After multiple attempts and days of frustration at not being able to trap Twist, I was all out of ideas. Or, so I thought. I sat back and just analyzed her as much as I could. Although she has been here for years, and I did rescue her initially, she would not hang around except to eat and sleep. In all the years that I have had her, I have never seen her poop or pee. It seemed to me, that in her way, she was asking me for help by openly trying to pee in front of me, and I was letting her down.

Following this chain of thought, I know that she haunts my neighbor (two doors down) grain barn. They have a small grainery in their back pasture as they keep exotic birds. I learned from the wife, that they loved having her back there. She is the best hunter I have ever seen in all the years of rescue. Her trophies that she would bring home for me were the heads of the critters only. I have seen her hunt and she is skilled. The majority of cats when they encounter mice, will play with them before eating them. Not her- she would jump and immediately kill and eat all but the head.

That’s when it hit me. That’s how I can get her in the trap.. I went to feed store and got a feeder mouse. When I told them what I wanted it for, I asked them if they had a small container or cage that I could put in the back of the trap to keep the mouse contained. They put the mouse in a plastic container with holes in it. That’s not what I was hoping for, but it would have to do.

When I got home, I put the container in the back of the trap. I ran a strip of duct tape and taped it down so she couldn’t drag it off. I set the trap and waited. Watching from the window, I saw her come in for her afternoon snack under the gate. She went over to the trap and was interested (probably the smell) but she wouldn’t go in. “Now what?” I wondered,

I prowled around the house and found a small box. I poked holes in it. This box was a bit bigger than the container, I put straw, food and a bit of gravel in the box (so Twist could hear movement). Once again, I set the trap and returned to the house. I had denied Twist her accustomed afternoon snack, so pretty soon here she comes again. She made a beeline for the trap and went inside! I was holding my breath. But she did not trigger the trap and turned around and left. I was really bummed, but I was not going to give up. Whistling for Kota, we both jumped in the truck and headed for Bi-Mart. If they did not have a suitable box in receiving, I was going to buy something in a box that I needed.

My plan was to cut two big windows in the side of the box. I was going to cut some pet proof screen big enough to cover the windows and duct tape them in place. That way, Twist can see the mouse and smell the mouse better. I was told at Receiving they did not have what I needed. So I started to prowl the store and when I went by the gun section, there were clerks putting products on the shelf. And there in the cart was the perfect size box. They gladly gave it to me. They wanted to pet Kota, so I broke my rule that when he is working gear, he is to be left alone. I think he enjoyed the love he got as much as I enjoyed getting the right box.

I designed my box and put it in the trap. Going back into the house, I waited an hour and went back outside. Mr. Bentley was crying, he was in the trap. I had to put him back in his enclosure and block all the doors that allow him access to outside. Back I go to the trap, reset it. This time I put it on the top step where I typically feed Twist. I waited an hour, went outside and there she was yowling, turning in circles and totally miserable, But she was in the trap.

I dislike the word “feral.” This word has the ability to make most folks shiver in their shoes. I am sure that people who stumble on a “feral” cat on their property are thinking” “Oh my God, it must have rabies, or it might bite me. It’s dirty, will I get sick?” All sorts of negative words are wrapped around one word “Feral.”

In my long time of rescue, I have only encountered three true feral cats. Unfortunately because of disease, or the verocity of aggression all those three cats were put to sleep. When people call me and tell me, they have a “feral” cat on their property. I tell them that if they can see the cat, and it comes out in the daylight, it’s more than likely a “stray with feral tendencies.” That is how I think and talk about “ferals.”

Years ago, and the story can be found online still (I think). If I can find it, I will look and see if I can link it here. But I got a call from someone who lived on the border of Oregon and Washington. The woman was hysterical. They had gone on vacation and come home to find a “feral” cat in their barn. I was told she went online, typed in feral cat and found my blog. It was 10:00 p.m. when she called. Mike and I arrived at her ranch at midnight.

I had a flashlight, my gloves, a top loading carrier and food when I stepped inside the “scary place” where the “wild animal” was lurking! It was black as pitch. I sat down on the ground and turned on the flashlight. I swept it back and forth on a cat level. I got a glimpse of eyes glowing in the dark. Something registered within me. These eyes were not right. The flash of eyes, they were not green, or yellow. Thankfully they were not red (that would be wildlife) The flash was blue! The “feral” cat turned out to be a very neglected show Persian! I was able to walk over and pick the poor thing, who was as skinny as a rail and matted to beat heck! I popped him into my carrier and went outside and told the lady her cat problem was solved.

https://www.catscenterstage.com/stray-starlight.shtml

So going back to Twist now in capture mode. I did not want her to stay in the trap. She was terrified. Although anytime I would try to pet her and she would try to bite me. I would not say she was feral.So I decided to put her into my Introduction cage when has three levels and is big enough that my 6′ frame fits in it nicely. I left her in the trap while I pepared the cage for a lengthy stay. I know when I do take her to the vet. When I get home, I am not just going to let her go. I was going to work with her and socialize her first. Not tame her (big difference) but allow her to see me as caregiver instead of predator. So she wouldn’t be so scared of me.

This morning, I went in to visit her. She has a beautiful trill in her meow so I was grateful to hear it. She is not my only smaller framed black cat. I caught the right one. She came out of the carrier and came toward me. I was fully prepared for an attack with my gloves, heavy coat and boots.. She wasn’t even going to attack me. I did not touch her or try to. I just wanted her to decompress. I fed her and she immediately went to eat! That is the best sign of all. I can’t get her in until Thursday- so I am going to work slowly with her so she won’t be in such terror when they examine her.