A stray cat moved into our old barn

[Liberalynn]

and I have started to feed and water it. I have made a comfy bed for her. Unfortunately Mom and my dog won't allow her to come in the house. Plus while she has started to trust me a little and let me pet her, she still isn't ready to let me pick her up, and she runs when anyone else comes out of the house. But at least now she has guarenteed meals and a warm place out of the elements.

I've named her Cally and hope once I get her a bit tamer I can talk my sister into driving me to our vet with Cally so I can get her, her shots and hopefully have our vet spay her, although I am guessing it might already be to late as a male cat has also been hanging around. He looks pretty fat and sassy so my guess is he has a home already.

The only thing I worry about is traffic around here. It used to be rural but now it is a suburb. When I was growing up we used to have a lot of barn cats, all of which I tamed, and loved to spend time with. A farmer used to rent our land and barns (my grandparents farmed but my Dad chose mechanics), so there was always lots of milk for them, and the liked the mouse control. Eventually the farmer retired, the bigger of our two barns had to be torn down, and eventually too all the cats passed away. I didn't get a new one because the traffic on our road got worse and worse over the years. I just hope she doesn't get hit because I am already attached. I hadn't realized how much I missed having a cat around.

Its different with the dog because we keep her in the house and take her for long walks on the leash. All though sometimes I am afraid for the dog too because of the traffic.

[bertha katzenengel]

1. Give Cally all your loving, L-Lynn.

If you can keep just a little detached, it might help.

But too: remember, cats are CATS! Fast, alert, and above all, wary. She can take care of herself pretty well.

:hug:

(I am learning, as I've taken in way too many cats, to try to stay a little detached from the outdoor ones, because they disappear.)

[Liberalynn]

2. Thanks.

She's already learned to be waiting at the food dish every morning. And you're right, I do have to stay a little detached. She might just decide to move on, just like she decided to move in.

I think Maxie the dog is a little jealous too. Mom says she barks at the window all the time I am out feeding the cat.

:hug:

[Demoiselle]

3. If she lets you touch her...she's already a long way toward tame...

Could you eventually keep her in a room or two of her own in the house until
you can get dog and cat used to each other? Can you shut her into
the barn? That would be safer for her. All the best of luck with her.
I've trapped and altered and released a number of ferals around here.
Tamed a bunch of kittens too...four of whom are currently curled up
asleep in various corners of my house. I've never met two cats
with even similar personalities...It's fascinating! Give Cally a hug
for me when she finally lets you!

[Flaxbee]

4. good for you! cats, especially ones that have grown up

'in the wild' so to speak, tend to be pretty good about traffic. Not saying something bad won't happy, but she's probably pretty quick and canny about roads. Would your dog eventually be OK with a cat indoors, or is the hurdle mostly your mom?

Anyway - cats can be spayed after they've been impregnated, so long as the pregnancy isn't too far along. Usually costs a little more, though. One of the ferals I caught while living in Virginia turned out to have been preggers (vet didn't say anything until later, but I imagine once she was anesthetized and under the knife there wasn't much he could have done -- and she was SO FREAKING WILD that much examination beforehand probably wasn't an option) but the vet still spayed her. Sad to think of no more kitties, but this feral was so wild there would have been no way I could have gotten to/handled her kittens if she'd had them somewhere away from our house.

I digress. She'll continue to trust you, and you can form a relationship and see where it goes. If she does have kittens, if she trusts you, she'll let you help her with them, and then you can find them good homes and get her spayed. The good thing now is she's fed and has shelter and a friend!!

[Liberalynn]

5. The obstacle to bringing

Cally in is more my Mom than Maxie. Mom just dosen't want the cat in the house. She never let me bring them in when I was a little either and since it is her house and she let's me and the dog share it, I really don't think I can push the issue. She's more a dog person and she thinks of the dog as good protection. I love both dogs and cats.

That is good to know that Cally can still be spayed even if she is already pregnant. Time will tell if my suspicions are correct.

I have a feeling she and the male are buddies because the past few afternoons he has been there when I go to give her, her kibble. I am calling him Cole now.

She seems to be sticking pretty close to the barn and our back field. So hopefully she won't head toward the road.

We keep the barn padlocked but they've found away in and out. There are a couple of holes they crawl through.

[Liberalynn]

7. Delete

sd

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. The dummer or the guitarist?

[Liberalynn]

8. LOL

Well one cat is male and has black fur, so I guess it would have to be the drummer.:headbang:

[xchrom]

9. she's adopting you -- and you're gonna have babies!

you're gonna have to work on your mom and dog.

but they'll come around.

dogs and cats are great together.

[Liberalynn]

10. We did have a few of our cats and dogs over the years who

became friends. We had a pure white German Shepard and a tiger cat who were pals and hung out together out doors. Then another of our Shepards used to cuddle with an orange tabby cat when he thought you weren't looking, but then if he caught us looking, he'd hurry to chase the cat off, like he was mortified to be seen with it. Poor cat, was always left wondering what the hell just happened.

I also like your way of looking at it too that she is adopting me. It's been a long time since we have had kittens around here, but I think you are right that she's going to change that soon enough.

[ashling]

11. OK, somebody's got to say it

I applaud your aiding this dear little creature, however, I feel that it is terribly unfair to gratuitously subject us to such a heartwarming story without lots and lots of kitty pics.

Sorry, it had to be said.
:hi:

[Liberalynn]

12. I will take some of her soon and share.

I don't have a digital camera yet but I did get a three in one scanner,copier, printer, for Christmas so I will dutifully post some pics of Cally and Cole soon.

I have some catching up to do technology wise.

[ashling]

13. You are forgiven

being technologically illiterate myself I understand. As a matter of fact I have some kitty pictures to take myself.