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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/please help us
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Question
when we bought our house in Germany we seemed to inherit a 10 years old cat. she had a terrible life with the previous owners they even shot her. So she took time to like us but still never let us touch her. she has had two lots of kittens and we got good homes for them all. Today though she gave birth on our door step and abandoned the kitten, strange that there was only one. We are very upset as we had tried to befriend the kat and to be kind to it after her trauma. We got nice homes for all 8 of her kittens since we knew her. We wanted to steralise her but she is part feral and is too scared of humans to be caught. why did this cat abandon its young like that??
Barbara,
Feral cats do not think and act like domesticated cats. It is very possible that she felt that she could not take care of the kitten herself and brought it to you because she trusts you and feels you will help her. Some ferals who can't take care of new kittens will eat them or kill them because of the scarce food supply. It is an inbred action and nature.
Did you see her giving birth? She may have more somewhere else. Sometimes a cat will abandon a kitten if there is something wrong with it. Domestic cats also do that. It may not be apparent to you, but she may sense it.
Tabbi
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | thankyou tabby I think you are correct, I think this cat had a terrible life so far and we feed her but she has no trust for himans since being shot, she has seen we have loved her kittens and not killed them like her past owner and in that sense I think she did think we could help. Thankyou. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Dear Tabbi
Expertise
My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.
Experience
Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).
Education/Credentials
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Awards and Honors
* One of the top 50 Experts Of 2008 *
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