Thanks for the advice with Rita’s bathroom habits. Speck is crate trained and he NEVER has accidents in the house. Rita, on the other hand, totally panics when she thinks we are going to put her in the crate. Not knowing her history and not knowing if the crate brings back memories we’d rather her not remember, we’ve opted not to use the crate with her. She won’t even go near Speck when he’s in his crate. Speck never minds his crate and in fact, when he thinks we’re leaving, he goes to his crate without us even telling him to do it. Speck has learned that when he has something he doesn’t want Rita to get, he goes into his crate with it.
When Speck was a puppy, we’d put a sheet in the dryer, get it warm and toss it into the crate. He loved snuggling under anything warm so he was so happy when we put a warm sheet in the crate that he went right in for the night. When we stayed in hotels, we’d have to find the washer/dryer so we could warm Speck’s sheet before bedtime.
For now, I think the crate is torture for Rita and we’re not going to use it. We’ll figure something out.
About the cats . .
There’s probably no danger of these two becoming pets. When I got to the vet’s office, the lady said “These two are WILD!” The vet suggested I keep them in the crates for a couple of days in hopes that they won’t run off to Amarillo (or farther away) the first time we open the crate doors. They aren’t hissing or trying to kill me but the vet suggested I not stick my hand in the crate. I did open the door to each crate ever so slightly and stick some water in there. At first, the vet suggested I take his metal cages home and bring them back later because he didn’t know if he could even get the cats from the cages into my crates but they tried and they did it.
They’re both girls. They’re both adults. To me, they look awfully small and fragile to be living in the woods but I guess I’m used to Boots being so big.
These are feral cats and there’s a program here where the capture the colonies, check them for diseases, give them their shots, spay/neuter and then provide them for no cost to those of us who need barn cats and will provide food and water for them.
They got their shots yesterday and got spayed yesterday. Maybe that’s why they’re so calm . . they may be medicated or they may not feel so good.
Here’s Gypsy. I think she’s kinda pretty . . as far as cats go! 🙂
Gypsy
Here’s Rose (she has a little but of rust/peachy colored fur on her).
Rose
They gave me their rabies tags but I’m wondering who’s brave enough to put a collar on these two. Not me! In fact, since they’re living in the woods, it’s best they not have collars so they can’t get hung up on anything.
Dottie N. says
Very wise not to force Rita into a crate when she’s so frightened of it…..We’ve had a number of dogs that do great in the crate, love it – it’s their sanctuary and then we’ve had those that freak when put in the crate – they have either panicked and bent the wires on the crate trying to get out, or pant so much that by the time we got home, the bedding in the crate was soaking wet from all the panting.
Congratulations on Gypsy and Rose – sounds like a GREAT program. Wishing y’all all the best with them!
Dottie N. says
If they do get to Amarillo, I’ll let you know 🙂
Sherrill says
I’ve thought about trying to trap the at least one or two living under my shed and taking them in for spaying. I looked into the program once but don’t remember that much about it. I’ve put mothballs under there once and need to do it more regularly to try to keep them outta there. Hope they stay where you want them and that they do what you want them to!
Diana G says
What pretty cats they are .. I sure hope they do good now. Thank you for doing what you did, it may have saved their lives. Who knows maybe you will get a couple of new barn cats to help you out with your chores (that is if they trust you enough!).
As far as crate training, have you checked into what the two tv dog gurus say ? Cesar Milan(Cesar 911) and Victoria Stillwell (Its me or the dog) do have some good ideas, maybe your local trainer has some ideas.
Rebecca in SoCal says
Bless you for doing this for these two…and ensuring that it’s just two! (If you find another, will it be “Lee”?)
Poor Rita. Hope you can find a solution for her!
Rebecca in SoCal says
Oh, I got distracted and just re-read how you got the cats. (I thought that you had captured them). Good luck with “critter control”!