Yet another day of rescue action

[mlp]

That's great. Are/were these all indoor-only feral cats?

Yes, they were/are completely feral cats who became indoor only. I often hear that feral cats can never become content indoor only cats; that has not been my experience, or my sister's. (I'm not saying that there may not be some ferals who would never adjust; we just have not encountered one yet.) The trick, IME, is to never push a cat; he/she must adjust and learn to trust at its own individual rate. I never look directly at a feral or frightened cat, for example, and I certainly don't make eye contact until he/she is completely relaxed in my presence.

[Irizary]

Yes, they were/are completely feral cats who became indoor only. I often hear that feral cats can never become content indoor only cats; that has not been my experience, or my sister's. (I'm not saying that there may not be some ferals who would never adjust; we just have not encountered one yet.) The trick, IME, is to never push a cat; he/she must adjust and learn to trust at its own individual rate. I never look directly at a feral or frightened cat, for example, and I certainly don't make eye contact until he/she is completely relaxed in my presence.

Yeah, feral groups won't generally recommend that, however I agree with you. If someone can provide a calm environment and proper care - which a lot of people can't or won't, which is part of why groups don't recommend it - then these cats may be capable of bonding that seemed or that other people say is impossible. That's why I think each situation needs to be judged on its own - taking into account what caretakers are willing and able to do - rather than taking a cookie cutter approach to feral cats. They're living beings and they don't all respond the same. (And like I wrote before, it's possible that the cat in question may not even be a feral cat).

Honestly, I have much more peace of mind if a feral cat - especially a single and unhealthy one as this one is - could go to a permanently enclosed area of some type with good caretakers than being left out to fend for him/herself in a lot of the situations in which feral cats may find themselves (not all though - there are some situations in which feral cats just show up, like a private barn, and they may have nice lives with proper care). The cat in the OPs post is a cat I'd probably rather see someone try to care for in that way, if they're able.

[mlp]

Yeah, feral groups won't generally recommend that, however I agree with you. If someone can provide a calm environment and proper care - which a lot of people can't or won't, which is part of why groups don't recommend it - then these cats may be capable of bonding that seemed or that other people say is impossible. That's why I think each situation needs to be judged on its own - taking into account what caretakers are willing and able to do - rather than taking a cookie cutter approach to feral cats. They're living beings and they don't all respond the same.

I think that part of what helps in my sister's and my households is that they are multi cat households. For one, I think it makes a feral cat feel as though he/she isn't "standing out" as much. For another, many ferals either belong, however loosely, to a colony, or move in and out of, or along the fringes of, cat colonies, so there's the comfort of a certain familiarity. And, of course, both our households are geared toward the animals to an extent that almost everyone would consider very eccentric.

(And like I wrote before, it's possible that the cat in question may not even be a feral cat).

Unless you have observed the cat for a while, it can be very difficult to distinguish between a feral cat and a cat who has known human companionship but who has reverted to "wild" because of the fear associated with its current circumstances.

[Irizary]

(Sally, trying to respond - please clear your p.m. message box).

[sallyomally]

Cleared.

[Purp]

Any news on the cat??

[sallyomally]

I saw her today for the first time in a while and was very encouraged by how much better she looks. Being fed daily has really made a difference. She's still pregnant.
WONDERFUL Irizary has worked so hard to help set things in motion, and we now have someone lined up to do the trapping and get her the care she needs. My job now is to do the feeding. It's still sad though. While we were watching her I kept thinking of how this pretty little orange kitty should have been curled up on someone's sofa all safe and happy instead of trying to survive in a parking lot, but will never have that chance.

[Purp]

That's good. I just hope this isn't in Seattle, WA. We live in a small house and already have a cat. :X:

[Amy SF]

Well. Now that I've read the thread and learned that the OP lives in Houston, I have a couple of questions:

1. Why on earth didn't you just call the Houston Humane Society about the cat in the first place? They have a TELEVISION show on Animal Planet, for heaven's sake. If they can't rescue the cat on the spot, they'll set out a live trap and keep checking back to see if the cat is in it. The kittens would be born at their shelter and they'll make sure the cat and her litter are taken care of.

2. Same thing with the Houston Humane Society and the dog. Can't you just take the dog to the society's shelter and have them check for a microchip? Even if the dog is young, you can't just assume there is no chip. And they'll evaluate the dog and do temperament tests and see if she's adoptable.

No offense to the OP, but I would have contacted the Humane Society right away without waiting for anything. They are experts in animal rescue, and if either animal is being searched for by an owner, they'll do all they can to track down these owners.

[mlp]

The OP found the dog's people.

Does the Houston Humane Society actually go out and trap individual feral cats? If they do, they're unique among humane societies, and more power to them.