It's 4:00 A.M. - Do you know where your kitty is?!?

[Phatfish]

Mine is on the roof of my toolshed or at least he was this evening. say hello to Killer, my cat. He is the coolest kitty I have ever met. He chills when we're chillin', he parties when we're partyin', he even drinks when we are drinkin'.

[FireHeart]

1. All my cats are...

sound asleep on my bed. Which is why I'm here at such a late hour. They won't give me any room. :(

[Rhiannon12866]

2. My nearly-feral cat is right in this room with me

Since I brought her inside a year and a half ago, she has eaten well, used her box and played with her toys. I think she knows she is now safe and has no desire to escape to the dangerous outdoor world of bad weather and predators. But, I still cannot touch her. She was on her own for too long and is still very scared. She is okay if it is just the two of us, late at night, and even gets up in the bay window and looks out, but I cannot move too fast or I scare her and she hides. She has her own little kitty house, and is reasonably content, but she is overdue at the vet's for her annual shots and dental work. The last time I took her, my friend who has caught cats for the ASPCA had to come into my house to catch her for me. I just couldn't do it. And she bit him! I think she felt violated, after all the poking and prodding (they had to sedate her, of course) and, after I brought her home, she reverted to the behavior she exhibited when I first brought her home. She didn't eat for three days and tried to make herself invisible. It really broke my heart. I hate to put her through this again, but need to know she's okay.:-(

Your cat is very cool and a handsome guy, but don't you worry that he'll fall?:shrug: I do love orange kitties. Mine is black, with gold eyes, a pretty cat, but still quite skittish.
:scared:

[FireHeart]

3. It will take time...

Sometimes a LOT of time. One of my rescued cats was in horrid shape when we got her...she'd been abused and had a pellet gun projectile lodged in her hindquarters. It took over 3 years before she became the loving, sweet little lady she is now.

Be patient, love her and see her needs are met. That's all you can do--and it may not work even then.

I know what you are going through. It can be really tough.

[Rhiannon12866]

5. Thank you so much

I sent for articles from ``Alley Cat Alleys'' and the woman I spoke to said it took four years to get her cat from under the bed. I don't have this kind of time. My vet says this cat is 13, but I haven't rushed her. Whatever she wants to do is okay with me, but I do have to bring her back to my vet and am dreading the consequences.

Her needs are met, as best I can. The feral cat expert I talked with at the animal hospital I first took her to recommended interactive toys, but there's no way this would work out. I know now that she once had a good home, but was lost. She has lost trust. I give her all I can, but cannot push it. I am just happy that she is finally safe. Bringing her in was not easy.

You are to be commended for having brought your cat around. She is a lucky cat, also. I will always do my best for this one, as I do for all my guys, but it breaks my heart that she still cannot trust me, after I have fed her for almost two years and have cared for her in my home for a year and a half.:-(

[Darth_Kitten]

6. Have you tried Bach flower remedies?

They supposedly work wonders for animals that have been through trauma. There are specific remedies for timidness, grief, etc.....

They can be used by humans and animals.

[Rhiannon12866]

10. Yes, thank you for that great advice!

My vet also suggested this, but I had tried it when I first brought her inside, at the suggestion of an article I read from Alley Cat Allies. I also tried Feliway, the synthetic feline hormone, that's supposed to be calming, but noticed no difference in her behavior. I have tried every suggestion that I have read or that's been given to me. If you have any more, I'd be grateful for anything!:-)

[Lindacooks]

26. Try singing

No kidding, all of my (13, indoor) cats love it when my husband and I sing to them. Very softly, making up words is the best. All of our cats have songs. Bijou's is 'Baby Love', Angel's is 'Darling Angel', (sung to Johnny Angel), Emily's is 'Emily Emily Emily Emily' (sung to 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat'), Zoe's is 'Hey There, Zoe Girl' (sung to Georgie Girl') etc. You get the drift.

[Rhiannon12866]

28. I actually have

since this was one of the numerous suggestions I read about. This poor kitty, since I am practically tone-deaf! If I can get her back to my vet, I am sure he will have more suggestions. He is a brilliant man, and loves cats. The problem I have is getting her there, but my friend who caught her for me before told me tonight he'd do it again. I just really hate putting her through any trauma. She's experienced enough.:-(

[iluvchicago86]

4. no!!!!

thanks for reminding me! grrrr silly kitty...always disappearing...

[Terwilliger]

7. yes

in Atlanta

[Az]

8. Whatever you do

Do not look up kittyhate on the net. Its not what you think.

[northzax]

9. yup

in the jar on the mantle, where he always is.

thanks to Bonsaikitten.com, I never have to clean up pet hair!

[gate of the sun]

14. You don't really have a bonzai kitty do you?

I may be naive, I ran into that site and didn't know what to make of it.....please tell me it's a joke right???? You see I can imagine that is a true site and that maybe you have a bonzai kitty.... I hope I'm wrong well how about bonzai humans?????Of course emotionally we are all bonzaid.

[DS1]

16. it's a fake

behold the power of photoshop

[gate of the sun]

18. hey is that site real or just a joke?

n/t

[DS1]

19. it's a joke/fake/both

A very good one, but it's fake.

[DS1]

11. Sounds a lot like my cat

Minou, also loves to hang out on the roof, sleeps right up next to me when it's bedtime, goes nuts other times, and drinks beer given the chance.

[SOteric]

12. It's 10:39 p.m. My cats are dozing in their cubbies.

[gate of the sun]

13. No I don't

I went to the animal shelter to get my MOMMIe cat a shot and her four kittens their shots. They were in a carrier a big one. My son somehow got his fingers caught in between the top and bottom of the carrier and we got his fingers out but forgot to check the connection so......when we got the carrier out of the car somehow it created a gap and the MOMMIE cat got out and ran away like some sort of crazed animal and we never found her. That was this afternoon. Needless to say Idon't know where she is or if......I ever will. I feel way more sorry for her then I do for me. It's really hot here and no moisture so......I don't know what will happen to her. She has never left our yard. much less ventured off into the city with traffic and dogs everywhere. We searched the vicinity and there were dogs everywhere.
what a day.

[DS1]

15. jeez that sucks

I hope she makes a triumphant return, hopefully she got out before you left for the vets.

[gate of the sun]

17. No it was at the vets she made her escape

right next to a very busy road. it sucks it's a business the only hope is they said they would put a trap out for her and see if they could catch her ..it was the animal shelter doing you know shots and fixing of the ole reproductive organs. I mean this cat is lost.

[DS1]

20. that's gotta be gut-wrenching

You're in a for a sleepless night I'll bet, I would be.

Got any spare kids you can post in a quadrant?

[gate of the sun]

21. What can you do??????

can a cat find it's way home maybe 7 miles away and arrived there in a car? I wondered but I don't know I mean how could she?? she was like some sort of adonis flying through the air to her escape....she was so freaked out. I don't know what it was except the car ride.

[DS1]

22. put up pictures

what city is this? Is it like downtown Los Angeles or more suburban or what?

[gate of the sun]

23. Santa Fe new mexico

not quite you know a city but it was one of the busiest parts of it. Cars everywhere and business's like mechanics and warehouse type business's with alot of them with dogs outside. this is an enviroment she has no idea of.I was hoping she might find her way home but I don't know I looked and walked through the business's and called for her but nothing. A picture is a good idea. Thanks

[DS1]

24. ahh

well, good luck, i'm gonna try do that sleep thing

I'd start a thread here tomorrow morning also, something like "Lost Cat! Need Advice", this place can be an amazing resource of real experience.

[gate of the sun]

25. hey thanks for your support

I appreciate it!

[LosinIt]

27. One is on the back deck drinking water from an upside down Frisbee

when he has a bowl of perfectly good, fresh water inside. Guess he likes to pretend he's wild. The other one is MIA.