To Catch a Killer

I had fun today trying to catch a feral cat! Her name is Matri (short for Matriarch) and she has lived in the back room of my basement for 2 years. She is a beautiful cat; long tortie coat and big green eyes. But I don't get to enjoy her much. 


She came to me as a feral foster 2 years ago. Someone needed to take care of her. She hates other cats and is scared to death of people. At the time she made a funny wheezy sound so I took her to the vet. Turned out she had nodules on her vocal cords. They were removed and she has lived in my house, staying mostly hidden, ever since.


Only within the past 6 months or so has she started to eat near the other cats and allow me near her (though not touch her).


But then the fleas came...


I had to catch her to flea-treat her, but when I was able to corner and grab her, she flipped a wicket, so to speak and got away!


After that she stopped coming out. I didn't see her much after that... just a glance if I happened to come into the back room when she was eating or drinking.


But then, about a week ago, I noticed that I had not seen her in a few days... nor had I heard her (she is usually quite vocal as her hearing is a bit dim and she talks a lot, esp when  another cat comes near her).


In the back room of the basement, there is a lot of stuff. Nothing dangerous mind you, but since my "apartment" is in the front part of the basement, the back area is for all my bins of clothes and stuff, plus my "kitchen." Add the laundry room to that, furnace and oil tank as well. Lots of places for a cat to hide.


Tonight, I saw her as she hid behind the oil tank... and I could see how thin she looked, even under all that fur. She hadn't been coming out to eat much apparently (she usually eats at night when no one is around so it's hard to notice with any consistency whether or not she eats her dry food). I fed her wet food and she ate some, but then hid again.


I knew it was time...I HAD to catch her! 


Long story short... I managed to trap her under the oil tank with blankets, got my hand on the back of her neck, scruffed her and pulled her out slowly. Phew!


Once I had her in my possession, I could feel how thin she is and I brushed her and flea-combed her. She is loaded with scabs and fleas. The only cat in the house not treated, she has been feeding the fleas!


Now I can get her treated, get her to the vet for treatment, etc. She will have to stay in a cage for a bit while I get her healthy again, but that's ok... this way I can take care of her without her hiding where I can't get her. The funny thing is, once I have her, she loves to pet!!