Iona's Progress, feral cat to indoor cat Options

[Ken Albin]

Several of you wanted to know how Iona was doing so I thought I would post a quick note about her progress. I've been working extensively with her and she has experienced some major breakthroughs during her first 3 weeks indoors.

1) She rolled around gleefully in the floor.
2) She learned how to play with the "ball in a ring" toy by batting the ball around the circle.
3) She played with me and the "ring in the ball" toy for the first time. I would tap the ball and she would catch it and slap it ball around to me.
4) She lies down a couple of feet away from me now and stretches out. (still wary, though!)

Medically she is using the broken arm somewhat though it still hurts her. She has no nerve damage and can flex her paw. There may be some shoulder tendon and ligament damage but as she uses her leg this may get better over the next couple of months. She limps heavily but is using the leg a little bit now for walking. The pin in her right humerus is still there. She goes in next week for x rays and to see if it is time to remove the supporting pin. She has been gaining weight as well and is looking much better physically with all of the good food she has been gobbling down.

Overall she is doing great and I see improvement almost daily. She is a sweetheart in training! People can bring any completely feral cat inside and acclimate them if they are only willing to spend the huge amount of time necessary to work with them if they have the empathy to know how far to take the taming each day. I am in the process of making an ebook that chronicles Iona's medical recovery and taming as a house cat. I'm not certain at this point what I am going to do with this book but I would like to get it out there to help others who try to take in a wild cat.

Here is Iona sunning in the window with her little stuffed toy. You can see her surgical scar that is healing.
All the best,
Ken Albin

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[patricia]

such great news! makes my friday complete.
i love how she rolls around "gleefully" - i can "see" it!
thank you for the update. and i wish i had your book before i rescued riley maybe if i can "convince" lucy that kitties are NOT squirrels, then your book will come in handy and i will have another furry one to add to the family.
god bless.
patricia

[Flossie's Mom]

Iona is BEAUTIFUL...............

Since we did not successfully tame a feral cat we wanted to help I would be interested in your book also. The woman who helped Michelle trap her to spay her said that once they've been caught in the trap, she'll never go in again. The cat still will come close to her when she goes by to check on her and feed her. It is 20 miles one way but she still goes every few days to make sure she is OK and feed her.

What wonderful work you do..... your cat family must bring you great joy.

Ginger

[My_Vinnie]

Beautiful girl with a beautiful name! Three of my cats were ferals and tamed by me. It's a tough road, but worth the journey.