Feed A Cat for Christmas! JEAN H!!!

JEAN H.!  Thank you for helping to feed a cat for Christmas!  Jean has been a supporter for many years now, and I appreciate her so much.  Plus, she is close to being family!  She is Kristin's cousin!  Thank you so much Jean, for helping to feed ALL those cats today!

This morning was quiet, but FREEZING.  Black Kitty under the porch is as sweet as can be.  I feel so bad about leaving him.  He comes out for a head scratch, and I open the warm wet food, and while he is gobbling, I leave.  Pretty sad.

I've been leaving towels on the ground under some of the trees I feed under too. Their feet might as well be dry and somewhat comfortable, rather than standing on frozen ground.

Today I have two kittens in for spay/neuter. Buck and Marten.  Marten is one of the first of the latest round of kittens to go to a new home this weekend.  Tomorrow is Marten's delivery day, and Saturday is Axel and Nipsey's day, and Sunday is Butters and Pepper's day!  Next weekend, another round will be had.  That's all I do any more on my weekends, is deliver cats!  I can't wait for a free weekend!

Later this afternoon, I will be at Enchanted Rose Garden Boutique in Penfield to meet and greet people, as this is the day that the shop donates a small percentage of their proceeds to my rescue.  Its always great fun, and a luxury of time, AND, I get to shop a little bit.  I love the stuff Eileen has at her shop.  Come on down!  4-7 pm. (although I may not be there the entire time! - everyone knows it's my bedtime!) :)

Tomorrow I have the day off, thank God.

Today I am featuring an article that I found useful, and I hope it can help some of you as well. 

5 Ways to Help a Semi-Feral Cat Adjust to a Domestic Home

Helping a semi-feral cat adjust to her environs can be time-consuming and challenging—because of this they are more likely to be sent back to their adoption agency. Semi-feral cats have a harder time finding good forever homes—but this doesn’t mean it isn’t worth the effort; to the contrary. While it can seem like a battle (one that sometimes threatens to verge on stalemate or out and out loss), there are a few key things you can do to make your new cat’s transition to a happy domestic life easier. And trust me, from personal experience, your time and love will definitely pay off, as once semi-feral cats who have adjusted into their new lives are some of the most loving, affectionate, and appreciative cats you could ever hope for. These five easy steps will help make your feral cat’s adjustment as quick and problem-free as possible.

1. Have a Dedicated Cat Room

When you bring your new cat home, have a safe room ready with all of your new cat’s amenities ready and waiting for her. It should have scratching posts, a few toys, food, water and a litter box (ensure the food and litter are on opposite sides of the room). This room should be quiet and, for the time being, not for human use. This space should also have some small and safe hiding places, like a cat house (check out this adorable cat teepee) or a blanket draped over a chair, but no places that are completely inaccessible to you, like under a bed, to prevent serious hiding as that allows the cat to completely remove herself from her new environment.

You should spend time in this room every day to help the cat acclimate to your presence. While in the room read out loud, or call someone, and just talk. This lets the cat learn the sound of your voice and become comfortable with it.

2. Put Food to Use

Food is the initial key to your new cat’s trust and eventual affection. Cats domesticate themselves for a steady food source. For the first little while, it is crucial that you stick to a regular feeding schedule so that your cat learns that you are, without fail, the bringer of delicious food. Once the semi-feral cat is comfortable enough to eat (it shouldn’t take too long), begin sitting in the room while she eats.

Do not interfere with her or the food during this time; this assures the cat that they are safe with you. If the cat is difficult to convince, you may have to start withholding food unless you are in the room. Food is also a great way to get your cat to do new and scary things. You can keep special food for the cat (“chicken in gravy” baby food is pretty much a guaranteed hit) to encourage new steps in becoming more comfortable with you. The offering of delicious food will help your feral cat come to you and become more and more used to her new domestic life.

3. Avoid Eye Contact

If you find your cat staring at you, do not engage. Eye contact is an aggressive act to feral and semi-feral cats. If you accidentally find yourself in a staring contest, the best thing to do is to calmly blink. Keep your eyes closed for a few seconds and turn your head away. This shows your cat that you do not mean to threaten them, and are taking a submissive role, which helps them feel safe and confident in the new space.

4. Don’t Force Physical Contact

Your cat will come to you when she feels safe. This can be encouraged with food once the cat is more comfortable. Put a bit of the special baby food on your finger and have them lick it off. This initiates contact and allows the cat to have positive associations with you. To begin petting, extend a closed fist while you look away, and let the cat come to you and initiate any contact she feels comfortable with. Semi-feral cats take a lot of coaxing and letting them approach you will build trust.

5. Have Patience

Finally, the most important thing when adopting a feral cat is patience. These things take time, and cats are notoriously guarded. You need to let them have their space and learn that they are safe in their new home. This can take much longer than you would like, but your patience will be rewarded with such love and affection as will prove all the effort worthwhile.

Have a great day!