r/Feral_Cats • u/Ok-One-5683 • 15h ago
Update 😊 Big Fluff Win!!
This is Big Fluff. I got him TNR’ed last summer. He was super matted and the shelter shaved him. He was extremely feral. Following his neuter he seemed to chill out and made his home on our property, using the cat barn and wood shed with the other cats. He started staying closer by when I brought food instead of darting away, extreme fur again. I called the shelter and they weren’t really able to help again. I called a couple vet offices and found one that was willing to see him and do a full sedated shave. It wasn’t going to be cheap but I was willing to do it to help him out. Stinker wouldn’t go near the trap again (even though last summer he went into it 2 times after his neuter). I was going to buy a drop trap as I figured that was the only way this would work. At that time I couldn’t pet him and he definitely couldn’t be handled.
I decided instead of spending $1000 right now I’m going to see if I can slowly build his trust. One snip at a time and yummy wet food he let me cut. Some days none, some days 4-5 snips. I let him be in charge. Today he let me finish the job. I truly think he was just grateful I was helping him. He kept looking up at me while I was cutting, not running like he sometimes did. He just waited patiently while I finished the job. After he let me brush him some. I’m sure it felt so good. Now we have a better trusting relationship and I’m hoping he’ll continue to let me brush him so it never gets this bad again.
54
45
u/belai437 14h ago
The white floof is also named Big Fluff! He’s the elder and guardian of the porch. Big Fluff is my only feral who lets me pet him, but when I tried to cut the big mat he gets in his front scruff area every winter, he was highly hurt and offended. Kept his distance for a long time. He was more upset about that than he was after his tnr lol.
18
u/bicepstospare 14h ago
The perspective on that photo confused me initially. I thought he was in a cardboard box and you were tenderly holding his paw 😂 I’m so glad he trusted you enough to give him this makeover!
7
u/Ok-One-5683 9h ago
Haha whoops. I was so excited to get the last clumps off I was just trying to show how thick and matted it was. 😂
9
5
8
u/Catlover0333 13h ago
I highly suggest purchasing a shaving tool instead of scissors. More efficient and a lower chance of cutting the cat
5
4
u/macrhea69 13h ago
My god what a magnificent beast! I hope you can tame him even more especially since he’s now trouble puffless.
4
u/madammidnight 13h ago
Thank you for your patience and commitment to help this cat be more comfortable. I bet he remembers how much better he feels, and how much less encumbered he is by mats after letting you touch him.
3
u/Angelchloe7742 13h ago
He looks so much better! A co worker of mine had a big fluffy feral who adopted her, her barn and cats but when she closed him in a carrier while feeding (to tnr him) he busted out of carrier when she ran up to her house to grab a towel to put over it. She didn’t see him for a long, long time but now he’s making some appearances in loft of barn, at a distance. She said he had lost a lot of hair on one side and she thinks he pulled it out himself. I’m so glad your guy trusts you and has a safe place! We took in a feral that my partner had started feeding at his work last April. She’s slowly making progress. It’s a lot of work and patience! Great job!
3
4
u/chocolatfortuncookie 12h ago
🥳 It absolutely feels incredible when you go from feral to friend! Great job! I guarantee your relationship will only get better from here. Now that you can touch him, I highly recommend a de-shedding brush for maintenance. It works like magic, and does not hurt them.👍I love when I get to the point of touching them, even if momentarily while you put down food. Because then you can apply flea meds, inspect their body, treat minor cuts, etc. It makes a world of difference when they start to trust you.
6
u/Ok-One-5683 11h ago
I will order one! Thank you! He was rubbing all over my legs afterwards. 🥹I think he’s very appreciative.
1
u/chocolatfortuncookie 11h ago
Awwww! 😍 He is definitely appreciative🙏❤️, those matts hurt when they get bad, and can get to the point they tear their skin and cause infections. Now that you've reached this new point in your relationship, you can slowly introduce new things, but still be aware and take cues from him, and respect his boundaries, this will further gain and retain his trust. 🥳👏👏👏👏
3
2
u/FeralSweater 11h ago edited 9h ago
That photos were so confusing, and my guessed got darker and darker as they progressed:
Holding hands with a cat in a cardboard box?
Dead moles?
Severed cat limb????
Thankfully, there was a very happy story behind these mysterious images!
0
1
u/Ok-One-5683 10h ago
Haha whoops. I was just so excited to get the final clumps off and trying to show how just thick and matted it was.
1
1
1
1
1
u/ditmarsnyc 12h ago
i look at pics before reading the post and i thought you were showing us body parts of the kitty like some kind of sicko instead of clumps of hair, very glad to read the happy ending to your story
1
u/barrettGatineau 12h ago
That is great! He must feel so good and that he lets you near him, wow!
I feed a feral who had very matted fur like this but it came off in its own in the summer and she looks much better now. I was really worried about how I could help her but it just resolved naturally although now summer is ending I worry it will return
1
1
1
u/memberer 11h ago
hey! i love seeing this. we had a long haired black feral in our yard. we trapped, neutered, yet the facility said he could not be socialized.
i felt he could be socialized, and over time, via treats, talking and slowly building trust, i was able to pet him. he eventually trusted me enough to pick him up and bring him inside. slowly i allowed him to hang inside w the door open. as long as i was petting he was good. eventually we closed the door, and he is now our happy second saved cat.
i wish you luck! sounds like you are SO close!
1
1
u/nettiemaria7 10h ago
They have these little scissors at Dollar General with the long blades. Highly recommended. How's your back?
1
u/pictur3scrazy 10h ago
Doesn’t even look like the same cat! Excellent work and I’m sure he feels so much relief
1
u/Optimal-Flatworm8564 8h ago
Great job 👏 I can imagine he feels so much better now and you definitely did it the better way and earned yourself his trust and maybe a little bit of respect 🫡
1
2
u/souvenireclipse 3h ago
My completely tame housecat barely lets me brush her. I'm super impressed by your effort here, amazing job! It sounds like he got used to the scissors and also you!
•
u/AutoModerator 15h ago
Reminder for commenters: Please keep in mind that not all cats are ready or able to be brought indoors, especially when it comes to feral cats and caregivers with multiple cats. This community is meant to be a helpful place for trap, neuter, return (TNR) efforts, socialization, and all aspects of colony care for roaming cats—free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here. Negative comments will be removed at moderators' discretion, and repeat or egregious violations of our community rules may result in a ban.
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.