feral cat in heating vent

[wielki]

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]

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]

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.

[QueenScoopalot]

I was too pooped to respond yesterday, but sure am glad the kitty is OK. I agree however that if he's neutered and vaccinated he will be more likely to stick around and not fight. I had one of my cats go into the ducts of the furnace several years back. Luckily it was Summer and I was vacuuming out the fur from the ductwork. I thought the wastebasket I put in the hole would block cats from going in there while I set up the vacuum....but nope. Nosy Chip went on a safari into the tunnels, and I had no clue till the next day! I was freaking out trying to locate his cries and finally we found him down in the basement and were able to rip out an area and get him out. He was sooty, but fine after his adventure. Hopefully your mom will be willing to keep feeding him, but also look into getting him fixed if he isn't already.

[wielki]

Neutering and vetting him is what everyone wants to do, and that's probably what will happen eventually. At one point, she was going to use a humane trap to trap him and take him in, but that went by the wayside or got postponed for I don't know what reason. She's only barely gotten close to him recently. And yes, he's been back, in fact she just called now to say he's inside again. But they've determined he can't stay overnight anymore, (she kept him in again last night) because he's started systematically marking things. Anyway, it might not happen immediately, but I think the vetting and neutering will happen.

[lizbud]

Neutering and vetting him is what everyone wants to do, and that's probably what will happen eventually. At one point, she was going to use a humane trap to trap him and take him in, but that went by the wayside or got postponed for I don't know what reason. She's only barely gotten close to him recently. And yes, he's been back, in fact she just called now to say he's inside again. But they've determined he can't stay overnight anymore, (she kept him in again last night) because he's started systematically marking things. Anyway, it might not happen immediately, but I think the vetting and neutering will happen.

The quicker he gets vetted and neutered, the less a of chance for him
to get into the habit of marking in the house.

[Catty1]

I sense from Wielki's posts that the cat is a little too wild yet to be caught and taken to the vets. Maybe a live trap?

And vets have a pheromone spray that will calm him down at the clinic...but maybe Wielki's mom wants him to get a bit more used to them?

Or can a feral be successfully neutered and still leave all the skin on the handler's arms?

I'm sure he would tame down sooner if neutered...but wonder if he's tame enough yet...