Found a beautiful kitten...

The other day I saw a little white kitten with gray patches in my yard. He was tearing into my garbage and eating pancakes I had thrown out :( He was clearly starving.

I started to put some food out for him and then went to my town shelter, which has a no-kill facility for cats and dogs - which is available to town residents, and rented a trap. Last night I put the trap out and I just checked and he/she is in there.

He/she is scared shitless but unharmed. I am wondering if anyone has experience in socializing a cat or if anyone knows someone who does. I'm going to get the cat de-wormed and spayed at the shelter, and have them give him/her whatever shots is needed.

I have two dogs who CHASE cats so I cannot actually keep him/her and socialize the cat myself. I'm wondering if anyone is interested or knows someone who is.

Otherwise, the cat would just go to the shelter and live out his/her life there... unless someone adopts the cat from there but I feel like the cat would have a better shot if socialized first. Anyway, it's beautiful and a kitten so I feel like the cat should have a shot at a home.

Message edited 9/20/2014 6:53:08 AM.

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

OMG. There was someone on here recently looking to adopt a kitten. I wish I could take them all.

Found a beautiful kitten...

I know a very good rescue (not a shelter). They may be full but message me if you want the contact. They are very loving and will help if they can. Thank you for helping this cat!! :)

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

sent you fm

Message edited 9/20/2014 11:40:50 AM.

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

Turns out the cat is feral

And a little older than I first thought.

Has anyone had luck with socializing a feral cat?

In the meantime, I'm getting her all of her shots and having her fixed.

She's at the shelter and I will take it from there when they are done.

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

Posted by DaniRella

Turns out the cat is feral

And a little older than I first thought.

Has anyone had luck with socializing a feral cat?

In the meantime, I'm getting her all of her shots and having her fixed.

She's at the shelter and I will take it from there when they are done.

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

Posted by PaddysGirl

Posted by DaniRella

Turns out the cat is feral

And a little older than I first thought.

Has anyone had luck with socializing a feral cat?

In the meantime, I'm getting her all of her shots and having her fixed.

She's at the shelter and I will take it from there when they are done.

My mom takes care of 2 neighborhood cats. Feeds, gives treats, and even brushes one. One was someone's cat that adopted my family (the owner is an idiot and stopped letting the cat in) so this cat stays in my moms (heated) garage and at a neighbors house. The other cat stays outside but is fed 2x a day, has water and my parents built it a shelter for the cold weather. It has worked out really well. If no one steps up maybe you have the means to feed it and build a shelter for it?

Re: Found a beautiful kitten...

I take care of a feral colony at my home.....I have four regulars and some that stray into my yard.....one of them has been coming to me for years and is scared poopless....I'm lucky I can sit with her when she eats but forget trying to get too close to her......another I was able to pet and then all of a sudden I wore a hoodie with fur around it and he's been scared of me since....and another, I can pick up, carry around and she sits in my lap. It depends on the cat....they definitely can be socialized...you will want to start out slow. When the cat is eating, sit close and just talk to it....I wouldn't encourage petting right away unless they allow it. You will eventually build their trust but it takes a while....and some not as long. My baby that I can pet has come to me since a very young kitten. We've had them all spayed and neutered. In the winter we have shelters set up for them and even now in the rain, they use them. Main thing is to keep them isolated from the harsh weather, but there are shelters that you can make or purchase.....I feed my guys twice a day and I am constantly making sure they are okay....they hardly ever leave my property. They are my outside cats and then I have my inside fur babies. One of them actually was a feral....he was trapped in my neighbors garage for over a month...I had been feeding him prior...I searched high and low for this boy.....when he returned (thank gosh he did) he ran into my home like he was an indoor cat his whole life...since then he never left.....so this goes to show, they definitely can as ferals live indoors. I wish you luck and if you have any questions, feel free....don't hesitate.....I'd be happy to help as best as I can...just can't take the little one off your hands...My four indoor is enough