be a cause for celebration.

**wielki** · 02-22-2006, 06:05 PM

The little guy came out on his own for food that night. He wasn't in the vent, but in the subflooring. The construction guy came over to open/check the vents and then a handy neighbor cut holes in the wall and the pee pee smell and some shuffling around confirmed he was there. They left him alone and later he scampered by my mother on his way to the food bowl.

He stayed in the house with them until late that evening, filled his tummy and was let outside. His leg had gotten better by this point, too. So, it sounds like things are back to normal.

I agree with you, Lizzie. I bet someone once owned him, but think he was very much on his own for years before my mother moved in and began to feed him. That was three years ago. Someone probably left him -- can you imagine, leaving a kitty to fend for himself, and with Chicago winters? He's only started coming into the house this winter, to eat and rest for a bit (and thaw) before heading on his way. This was the first time she kept him in, because of his leg and the weather turning bitter. It was probably good that he was spared the cold, but I just kept thinking the poor little guy just must have needed to get back to his 'normal.' He must have been really unnerved by being enclosed in a big house, few good hiding places, and people coming and going. Anyway, it seems they did get back to their normal feeding ritual before he went out again. So my parents are left with a couple of holes in the wall and a couple of tomcat pee marks (and stench, yes), but luckily they don't hold that against the little guy! All's well and I suspect he'll fall back into their pattern.

Thanks, everyone, for the ideas and support. It really helped me, being so far away from it all but still worrying and trying to find a way to help. I apologize for the delay in posting the outcome. I lost the site for awhile and was only able to get online and go digging for it again tonight.

Take care !

**Catty1** · 02-22-2006, 09:14 PM

Good news! And what wonderful parents you have for not minding about the holes and the smell!

If they get back to the feeding ritual, who knows what might happen? When Oscar was wild, he was fed outdoors from spring til November, and really started taming down at that point.

Now he's a house baby and loves his cat tree and looking at the snow and cold OUTSIDE!

So your parents might have a wee friend yet.

Thanks so much for posting - I was wondering about the poor guy!

hugs
Catty1

**Lizzie** · 02-22-2006, 10:33 PM

Thank you for getting back to us with an update. I've been wondering and worrying about this cat. Please thank your parents from us for helping him out. Do you think they would consider taking him in to be neutered and given shots? If he's un-neutered, he's likely to end up with abscesses from fight wounds and can die from them.