Who knew this would happen -- semi-feral kitten more tamable after spay?

[bertha katzenengel]

Charley's semi-feral. With her sister, Skittles, she's been living in our house since November. I tried to catch them both to be spayed last week, but Skittles got wise and stayed away from me.

Last night I was holding Cat Court -- that consists of sitting on the toilet and petting all who come to pay homage. I am a captive audience and I usually get three or four cats who come in for scritchies.

Charley had been in the habit of coming along for scritchies, but she did it stealthily, as if she were subsuming her fear by pretending I wasn't there. It was really cute. But she never stayed for long.

Yesterday, she came in with the other cats, and when they went away, she stayed, and she let me do everything -- scratch her ears, under her chin, her neck, at the base of her tail; pet her, play with her paws, jiggle her little head -- if it weren't for her incision, I think she would've let me tickle her tummy (of course I didn't try). I must have sat on that damned commode for ten minutes. Ow. But playing with a semi-feral cat like that, for so long, was wonderful! A tremendous and unexpected treat.

This morning, she did it again! When I woke up, she was sleeping inside my left knee. I sat up slowly and began to pet her. She didn't even jump a little. Just started purring and went for my fingers with her head.

WOW! I think I may yet tame this feral child. Rather -- she may now be ready to be tamed. :woohoo:

[Zuni]

1. Is charley the newest one?

I remember you said that she was probably once someone's kitty....just like the little stray I adopted, sooty

[bertha katzenengel]

3. Charley & Skittles have been with us since we trapped them in November.

Buddy is the one you're thinking of -- but I haven't seen him for a couple of weeks. Not since the day he let me hold him. :(

[Zuni]

5. I'm sorry

poor little guy

I really admire what you do though. A lot of cats have a loving home thanks to you

:loveya:

[bertha katzenengel]

6. Too many cats have a loving home!

No such thing, I know, but we have too many for our little home. Still, they're staying.

:pals:

[xultar]

2. I love cat court but I can barely get my business done!

[bertha katzenengel]

4. Tell me!

:bounce:

[CatWoman]

7. what are you going to do about Skittles?

is she still avoiding you?

[bertha katzenengel]

8. I'm going to have to set a trap for her, and take her this Sunday

with some outdoor ferals to a feral TNR clinic. It's the only way. She's just too smart!!

[LynneSin]

9. I thought I was the only one who held 'Cat Court'

If I close the door those damn cats will start scratching, digging and crying. Abbott is worse - he always wants a sniff :eyes:

[bertha katzenengel]

10. Just like a guy.

:7

[Burma Jones]

11. Shhhhh....The Freeps will think it works on people too......

[barb162]

12. I "tamed" two feral male adults after months of working with them

Once they learn to trust, that one day where you make REAL progress, after that, they seem to totally trust. A friend of mine took a feral in and this feral basically stayed under the bed for almost a year while its littermates were running the house. Then one day for whatever reason this cat came out from under the bed and just started acting like the rest of the cats in the house. It is a good feeling when they finally allow you to pet them

[davidinalameda]

13. how sweet!

sounds like my little one

why do they always want attention while you're "enthroned"