my cat gizmo

Question
My cat Gizmo went missing about a month ago, and I refused to give up on finding him. I searched shelter websites, visited shelters, called people, put up signs etc etc. Anyway, I found him yesterday at our local shelter and I was so excited! But the shelter workers told me he was feral. I told them he was probably scared, and I wanted to take him home. So I picked him up this morning, and he wont come out from under the bed, and he doesn't seem to know me or my family. How can I help him?

Answer
Jennifer,


A feral cat is defined as a cat who has had little or no human contact. The good news is that I can tell you that Gizmo is not feral. The bad news is that he most likely has endured some trauma that he has associated humans with. Unfortunately people are all too quick to shoo cats off of their properties and away from their homes, what they don't think about is that there may be a heart broken owner looking for this kitty. It is possible that Gizmo has been struck by humans in an attempt to get him off of their property. I think that the best course of action is to treat Gizmo as if he has been abused by people. It will take some time to get his trust back, but it can be done with lots of love, a bit of patience and the odd bit of bribery. In his month on his own Gizmo saw human behaviors that he didn't have a frame of referance for, instead of being called to come he was being chased away. I have a recommendation for a homeopathic remedy that will help to calm Gizmo and reassure him. Bach's Rescue Remedy is a blend of flower essences that you can generally find in a health food/natural health store. I would suggest that you start Gizmo off on a dose of 10 drops of Rescue Remedy in fresh water every morning. For now, work with what Gizmo is willing to offer, if he feels safe under the bed don't make too much effort to handle him as he is so fearful at the moment that there is a possibility that he may injure you or himself. I have tamed feral cats (remember, Gizmo is not really feral, more fearful, but the same principals apply) by using Rescue Remedy, making sure that their food bowl and water bowls are always full. If by some chance you have happened to keep a bit of the litter that was in his box when he went missing be sure to add it to the clean kitty litter as it will contain familiar scents from better times. If you can possibly spend time with Gizmo in the room, but without focusing on him (think reading a book, working on a computer, etc) and you offer his favorite treats or something extra special as a reward for when Gizmo does approach you you will begin to condition Gizmo again that when he approaches a human good things happen. I find that foods that you wouldn't give Gizmo on a regular basis work best, in the past tuna, sardines, chicken and salmon have worked for me. If Gizmo actually brushes against you don't cheer and jump for joy because he will simply go back into hiding and you will have set him back for some time. If Gizmo decides to be a tough little man and actually approaches you make sure that you don't look him directly in the eye, don't actually make any sudden moves to pet him and if you are going to speak very soft praise that is calmly delivered is best. The whole point is that you will slowly condition Gizmo to trust again. I know that it is time consuming and it will take time but you sound like you worked very hard to get Gizmo back and I think that Gizmo means enough to you that you will work with him. Over time with consistancy, love and patience as well as an understanding of what his time away from home was like I do think that Gizmo will come around. It is a good idea to have Gizmo see his regular vet as soon as possible (good idea to find out if the vet makes house calls or will make an exception in this case) just to be sure that he has no health issues that he picked up on his time away from the comforts of home. If the vet does the exam within the near future you should know that they may need to use heavy leather gloves or a contraption called cat bag to handle him because he is so fearful. I do think that getting Gizmo to a more relaxed and calm state of mind before the health check is a necessity. It is a very tough life on the streets for cats who have been kicked out or wandered from home. I am so glad to hear that you searched for Gizmo so extensively, he has a good owner. I should warn you that it is possible that the vet may potentially suggest psychotropic drugs to help with Gizmo's anxiety, but I do feel it's fair to inform you that these kinds of treatments are not without side effects or risk and in my opinion it is better to try the homeopathy first ultimately because the homeopathy won't harm Gizmo. I am not sure what area you are writing from but I do think that checking around for a holistic vet is worth it because they actually know about more that can be offered to help Gizmo deal with his misadventure. Please feel free to keep in tough and keep me updated on the situation, I am willing to offer ongoing support and suggestions if you need them. I hope that you find this information helpful. If you have any further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me again.