It's A Good Feeling . . .

[lizbud]

Avajoy,
It seems excruciatingly slow sometimes when
you want to much to trap them & get them on the
road to a better future.But, it's best to not
spook her now , or she'll split & you might not
find the babies later.Do you think Momma cat is
about (anyday) ready to deliver? Liz.

[AvaJoy]

Gosh, Liz . . . I have no idea how close she could be to delivery 'cos I've had NO experience with expectant mothers . . . wish I could get close enough to see if maybe her nipples are prominent, which should be a sign, yes? I guess I'll just have to play the waiting game a bit longer . . . tonight hubby wanted to set the trap out front, but I dissuaded him. I'm looking forward to helping her and her kittens, and I'm sure they will be sweet-tempered just like darling Debra.

[lizbud]

Avajoy,

It's O.K. to set the trap now if you're sure she's still
pregnant, and hasn't already had the babies. I feel she
probably has not had them yet if she spends most of her
time at your place.? Just didn't want her to get trapped
after she's had them, before you knew where the babies
were. You 're doing great! Best of luck & patience to you.

[AvaJoy]

For quite sometime now I have not seen Debra's Mom close enough to check out her belly size . . . only from a distance, and my binoculars are not the greatest. She still is limping off and on. I did set out the trap again for her, but came up empty.

On a brighter note, I noticed a young Tortie out back, and we had a feeling she would be an easy catch . . . we were right!! She is only a few months old and absolutely STUNNING . . . she has the coat coloring of a wild animal, so I started calling her Muskrat. Not a very pretty name, but I don't want to get too attached because she is feral as they come . . . those little ears flattened back and glaring yellow eyes as round as the moon, all the while uttering low growls. She was flinging herself from end to end of the trap. We caught her Saturday night so I spent lots of time with her on and off Sunday, just sitting by her and talking up a storm so she might get accustomed to humans . . . she did quiet down and slowly the ears became more erect and her eyelids started to droop as though she was at ease and going to slumberland.

This morning I dropped her off at the vet, and they couldn't spay her today but will tomorrow. Gosh, I will hate to just release her . . . I would love to try and tame her . . . has anyone ever gotten a feral to become people-friendly, and any idea on what my chances might be on accomplishing this??

I would love to give Debra a playmate, but don't have a lot of time to devote to working with a feral kitten . . . I guess I will house her in the dog's old huge wire travel crate for a few days in the garage while she recuperates from her surgery. I have a small litter box I can put in it and there is room for bowls and a sleeping mat.

I fell in love from the first glimpse I caught of her darting across the backyard ~ so gorgeous! I took pics this morning and when I get the film developed I will post the best one.

[AvaJoy]

Today Muskrat was spayed, and given her shots . . . turns out she is FeLV+ so all hopes of introducing her to Lily and Debra are dashed. I guess she will have to room with Meeshe who is also FeLV+, that is if they get along. For the next 5-7 days she will be recuperating in the dog's crate out in the barn . . . I had hoped to set her up in the garage but she would boil there because tomorrow the forecast is 90 degrees.

The vet tech told me she seems more frightened than aggressive because she never tried to claw or bite anyone while at the vet. That is good news and gives me some hope that in time she could come around to trust people . . . sadly, they informed me that she had broken her leg at one time and it healed poorly so her hind leg is crooked but it doesn't seem to hinder her . . . poor little girl; so much pain she has endured for being under one year old . . . She is the size of a ferret, which could be due to the leukemia. I will try to give her all she needs and hope for the best. Meeshe is now about 3 or 4 years old, and depite his leukemia he seems just fine and shows no signs of illness. I wish the same for little Muskrat.

[rg_girlca]

Hats off to Avajoy and K&L for the fantastic job they are doing to help our poor homeless furbabies. Congratulations to the both of you.

[lynnestankard]

Another success Avajoy - even though it is a little bittersweet.
Little Muskrat sure has been through a lot in her short life - hopefully from now on she'll do better. xxx
Well done - you really are such a caring person.
Lynne

[AvaJoy]

It has now been about a week since Muskrat was vetted, and the tech was right . . . she is not an evil girl, just frightened. AND, she is not truly feral . . . she has probably developed a mistrust of humans from abuse because she has improved SOOO much . . . purring, rolling on her side with her head tilted on the sides of her bed while looking at me, and returning to me the feline "I Love You" language ~ a slow, sleepy-eyed blink. Morning and evening I sing and purr and read to her (Jerusha poem, of course!), and knead my nails and demonstrate cat cleaning rituals . . . she is very attentive! Her ears are forward and she even feels secure enough to turn her back to me. She tolerates my hand through the cage, almost touching her . . . I pet her stuffed animals and knead her fleece bed . . . seems like she SO wants petting, but I know it is a little too soon for her to completely trust my intentions, so I am taking it slow and easy. Today I bought her a toy mouse, and I rubbed it on my hair and forehead so it has my scent and maybe she can further bond with me this way . . . I can't believe how far she has come, and I am so thrilled!!!!!!

[Logan]

Good for you, Avajoy!!! You know it is the "reading" of the precious Jerusha story that is doing it, don't you??

We love it!!!

[lynnestankard]

THAT'S IT!!!!!

Readings of 'Jerusha' will do it every time!!

Your so patient and caring Avajoy - I can't help but think this is going to have a happy ending. Fingers and toes and paws and tails all crossed over here - keep us informed wont you? xxxx

Lynne

[AvaJoy]

Today was quite a milestone, and I'd like to believe it was due at least in part to the power of reading her "Jerusha"!

I was actually petting Muskrat's neck and head!!! Here's how it happened: I have a dust pan and brush that I use to sweep up the litter crumbs in her cage, and she is now used to me moving the brush about, to the point where she felt bold enough today to rub her head on it. So I began to brush her with the brush, and of course my fingers where right there on the handle so I slowly let my hand take over as I put down the brush . . . she was too busy purring and rolling her head all around to notice . . . it was so wonderful to finally touch her!!!

[AmberLee]

How wonderful! {{{hugs to you both}}}

[lynnestankard]

Avajoy - HURRAY!!!!! Way to go!!!!

Lynne

[lizbud]

CONGRATS AVAJOY , to quote a phrase,
"It's a good feeling". That's the wonderful "payoff" of getting
to see her start to know & enjoy a gentle human touch.

[AvaJoy]

More progress! Tonight when I came home from work and was tending to her, she let me rub her head, neck and back withOUT THE BRUSH!!!!! All the while I was singing softly to her.

The down side is that I made an appt. with the vet tomorrow evening because her leg is not healing, so I hope by getting her into the carrier I will not undo all the trust I have gained . . . I'm trying to determine the least stressful way to go about this, and will try putting some treats in the carrier to lure her in, so that I don't have to physically put her in . . . I'm hoping maybe she will harbor less resentment if she goes in on her own accord . . .

I could always have my hubby do the dirty deed, since she hisses and pins her ears back whenever he approaches . . . probably because he can't spend any time with her, so she is wary of him, and . . . possibly it was a man that snapped her little leg so she is generally fearful of them all . . . well, wish me luck tomorrow night . . . I need reassurance that there is no serious infection going on . . . I have bonded so much to this little girl . . .