Conference misery::feline_v1

    
    
    I will contribute or pay for the neutering..
    
    

    I hope that even if you don't immediately have an offer from someone
    to adopt this poor kitty that you will still try to catch it, clean
    him up, get him humanized.  Never mind what your neighbors say -
    you have to do what is right.  If they complain to you, just tell
    them you are getting him fixed up for adoption.  I don't know if
    you are in the Massachusetts area, but if so, advertise in the Want
    Advertiser for a home for him.  I think the cost is only $2/week
    - call them to find out.  Then send a check w/ad to cover 4-5 weeks
    of advertising.
    
    I placed over 650 cats this way, all shapes and sizes, and some
    with rather unpleasant dispositions.  I was very careful w/my
    placements, questioning folks over the phone before I would permit
    them to come to my home.  I wish I could still do it, but the sadness
    of this animal underworld gets to you after a while.  However, I
    will NEVER ignore a stray - cat or dog.  If I feel I can't keep
    it myself I still pick it up and find a home for it.
    
    Good luck!

    I don't know if the want advertiser is such a good idea.  Unless
    you charge a fee, like $25, for the cat you can't be sure that
    the taker isn't going to sell the cat for research.  I'd be
    very wary of folks you don't know.
       Nancy DC
    

    
    
    I figured I put a note in here first, as I have to *catch* the little
    bugger.. which isn't going to be easy..  its not my neighbors I
    care about, its my *roomates* that are opposed to me even putting
    food out in front of the house..  I have been putting out a can
    every night for him but he is extremely scared of people and won't
    come around until I am inside.    If I do catch the little bugger,
    I am going to get that flea collar off!!
    
    As I said before, if I lived by myself, I'd save a little and catch
    the little bugger and take him straight to the vets for instant
    nuetering, and possible a good grooming too.   Then I'd take him
    in my house.  Unfortunately, I am sharing a house with two other
    people who just won't allow it!
    
    Although.. maybe some Sat. when noone else is home..  I can wisk
    him up and give him a bath, then pat him for an hour or two so he
    won't be scared to come around..  then put him back out..  I don't
    want him to be confused though...
    
    8*(
    
    F.

    you may wish to try a local shelter or animal rescue
    league...oftentimes, they have live traps to catch wild or feral
    animals in--in my experience, they request only that you volunteer
    to monitor the trap to make certain that the cat or other animals
    that are caught are not "forgotten" and left in the trap overly
    long (a day is cutting it long).  the traps do not hurt the animal,
    and lure them in using food, then close and keep them inside until
    someone can come get them.  
    
    if he's so shy of people, this might be the best way.  until then,
    the food idea is good, but you might want to place it in a "non-people"
    area--if the cat is shy, you need to first deal with it in a place
    that feels safe to the cat, and gradually tame it (assuming you
    don't trap it).  my grandparents lived on ranch--there wre many
    many MANY wild cats (not wildcats, ie, bobcats and cougars, altho
    there were, but i'm referring to domestic cats that never had a
    home), and tho they were very and ran like mad if you came near,
    by feeding them and eventually leaving the bowl close to me as i
    sat on the porch, they would come close to eat, and run if i moved.
     it was a slow process....
    
    the sadd part of the story was that they bred so much there would
    be a huge population and out there in rural-land, they don't have
    a pound, they take care of it with .22s.  sad, yes, but true--still,
    someone had to leave thosse cats out and start up the population.
     :(
    
    anyway, hopefully you can trap mr. kitty soon.  best of luck to
    ya!
    
                                                              ---kim

    
    
    Thanks..
    
    I leave the bowl on my front steps..  sometimes he lets me look
    out the window at him..
    
    Maybe one of these days I'll hide behind a bush and then slowly
    move as if to say see?  I've been here all along!
    
    Thanks for the advice, though!
    
    F.

    if you set the bowl on the porch and he eats from it...let him get
    comfy with eating.  then maybe go out and put the bowl down and
    sit about 10-15 feet away (after the cat doesn't hide from you,
    but maybe watches from a "safe" distance).  eventually, mr. kitty
    should be willing to eat while you sit out with him...then move
    close and close...i had 15 wild cats eating down by my feet.  as
    long as i didn't move, or act like i was going to grab them (they
    were conditioned to run because my grandpa had a .22 by his door--but
    he also fed some after there weren't so many), they were okie. 
    
    
    goodluck!
    
                                                                   
    kim

	When I was a kid, we "captured" a stray by putting out a trail of
	bits of food leading into the house.  We'd been feeding him on the
	porch for several weeks, so he was somewhat used to us.

	Worth a try...
	Beverly

    
    
    Sad though!
    
    I'd like for him to get used to me, but then what can I do!!
    
    If I was living alone he'd be in the house by now!!
    
    But I guess I can take him in and separate him for a few hours
    to let him sleep and eat and clean him up and stuff, when the roomates
    aren't home!   Of course, this will have to wait until baby gets
    fixed (next Wed.)
    
    hmmmmm

    Do yourself a favor and don't let him mix with Baby until after
    you have taken him into the vet.  I would also suggest a leukemia
    test before letting him anywhere near her.  This would decrease
    her chances of contracting some illness from him.  Even though he
    appears to have been her "boyfriend", they may not have had any
    contact yet, so you might want to think about that before bringing
    him in.
    
    Jo