Robin Lifts His Feral Cat Veil

To look at Robin today – enjoying the perks of an indoor cat – you would never think he once lived on his own outdoors. An elderly Saline couple (Maury and Edna) discovered him in 2002 while feeding a fox that lived in their yard. Each day Edna would prepare lunch for the fox and Maury delivered it to the foxhole. On one occasion as he walked away, he saw something black go over to the dish. He watched as a small black cat ate some of the food and then scurried off to the bushes. This became a daily pattern and – although it delighted Maury and Edna to see the cat – they worried about him sharing their yard with a fox. Once the fox figured out Robin was eating his lunch, there could be trouble.

Maury and Edna weren’t strangers to stray cats. Through most of their lives they operated a de facto rescue from their home -- fostering stray cats while placing them in permanent homes. They would have done this for Robin too, but, in their late eighties, just taking care of each other was a tall order. They called their veterinarian who referred them to us. We were forming our show-and-tell feral cat colony at our farm – which was only a mile from where Maury and Edna lived. Our colony contained only displaced feral cats that could not reasonably continue living in their original outdoor homes. Robin’s plight fit our model. We took for granted Robin was feral – as he still ran from Maury after several days of seeing him and being fed by him We live-trapped Robin, took him to the vet for neutering, vaccinating and ear-tipping and then blended him in to our colony.

Although we had physical charge of Robin, Edna and Maury remained committed to his care. Like with the fox, Edna prepared food each day for Robin and his colony mates – and Maury would get in his car – regardless of weather -- and drive the food to the cats each morning. Our volunteers assisted in feeding the colony Edna’s treats – typically butter pats in warm milk, tuna fish and the like. Even though we preferred premium cat food for nutrition, these daily treats were so thoroughly enjoyed we looked the other way as the cats inhaled them.

By early 2004 Maury’s health had declined and he was no longer able to visit Robin. We had already started questioning whether Robin was a feral cat because after he learned his new home, he seemed to be so accepting of people –all people -- not just those that fed him. With Maury now out of Robin’s life, we decided to bring him indoors with the Older Cats to see just how feral he really was. As we suspected, he was very comfortable indoors with people and one of our volunteers quickly adopted him.

Robin worked out great in his indoor home for just over a year. Then – for whatever reason – he started spraying their kitchen door and was returned to us within 2 weeks of the first incident. Coincidentally the day Robin came back, his good friend Maury passed away.

To cope with her grief over Maury’s passing, Edna sought donations for our cat programs. Remarkably, this housebound, legally-blind, elderly woman eked them out from all over – including 7 different states and the United Kingdom. Several months later, donations were still coming in – she and her helper had a follow-up list they worked from and were very adept at collection – especially knowing how important cats were to Maury.

Edna and I stayed in close touch– with Edna frequently checking on Robin to make sure he was using a litter box. He does most of the time but seems to spray when he’s nervous. I explained to Edna how we watch for cues and provide him with “safe spray alternatives” with increasing success. Edna enjoyed hearing about our methodology, comfortable that Robin would be cared for regardless of his issues -- still she wanted to stay in Robin’s life. Finally last summer, Edna became too weak to check on Robin – so she asked her personal caregiver to call for her . The last call came only 48 hours before Edna passed away – we know Robin was important to her right up to the end of her life.

When we look at Robin we see a cat that many “humane organizations” would write off as disposable. Maury and Edna saw value in Robin’s life and cherished him as much as they would the most perfect cat. Sure, he has a little baggage, but he’s warm and friendly and thoroughly enjoys companionship – both from people and cats. When I first met Maury he told me he would come to the farm every day until we understood – what he understood – that Robin was not feral. I’m sorry it took us a few years to get up to speed, but Maury was right. Too bad shelters don’t give feral intakes the same chance that Robin had to show his true colors. The line between feral and social is very thin – especially until cats and people get to know each other better. Even the most friendly and well-socialized cats can don a veil of feral behavior to survive living outdoors -- and until they become comfortable enough around people to lift it, it's very difficult to tell them from naturally feral cats.