Headline: Crates Create Crazed Cats

Sunshine and Juice were taken out of a feral cat colony as kittens.  They were initially horrified, started to come around in my house, then moved to the cathouse.  Sunshine did fine; Juice did not.  As they went about their lives in the cathouse, I worried about the degree to which Juice was reverting back to feral ways.  In addition, I had another cat in the cathouse who was NOT making the adjustment - Isis.  Her story is tomorrow, but she is a big part of the story of the orange boys as well. 

When I heard from M that she would be willing to adopt Sunshine AND JUICE, I knew Sunshine would do fine.  He was sweet and loving and an all-around well-adjusted cat.  But Juice . . .      I decided I would move Sunshine and Juice to a cage in my office.  I would see them much more this way.  They could be freed into the space of the office during the day and put up in their cattery cage at night.  Maybe I could bring Juice around a little before M came for them.  As I was readying the office for this pair, I thought I might as well bring Isis to the office, too.  She was terrified of ALL of the adult cats in the cathouse.  She got along well with the kittens, but she had a special bond with Juice.  They were fearful and feral together.


As October moved along, Sunshine became my best friend.  But a nice surprise occurred as well.  Juice and Isis started to come around a little, too.   I stayed in contact with M, but her life was quite busy and she said it might be a few weeks before things settled down enough to bring the orange boys into her world.  She said if anyone else came along who wanted to adopt them (together) to let them go.  If not, she would be in touch when she could.

By November Sunshine was a bigger lover to me than most of my own cats.  He rolled around on the desk making it impossible to do paperwork.  He head-bumped me and rubbed his face on mine and even gave me tiny little nose kisses.  I knew he would be a joy in M’s life.  The other wonderful thing that was happening was that Juice had started coming TO ME for attention.  He would run over and arch WAY up to be petted.  He purred when I was in the room.  Isis was doing the same thing.  They were quite a trio, and all three seemed to be quite happy living in my office.

Sunshine comfortable on the desk.

Can you tell I'm dangling a toy to get this pic?

By mid-November M wasn’t sure at what point she would be able to get the boys.  I was fearful that she might not end up adopting them.  What would I do?  I knew Juice and Isis would revert back to their previous selves if forced back to the cathouse.  But these three couldn’t continue to live in my office forever.  It had become a real pain as my kennel business came and went.  I was keeping paying clients out of my office so the incoming and outgoing dogs wouldn’t scare the office kitties.  People were filling out intake forms and writing checks standing at the counter in the main part of the kennel.  NOT convenient. 

As I mentioned before, M’s company downsized and she lost her job.  She went back to college and November was the month she began to prepare for end-of-the-semester project deadlines and finals to come mid-December.  She explained that right after the semester ended, she would be out of town for a week and then we were to the week before Christmas.  She would be in touch after that.  I tried to remain hopeful, but I was worried nonetheless.

You know the rest of the story.  M DID come last Friday to pick up the boys.  But what happened in my office on that day nearly turned the entire affair on its head.  M sat in the floor and played with the three office kitties with the stringy toy from Andrea’s toy package.  We talked, they played, and Juice even tapped M on the knee at one point.  And then . . .

I picked Juice up to put him into M’s crate/carrier.  He went completely stark-raving mad.  He became a wildcat like I’d never witnessed before.  He scratched, he growled, he ran straight up one of the walls, he beat himself against everything in that office.  When he finally made it into one of the cages in the office, M and I tried to catch our breath.  We were both bleeding.  M had a scratch on her thumb.  Sunshine and Isis were crouched into corners hiding and panting.  I had no idea what to do.  I turned to M and said - I completely understand if you would like to walk out the door and drive away.  She said - Let’s try again.  I reached for Juice, scruffed him this time, and tried to gently place him in the carrier.  We almost had a repeat performance.  I was about to lose my grip, so I put him back in his cage.  I decided to try Sunshine, but now he was terrified and would NOT go into a carrier.  I talked so softly and tried so hard to handle him gently.  I did get Sunshine into his travel crate, but I still had no idea what to do about Juice.  On the third try I was able to get him in.  Sunshine was howling from inside his crate; Juice had become so quiet and still that I thought he might be going into shock. 

I was horrified.

M was a trooper.  She said she still wanted to try.  We talked about the possibilities.  She is going to give them a chance.  If they don’t adjust, I will take them back - that is the Winnie’s Wish policy and the only thing I would ever want to see happen with my Winnie’s Wishers.    However . . .    I got an email from M last night.  She is working with them and seems determined to give this the time it needs.  I’m SO thankful.   Keep your fingers crossed.  I’ll keep you posted.

 

Comments

[Jan (Milo and Alfie's mom)]

So hope these little ones settle in, they deserve a loving home. Something must have tapped into their fear ~ maybe a smell or a noise that reminded them of unhappier times and of course fear is contagious. Bless them.

[Random Felines]

I am so glad she is giving it time. I hate it when you get right there for an adoption and the cat almost blows it. :) I think of Junior everytime I see their pictures.....

[J]

HEY! Wait a minute. The animals don't blow it. Their normal has been disrupted. They don't understand they are going to a better place.

A pet owner worth their weight understands that. Or should, if the human doesn't get that - it would be the human that blew it, not the pet.

[Mindy Slimmer]

A cage is quite a fearful thing if one is unsure of where it is going...especially the V-E-T. :) My cats past and present have always loved to roam free and hated being confined...even if it was only to get a health check. I think the boys will figure out the routine and be just fine. I was terrified when I read about the bloodshed on this momentous occasion. I can tell that she understands...because if M did not, she would have left after the first sign of Juice going bonkers. :)
Cheer up Chrystal! The boys will be just fine. :)
Way to go M (if M reads this blog)!!
Much Love,
Mindy :)

[Cassandra]

I hope everything works out of these boys. They're beautiful kitties and they certainly deserve a home of their own. By the way, I've had very well socialized cats go absolutely nuts when it got to carrier time. I am so glad that wasn't a deal breaker for their new person.

[Cat's Cats]

I think it's a crap shoot with cats and cages/cars. We had an Abyssinian when I was a teenager who would meow herself hoarse when she had to go in the car, even though the vet was literally around the corner, the minute she got out of the car she stopped. Then of course there was Jimmy and Kip who were both angels on the long journey from your house to Canada! Of course it was a different situation with them, they were both so calm and confident we let them travel the whole way out of their cages. I'm certain once things calm down and Sunshine and Juice establish their routines and start to feel safe again everything will be fine, however sometimes that can take months....patience everyone!!!! :-)

[Andrea and the Celestial Kitties]

Aw, I hope M is doing well with the guys! Not liking carriers is not that unusual, but once they got in her house, I hope they chilled out. Or at least started to. It may take a little time, but I'm sure they'll love having the run of a place rather than just an office. I'm sure time is all they need, I hope she gives it to them, and it sounds like she is. Keep it up, M! You'll win them over soon!

Wouldn't you like to give a kitty a chance? Wouldn't you like your friends or family to give a kitty a chance? Please look at the kitties on the sidebar and choose one to give your heart to! Or two! Or three! Or pick one out for a friend and tell them about it, be proactive about finding these sweet kitties a home! We can clear the cathouse if we try!
Don't forget donations and books!

[The Poupounette]

It's not just fingers we're crossing!

[Sweet Purrfections]

We're keeping our paws crossed.

[ginny & The fur family]

This is probable from the memorie of being trapped and caged on the way from Florida. They had gotten used to the office and the cat house and Chrystal. The Fear they must have felt being caged and put is a car is heart breaking. They can't talk or ask where they are being taken. In a few days they will focas on M. as being their care giver and start to shift their focus from Chrystal to M. and She will become their other mother. It will work its self out - the worse of things is that they will return back to The office. Fingers and toes crossed that won't happen. Cheers for M.for being a real furry lover and keeping on keeping on until they made it into the carriers. Ginny & The Fur Family

[Madeline]

I hope everything goes well for them and they adjust
very fast.
And how is poor little Isis doing with her buddy gone and she is back in the cat house, I guess.

[meowmeowmans]

We've got fingers, paws, and everything else crossed. We so want this to be a happily ever after!

Hugs.

[Lee County Clowder]

Purrrrrring that the orange boys are settling in by now.