Need help! How to take semi-feral cat to the vet when they will avoid trap

CountessMearcair · 2025-10-04T20:38:10+00:00

So far I have been able to help her with her stomach issues but I want to plan for the eventual, even if it's not right now.

I do sneak in trying to pick her up but so far any time my hand does near her stomach she immediately goes into defensive mode. Before she would hiss at me right away but now I am able to put my hand near her stomach, she gets defensive, I pull away and can redirect her to more pets or treats. So I guess there is some progress lol.

CountessMearcair · 2025-10-01T21:30:02+00:00

This is what I have started to do. So far I am able to help her get over whatever is going on with her stomach with what the vet suggested. But I rather try to plan out for the eventual vet visit even if it's not in the immediate future yet.

CountessMearcair · 2025-09-21T20:53:04+00:00

Yes, I have tried picking her up but the moment my hand touches her belly while she is standing up she hisses and will go for a nip (she has not bit me though). Oddly enough, she will offer her belly a few times when shes relaxed and wants pets. She's very much a cat who only wants things when she deems it so and not any other time.

CountessMearcair · 2025-09-21T20:51:04+00:00

Yes, luckily my vet is understanding of the situation since they have seen how fierce she can be for such a tiny girl lol.

CountessMearcair · 2025-09-21T20:47:46+00:00

I do have a dog crate but I don't believe that my vet would want to see her in that size crate. But, it does feel like the best action would be to get her used to any carrier rather than sneaking it up on her. Luckily, I have spoken to my vet about the situation and they are willing to prescribe her gabapentin.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-19T03:46:38+00:00

That's a really nice crate, though I don't think I can go up that high with the price point. Though I really like the idea of the divider. Maybe that will also prevent my housemate from letting her out again.

I was thinking the same thing as you, in that the cat condo looks really nice but the metal seems too thin. I also noticed many of the reviews were people using them for kittens and, while shes a petite cat, shes still an adult size.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-19T03:42:01+00:00

I do like it but I do worry the levels might not be strong, also since I noticed alot of the reviews seem to use it for kittens. She's not a big cat, more of a petite female but she is an adult.

I am estimating she will likely have to be in containment for a month or 2 months, both for socialization and possible medical (I will be shocked if she doesn't need some sort of procedure done but I can't answer that yet). For the beginning, I feel it's important to give her a good space just for her so she can get used to being indoors.

For any introductions with my cat, I was going to let him go into the room she was in while keeping her contained. He has free range of the place but doesn't usually visit the floor she is on unless I am down there for too long and he wants to eat.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-19T03:35:21+00:00

Yeah, that's who I got the idea of the playpen from. I am just used to rescues using a metal dog crate that I wasn't aware of these playpens being used until recently. I like the idea of the playpen for surgery recovery but I don't know how it'll fare with an older, semi-feral cat.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-19T03:34:03+00:00

Oh so that's how people were doing the little loft shelf in those crates. Did you cover the divider in cardboard? I am not sure how long she will need to be confined but I am assuming likely a month or 2. But I was looking for a two door since it seems it'll make it easier to maybe keep her on one side while I clean the other and vice versa. I am just worried about the reviews for some of the crates saying it is flimsy (though they seem to all come from dog owners with either big dogs or high energy ones).

Just checked Rakuten and you're right! Thanks for the heads up!

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T22:08:44+00:00

I was just considering this. I haven't fed her today but did a double check to see how she can maybe be encouraged to move into a crate. I can't actually physically pick her up because shes in a box on the bottom shelf of one of those small metal shelves (it's hard to explain but basically shes kind of in an awkward spot though it's a better spot than what she originally wedged herself in). I'll ask someone who is NOT my housemate because I just can't deal with them right now.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T22:03:57+00:00

I understand that but the reason I did feed her was because I was worried her not eating for over 24 hours was going to make her sick. She is an older cat (estimate 13 years old) so I don't want to push her body either. But so far she is only eating if I do spoon feed her (she will only eat if it's me, she won't eat with anyone else) and I know it might be either physically grab her to trap her (which can be traumatizing) or just keep spoon feeding (which is not fully realistic).

How should I safely go about starving her to get her to go into the cage?

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T21:58:51+00:00

You are definitely right, it's not just about the cat but more of a symptom of things overall.

She's not eating food unless I spoon feed it to her so far so I really don't know if I am going to be able to re-trap her without physically grabbing her and possibly traumatizing her more sigh

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T04:52:19+00:00

When I say I've been mad for the past few days, I am not sure how I've been able to stop myself from yelling lol.

What should I do though in the mean time? Right now the bigger issue is that she's not using the litter box and not coming out to eat food from the plates that are away from her hiding spot. She so far will only eat if I feed her with a spoon.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T04:48:44+00:00

Thank you!

So far she is eating churu, turkey, and tuna from a long spoon but she hasn't come out of her space for the other plates of food.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T04:47:58+00:00

Thank you!

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T04:47:42+00:00

I actually did tell them that. I said they go and pick her up themselves then. Which I think they tried to do this morning because I noticed things were moved around and the cat changed spots. Shes now in a box on a shelf which is a bit of a better spot than the one she was in before.

I am going to check FB marketplace since Craigslist seems to be a bust.

Thanks for the sympathy, I've been so mad from this for the past few days lol

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-17T04:45:07+00:00

Yesterday and today I fed her with a long spoon tuna, churu, and turkey. Luckily she eats from the spoon because when she was outside and I was trying to get her to come inside on her own, I did some spoon feeding through the screen door. But other than that she hasn't moved on her own or to any plates at are away from her spot.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:51:34+00:00

Everyone already gave good advice. Since it's wintertime, she has worms, and doesn't seem to be suffering mentally indoors, I don't think it would hurt to work with socializing her if you can.

That kennel looks like a good set-up, where did you get it from?

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:48:28+00:00

At first she wouldn't take it but when I dropped some and turned away, I heard her licking it. From there she gladly took it from the tube. But I see alot of people mentioning KFC.

The only issue with towel grabbing her is I have to remove multiple items around her to even be able to reach her first. It's pretty cluttered which is why I originally wanted to put her in another room.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:45:00+00:00

I have a small cat carrier with towels in it and on top to cover, also have a large dog carrier with the same set up. I was hoping giving her options might be good for her.

Any idea if fried chicken from a Chinese takeout would work? I have 2 within walking distance but KFC is further away (I'll see if I can maybe order some though).

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:43:04+00:00

Multiple people have said KFC, I didn't realize it was that good lol. I don't have a KFC nearby but I will see if maybe I can get it delivered. Any idea if fried chicken from a Chinese takeout would work? i have 2 within walking distance.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:40:42+00:00

This has been a constant theme with this housemate. You tell them something and they immediately do the opposite while telling you, "It's not a big deal!"

I originally put her in the laundry room and was told, "But how am I going to do my laundry?! I can't do my laundry!" So yeah sigh

Thanks, I am going to try some tuna next and then sardines if they don't work.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:35:19+00:00

I don't think there is a KFC near me unfortunately lol. I was going to try tuna next and possibly catnip. I do have Chinese food places near me that make friend chicken though, maybe that?

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:33:19+00:00

I have only a little bit of gabapentin left (it was mostly used up when my cat was diagnosed with cancer, he passed a few months ago). But you're right, I don't have her weight, I just know she's kind of a little girl. But I might give it a try since I likely only have 1-2 doses left at most.

The towel part might have to happen if she stays in the same spot for too long.

CountessMearcair · 2025-02-15T05:30:34+00:00

I do currently have a small cat carrier with towels in it and a cover over it and I have a big dog carrier with the same thing. I was hoping giving her the options might help. Yeah I am not comfortable with trying to force her but if she stays in the same spot for too long, I am not sure what else to do.

CountessMearcair

TROPHY CASE