Conference misery::feline_v1

    Sandi,
    
    The best thing you could probably do for Beauty would be to get him
    neutered.  You might be surprised what this will buy you!
    
    cin
    

    Beauty is neutered.  Forgot to mention that.  But thanks for putting
    that in.   Somebody must have *owned* him at some time but no longer.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
    

    Sandi,
    
    One of the reasons why he could be malnutritioned could be from worms. 
    If you think you could pill him it would probably help.  The other
    would be to try some nutrical on him.  He might just like it and lick
    it off the tube.  Good food and lots of love will make a world of
    difference in Beauty.  Once you can get him to trust you enough to
    handle him then you can worry about getting his shots.  If you know
    anyone who knows how to give shots then you can do it yourself without
    stressing him by taking him to a vet.  You will have to eventually but
    for now you have just won his trust and don't want to jeopardize that.
    
    If you have a shed or even an area under your porch you can spread a
    bale of straw or hay.  That is how barn cats keep warm in the
    wintertime.  Just make sure it is well dry because freshly cut moist
    hay can set itself on fire if allowed to be closed in and the temp gets
    too hot.  You will find he will burro into the hay/straw and make
    himself a bed.  Some people like to use shavings but I don't believe it
    is as warm.  You can build a wooden box and put the straw/shavings into
    it and set it under your porch or on your porch.  He will be toasty
    warm.  The other thing you can do is if you have a porcelain light
    socket on your porch you can put a heat lamp bulb in it and place the
    box under that.  He won't be cold even on the worse days.  That will
    only work if your light socket isn't in the middle of the walkway :^).
    I hope I have given you some ideas for your Beauty.  I am so glad that
    he has finally decided to trust you.  He must have had some pretty
    miserable experiences with his original owners to be so distrusting of
    someone who is so kind to him.
    
    Good luck and if we can help otherwise let us know.
    
    Nancy

    I'm wondering if he might actually adapt tp being indoors.  It's
    amazing how feral cats (and he isn't even totally feral since he
    was owned at one point) will adapt with love.  Last night little Bit
    slept cuddled up next to me for the first time (he can indoors
    arounf Thanksgiving).
    

    
    
    	Like a previous note said, he is probably full of worms and that
    	is why he eats and never puts on weight.  If possible try and get
    	some pills into him.
    
    	As far as keeping warm in the winter, if you have a porch (as
    previously mentioned or an area where you can put a box - first use
    styrofoam around it and then put the hay inside.  The styrofoam is
    the best insulation you can use.  Remember - to not have the opening
    facing North!
    
    	Good luck to you and the "Beauty".
    
    	-Dee
    

    Sandi,
    
    1st of all, my crew sends their thanks to you for caring!
    
    BB probably has worms, which is why he is having a hard time
    putting on weight. When you get his full trust, try to get a 
    worming pill down him.  You are obviously a warm, loving
    catperson and BB was able to sense this.  It took time, but since
    you don't know how he was treated before you *met* him, he was
    just being cautious.  
    A box somewhat like a small doghouse with only one hole should
    suffice as a cathouse.  Put it in an area where he won't feel
    trapped, and he may take to it.  Straw is very warm, I use it
    for my bunnies houses.  
    
    If you would like some straw, I have plenty! :-)
    
       
    L- & crew

    Thank you for the info and the ideas.  I never even thought of worms.
    How many years have I had cats???  Boy the mind turns to slush when you
    are dealing with feral kittys.  I was just so worried about the
    malnutrition that I didn't think of the obvious.  I will talk to the
    vet Saturday when I bring Patches (no longer the Stray) in for her
    second shots.  I like the idea of the dog-house.  I have tried to keep
    Beauty in the enclosed porch but he *freaks out*.  He hates being
    confined.  I brought him into the bathroom last night but after 1/2
    hour he was screaming to be let out.  
    
    Keep the good ideas coming.  And thank you for your help.  Nancy DC, I
    will talk to you soon.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
    

    Well, I kept Beauty on the enclosed porch ALL last night.  I fixed up a
    box with towels facing away from the door for his bed.  I also fed him
    some dry food and also some haddock (from our plates).  He did prowl
    around alot and did cry some but I ignored him.  I let him out first
    thing this morning and he waited to be fed.  He did *do his duty* on
    the porch but in some dropped bird seed (I wonder if he thought it was
    a new brand of kitty litter).  I cleaned it up right away. I sleep near
    the porch so would have heard him if he was really in distress.  He
    survived......Maybe this will be my solution for the winter.  I just
    have to keep him away from my girls.  I'm not worried about babies
    (girls are spayed), I'm just worried that he will hurt one of them.  He
    has EXTREMELY LONNNNNNGGG claws and fangs.  
    
    He is such a good kitty.  I just wish I had earned his trust sooner.
    
    Now my daughter wants me to help the grey male that we also thinks is a
    stray.  Does it ever end?????? 
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    

    Sandi -
      Your major concern with letting Beauty interact with your other
    kitties should be for infection.  At the least he'll have worms,
    earmites, fleas and probably an upper respiratory infection.  You
    shouldn't let him near you other cats until you are sure he's healthy.
    Also, you should wash your hands thoroughly after handling him and
    before you go near your other cats.
    
    Just the voice of experience......
    

    This is an update on Black Beauty.......
    
    Black Beauty *finally* has a home.  I don't know the person who has
    taken Beauty in but I am very grateful.  Beauty now is a really 
    good-looking cat.....  His coat is shiny, he has put on weight, he
    is purring and healty.....
    
    This summer, my daughter (unbeknownst to me) put a note in the Mobile
    Home Newsletter about Black Beauty and Grey, my two strays.  She just
    wanted people not to throw rocks at them and to be careful when driving
    down our road because Grey has a bad leg.  She also said that I was a
    *fanatic* about cats. *BRAT !!!!*  She is too now !!!!
    
    Someone who read the note, took Beauty in.  They didn't call me to let
    me know which is something she asked them to do, but he only comes 
    around about once or twice a month now.
    
    The Saga of Black Beauty now has a happy ending......
    
    Now to get someone to help with Grey.....
    
    Sandi
    

    Well, the saga of Black Beauty continues.  For a while there, Beauty
    had a home.  He had gained weight, his coat was glossy black and he
    only visited me about once every 3 weeks to say hello.  I was so happy
    for him.
    
    For people who aren't familiar with Beauty's story, he is a stray that
    I have been taking care of.  It took me 6 years to get him to come near
    enough to let us pet him.
    
    In the past few months, Beauty has been coming to my house every day
    both morning and evening.  He has lost weight and his coat is no longer
    glossy black.  I guess the people are no longer taking care of him due
    to financial reasons or have moved away.
    
    The first month, he had a large abysyss (sp) on his cheek and then
    another one right after that one had healed.  I took care of them by
    cleaning them with diluted hydrogen peroxide and some antibiotics.
    
    Last Wednesday morning Beauty came to me limping.  There was something
    wrong with his front leg.  After checking and feeling, I realized it
    was swollen all around the elbow area.  Around the same time, the dog
    across the street got loose and chased Beauty under my car.  After the
    dog left, I brought Beauty inside the enclosed porch.  I set him up
    with food, water, comfy bed, and a cat box.  When I got home that
    evening, I brought him into the vet.
    
    Seeing as it was the first time I had brought Beauty in to the vet, I
    waited so that I would be the last appointment.  I didn't have to do
    that......Beauty was a love.  Other than jumping off the table once, he
    behaved himself.  He even let the vet take his temperature.
    
    It seems Beauty had another Abysyss.  The vet decided to keep him
    overnight and operate on the leg in the morning.  I asked the vet to
    neuter him at the same time seeing he was going to be put under anyway
    for the surgery.  Beauty will no longer be the *TOM of the
    neighborhood*.
    
    I picked him up on Thursday evening and was informed that I would have
    to keep him inside for at least two days.  How do you keep a *free
    spirit* inside???  He is now residing in my wash-room complete with 
    
    

    SORRY ABOUT THAT....  We will now continue......
    
    Beauty is in my wash-room complete with food, water, comfy bed and
    kitty box.  He will remain there until Saturday afternoon.  
    
    At the moment, he is very upset with me..  I haven't decided if it is
    because I had him neutered or if it is because I am keeping him in.  He
    won't even look at me.  He has decided that *I am the ENEMY*.  I realize
    that this will pass, but I feel so bad for him right now.  He so loves
    to be outside.......
    
    I hope having him neutered will stop his fighting and therefore cause
    fewer abysyss.  
    
    He is a good cat....... and really would love a home of his own.......
    Anyone need an all-black panther-type loving half-siamese to share
    their home with?  Especially now that he is neutered.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers 
    
    

    Sandi...please let me know how he does.  I often wonder what the heck
    I will do when I finally can catch the two male ferals in our
    neighborhood and get them fixed.  I know they need to stay in
    for a few days...but one guy almost went through my window when
    I tried to enclose him on my porch.   He went nuts!!!
    
    Hopefully Beauty won't be boxing anymore and can stay away
    from those nasty abscesses.  Please keep us posted...after
    reading your stories...I feel Beauty is part of our lives.
    
    Sandy
    

    How good of you to take care of this baby.  I suspect he'll have
    fewer abscesses in the future now that he's beem altered,
    as he will fight less.
    

    I suspect some tuna might get you back in his good graces :-)
    And it's almost Saturday afternoon.  How about tuna for him and a 
    martini for you tonight;  the time will pass :-)
    

I wouldn't take it too personally - he's just upset because he smells different
to himself....it always makes them grumpy after they have had surgery.  He will
surely settle down a great deal now that you've had him fixed - and you may
find that he is not so much of a "free spirit" when the wind is cold or the
rain is coming down...

    Sandi-
    
    WHat we have been experiencing is that the Tom will take off for a
    few days to lick his wounds, and then they return with a whole new
    attitude toward life.  I'd never believe it except I've seen it.
    
    Good luck.....Michele, Nippa and the barn kitties
    

    Well, it is now Monday and Beauty is *STILL* in the wash-room.  He
    hasn't been let out yet.  Before opening the door to freedom Saturday,
    I made a call to the vet's office to see if there was anything else I
    should do for Beauty before letting him out.  Good thing I did.  He has
    to go back to the vet's office tonight have his leg looked at and the
    stiches removed.  Then he can go out (I hope).  He has behaved
    beautifully and is using the kitty-box with paper in it.  He is eating
    anything and everything I have given him and drinking lots of water. 
    He is *calling* to me quite boisteriousfully and the *girls* haven't
    figured it out yet.  They are very curious but not *brave enough* to go
    into the room.  That's fine with me.
    
    At least tonight is a Freebie.  I almost had heart-failure when I
    picked him up on Thursday and asked how much the check should be made
    out for.  Oh well, he's worth it......
    
    Will keep you all posted as to the outcome of his *new personality*.
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers
    
     

    Sandi -
      It takes about a month for the hormone level to drop enough so
    that you'll see a difference in his behavior.  So keep heart. He'll
    forgive you.  They seem to know that we're trying to help them.
      Nancy DC
    

    Well, Beauty went outside last night for the first time in 5 days.
    He was so happy to see me open the door.  He kept smelling everything
    to make sure it was all still there.  He came back this morning (along
    with Lady Grey, a beautiful Maine Coon who has a home) to eat and be
    petted.  He then went off on his *tour of the neighborhood*.  
    
    Last night, before letting him out, I let him eat in the kitchen.  The
    girls didn't know what to make of him.  He never even bothered with
    them.  He was so interested in all the food dishes that he had to
    choose from.  He kept going from one to another.  Deja (miss timid)
    was the only one that got near him.  He than went outside.  
    
    My girls have all had their shots and Beauty has been around the house
    (outside and the porch) for the past year.  
    
    I didn't have time this morning to let him in the kitchen, so he ate on
    the porch.  
    
    This is the beginning of a new life for Beauty.  Now if I could only
    get the person who owns the little grey female to get her spayed or 
    at least get her brother nuetered.........
    
    Sandi and the Storm Troopers