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  1. #1
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Neutering a Feral Cat

    The deed is done, its over, he's back "home" which is our yard. I've felt so terrible for three days and the closer we got to accomplishing this the worse I felt. To betray a trust built up over three years by setting a trap, leaving him in the trap from 6:30 pm to after 8:00 am the next day, to put in the back of a car, and drive, to leave him in a strange place with strange people, to put him back in the car. A basically wild animal with no ability to comprehend what's going on and it might be worse for him if he did.

    Tuffy was released back in our yard at 4:00 pm yesterday. He bolted out but only ran about 6 feet from me before stopping to give me a "look" I cannot interpret. Then he disappeared into the park behind us. But he did come to his usual spot to eat his upper later. I'm to check his suture area as best I can, hah! Neither of us is able to pet him though OH has once in a while got to within a few feet of him when putting food out Boy, I'm glad that's over. Hopefully no more roaming in spring after in-heat female cats. Tuffy would disappear for up to week sometimes and we'd wonder if we'd ever see him again.

    ETA: This photo is from last winter.

    -p3181903-2-jpg
    Last edited by Snowshoe; 07-11-2019 at 08:19 AM.
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    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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    Sandra (07-12-2019)

  3. #2
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    I can interpret that look.

    He's a gorgeous cat. Good job, Nancy!

  4. #3
    Senior Dog smartrock's Avatar
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    Yeah, he looks a little pissed. He's wondering if he can ever trust you again. Hopefully his testosterone and that horrid ordeal will soon be a distant memory and you and he will be enjoying his freedom as much as ever.

  5. #4
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    The photo is from last winter. There's snow on the ground.

    The "look" I got yesterday was wide eyed, big black pupils but with ears up as he stopped in his run from the crate. It might have signified "I'll never come near you again." Or it might have been, "Thanks, wondered if I'd ever get out of that thing."

    Tuffy was such a good boy. Not a peep out of him. No thrashing in the trap or crate. No trying to attack me through the openings, though I was pretty careful about that. No spitting or hissing. He didn't hide either, he looked right at me and his eyes were not even completely black nor his ears completely back. Sort of, "I give up, do what you will." Which of course made me feel maybe even more sad.


    Yes, Barb, he is a handsome man. For a feral he's not very beat up at all, only a few small nicks out of his ears. We have always wondered if he is our Lucy's father. They are both dilute grey tabbies and Tuffy and Lexie (the Mum) were around here at the right time.
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    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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  7. #5
    Senior Dog zd262's Avatar
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    Thank you for doing that! So difficult but best for everyone in the end. And he's a beautiful cat.
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  8. #6
    Real Retriever BogeyBaby's Avatar
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    When I did the TNR on our feral cat he started coming back for food the second or third day and then he never left. We ended up taking him home where he lived for about 3 years before he got killed by a coyote. I still miss him over a year later. He was a cool cat. I remember the one and only time he hissed at me. I was either brushing him or trimming his nails and suddenly he'd had enough and hissed so loud! It was hilarious. For being feral for over a year (born to a feral mom) he was the nicest cat--he never bit or scratched anyone.

  9. #7
    Senior Dog janedoe's Avatar
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    You did so well by him! He'll get over it.

  10. #8
    Senior Dog Snowshoe's Avatar
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    Tuffy came for his breakfast at 8:15 am this morning. Food has been disappearing but this is the first time we've seen him since his release.
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    Castilleja's Dubhgall Oban, the Black Stranger of The Little Bay
    Oct. 15, 2007 - June 13, 2021
    Oxtongue Rapids Park. Oct. 2019 Hidden Content

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    Jen5200 (07-13-2019)

  12. #9
    Senior Dog labsnewfy's Avatar
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    I am sure he will come back for food at the very least. You did a good thing for him. I am trying to get ahold of a male and pregnant female in our neighborhood.
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    Coleman - CGC blk lab 6/02/97-2/25/08 adopted
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    rescued felines - AJ - 8/00 - 1/11, Merlin - 5/20/05-8/23/21
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  13. #10
    Senior Dog POPTOP's Avatar
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    The fact that he is coming back for meals means there is an amount of trust. He is going to be so much safer now not wandering off for long periods of time and/or getting into fights over the girls. Know it was hard for you but I totally agree with getting him neutered.
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