»
Discussion
»
pipTalk Lounge
»
Advice
| pipTalk Lounge |
|
Advice |
|
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida 
|
Mama Cat got out three weeks ago. She is in the woods behind our house. She comes out at night and meows at us but won't come in. She runs if we go closer than the patio. We have tried food, and coaxing. Anyone have any suggestions? I want Mama back. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" ~Unknown~ [This message has been edited by Susan Caldwell (12-23-2005 11:22 AM).] |
||
| © Copyright 2005 Susan Caldwell - All Rights Reserved | |||
|
Gentle Spirit Member Patricius
since 2000-10-09
Posts 13989 |
hmm...I am not sure Susan, have you tried luring her with kitty goodies, or perhaps maybe salmon??? I hope kitty returns soon.... |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
She was a kitten when we found her in the woods. She has been extremely skittish ever since. Nothing works..she just runs like she doesn't realize it is her home or us. BTW~ She is fixed so it isn't that. It's so depressing. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
|
icebox Member Elite
since 2003-05-03
Posts 4383in the shadows |
This may have become a game for her. Cats love games. If she was feral when you took her in, she always will be a bit wild. Try sitting outside near the food and see if she comes or if she wants to tease you. Also, you must know she is not yor cat; you are her human. |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
 I still want her back. It could be a game but she seems scared, and alright, I didn't want to say anything out of respect for her, but she is a bit...um..off in the head... I am thinking of getting into the woods/swamp area and chasing her down..I am guessing that won't work but I would feel better had I tried.. and yes we (me and my daughter, who thinks it's her cat...) have sat by the food..she won't come near it. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" ~Unknown~ |
||
|
inot2B Member Elite
since 2000-09-18
Posts 2205Arkansas |
Do you have a garage or porch area where you can prop the door open? That way you can put food out and get her to come in. Eventually she will get comfortable inside when the weather is bad. |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Garage faces front...and she won't leave the back area by the woods.. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
Greeneyes  
since 2000-09-09
Posts 9903In Your Poetic Mind |
try tuna, cats love tuna, put it by the back door and grab her when she goes to eat it.... have you tried following her into the woods to see where she goes? |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
There is no grabbing her. If I put tuna by the door the minute she hears us walk up to the door she runs... The woods are very overgrown and horribly hard to get into. I have been putting going in there off, as this is Florida.... Can you say snakes? *shudder* (do snakes stay underground in the cold?) blah...Duncan suggests a "safe trap" I think that might work if I can deal with the wrong cats that get trapped...lmao "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
|
Aenimal Member Rara Avis
since 2002-11-18
Posts 7350the ass-end of space |
hey beautiful, email kamla. she had a similar situation with her cat, it wouldn't come out from under the porch when she moved. maybe she has some tips |
||
|
gemjop Member Elite
since 2002-11-18
Posts 2587Pencilveinia, USA |
i read this today and couldn't reply as i felt so sad for you, nearly cried! I have no advice, but just wanted to hug you. Must be so, so frustrating.  |
||
|
Mysteria
since 2001-03-07
Posts 18328British Columbia, Canada |
If you have one of those mosquito tent things that go over beds (too bad Karen is not closer  ) you can maybe hide on her, drop that net and voila? Wishful thinking I guess. I know Ice is right, we never own animals they on the otherhand definitely tolerate us. It is a shame she has gone back into the woods, but perhaps just like a human, when she gets hungry enough she is going to re-appear? I sure hope so for your sake. I know I would be frantic if my cat even got outside. |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Thanks all for the suggestions.. I am going to try going into the woods tonight.. and if that doesn't work I will get a safe trap. That is, providing she is still okay. We had freezing temps two nights in a row. *heavy sigh* "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
|
littlewing Member Rara Avis
since 2003-03-02
Posts 9655New York |
Ok I was thinking the safe trap thing too. Make something where the cat can get into (like propped up halfway like a little shelter thing) and when you see her in there you can kind of drop it down so she is caught in it - kinda like a boxed something that won't hurt her and put blankets and stuff, her toys inside and sardines . . . a can of sardines. And catnip, get some catnip in there, will make her all woozy. Then like rig it up with a rope or something and let her get all cozy in there and once you see her sleeping or very relaxed then yank the rope and down falls the trap. It might have to be wooden, I am thinking she would just run off if it were cardboard or maybe use that hard plastic. Good Luck, Susan |
||
|
Martie
Moderator
Member Empyrean
since 1999-09-21
Posts 28049California |
Susan...I had the same experience with a cat. She was very young when she came to my back yard....and carried on meowing. She wanted something it was clear, but was very skitish about me coming too near. Finally I got some milk and a can of tuna...and sat out in the yard and waited for her to appear. I put the food down aoubt 5 ft from me. She came and drank the milk. I did this every day...each time bringing the food a little closer, until finally she let me touch her. Now she is never far and I named her Needful, because she likes to be petted so much. Good luck.  |
||
|
Susan Caldwell Member Rara Avis
since 2002-12-27
Posts 8348Florida |
Listen, if I get her back I will update  If something happens and I don't...I won't be able to. So thank you all and keep your fingers crossed. "too bad ignorance isn't painful" |
||
|
jaxmidway New Member
since 2006-02-03
Posts 1 |
A safe trap and tuna will do it. Best of Luck. |
||
|
iliana Member Patricius
since 2003-12-05
Posts 13434USA |
Susan, I'm sorry you and your daughter are missing your cat. Being you found her in the woods, she is bound by nature to want to go back there. I hope she decides to return. Oh, and, even if she is neutered, she may still feel things...and maybe is on the prowl. Our male dog, even after he was neutered, still wants to please the female dogs, poor thing...lol...maybe I should say poor things...hehehe...(sorry, if that was distateful...but it's true). |
||
|
Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
I recommend trying all three things at once. Set up as many safe traps as possible. Leave good cat food out. And also stay out sometimes sitting in the open where she can plainly see you. If you try to ambush her, I don't think you'll ever be able to catch her. Because no matter how close you get to her, she'll most likely notice you before you get close enough, and when she does she'll sense something suspicious, secrecy, intent and she won't trust you, but just run away. But if you are in the open just acting normal, and not making any signs of intent or something that may suggest something aggressive to her, then I think she may be more likely to come up to you and you may be able to catch her. Hope that she comes back home to you. |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
