Gary has another neutering appointment...He didn't come home.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 05:39 PM

It was touch and go! I got the others inside without much trouble. I went around back as planned and loaded the trap with smelly yums. I cam back inside and Gary circled and circled. Finally he went in and ate. The big goof is so large he could eat the food at the end of the trap without stepping on the pad to close the door!!! Out he came and off he went. So I went out with even smellier stuff and he ran off the deck into the woods. I figured he was the only one out there, so eventually he had to come get those yums. I waited and waited and no Gary. I finally gave up and went around the block to get the other kitty that will be going tomorrow. When I got back, he was inside!!

Now here's my question. Will he be ok outside in the trap with a towel covering him overnight. It is supposed to be 25. I don't know where in the world I would put him inside otherwise. The other girl will be in the bathroom, which is normally where Aroara hangs out. So she'll have to find another place. I don't have any other flooring that isn't carpeted to be protected incase Gary "goes potty" except the kitchen which has no possible way of being blocked off. It is right in the middle of the house. I don't really have any other options. Tomorrow when he has to be inside I'll have to put someone in my sister's house. But they have already left and I don't have a key. They are leaving a key for tomorrow. Surely he'll be ok for tonight, won't he?

**Scooter's Mom** · 11-22-2008, 06:17 PM

Originally Posted by Moesha

It was touch and go! I got the others inside without much trouble. I went around back as planned and loaded the trap with smelly yums. I cam back inside and Gary circled and circled. Finally he went in and ate. The big goof is so large he could eat the food at the end of the trap without stepping on the pad to close the door!!! Out he came and off he went. So I went out with even smellier stuff and he ran off the deck into the woods. I figured he was the only one out there, so eventually he had to come get those yums. I waited and waited and no Gary. I finally gave up and went around the block to get the other kitty that will be going tomorrow. When I got back, he was inside!!

Now here's my question. Will he be ok outside in the trap with a towel covering him overnight. It is supposed to be 25. I don't know where in the world I would put him inside otherwise. The other girl will be in the bathroom, which is normally where Aroara hangs out. So she'll have to find another place. I don't have any other flooring that isn't carpeted to be protected incase Gary "goes potty" except the kitchen which has no possible way of being blocked off. It is right in the middle of the house. I don't really have any other options. Tomorrow when he has to be inside I'll have to put someone in my sister's house. But they have already left and I don't have a key. They are leaving a key for tomorrow. Surely he'll be ok for tonight, won't he?

Would you want to be outside in a metal trap with only a towel for covering in 25 degree weather? Surely there's somewhere you could put him inside?

edit: I'm sorry - that came out much harsher than I meant it to. I'm just concerned that 25 deg. would be too cold for him. Please accept my apology.

**kt_luvs_kitties** · 11-22-2008, 06:40 PM

I am glad they will be fixed tomorrow. As for somewhere to put him, if you are worried about accidents, you could put a trash bag underneath the cage, so that it will "catch" the accident, so they dont soak in. That is what I do with new fosters until they get tested and can be out.

If that does not work, I hope that you have a heating pad, or a portable heater you can run outside to keep on him. At 25, that is below freezing, and might give him a URI or something, and I would worry that could lead to complications during surgery.

I pray that all goes well tomorrow, and that they are getting fixed! Good Luck!

**Catty1** · 11-22-2008, 06:57 PM

Moesha, get a few older towels and/or a blanket or two you don't really like, and put them flat and stacked on the carpet.

Put the trap on top...any pee will soak thru but not to the carpet.

Keep the trap covered...he'll be less likely to panic that way.

I like the trash bag idea...but any pee will run off the plastic and onto the carpet; that's my concern.

Good luck at the vet tomorrow.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 07:17 PM

That's not a bad idea Catty and is similiar to what I'm planning for the car ride tomorrow. I was afraid with just trash bags or plastic underneath, he would somehow dig at it and injest it or something. Maybe I'll lock Morgan and Aroara in the extra bedroom with a litterbox and put Gary and the cage on the kitchen floor. I just hope he'll be quite through the night. He's going to have to stay outside until bedtime. Maybe if it is quiet and dark he won't make noise.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 10:51 PM

I put the girl back in the carrier. I went in the bathroom and there was litter EVERYWHERE! Aroara is digging at the carpet in the bedroom trying to get out. I'm sure by tomorrow it will be in shreds. And so it begins. LOL

**Medusa** · 11-23-2008, 05:26 AM

Wow, this has been quite the saga. Your persistence has paid off, though. Hoping that you were able to get some sleep and praying that all goes w/out a hitch.

**Moesha** · 11-23-2008, 05:58 AM

I kept waking up, but things were pretty quiet each time. Now that I am up and out of bed everyone is squawking. I first heard Gary banging around in the trap wailing. He sounds so much like Morgan. Morgan was wailing in the bedroom. Then the girl in the bathroom started. I got up moved her to the room I'd been sleeping in with the light off. Made Aroara go in the bathroom to eat. Of course she hissed. She's such a spitfire! I came out here and Gary was still going but has since quieted down. Morgan is at my feet waiting for his morning dose of wet food. I hope the hour car ride is manageable. Thanks for the responses. I'll update later tonight when I get home from work, if I'm still able to write sentences then.

**catmandu** · 11-23-2008, 12:16 PM

THATS FUNNY AS TUBSTER PANTHER

WAS THE OPPOSITE
AS BIG AS HE IS IF ANOTHER FOUND CATS CAME WHIILE HE WAS EATING, HE WOULS LEAVE RATHER THAN FIGHT OR SHARE!!!

I HAVE TO FEED HIM SEPERATLY IN THE BASEMENT.
SCRAPPY 2 THE SENSATIONAL

WAS A BIT OF A HOGGETTE , BUT WOULD SHARE ANYTIME

WE PRAY ALL EVERYONE CALMS DOWN, AND THAT SOON PEACE WILL REIGN.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 07:19 PM

Originally Posted by Scooter's Mom

edit: I'm sorry - that came out much harsher than I meant it to. I'm just concerned that 25 deg. would be too cold for him. Please accept my apology.

Apology accepted. I know we are all concerned about the animals and their welfare. I was concerned about it too. That's why I asked for suggestions.

**Freedom** · 11-22-2008, 07:30 PM

With a towel draped over the cage, he will be calm and quiet. The wild ones don't howl. That is something the tame ones learn as a way to communicate with us and get our attention. With the towel, it is like a little cave. He will be fine.

I was going to say a trash bag, then some old towels but I see someone already did that.

I usually just line the inside of the trap with newspaper. I leave them inside on the futon, and I've never had a problem with them going through; beginner's luck I guess! As if a couple sheets of news paper would do it!

Best of luck.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 07:33 PM

The towel is over the cage. That was the first thing I did when I saw that he was inside. He was sitting there calmly until I turned on the outside light.

**Freedom** · 11-22-2008, 09:44 PM

Sure, the light means a human is around. Humans are the predator, he is the prey. I'm sure he will be alright.

**Moesha** · 11-22-2008, 10:23 PM

Ok, everyone is tucked in for the night and no one is happy! I put the stray girl, who is friendly as can be, in the bathroom. I let her out of the carrier and put the litterbox from the bedroom in there. Then I put Morgan's regular litterbox in the bedroom with Aroara and Morgan. Gary is on newspaper in the trap in the kitchen.

The girl, keeps sticking her paws out from under the door trying to get attention. Aroara hissed as I carried her by the bathroom and again when I put her in the bedroom with Morgan. Gary let out a big wail as I brought him in and put him in the kitchen. I just hope I get some sleep tonight. I have to figure out a good way to get the two traps in my car and leave before 7 to get them to the place on time.

Since I have to work all afternoon/evening, my mom has graciously agreed to pick them up between 4 and 5. I know from past experience they have to stay inside tomorrow night because they can't regulate their body temperatures after being knocked out. I'm borrowing a wire dog kennel to keep the girl contained in it for a few days. That will let her heal some and keep her belly warmer since they'll have to shave her. I thought about putting her in my sister's house, but she'd be there alone without someone to watch her and make sure she is ok tomorrow night.

Now I must go because I hear very strange noises from the bathroom. She might just have to go back in the carrier. (It's for a medium sized dog, so she has plenty of room to walk around in there.)