u/paintingemily

Kali update! Last night she sniffed my hands multiple times, her nose touched and everything. I didn't go in for pets to not spook her but that feels like around the corner now.

This morning she sniffed my hand again while I was behind the patio screen door, and she did rub up against my hand/the door. While she was eating I kind of moved my hand toward her to see if I could touch but she backed up when she noticed, so will try to keep taking it slow.

This now has me thinking about how to adjust my plan. I didn't expect her to make progress like this so was going to get a trap and start socializing inside with playpen, but now wondering if she gets comfortable enough for me to pet her and all that, should I not trap? Do I try to get her just in a normal carrier? Not so the SSL method? I was also just finalizing my out of town plans, it could be as short as one night away, but had thought about extending to 3-4 nights. Now not sure if I should be gone so long if shes making progress like this.

In Auburn, WA

This is Kali's new ritual before meal times it seems. She'll roll around, looking at me, until shes either up for coming closer to eat or wait for me to close the screen door. I think she is getting more comfortable around me, but hasn't wanted to come close enough for any touch. Although if I put my hand against the screen door before meal time she will sniff it.

Absolutely breaks my heart seeing how lonely she is though. If my cats are on the other side of patio door, she head butts it, rubs up against it with gusto. She so wants affection/companionship from them.

Our plan is still to try to get her inside in a couple weeks. We got confirmation from our vet today that they have some experience with ferals and we should be able to bring her in the day we catch her, which is reassuring. I was assuming I would need to call around for vet options.

I plan to do more reading up on the Socialization Saves Lives method, but are there any other things I should make sure to have, or tips on trapping (I assume she won't come around fully in two weeks but never know).

Kali ate her breakfast a mere few inches away from me today ✨afterwards she even looked me in the eye, so I slow blinked and then she did little biscuit paws and rubbed up against the wall next to me.

Our plan now is to get her as comfortable with us as we can this month, then try to bring her in at the end or next month (the orgs near us said we could borrow a trap). We have travel plans and people visiting this month so wanted to wait to make sure we can focus on helping her acclimate and people have suggested it's less stressful for everyone to not rush things.

She seems most keen to be close to us for breakfast, but once in a while she will eat Churu or treats at night while we are outside, but still prefers to wait for us to go back inside before going for it. We plan to organize the back porch a bit better so it's easier for her to see us and vice versa, hopefully that doesn't freak her out too much to switch up her space. Any other tips or things should consider?

It's been a pretty good morning with Kali. She came up to eat her wet food while I was sitting inside but with the door open. I also tried feeding my two friendly boys by the door so she could see them (normally feed them further away). And you can see here she's doing what I can only assume are air biscuits in a happy dance configuration? It was really cute, and I assume it was a good sign.

After breakfast I sat on the other side of the patio screen and she seemed very comfortable and was making some little air biscuits, I'll put that video in comments.

We have been feeding and taking care of a couple bonded feral cats (Dee and Kali) since we moved into this house, about 5 years. They were sisters who were always together, grooming, cuddling, etc. Last week, Dee passed away (we don't know the cause but she was breathing a little irregularly prior). Kali is now alone, and I know is missing her companion. She rubs up against our patio door if she sees our indoor cats, seemingly with more intensity since her sister passed. We have never been able to touch her, but she does meow at us when she wants food (something I think she learned from her mother who was not feral but abandoned, we got her adopted).

We are thinking about trying to bring her inside. We have three indoor cats, two of which are sweet bonded boys who would likely be good company for her. I had posted in feral cat reddit and people recommended to try to bring her in, since she is lonely and no longer has the protection of her sister (who generally was the more assertive one). I've been reading up on the Socialization Saves Lives method, and would try that method if we did.

However, I reached out to a couple local TNR groups (one of which was the one that my neighbor had used for them before we moved here), for advice and hopefully a trap to borrow. Both seemed to discourage bringing her in to socialize at all or recommend to try to socialize instead outdoors slowly and hopefully she'd want to come in on her own.

So I guess I'm feeling a bit discouraged and unsure of the best path forward. I'm aware it's a big undertaking, just getting her into a trap may take a while, I assume she may be wary of a trap since she was before, and then figuring out how to find a vet to get her checked out, before we even start process of socialization.

What has worked well for you guys or what would you recommend in my situation?

Thanks for reading, appreciate any advice. Adding cat photos for tax (white one was Dee, black calico is Kali).

We just found out that Dee, one of the bonded pair of feral cats we had been feeding for years has passed away. She had been missing since Thursday, and I had thought her breathing seemed a little off prior. A neighbor found her by their shed yesterday, so I assume that whatever the underlying cause of that is what happened (she had no obvious sign of injury).

We will be picking her up and bringing her back to our house to bury. Not the news we wanted but at least we know (not knowing was hard) and at least now can bring her "home" to rest.

Im definitely an emotional wreck, never was able to touch her, but hard not to get attached when we have known her since we moved here 5 years ago. It's especially hard thinking of how her sister Kali (the black calico) must be grieving now also. They were always together, cuddling and grooming each other. We have 3 cats inside and for the past few days she has been rubbing up especially hard up against the patio door when she sees them. She would do that in the past but it seems more intense now.

Has anyone else dealt with a bonded cat now solo?

I am also planning to try to get her to warm up to us touching her, so if she has any issues in the future maybe we can get her care. I had considered in the past if something happened to one trying to bring in the other. She is definitely easily spooked, but does let us near ish, maybe she could be socialized. Just especially tricky since we have three cats, one of whom is easily stressed and didn't handle the addition of the other two cats well.

She's a feral cat we have been feeding for the last few years, and she is typically at our house multiple times a day, but we haven't seen her since Thursday (7/9) morning. She's white/tan with striped tail, blue eyes, and a TNR ear tip.

She's a bonded pair with her sister (black calico cat), they are nearly always together, so it's worrying to only see her sister alone for days. She normally never misses a meal.

Obviously being feral, she's free to roam wherever, maybe someone else is also taking care of her or she's stuck in someone's garage? I just want to know if she's okay. Any information is helpful. Thanks!

It's been a long process, but for the first time since we started he is under 15lbs -- weighing in today at 14.99 🎉

McCoy is a pensive blepper

Melted McCoy

Some cool TPI (Canada blow mold) finds this weekend (thhe pumpkin posts I actually got in WA but got the others in Vancouver). Happy Summerween! 🎃✨

Some cool TPI (Canada blow mold) finds this weekend (posts I actually got in WA but got the others in Vancouver). Happy Summerween! 🎃✨

Didn't know it existed but had to take it home when I saw it at the antique market. It now stores my weed gummies 👌✨

He never holds a blep long, and my fat thumbs don't always get to the camera in time, but today I succeeded!

...it's hard to capture on film before he hides it. Today is a good day.

Found in Tacoma, WA

In Coos Bay, Or

We will be going out of town for a couple days, and wondering if we don't restrict our dechonking cat's food during those days (or at least not as much), would that set him back a lot?

Just trying to be realistic, that we won't have someone available to feed him as often we do, and he can be very cranky breaking into the other cats bowls when out of food.