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At first I was scared of you
Because you bring these box-like contraptions
I have seen cats go in them
Most come back
But the kittens I have not seen again.
While other Humans yell at us
And see us as a nuisance,
You bring us food
And I am very hungry.
Hungry enough to come out and eat it.
(Although not always when you are around.)
Without you
My stomach would be growling
And there would be so many kittens,
Kittens everywhere.
I trust that when you take our kittens
They are safe
And will never have growling tummies again.
When it rains
When it snows
When the heat is unbearable
You are always there
With food
And your gentle tone of voice.
So even though I may hide
And won’t let you pet me
(Yet)
I am grateful you care.
I may not trust you fully
(Yet)
But I wait for you
And not just for the food
But to hear you voice
Because you give me hope
And make me believe
That life might not be so bad
After all.
Signed, A Feral Cat
:-D :-D :-D :-D :-D :-D
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like it Joy, we have a new litter of ferals around here (again) and the kittens are getting tame but the people feeding them will leave soon so I need to tell the local cat protection
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I liked it to Uzzi when I read it on our cat rescue wall :-D :-D
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My dad 'took in' two feral cats. When I took the children round to his place, he worried that the cats may not like them, and may attack them.
My children were used to cats, respected animals - but were told that granddad's cats were not as 'laid back' as our cats - who, when peed off, gave the girls 2 warnings, then bit them - and the girls never got any sympathy from me - they'd been warned!! I also pointed out that the back leg rake is worse than a bite (loving mum that I am)
Dad's cats actually allowed the children to stroke them, and never once did they show the children any aggression - they even became affectionate to them.
Dad had the cats for quite a few years, before he got cancer. He had a slow and painful death, much of it spent on a hospital bed at home.
First one cat (Chester) spent his time sleeping with dad, and nuzzling him. Then Chester died, so the other cat (Peter) took Chester's place.
By this time, dad was on a 'death pathway' (he'd developed a brain tumour)
Peter stayed with dad until the end - staying by him every moment.
Peter died the day after dad.
They were extremely loyal and loving cats, in their own way. All they need is a little understanding <3
Actually, dad's feral cats were a damn sight nicer than my sister's (non-feral) psychotic cat, who is thoroughly spoilt, and will bite & scratch if you have the audacity to attempt to stroke her - she's even aggressive to the hand that feeds her :-|
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That is so sad Maggie
I had a feral took me 6 months to get in the same room as her
But she fell in love with my Boyfriend (now husband)
Bless her
Once he won her over she let the rest of us invade her life to
And she become a loving pet :-D :-D
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Peter and Chester were devoted to my dad.
I got a semi-feral cat from the local cat & kitten rescue centre. She was from Ireland, had been looked after until 3 months old then left to fend or herself (unspayed) and had had many kittens.
She was a lovely tabby cat. Allegedly spayed when I got her - but had kittens! :-S
She was, despite being semi-feral, very affectionate.
Whilst giving birth (on my sofa) someone had to stay with her, or she'd try to follow you - no cardboard box in a dark corner (as advised) for her !!
I was going to keep both her and the kittens, but, after 3 months, she got very aggressive towards the 'kittens' - she wanted to be a sole cat, and something had to be done.
Due to previous birthing problems, the kittens weren't 'perfect'.
One was/is a midget, one has a bent tail, non-retractable claws, whiskers where they shouldn't be, and is bog-ugly. The third is beautiful, but very long - as in long and (very) thin. Two were black - people don't like black cats.
I took the mum back to be re-homed - she'd started peeing under my duvet, she was getting desperate (as was I).
Within a week she'd been re-homed - something that wouldn't have happened with 3 'odd' kittens.
The 'kittens' are now 9 years old, extremely affectionate and totally non-aggressive - they've never bitten or scratched anyone (not even screechy grandchildren!).
I've never put them in a cattery. When I go away, a lady from the cat & kitten rescue feeds them at home - and she's always asking me when I'm going to be away, as she wants to feed and cuddle them, as she's never known such affectionate cats :-S
Just goes to show, feral can be just a state of mind :-D
I've never knowingly been extremely nice to my cats (but am never cruel)
They've been taught to poo on the bark. I never give them treats. They know the words 'off' 'move', 'down', 'ouch' (him with the non-retractable claws), 'shift', 'places' (when I feed them - individual bowls - each has their own bowl) and 'tail' or 'move your arse' (when they sit in the doorway). all said in affectionate tones of course - but hardly 'loving' and occasionally I am 'obeyed':-D Oh - and they come when called.
It gets a little embarrassing when Betty moves from her favourite sleeping place. There, left on the living room floor is a plastic carrier bag :-S
Mister, during the day, sleeps in a room of the doll's house I'm attempting to renovate - very slowly - as he's a little bulky and hard to manoeuvre around.
George, though the same age as the other two (9) still thinks he's a kitten and 'plays' with the other two, much to their disgust (ie jumps on them while they sleep).
BUT when it comes to 'serious' night time sleeping - something that took a long time to achieve - I make sure they're all in at (my) bedtime, it's separate rooms! They've never snuggled up together like you see on you-tube - as far away from each other as possible is their modus operandi. I think they'd all like to be 'lone' cats in a perfect world.
.....and these are the offspring of a semi-feral cat....... says she moving one off the keyboard.........
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Your cats sound wonderful Maggie
I have 3 cats two Torties from the rescue and one Tabby I hand reared
they are all very spoilt even sleep in our bed if they want to
They have us well trained to be at their beck and call ;-) ;-) ;-)
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This poem says it all, and so true of feral cats, all they really need is understanding and love, have dealt with ferals (have even helped 'domesticate' and rehome feral - though it takes a long time) at present we are still trying to catch a cat which we believe was once a loving/loved pet, but now feral, so we can TNR. my heart goes out to all stray/feral cats, and thanks to all who feed them. <3
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I to are fond of Feral s ShelleyRose
I feel so sorry for them
when its snowing and its cold and wet
My friend Lise she runs a cat rescue
and we make money to keep it going
The cost of the Vets fees have to be met
so we have fund raising and collections even auctions :-( :-(
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