[ashleywong]

Hi lynie

i admire you for your inner strength and fortitude in helping these cats and their kittens even when in dangerous situation. i'm not sure i can do that.

now about socks. i'm sorry that socks dashed away. that lady must have forgotten to ensure the door locked carefully in the carrier.


from the pics you posted, socks was kept in a cage for her socialising purpose, therefore she'd may or may not recognise another cage. she'd definitely recognise a carrier cage now having escaped from it. do you have extra cage or can i lend you mind?

i was thinking that you put it outside at your porch and set it up so there's water in the cage and newpaper padding so at least socks knows it's a shelter of some sort.

put food inside to entice her and to familiarise her with the cage but only put food inside when you're home to monitor and supervise. we don't want everycat in the neighbourhood making a beeline to your house for free food and scaring poor socks away.

i think you have put the problem of mama cat aside. unless she comes back to your house for food, you won't have a chance of re-capturing her again. not her fault - she's driven by her instinct and hormone. poor her. at least she'd know how to take care of herself. if she does come back to you for food, to leave food out for her so she has some sustenance. if she comes back to you, it's a good sign that you'll once again be able to hold on to her.

what i learned is to work with what you have - the kittens you have on hand, especially socks. you have manage by sheer dint of your strength determination and willpower you have succeed in showing them a promise of a loving home. don't give up now.

do you need extra cages? i have two empty right now, my ginger boy has recovered from his neutering surgery and no longer needs a cage. nicky is no longer being quarantined although he's still on medication.

hmm, i have it. one cage may be too short and small to contain a jittery kitten inside. how about a "longer cage" with only one opening at one end? possible?

i have tied both my cages together so that it's extended in length. if you can set it up at your porch and keep one door closed, then the other opening will be easy for you to control - especially if socks goes in to the other end to eat then you shut the other door -and voila, socks is under lock again.

another option is if socks still wants to play with you. try to entice her into the carrier cage, secure her interest with some interesting toys so you can shut the door on her. works in theory - worth trying.

i do understand the burden - both emotional and financial - we find ourselves under when we are operating "solo". that's why i admire your fortitude in forging ahead but sometimes we do need to be realistic in our effort

continue with the rest of the kittens while keeping an eye out for socks. you have managed to keep them out of the streets and that's good that should be the priority now.

if mama cat do come home to you, then the next step would be 1) either to get other people to fosters the kittens while you focus your attention on mama cat and her future litter or 2) integrate the kittens with the rest of your cats in your house and letting mama cat have the cat room to herself this means she won't be caged up 24/7 and she won't be stressed to the point of wanting to escape. she wants to feel safe and won't share her space with other cats even her own kittens from previous litter.

hope this helps, maybe not. i've been longwinded as usual