Fostering

[eve160450]

Not sure how long it takes. BUT I DO KNOW ferral (Born and raised in the wild) cats hate people lol. To update the two kittens I took in are considered ferral. I have them in a spare room with everything I need. I cannot get close to them at all. The local humaine society said I can try and catch them in the next day or twoand bring them in, but because they are ferral they"cannot predict their outcome and will have to put them down" OMG So I have a call into an animal rescue and I am gonna try and work with them for a few days to see if I can make some progress. hey said the only other thing I can do is set them free outside and let nature take it for there. :-(

[Andit]

Not sure how long it takes. BUT I DO KNOW ferral (Born and raised in the wild) cats hate people lol. To update the two kittens I took in are considered ferral. I have them in a spare room with everything I need. I cannot get close to them at all. The local humaine society said I can try and catch them in the next day or twoand bring them in, but because they are ferral they"cannot predict their outcome and will have to put them down" OMG So I have a call into an animal rescue and I am gonna try and work with them for a few days to see if I can make some progress. hey said the only other thing I can do is set them free outside and let nature take it for there. :-(

The goofy cat I haul around in my purse & sneak into my friend's office was once feral. Long story short, he was living with his mom & his twin & 2 other cats in my back alley (my friend & I were feeding them). My guy was familiar with me, but his mom would smack him hard if he poked his nose out from under the garbage cans to peek at me. One cold blizzardly night, he was by himself (not sure where the rest of the family was) chin deep in snow. He followed my dog into the building, then flipped out. I somehow managed to get him into a carrier & upstairs. He screamed non-stop for 3 days!

As to how to convince the kittens that you are worth paying attention to - this is what I did. I put him in the only room I have - the bathroom. I didn't give him his food at one time (he ate everything in 5 seconds then threw it all up) - I went in every hour or 2 & gave him a tiny spoonful at a time. I sat in one corner of the bathroom, while he sat in the bathtub (if he couldn't see out of the tub, I couldn't see in, lol). I took a book in with me & read out loud to get him used to my voice (I also sang off-key which he didn't seem to mind too much ).

We started off in opposite corners then I kept upping the ante & making him come closer to get the food (the way to any man's heart is through his stomache ). It took a week for him to come up to me, within a month I was able to pick him up & put a harness on him (he had to wear it to get to roam the apt cause he kept trying to beat up the dog who first convinced him to come in with us).

Good luck with the kittens. Feral cats *can* be tamed, my Quincy is proof of that (the link in my siggy has some of his 'dog' tricks).


ETA: I was also told by 'experts' that feral cats cannot be tamed once they pass 8 weeks of age. Even the local no-kill shelter told me to euthanize him. Good thing I'm stubborn & had to prove them wrong, or I wouldn't have the man of the house currently lying on my feet (he also catches fruit flies & is a taste tester ).

[MortgageQueen]

Can't be tamed after 8 weeks? What a pile of Phooey!! My Chloe was 10 months old when I got her. . had been born and survived on her own in the wild and never once picked up. She is now THE coveted cat amongst all my friends. When she had kittens. . people wanted HER rather than the kitten. . .total Sucky Love-Bug! Need I say more?

By the way GOOD FOR YOU Andit!

[Brandy Hunter]

Awe Andit! I love the reading thing, that's a good idea!!

[Brandy Hunter]

how long does it take for a foster cat to adjust to a new home?

i know each cat is different

but what is the average time

I guess it's different per cat. My friend adopted 2 cats last weekend. (well, one she lost before she even got home.. it bolted out of the car in the SPCA parking lot, she went back to the SPCA and they 'gave' her a new one, then they found that cat) and one cat stayed under her bed for a good 3 days, even pulled his food under there. The other was on her desk and in her face that same day. I think it depends on their personality and their confidence.

[Brandy Hunter]

I think I've convinced my mom Sparky would benefit from a foster sibling.

There was a dog show (like the Womans Show, or Bridal f you ever heard of that? and they had rescues, and Iams and other dog products there) 2 weeks ago, I really wanted to go, but I waited to buy tickets 'cause I thought it was in feburary. I was going to bring Sparky so he could meet some of the rescue people, and even dogs, and I could fill papers.

First things first, I need to get Sparky's needles. Apparently if they don't have them, you can't foster. This is the first year he hasn't gotten them, because he'd always get sick (I suspect allergy). I'll see if the vet can give him something for that..

My only request is a dog 'normal' size. Nothing huge. While i'd LOVE a huge dog, and I mean weighs-much-more-than-me-after-thanksgiving dog, my Mom isn't a fan. Not too keen on puppies, but i'm not going to say no, if i'm their only option.

[MortgageQueen]

Speaking of fosters. . . . I have 2 differnt large dogs in need (not mine)
One needs a forever home. He's a gentle giant. . . Saint Bernard named Griffin. .about 6 or 7 yrs old. Sweet as pie and protective (especially of "his" kids)
Another is needing a temprorary home for aprox. 5 months. A gorgeous white ackbash female. Owner is temporarily between homes and is totally distraught about what to do about her "giant" baby.

[gourmetsue]

Just back from a trip up to Bracebridge to help with rescue transport for a newf. So so sad. This poor guy is suffering something awful. He's on his way to the emergency vet now and here's hoping he makes it through the night.

MortgageQueen have you (or the owners) contacted a large breed rescue for Griffin? Maybe they can help out.

[MortgageQueen]

gourmet Sue. . .don't know how you do it. . .I'm afraid seeing an animal in that condition would bring out tendencies in me I wouldn't want to see the light of day. Prison seems too good for people responsible for that. . . but then, that's true of many crimes.

[gourmetsue]

gourmet Sue. . .don't know how you do it. . .I'm afraid seeing an animal in that condition would bring out tendencies in me I wouldn't want to see the light of day. Prison seems too good for people responsible for that. . . but then, that's true of many crimes.

Couldn't agree more. I was saying to my friend last night that I just want justice in the world. I know an eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind but sometimes I just wish...

I was just heartbroken when I saw him. But I know that he's going to be better off now. He's on antibiotics at the moment and ear drops and once he has more blood work today he'll hopefully be able to get on some steroids that will help out with his skin condition. The vet think it was a terrible allergic reaction that he's had for a while, probably to the food and it has gone untreated.

[FallenPixels]

frugal50, there is no average. I took home a feral cat who came around in weeks when it would usually take months and a friendly momma cat who just could not settle at all, even when I brought her back to the shelter when the kittens were 10-11 weeks after she had been spayed she was still very nervous.

For those starting fostering, go with the easy ones first - its easier to give up a pair than a single cat that you worry may be lonely without you etc. Handfeeding kittens (as Mortgage Queen can tell you) is not for beginners and not for the softhearted. Many of them do not make it despite your best attempts to feed them and keep them warm enough etc and it is heartbreaking. If they do (and become as strong and annoying as Roo is) giving them up is really hard because you bond with them.

I only kept one of my fosters, a feral cat that I took home from the shelter to let them use the space for a large litter of kittens. There was a very sweet little 6 week old I had over Christmas one year that only made it back because I knew the couple who adopted her. They had been looking for a while and were waiting for the cat that tugged at their heartstrings, we did not do Christmas adoptions but I called them and let them meet her with the agreement they could pick her up later. It was their wedding gift to each other - the perfect way to start their lives together and she is extremely spoiled now (and has two fur-siblings because she was lonely).

[FallenPixels]

ETA: I was also told by 'experts' that feral cats cannot be tamed once they pass 8 weeks of age. Even the local no-kill shelter told me to euthanize him. Good thing I'm stubborn & had to prove them wrong, or I wouldn't have the man of the house currently lying on my feet (he also catches fruit flies & is a taste tester ).

Most people know my opinion on that but is starts with bull****

My sweet little princess was at least 3 years old when I took her home. Yes, getting her to the point where *everyone and anyone* could touch her took about 2 years, but she was comfortable around me in weeks at home (she was starting to trust me in the shelter) and my boyfriend could touch her but not pick her up until she had been home with us for a few months and then it was only for a minute or so.

Now, she will headbutt you and drool all over you until you pay attention to her, she demands to be loved, petted, brushed or any other attention and acts like she is completely helpless when the boy cats play rough with her despite her starting it.

Have I recommended that a cat not be put into the shelter program for fostering? Yes - some of them will never ever be happy in a home, they are so fearful of people that they are just happier outdoors by themselves. We put them into cared colonies and watch them carefully to make sure they are accepted and eating. I also dont blame shelters for the opinion. For many its not that they can't - it is how much time it takes and how many adoptable *now* cats they can save if they don't work with that cat.

[vesper]

Most people know my opinion on that but is starts with bull****

My sweet little princess was at least 3 years old when I took her home. Yes, getting her to the point where *everyone and anyone* could touch her took about 2 years, but she was comfortable around me in weeks at home (she was starting to trust me in the shelter) and my boyfriend could touch her but not pick her up until she had been home with us for a few months and then it was only for a minute or so.

Now, she will headbutt you and drool all over you until you pay attention to her, she demands to be loved, petted, brushed or any other attention and acts like she is completely helpless when the boy cats play rough with her despite her starting it.

Have I recommended that a cat not be put into the shelter program for fostering? Yes - some of them will never ever be happy in a home, they are so fearful of people that they are just happier outdoors by themselves. We put them into cared colonies and watch them carefully to make sure they are accepted and eating. I also dont blame shelters for the opinion. For many its not that they can't - it is how much time it takes and how many adoptable *now* cats they can save if they don't work with that cat.

^^^^^ 10 Yahoos I agree 100%. I have pussed some mighty wild cats myself. Fallenpixels you are an amazing women (I assume you are a woman, sorry if I am wrong).

[MortgageQueen]

Couldn't agree more. I was saying to my friend last night that I just want justice in the world. I know an eye for an eye and the whole world goes blind but sometimes I just wish...

I was just heartbroken when I saw him. But I know that he's going to be better off now. He's on antibiotics at the moment and ear drops and once he has more blood work today he'll hopefully be able to get on some steroids that will help out with his skin condition. The vet think it was a terrible allergic reaction that he's had for a while, probably to the food and it has gone untreated.

Poor baby! I would think some high doses of omegas would help substantially. I'm glad he made it thru the last few days. . .

[Brandy Hunter]

Speaking of fosters. . . . I have 2 differnt large dogs in need (not mine)
One needs a forever home. He's a gentle giant. . . Saint Bernard named Griffin. .about 6 or 7 yrs old. Sweet as pie and protective (especially of "his" kids)
Another is needing a temprorary home for aprox. 5 months. A gorgeous white ackbash female. Owner is temporarily between homes and is totally distraught about what to do about her "giant" baby.

Check out Friendly Giants Dog Rescue. They're amazing people. *swoon*