Thank you Dave for the invitation to this group.  I feel right at home.

This is CAM's story: Mature snow white feral.  I met CAM about 5 months ago.  We had moved, but I was not here much (away on film shoots all the time).  When I finally managed to make friends with my new home, a fairly vicious white feral was doing the daily and nightly rounds, terrorising my three senior kittys.  Eventually I managed to get close enough to have a good look at CAM (chaos & mayhem).  Eyes like the ocean, and parts of his ears in tatters; cancer.  Feeding began and many tricks later CAM was safely at the vet.  Now he is minus his ears, but has a new lease on life.  Apparently (after checking with neighbours) he has been roaming for two years, after being left behind when his previous owners moved.

We had to keep him locked in for three weeks in one room; he had to wear a 'hat' to prevent him from taking his ear stumps apart.  Initially CAM had to remain locked up, let out when my kitties were safe in another room.  Then gradually the mixing, but always vigilant, because he attacks without notice.  He now wears a collar with a little bell; it gives my three elderly gentlemen a chance to get to safety as CAM can't sneak up on them anymore.  Does not always work, because he is still faster than them.  He especially likes to have a go at my old Siamese!

So CAM is slowly learning to appreciate love and care.  Oodles of patience.  Whenever I mimick purring, he calms down within minutes.  Can even pick him up now, but ever so carefully, gently talking all the time.  This is the only way to get him back inside.  At night he sleeps with my son - door closed so my kitties are safe.  And of course whenever he misbehaves it is 'time out' back to the room.

He is incredibly loveable when his 'trust' mode is active.  But he does go for one without warning.  I'm using a water spray to check behaviour, yelling is a no-no.  I learnt that after yelling at him once; he took off and I feared I would not see him again.  So it is behaviour re-enforcement techniques all the time.

CAM needs a one-cat owner, and he needs to be that only cat.  And the owner needs to be extraordinary.  It takes comittment to re-hab a feral.  I sympathise with Senior Cats.  Not easy to home, and without ears even more difficult.  Our lives are crazy, CAM in / my kitties out  OR CAM out / my kitties in, or all hands on deck when the whole family of cats are out/in.

Wish me luck, and if anyone has tips on how to help CAM see his new kitty family as non-threats I would really appreciate it.

Blessings to all the kitty lovers on this site.  I'm studying like crazy at the moment - will be more active on Care2 after the end of October.  I love Care2, and Dave, thanks ever so much for inviting me to this groups.

elm xx

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