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Feral Cat Caregivers [video]
PMSNBC ^ | ? | ?

Posted on 03/24/2011 7:57:59 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows

Video at source. Even feral kittehs need lub (and noms).

(Excerpt) Read more at msnbc.msn.com ...


TOPICS: Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS: feralcats; kittyping; straycats
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To: Slings and Arrows
There are techniques for taming even older feral cats. We have tamed many. Such things as having them in a cage and starting out by petting them with a stick is a good start. It is amazing how many of them even though they hiss and are at first frightened really long for that affectionate contact. It is really cute when you can see the love of being touched in their eyes at the same time they hiss out of fear. After a while I hold their head with the stick and am able to venture to start petting them with my hands.

Another thing that they love is chicken. Giving them chicken once a day is irresistible for them. They cannot help but to soon associate me with their delicious chicken and begin to think that I must not be as bad as they thought.

Also when I am able to start holding them I give them massages with two fingers. At first the message is very light but as they get use to it it becomes a deep muscle loosening massage all over. Their muscles are very, very tight and hard as in nature they are always ready to spring into attack or run mode. As their muscles loosen up they begin to really thaw. Soon they are soft, happy cats. There are many such tips as these for taming feral cats that are able to become loving pets.

41 posted on 03/25/2011 4:17:23 AM PDT by Bellflower (Isa 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful.)
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To: goodnesswins

I have a young cat that my daughter found with its brothers and sisters in the garage of the house she bought about 2 years ago. Feral cats in the neighborhood had torn the vent covers off the foundation of the house and one had had kittens in the garage. The one my daughter kept was the “tamest” of the litter and looks like a tabby. We had animal control pick up the rest. Even being the tamest, we had to have her declawed to prevent more damage to the door frames/weather stripping than she had already done and to ourselves when we tried to play with her.

Now she’s a very playful, mischievous inside cat who likes to play with my Shikoku Ken, play chase with me and my daughter and in the morning likes to come lay on my chest and lick my nose once (and I let her do it ONLY once! lol) she knows I’m awake. And she purrs A LOT! :~)


42 posted on 03/25/2011 5:05:01 AM PDT by My hearts in London - Everett (You will try to nudge commies toward the truth, while they try to nudge you toward the cattle cars.)
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To: West Texas Chuck

What a sweetie! And he has that gleam in his eye too..I can see why he’s called Rocket!

Mrs CT Hillbilly


43 posted on 03/25/2011 6:11:17 AM PDT by CT Hillbilly
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To: beaversmom
Post a pic of her if you can.

Don't know how (but thanks for asking!). She's a medium long-haired, predominately downy white Calico with the sweetest face ever. Almost unrecognizable from the dingy, hissing hellcat when we took in as a foster.

44 posted on 03/25/2011 6:43:34 AM PDT by fullchroma
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To: Bellflower; Slings and Arrows; West Texas Chuck

My Rocket has always been a gentle kitteh. He has never bitten or scratched me on purpose in the 14 years that I have had him (he is 16? now). He is the sweetest cat you can imagine, and he loves getting tummy rubs, massages, face rubs, and brushing.

We have to give him subcutaneous fluids twice a week, and he just sits there like a trooper when we stab him. Occasionally the vet will give us one slightly dull needle in the bunch we get with each IV bag. We can tell because my Rocket will give a tiny “yip” when it goes in, no scratching, no biting, no retaliation.

He’s my angel, my favorite cat of my life, and I will always love him.


45 posted on 03/25/2011 7:15:48 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: fullchroma

She sounds beautiful. Ping if you ever post a pic.


46 posted on 03/25/2011 7:20:41 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: JRandomFreeper

I respect and admire your attitude.


47 posted on 03/25/2011 7:25:01 AM PDT by beaversmom
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To: JRandomFreeper

I like your attitude. You’re doing the actual hard work and you’re using the results of your work plus the others that can eat because of what you do.
I’ve never done anything harder than clean a fish.
It sounds to be like you respect your catch and I agree with you. To kill for fun is just wrong.

God gave us dominion but he didn’t tell us to torture them as they are killed and prepared.

I happen to be an animal lover and have no problem with what you do although I’m sure that by the end of this thread you will hear from the holier than thou who will criticize you while buying their meat at the supermarket. They should be forced to go to a slaughterhouse. From what I’ve read, lately, slaughterhouses are trying to be as humane as possible in a business where it is almost impossible yet I would bet most people (I include myself in this) could not stand watching the process from start to finish.

One question though, do you find the taste different or better than store bought? I know fresh fish seems much better.


48 posted on 03/25/2011 7:35:44 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: Lx
do you find the taste different or better than store bought?

There is some difference in taste, but not too much. The big thing is that I can prep the meat to MY specs, instead of getting 'standard' cuts. As a trained food service professional, that gives me more flexibility on preparing meals.

I also know where the animal came from, how it was treated, from egg to plate, and allows me to avoid involvment with government agencies. I have gone Galt, after all.

/johnny

49 posted on 03/25/2011 7:53:49 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: Slings and Arrows

Thank you for posting. I have colonies I feed too...I do TNR all the time. They need our help.....


50 posted on 03/25/2011 8:07:28 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: patriot08

They crawl out sometimes and show themselves....


51 posted on 03/25/2011 8:10:00 AM PDT by Fawn (CANCER SUCKS)
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To: TheOldLady

My ex-roommate had a black cat who was old and her kidneys were failing. She was another rescue and was very skittish. Poor thing, we had to catch her every other day and give her a drip of fluids. I felt so sorry for that animal. She held on for another year and a half and finally got so sick Kennis had to have her put down. Sad, but it was definitely for the best.

Carry on cat lovers, we are a little off in some people’s eyes, but we know why we do it. Four letter word.


52 posted on 03/25/2011 9:26:45 AM PDT by West Texas Chuck (Why yes, I do speak Spanglish - "Hasta la later on, amigo. Pardon, would you have any salsa verde?")
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To: West Texas Chuck

The vet says that my Rocket is stable. His kidney deterioration has stopped, his blood work looks nearly normal, and he may hang on through a normal lifespan if we keep up his treatment.

He has even gained back some weight, much to the delight of all the doctors and technicians at the vet’s. I was stunned at their level of happiness about his gaining 3/4 pound.

Right now, he seems to be steady state. He plays like a kitten sometimes, and he’s the alpha cat in the house with his three kitty “underlings,” LOL!


53 posted on 03/25/2011 9:46:58 AM PDT by TheOldLady
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To: GladesGuru

Wait till you find out that after we die we are reincarnated as feral cats. You’ll change your opinion. Maybe.


54 posted on 03/25/2011 9:54:12 AM PDT by ladyjane
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To: ladyjane

I am not a believer in afterlives. But, if we are reincarnated, and I come back as a feral cat, given the vicious life of a small, solitary predator scratching (no pun intended) out an existence in a habitat for which it totally unevolved for, being shot would be the best possible option.

I can think of no better, no less painfu, and more stress free possible release from said misery than a lead injection in the cranium.

Come to think of it, as a human, my end will probably be less quick, more painful, and miserable than the feral cat’s lead injection death.

And, that prediction was based on pre ObamaCare conditions.


55 posted on 03/25/2011 10:44:37 AM PDT by GladesGuru (In a society predicated upon freedom, it is essential to examine principles,)
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To: Fawn

De nada. I’m very much in favor of TNR.


56 posted on 03/25/2011 10:48:09 AM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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To: TheOldLady

I hope a vet will take the time and energy to monitor the electrolytes and adjust them accordingly for cats on sodium bicarbonate (baking soda). I do not know how well the treatment would work for a cat but I know of humans who have had amazing if not miraculous results with kidney improvement by just taking a small amount of baking soda a day.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1200287/Daily-dose-baking-soda-stop-kidney-patients-needing-dialysis.html


57 posted on 03/25/2011 6:40:25 PM PDT by Bellflower (Isa 32:5 The vile person shall be no more called liberal, nor the churl said [to be] bountiful.)
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To: Slings and Arrows

58 posted on 03/25/2011 6:48:04 PM PDT by JoeProBono (A closed mouth gathers no feet - Visualize)
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To: Bellflower

I feed him Fancy Feast Classics, and an occasional can of Evo Chicken and Turkey, and I feed him on demand. They’re all meat with no soy and no grains (to which he is allergic). He also has free access to a high-fat, high-protein dry kitten food, Premium Edge, which he eats very sparingly.

I include a small amount of slightly alkalized water, Real Water, in his food each day. He does not get baking soda because he won’t eat the food or drink the water I put it in, even in tiny amounts.

I give him a high-dose glucosamine/chondroitin supplement Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday night.

But after all that, cats’ kidneys cannot improve. His kidney function is enough to sustain him, and we must work to keep them from deteriorating further, which was the latest diagnosis — he’s steady state.


59 posted on 03/25/2011 7:42:06 PM PDT by TheOldLady (The TC - Terrible Chicks -- Allegra, Salamander, TheOldLady, DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis)
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To: JoeProBono

FREE TEH MARMALADE KITTEH ONE!


60 posted on 03/25/2011 9:08:19 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows (You can't have Ingsoc without an Emmanuel Goldstein.)
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