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Coloration: Gray
Likes: Breakfast and supper on time
Pet-Peeves: being picked up; being at the vet's
Favorite Nap Spot: the cushion on the chaise lounge on the patio
Favorite Food: Whiskas pouches
Skills: Changing from feral to domestic barn cat
Dwells:
outdoors
Arrival Story: Three or four years ago, I found that a Russian Blue-like tomcat started coming into my barn to eat. I did TNR with him, naming him Shadow; he continued coming. Then one snowy evening, I saw what I thought was him walking across my yard; "Hmm," I thought, "I never noticed that white spot on his chest before." Shadow continued to come - for another year or so. Just this winter, I realized what should have been obvious: there are *two* cats! The "original" Shadow has no white spot. With that realization came the sure knowledge that the "new" Shadow hadn't been neutered. I won't set the trap in the cold weather, but thought that when spring came. . .I'd take care of that. In the meantime, Shadow Spot became friendlier and friendlier. I kept delaying his neutering, afraid that all the trust he'd built up in me over the two years would be destroyed. One day, though, he came "home" with a nasty gash over his eye; obviously, he'd been fighting. I moved the carrier into the barn so he'd get used to it; finally, I put him in it and took him to the vet for testing, neutering, and vaccinating. He was good in the carrier - until we tried to get him out of it, and then the teeth and claws came out. :( But it was all accomplished - and, to my great surprise, when I let him out the next day, he wasn't angry. He's now at the barn all the time, with no need to go visit his ladies at the neighboring farm. He even hangs around on the patio, and lets me know if breakfast or supper is late! I'm hoping I can get him to the point where he won't be aggressive at the vet's. He's not aggressive in the least toward my housecats when they out; in fact, he's downright submissive.
Bio: One of my friends says that Shadow no longer has any credibility as a feral!
Lives Remaining: 8 of 9
Forums Motto: Feral No More!
The Groups I'm In: Alley Cats of America Colony, Mittsonian Institute fur the Digitally Enhanced, PAWS Angels WAGS for Kindness
The Last Forum I Posted In: is something wrong with me?
Well, things certainly have changed for me - for the better. I started visiting Mom's barn (though she wasn't my mom then) fewe years ago. There was another cat coming, feral like me, and grey like me. Mom had named him Shadow. When she first saw me, she thought I was he! LOL So she started calling me Shadow.
Late last winter, she realized that there are two of us. Since I knew my name, and the other Shadow didn't, Mom changed his name to Smokey. And I remain Shadow!
I started trust Mom; she fed me every day, and didn't seem threatening at all. I guess Smokey watched me, and he, too, learned to trust her - although not as much as I do. :) Then one day, Mom picked me up, stuffed me into a tiny cage she called a "carrier," and took me to the doctor. I don't remember much; they made me very sleepy. I woke up in a cage in my barn, and boy, was I angry. But the next day, Mom let me out, and I was fine. I think the stuff that made me sleepy made me nasty too.
So things were going well; Smokey and I got along pretty good, except sometimes he'd run after me. And then it happened: I twisted one of my hind legs; boy, did that ever *hurt*! Mom took me to my regular doctor, who said it was broken, and sent us on down the road to the surgeon. He fixed my leg really good, and I came home, but I had to stay in a "dog crate" - how embarassing! So Mom put the crate where I could at least see out, but she hated having me in there all the time. She thought that when I got the staples out, I could be free. But that didn't happen; Mom just could not stand the thought of my being confined for another 10 days; also, she learned that she'd have to move, and she loves me too much to just pass me off as a barn cat; I'm a really good guy! So, it seemed like the perfect time to introduce me to the house and the three feline residents there.
Little Althea sometimes sniffs noses with me; the two guys - well, they seemed scared of me, but I don't know why. I stay prettty much to myself, although I'm starting to discover the delights of catnip and toys! :)
So now I spend my days mostly curled up on the sofa, sleeping. My leg is healing, but the surgeon says I'm still not to go outside. But with rain, sleet, snow. . .maybe it's better to be inside. :)
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