HELP! Need to safely catch a wild cat.

We are in the process of moving across town. 5 years back, a wild cat had kittens under the house. Only 1 survived. But we fed her and she adopted the place. You can't pet her or get closer than 2 feet away, but it's her home. Now it's time to move and we have to figure some way to catch her to bring her over here. My son already made a big "cat cage" at the new place to acclimate her a few days so she will stay here.
When she was about 6 months old, I caught her to go to the vets to get spayed & shots. It was a nightmare! You can't get close enough to grab her, so I got a big fishing net with a handle. Stood about 3 feet away and put it over her while she was eating. She lost it! Tore her mouth all up and was fighting it so hard she had cuts all over her before I could get her in the cat carrier. Then she fought that so hard she ripped her claws half out. It took her months to get over that & I swore never again.
What I would like to find is something to put in milk or her food that would "knock her out"! So when she woke up she would be safely in the cat cage without all the trauma. It has to be safe though. Does anybody have ANY ideas? I was up most of the night last night worrying about what I'm going to do about her.

You could call a local animal rescue to see if they'd help and/or supply you w/a catch trap. I think that as soon as you catch her, cover the cage w/a blanket so that she might calm down. As far as drugging her, I don't have a clue.
Good luck!

If you call animal control they may have live traps that they can lend you. Do you currently have a vet that you trust? If you do, they may be able to give you some suggestions on something to slip into kitty's food that will "mellow" her mood without knocking her completely out. If you have a small kennel with solid sides that would be the best as it would be more "den like" and should make her feel more secure. I was a pet groomer for quite a while and even a drugged kitty can injure both you and themselves so be careful whatever you decide to do. You are such a wonderful person to take such good care of this feral furbaby.

I totally agree with tetleytuna. Call your vet and ask about a sedative for the cat. Perhaps you may need one to really make the cat sleepy so you can take a quick run by the vet for a check-up while you have her down for the count. They need annuals just like your dog does. If she hasn't been since she was spayed it is time for her to go by all means.

My daughter had to move her two dogs across several states and one in particular would bark ferociously at every vehicle on short trips and the other one would try to jump in her lap. The vet gave her something that had them make the trip without any problems, they snoozed the hours away.

Good for you for rescuing the poor baby!

When you say "wild cat" what do you mean? A ferral kitty cat or a BIG HUGE scarry cat like a Bob Cat? My cat was born ferral but was rescued soon enough to be the biggest baby on the planet. Yours is obviously still ferral if it hasn't adopted to humans and won't get near you. I can't keep mine off my lap.

Let me know.

We live in a small town and the only animal control is a 1 of the tons 2 police officers. Their idea of animal control is grab the animal and shut it up in their trunk, take it to the city "pound" and every other day put them to sleep with a gun! I won't be calling on them. I did talk to the vet here where I work. They told me they have a pill but you have to catch the cat the get it down it's throat, it isnt a capsule you can put in milk etc, it's a whole pill. And it won't work unless the cat takes it while she is relaxed. That pretty much leaves this one out.
By wild cat, I mean she was born and raised there, but no human touch. She will only come so close and won't let you touch her. Seems to enjoy being there but on HER terns!! LOL!
Someone suggested getting a live trap from the vet. I may check into that this morning. I was hoping for some drug type thing in food, so she wouldn't know what hit her, but there may not be anything like that out there.

If possible grind that pill and mix it in Tuna and Kitty might never know what hit her.

Carol

Someone gave me a tab of Rescue Remedy to try. It's a liquid that is supposed to instantly calm people and animals! Hey it's worth a try!

Good Luck!

Thanks I may need it! LOL! The things we do for our animals!!! I also went out and bought a live trap at lunch time. Between the 2, hopefully.......

cat - May I suggest that you post this in the Pets Forum? We have some awfully good rescue people there with tons of resources.

I didn't even know there WAS a pet forum. I'll copy the original and start one there. Thanks!!!

Then this cat was a kitten when you caught her? Usually they can be domesticated within a certain degree if caught young enough. Mine weighs 19 1/2 pounds but was caught as a kitten. But he is afraid of his own shadow. He will come out for me and my boyfriend - those he knows well, but won't come out for anyone else. Does he cuddle with you or anything? Mine is a love pig.

Mine was also found under alot of stress, by a friend of mine. He was ferral, but also the only one out of the litter to survive. I think the litter may have been raided by a tom cat, and the mom was only able to save this only one that I have. My friend found him dehydrated in a fixer-upper VW Bug outside of their house. Since then he has survived bladder stones, and doesn't like to be around other cats. He just wants me and my boyfriend. He is afraid of his own shadow, as big as he is.

I have found out more about bladder problems with cats, and I chose not to put mine on the very expensive diet that my vet recommended. I simply couldn't afford it. I already knew our water here in Spokane was alkaline, as I'd asked 3 or 4 years ago about it in order to water a gardenia properly. They told me how to neutralize the water. They told me 1 tsp per gallon of water would make mine neutral. This would depend on your own water supply and what you own levels are which you can find out by simply asking. It can help in your pets dietary problems and possibly help them get through without having to go on expensive dietary prescription foods. I firmly believe this. My cat is strong and healthy and not fat. D-Mail me for more info.
Karrie

I got her!!!! Thanks everyone for all the help. I got a live trap yesterday afternoon, put it out with some 9 lives and an old blanket over it, and she went right in it! She is safely in the big 8' x 8' "cat cage" my son made for me, with the other 2. And she was scared but nothing like last time!
Now, the question is, how long should I leave her in there to become acclimated???

Well, I didn't know off the top of my head, so I went online and looked. Three websites said keep kitty confined for 24-36 hours to acclimate to new smells. But, remember as an outside cat, this kitty will have to stake a new territory. Don't forget to put something of yours in the cage for kitty to smell, so that when it's released it will know where home is.

Oh my. Glad you caught her. Is it possible you can keep her in a room,
kept closed so she cannot escape? You could set the cage in the room,
then maybe put a small television in the room to get her used to various
noises. Not too loud, though. Just so it is not silent.

Talk to her as often as you can, using a high pitched sweet voice if
you can. Bring her treats as often as you can, but use a consistent system.
Such as, leave her in the cage, bring her treats, then leave. Come back
another time, repeat the process. The next time, add a new feature, maybe
a dish of warm milk and more sweet talk. Never force a relationship, allow
her to relax on her own terms. Give her plenty of time. :-)

Once she learns to trust you, and that your presence means comfort
and food, she may begin to melt.

Wishing you the best,
KM

I'm so glad you got her safely! (I was worried.) Are the other 2 inside/outside cats? If the weather allows - I'd keep her in the "cage" as it is big enough to allow plenty of exercise for weeks, not days. I think you said that she lived under a porch at you old house - is there a similar place for her at the new house?

Milk is not always tolerated by cats - some have allergies to it and get the runs. They all seem to like meat or chicken broth, though.

Our vet even advises the cheapest cat food available, not to
be cheap, but it generally has that 'smell' cats like. Ugh.

They were all outside cats. A stray heard our house was a good place to go to have kittens!!! I caught the other 2 while they were still kittens and tamed them down (AND got them spayed!). They are siblings.
The cage is pretty big. 8x8x8 I brought some small cat houses they had from the other place and put in the back of the cage, and made a ledge for them to climb on. Same food and water dishes, and even an old blanket inside one of the houses. I left the houses out a little from the back of the cage and they can get behind there if they want to hide. Put a long board over the top of the houses so it'll be darker back there in the hidey hole. And they can lay on the board if they want.
We also have 1 inside cat who's never been out.

You are a good cat mom. Having her kittens (all grown up now) with her hopefully will help your feral cat to stick around when you decide to open the cage door. I just think the longer you can keep them confined - the better it will be for the mom cat to get used to her new home.

You're probably right. Everyone seems to think it should be "weeks" instead of "days". Better to be safe than sorry!

i agree weeks would be better. i ahd to put mine on our screened porch for a few weeks until they knew it was home. cats are smart and will try to go back home after a few days.

while she is enclosed it might be a good time to see if you cant get her used to you better.

like when you feed her just sit in there very quietly with her. dont move or nothing just so she knows you are there.

then in time start talking to her and see if she comes closer b moving the food dish closer to you.

i have done this and have had success but it takes time.

it doesnt matter the age but it does take patience. and she will be enclosed anyway. so she cant run to far.

This message was edited Nov 18, 2007 2:36 AM

Huh?

Hope you have you kittie Cathy safely home with you...

All is going well. She seems to be settling in. Doesn't LIKE it in the cage, but it didn't freak her out like I was afraid it was going to. I am taking everyones advice and not letting her out for at least a couple of weeks.

When you do let her out - maybe just open the door and let them come and go.

Yes that's what I am planning on doing. And still feeding them in there for awhile. I got alot of good information from you guys. Really appreciate the help

Oh, good, I'm glad things are going well. Give her a treat
from Auntie Wuvie.

:-)

LOL. Will do!