Feral cat living in my attic...

[Linn]

I wasn't sure where this should go, so I fiugred where better than "Pets", eh?

So! I've decided to try to tame the feral cat that has beenvery fond of spending all kinds of time in our attic lately. I bet my parents would rather that I didn't, but I'm not going to let that poor kitty keep being miserable when she's trying to make her home in our garage. Period. Plus, she looks a bit plump for a feral, and if she has a litter of kitties then I'd prefer that she do it where I can keep an eye on them and remove them to socialize them after they've started weaning. Which sounds mean, but the world doesn't need another litter of feral kitties, and they'd be happer in homes. To be honest, the world doesn't need another litter of kittens at all. But if they're already there...

I can already tell that the first problem will be waiting for her to climb up into the attic. She roams the neighborhood, and probably won't always know when the garage door is open. I can hear her climb up there from the computer room, she just isn't going in there. Which sucks because all the websites I've read about taming feral cats says that you start off bytalking calmly to them and offering them food...
...Which is easier when they're around.

I've also decided that she needs a name, I can't (and won't) call her "The Feral". And calling her "Mama Kitty" might jinx her. Remember: we don't want kitties. (Okay,I do. Kinda badly.ButI know better, andI'm hoping that there won't be any.)

I've decided that I really like Edith and Aimee (which means "loved" in French). I'm also quite fond of Karen, Tabitha, and Taryx (Pronounced: tear-ix). Possibly Tarasia (which would shorten to Tara).

If you have any suggestions for names, or like one of the ones I've put down, let me know. Or any other suggestions/comments/concerns/whatever. I might try to get pictures later, but not now. I don't want the camera's flash to scare her and it's too dark to take pictures of her without it. She's really beautiful though.

And... I'll try to keep ya updated. (And try to be more active while I'm at it. XD I'm sorry, 3 second memory. Seems like it anyway. Next time I disappear just email me and yell at me. )

[Linn]

Well, I talked to her today while she was up in the attic. I didn't actually see her in the attic, but when I went to talk a second time I saw her as I was coming down. She must have come over while I wasn't looking, and I actually got a good look at her. She was sitting just outside the garage and staring straight ahead. So I started slowly climbing down the ladder I had been sitting on, and she looked at me, then kept looking ahead like I wasn't even there. She's so beautiful.

She's a sort of dusty grey/brown/tan-ish color with darker stripes. There's definately no spots. And she's probably pregnant. She's definately a bit fat for a feral. I've never seen a pregnant cat, but I imagine that's what one looks like. I think because she didn't just run away immediately that she probably was somebody's pet before.

I'm trying to find a place to rent one of those humane live animal traps. I want to bring her in the house to tame her, and the only way to do that would be to trap her. I've read a lot about taming feral cats and I know I can do it if my parents would just let me. But my parents just want her to leave and go be someone else's problem. I just don't know how to convince them. But I can't just let her go off and have her kitties and be all alone. I don't even need to keep her. I just want to get her used to people so that someone will take care of her, even if it can't be me.

Is it sad that I already love her and am stressing out about her like she's my own cat?

[AnimalAvenger]

That's very nice of you to want to give her a home like that! My mom would definitely KILL me if I tried to do something like that.

Is it sad that I already love her and am stressing out about her like she's my own cat?

No way. That's how I was with a stray cat that used to come around my yard for food. The poor thing must have had bugs, because it had bald spots all over.

[Linn]

Yeah, I think my parents are getting tired of hearing about her. But my mom at least seems resigned to the fact that I'm not letting it go. It's just depressing, ya know? She's all alone, just trying to get by and find a place to have her kitties. The only other place available is the house next door, which had a bursted water line over the winter and is full of mold. Nobody lives there. And the mold can't be good for her to be breathing in. I bet that's where she goes though, when my parents have the garage door shut. I just feel like I should be able to do more, but they won't let me...

[AnimalAvenger]

Do you think she'd like a home-made little tent-like thing or something? Something warm and sturdy that'd keep her out of the elements, of course.

Also, this is off-topic, but I'm glad you're back at the forums for now. ^_^