With patience, love, and perserverance, even the most timid feral cat can sometimes adapt to living indoors. Miss Snookie is a wonderful example.
Miss Snookie is an older tabby and white female who had lived primarily in my back yard for at least 5 years prior to my adopting her. She started out very shy and would run away from me any time I went out to put food out. Gradually she started trusting me and allowed me to pet her at times, as long as I didn't try to pick her up. She never was interested in coming into my house in all the time she lived in the yard.
Our yard is fairly well protected but not completely since we live on a busy road. Miss Snookie always stayed in the yard, I believe, because the cats who have lived here for several generations have passed the instincts along that this was a place they could be safe and have access to food and water.
Winters are hardest on them, though, and Miss Snookie became ill with a respiratory infection. I was able to take her to my vet and he treated her with antibiotics and IV fluids. When she got well enough, I had her spayed and brought her home with me to live.
She has been a loving "inside" kitty for about 4 years now, which puts her at a very matronly 9 years of age. She will seek me now for petting and sitting on my lap especially when I watch television in bed. Her spot is right next to me with her head on my pillow!
Miss Snookie is an older tabby and white female who had lived primarily in my back yard for at least 5 years prior to my adopting her. She started out very shy and would run away from me any time I went out to put food out. Gradually she started trusting me and allowed me to pet her at times, as long as I didn't try to pick her up. She never was interested in coming into my house in all the time she lived in the yard.
Our yard is fairly well protected but not completely since we live on a busy road. Miss Snookie always stayed in the yard, I believe, because the cats who have lived here for several generations have passed the instincts along that this was a place they could be safe and have access to food and water.
Winters are hardest on them, though, and Miss Snookie became ill with a respiratory infection. I was able to take her to my vet and he treated her with antibiotics and IV fluids. When she got well enough, I had her spayed and brought her home with me to live.
She has been a loving "inside" kitty for about 4 years now, which puts her at a very matronly 9 years of age. She will seek me now for petting and sitting on my lap especially when I watch television in bed. Her spot is right next to me with her head on my pillow!
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