I forgot to add that if you do the separate crates have them facing each other so they can see each other but not get in a scuffle. If they can see each other it will be reassuring.
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That’s a neat tip. Thank you.
After more research, we determined that it’s unlikely we’ll be able to take any of our barn cats. If we move, it will be to a radically different climate where coyotes are common. These guys might not know how to survive. Our four house cats are going, but if we really are moving, I’ll post an ad in giveaways for the barn kitties. We love Ralph and Minerva. I would hate to do everything right and have them fall victim to predators they have little experience with. This place really doesn’t have coyotes. Our old place did and they were bold enough to be seen in the daytime. Maybe we can find them a home together. For Delilah, the fail barn cat (she has hay allergies), maybe I can find a spot for her in a workshop. She is adorable. If not, we’ll add her to the house cats. We should know next month if the move is going to happen.
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Another concern I have is that Minerva may have FeLV. She wasn’t tested, as far as I know, when they spayed her. Before we either rehome or move her, we’ll have to get her tested.
Delilah came from a horrible place. She was an abandoned apartment cat (fully vaccinated and spayed before abandoned, so she probably got the vaccine). She had been hanging around this apartment complex and someone was feeding her. She was very friendly, but she got sick and all her hair fell out. Her skin was swollen and she had open sores on her body. One man at the complex was threatening to “stomp on her head” if he saw her again, so a friend from church locked her in the bathroom and asked if we could take her. We didn’t have room in the house, but we needed a barn cat, so we said yes. We quarantined her in a crate in the barn for a month and the vet treated her for hookworms and scabies. We had no other barn cats at the time, so she was safely quarantined (Ralph showed up later). I had to take care of her and pet her with gloves on until she was cleared by the vet. The pictures are incredible. I didn’t even know what her coat color was. When her treatment was finished, I took my gloves off and she was so happy to be in my lap being petted by actual hands again. She still has allergies, which we treat her for, but other than that, she’s been a good kitty. Very affectionate. I have been tempted to see if she would adjust to being in a house before, but now, it may just have to happen. Her only fault is that I think she drools when petted too much, lol.
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I would have threatened to stomp on HIS head if I’d heard him say that!!!
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bless you for taking care of sweet Delilah. That must have been very labor intensive care period. She sounds like house cat material to me (sorry - I’m a terrible cat enabler!)
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Lol! You’re fine. I’ve been scheming for over a year. Too bad the husband can count cats.
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Yeah, when she told me that I was floored. When I found out Delilah had hookworm (which is very contagious) I told her to warn any children in the complex not to go barefoot outside where kitty did her business, but to make sure to encourage that hairy mole farmer to walk barefoot as much as possible!
Found some before pictures.
First petting without gloves.
And today.
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I would have said “Go ahead and TRY that and see what I do to your head or groin”.
I’m not mean or crazy but am sensitive to mistreatment of helpless animals.
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wow, she’s a beauty and great job you did on her problems.
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What a beauty!!!
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She is beautiful!
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Lol
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OMG, she turned out so beautiful! She reminds me of the long-haired black kitty I had when I was a child, Scamper. Same eyes, same expression.
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OMG that poor girl! thank for taking care of her - you are her Angel!
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So, the more I think about it (and the more Delilah hangs out on the front porch campaigning hard) the more I think we’ll take the four house cats and Delilah and transition her inside. I need to resolve the issue with rehoming Ralph and Minerva, though. First, Minerva gets tested, which means she faces another trap in her future. We’ll wait until spring, though, since we won’t be moving before then and she is vaccinated.
I know FeLV used to be pretty limiting for cats. What is the wisdom now? If the feral kitty, Minerva, is positive, does that mean she ought to be put down?
good, brief article on it. I guess like most viral things, it varies on a case by case basis. Since Minerva has had healthy kittens, and is a robust outdoor gal, it is probable that she does not have it, especially if the Merck 3% statistic is accurate.
IF she does have it, it is incurable, but depending on her symptoms, treatable.
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Thank you! That helps a lot. She’s vaccinated now, so that will help keep her safe.
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Delilah was vetted and brought inside. She’s negative for FIV and parasites. She has to stay in the guest room, for now. I really can’t do five cats in the house, so we’re looking to rehome her. She got a bath and her claws were clipped. She looks so pretty. I think her allergies are better from just removing her from the hay and bathing her.
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Little Miss Minerva (Minnie) is getting braver. She comes in the barn before I leave it now. She does run out, but she doesn’t act as spooky about it. More slightly annoyed, lol. I love how much healthier she looks now. She’s put on weight and finished growing. Here she is going back in the barn after leaving when I went through the gate.
I spoke with the lady that runs the feral cat trapping program. She was the one who helped us trap Minerva for spaying. She said that there are several good options for Minnie that are probably better than moving her with us to another state. Ralph will miss her, but he’ll get over it. He’ll be a workshop/barn cat to keep him warm and safe.
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