Mopsy, a feral black long hair

[L. Wayne]

As some of those on Pet Talk are aware, that I also take care of a few ferals and neighbor's cats. There is one black long furred cat, that I have named Mopsy, because she looks like a black mop. She has very long fur, which needs attention. She comes to my back door for food or to the front, where I also place food on the air conditioner, in order to keep the neighbor's dogs away. Mopsy is not a totally feral cat. She has allowed me to pet her a few times and she really enjoys it. The problem is getting her to at least, stay on my back porch. The other day, I coaxed her into the back porch with food, but as soon as I shut the door, she forgot about eating and began to cry, wanting back out again. I believe she would fit into my pride because the others do not hiss or attack her. What should I do in order to get her inside where I can take care of her? I am thinking of using a trap or even a carrier when feeding her so I can take he to the vets for a check-up. Apparently, she has been an outdoor kitty for so many years, that she doesn't know how nice it can be indoors. I felt so sorry for her the other day, because she looked like an orphan in the snow as she looked up at me with her little meows wanting to come inside but apparently fearful. It was snowing and some of it had started to accumulate on her long black fur. Any advice would be appreciated.

........wayne

[moosmom]

Wayne,

She sounds semi-feral to me. You might want to get a Have-A-Heart trap from the Humane Society. Put it out with a pie shaped piece of paperplate with sardines on it in very back. Cover the trap with an old sheet or blanket. Dribble sardine juice and put a piece of sardine in front of the trap to coax her into it. Do not leave the trap unattended. Since she has allowed you to pet her, it sounds like it won't take long to trap her.n WORD OF CAUTION: USE GARDEN GLOVES!!!! No bare hands (if you know what's good for you). Once she's in the trap, she MAY spaz out, which is normal. Completely cover the trap once she's in it. This will calm her down. She might thrash about the cage trying to get out , but again, that's normal.

If you are willing, once she is trapped, get her fixed and vaccinated. If you have a spare room, once she's back from the vet, put her in the room with food, water and a litterbox, a radio, and night light.

When you go into the room (give her at least 48 hours to adjust), sit on the floor and read to her, throw her treats, talk to her. She'll probably hide for a couple of weeks, but just keep up with the visitation.

It may take a couple of weeks, or a couple of months. But if you're comitted to giving her a home, it'll be well worth the effort.

If you just want to care for her, you can set up a little shelter (with a 20 gal. Rubbermaid tub). Cut a hole out in the side, put the lid on and flip it over, lid side down. Insulate it with newspaper, hay and a blanket. At least she'll have shelter from the elements, and food and water.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[K & L]

Yes, use a humane trap and get her/him inside! Do you have a seperate room you could keep him in until you get a clean bill of health from the vet? Have you checked out Alley Cat Allies site on how to trap? http://www.alleycat.org/

[jenluckenbach]

I think you have all the info you need, I'd just like to add "good luck" and keep us posted.

[L. Wayne]

Thanks for your responses. OK, I will look into getting a humane-trap for her. Yesterday morning, when it was so cold outside, she was in my basement with Panther, apparently sleeping in one of the kitty houses that are down there. This is not the first time I have seen her in the basement, but normally she does not stay there, but prefers to be outside. Thanks again

(later) I just now went downstairs to check on my ferals and neighbor's cats. Mopsy was down there again, but she runs out the pet door whenever I descend the steps. At least she is getting used to being indoors during these extra cold days.

.........wayne

[K & L]

That's good that she at least has somewhere to get in from the weather! That's a good thing.

[L. Wayne]

Yesterday, it was sunny and warm outside, so I took my lawn chair and sat in it for a while. Then came Mopsy out to greet me. I soon found out that she is very affectionate, and jumped up on my lap - and who loves to be tummy-rubbed. She is not a feral but rather an affectionate stray. She was somebody's pet an one time, but the neighbors across the street, who described her as a feral, said that she was pregnant . But I have not found any signs of that. It could be that if I continue to win her confidence, then she may want to come inside. She even allowed me to pick her up with a little protestation. Her long fur was getting matted in a few spots, so I cut off the balls of fur on her. I think she has a case of kitty dandruff, becuase of the white flakes that appeared on her coat when she was petted. I have never seen a stray who warmed up to me so quickly. Needless to say, I am a bit surprised at her.

[jenluckenbach]

Well, it is good to know that you can handle her. Hopefully she is not pregnant or that you will be willing to have her spayed before that happens. It is an awsome responsibility to take on cat after cat, but we all appreciate that you do it. Keep posting the update.

[Tubby & Peanut's Mom]

Wayne, I'm so jealous of your warm weather....oh, to sit in a lawn chair.....

And congratulations on the progress you made with Mopsy! Give you a few more warm days and she'll be....no, actually, you'll be at her command.

[L. Wayne]

T & P M, the weather that day was one of those days with an approaching weather front. It felt to be about 70 deg. (21* C) outside. By the time the afternoon roled around the wind had shifted to the north and I could feel the temps beginning to drop.

At any rate, an update on Mopsy. I coaxed her on to my back porch. She is very affectionate, as she gave me plenty of head bumpies. Mopsy does not meow, but rather she makes little squeeks, and she is a talkative furkid, because everytime I call her, she answers with a little squeek. I got her, after a few tries, into my pet carrier by picking her up and brought her inside, with the other furkids. None of them attacked her, although there was some protests from the 3 that I normally hear such from, namely Fawn, Cookie, and Amy. Last afternoon, after being in the carrier for about an hour, to see how my others would accept her, I took her out of my carrier on to the back porch with a blanket inside of a box, a litter tub and plenty to eat. I will try to take her into the vets today or possibly tomorrow. She is so dirty with all of that long fur. I do not know if I should get her trimmed up and bathed. I will let the vets' tell me what to do, as Mopsy is the first stray rescue with long fur that I have had experience with. Mopsy is not a long furred Persian, although even without the pug-nose which that breed of cat has, she has the equally, long fur.

..........wayne

[jenluckenbach]

.Wayne, if you live closer I'd groom her myself . (that is may specialty, you know) Can't wait to hear more updates

[kimlovescats]

Hi Wayne!

That is wonderful news about Mopsy! I am going through the same thing right now with the 3 semi-feral kittens I recently took in! The yellow one is a total lover boy now.... no signs of any feral
behavior .... the siamese mix still resists all of the other cats, but is now purring and absolutely rolls over for tummy rubs from me now! (Huge improvement!!!!) The 3rd, the little tux boy is still very scared, but is now starting to purr and brush up against me for more!!! I'm so thrilled! I just know in a few weeks, these 3 will be ready to be full-time indoor family cats!!!

Hang in there with Mopsy ... it is sooooo rewarding! But I'm sure you already realize that!

Kim

[L. Wayne]

Thanks for the encouragement, all. Mopsy has such long fur that it is impossible to tell where her anatomy ends and begins When she walks about she looks like a big black ball of furr with a head, a fluffy tail and four short legs on it. Her eyes are yellow, but otherwise she resembles a long furred black Persian except she does not have the pug nose. She loves to lay on my bed, however, and never stops exploring the house. I wish I could give her a bath, she definitely needs one. I did manage to find a picture of a black male cat that resembles Mopsy. It is found in the site "Angles for Animals". Using Google search engine, it should be the first one that pops up. Look to the right of the beer and you will see a black male long-haired cat.

Jen, if I lived closer to you, I would definitely bring her over for you to clean up.

Kim, good for you. I am sure that those 3 kittens will steal your heart away.BTW, are they all from the same litter? And I'm sure you are looking toward the soon-to-come day when they will have total trust in you. that does sound exciting. How did you come across all 3 of them? From your explanations of their colors and breeds, it sounds like 3 several kittens or perhaps if they are from the same litter, the queen may have had 3 males mate with her.

I just returned from viewing Kansas and Missouri animal shelters with photos of cats for adoption, "Cuteness overload"

[jenluckenbach]

if this works it should be a link to Zach, the cat that resmbles Wayne's Mopsy:
http://www.angelsforanimals.org/cats/Zach-C02-0724.jpg

[K & L]

That's wonderful news! We take our long hairs twice a year to the groomers and have them shaved. That might be a consideration. Of course, you could just have her bathed and brushed also!