Rescued a stray cat!
by kbean
Animal Care & Training Journey Overview
Follow this step-by-step animal care & training journey to see real progress updates, challenges overcome, and practical experience.
Progress Updates (9 total)
Update #1: Rescued a stray cat!
This cat had been hanging around in our neighborhood for a few weeks. We fed her but she was super shy and skittish. Come to find out she had two kittens that the neighbors rescued in the rain last week and we caught mom in a have a heart trap. Need to bring her to the vet/make her feel calm and safe before letting someone adopt her. here we go!
Challenges Overcome: We set up two large dog crates together and gave her a litter box and ample bedding to make her less stressed out.
Obstacles Faced: I’m worried she may never feel comfortable around people or other pets. we don’t know if we want to keep her or rehab her until she’s ready for adoption
Looking Back: It takes time! she has been growling at us sometime when we replace her water or food, sometimes she will hiss. my two dogs are super interested in her though.
Update #2: Shared the same space
10% completeI read that even just sitting in the same space quietly can make her more adjusted to you. I did my daily doom scroll next to her and she was doing slow blinks which signals that she is comfy with it! She used to run to the back corner of the crate but she seems ok when I enter the room. She has been sleeping for longer periods of time and seems less hyper vigilant which tells me that she is starting to relax.
Challenges Overcome: Moving around her slowly and using a low voice seems to make her feel less threatened
Obstacles Faced: Again- it takes a lot of time. It’s been about a week now and she hasn’t let us pet her or really touch her yet but i’m sure it will come!
Looking Back: At first I wasn’t really interested in the process of rehabbing a stray cat, but the more I read I felt so bad for her. Plus it’s getting cold- she was living in the run down garage across the street
Update #3: she is feeling more comfortable
15% completeI can tell she is getting more comfortable as she let me sit next to her this afternoon while i had a cup of tea
Challenges Overcome: She is definitely getting used to being around me and the house in general. She was whining last night and i stuck my finger in her crate and she bumped it with her nose
Obstacles Faced: Still getting her to trust me and not hiss or growl.
Looking Back: It seems as though she doesn’t like to be touched on her backside but she was ok initiating contact with her nose
Update #4: She’s feeling more at home!
25% completeIn the last few days, ai was able to pet her paws and eventually scratch her backside through the crate. I noticed that she was calling out and looking for attention/affection.
Challenges Overcome: I was able to make physical contact with her, she ate a piece of cheese from my hand, and tonight i had the crate door open and was scratching her back and under her ears
Obstacles Faced: She has a vet apt at the beginning of december- i hope that it doesn’t set her back because she will have to go in the car and be around strangers and have an exam
Looking Back: Being patient has definitely paid off. I am slow moving around her and she in turn feels more comfortable and will actually come close to the crate to look for attention
Update #5: I held her!
35% completeShe is feeling very comfy now! After days of scratching her and her rubbing her head into my hand meaning that she wanted contact, i reached into the crate and picked her up and she was fine with it!
Challenges Overcome: She is totally fine with contact as long as i am slow moving
Obstacles Faced: she is still a little nervous being outside the crate and when i put her down she went right back in
Looking Back: if i move slowly and gradually towards her she is ok with any contact at this point.
Update #6: Cuddled the cat!
45% completeShe let me hold her and she fell asleep in my arms for a few hours! She was stretched out and purring
Challenges Overcome: She was ok being outside the crate and in our natural environment with the dogs and other cat
Obstacles Faced: Still working on being less skittish when sudden movements or noises happen
Looking Back: She loves her belly rubbed and that when she sleeps and stretches her arms out, that is like REM cycle for cats
Update #7: My niece read her some books
50% completeshe was introduced to my 4 year old niece and was relaxed for the most part. Isla is a typical 4 year old and full of energy
Challenges Overcome: she was calm around a boisterous child! Isla showed her the pictures of every book and made her paws feel all the fur on the baby animal books
Obstacles Faced: Still a little nervous around the dogs but happy to see she was ok around the kids
Looking Back: She was ok with not so slow movements
Update #8: She laid across my chest
55% completeI read that cats will claim you as their person by laying their head on you, laying on your chest, and even putting their paw on your face
Challenges Overcome: She has claimed me as her person and she feels safe enough around me to sleep deeply and totally lounge
Obstacles Faced: I am still worried about when we let her out of her crate full time- in the few times we have tried she runs under the bed to hide but i guess that is normal for the first few days. she gets spayed and had her first vet appointment thursday so we will find out about how old she is!
Update #9: first vet appointment!
60% completeShe had her first vet appointment today! she was vaxxed and spayed. the vet estimated that she is just about a year old and isn’t feral as she came around quickly to human contact.
Challenges Overcome: she was not microchipped so we are keeping her since we assume no one is looking for her. she was spayed and given all shots today.
Obstacles Faced: integrating her into our home for good which entails getting more comfy around the dogs