IBKFergus has gone

The Animal Welfare Lady came to pick her up this morning.

-L....

Find some comfort in knowing you did the right thing. You are lucky
you have the resources of a good shelter.

IBKFergus put on a great demonstration of her feral nature, shredding Joel
as Joel picked her up to put her inthe carrier.

AB...

Which doesn't mean a thing! Name any cat who goes into a carrier easily!
My non-feral male cat would scratch me inadvertently - or perhaps not
that inadvertently - in trying to place him in his carrier without a
towel wrapped around him.

Dan M...

Harri Roadcat. Ranger Silvercat. Samuel Redcat.

Animal Welfare Lady looked at my older injuries, had already noticed Joel's
fresh injuries, and could see IBKFergus going off her rocker in the carrier

AB...

Please define exactly HOW she "went off her rocker" in the carrier? By
yowling - even non-ferals cats do that when in a carrier.

Dan M...

Not all. None of the above do.

Marina...

Neither does Miranda. She just hunkers down and doesn't say a peep.
Neither did Nikki, though she was half-feral.

Cheryl Perkins...

Betsy's like Miranda, she just sits and waits. Mandy, oh my, that cat is a
terror to take anywhere in a carrier, especially by car. She yowls, in a
volume that ranges from low to ultrasonic at unpredictable intervals, and
she can keep it up for a incredibly long period of time.

Of course, that's reflective of their different personalities. Mandy is
far more aggressive and bossy and take-no-nonsense than Betsy; always has
been, even though she was always a housepet from the moment she was born
and Betsy was dumped on the streets to make her way as best she could.

Dan M...

Harri got used to the carrier when she was in the truck with me. When we
got home I would put her in the carrier to move her from the truck to the
house (less time and hassle than putting her harness and leash on). And
when we had to leave the truck in the shop for servicing, Harri went into
the carrier and into the terminal. She loved that - got to explore a new
place full of people without feeling threatened.

Ranger walks right into his carrier and perfectly quiet - until we put him
in the car. As soon as the car door closes he lets out *one* long wail -
like he's saying "I sure hope you aren't taking me someplace nasty, like
TED's office". He is then silent until we get where we're going.

Sammy also walks right into the carrier, and is silent most of the time.
If we talk to him he'll squeak back at us, but otherwise he keeps quiet.

Cleo, Amelia and Tabitha don't especially enjoy the carrier, and will
resist a little bit being put in. They will then complain quite a bit for
the first few minutes they're in the carrier.

and said that there was no way I should keep her with Cary around. "Little
eyes are just too precious" she said.

She agreed with me that it was probably an act of hubris on my part for ever
thinking I could tame a feral cat, and perhaps what I should have done with
IBKFergus rather than adopting her myself was to have handed her over to
someone who works with ferals from the very beginning. She patted my hand as

Enfilade...

Purrs for you and IBKFergus.

When I first brought in Smokey, we made arrangements that if Smokey was
just too wild to adapt to life in an apartment, or if he attacked
Nocturne, we would take him to my father who would offer him a home in

Marina...

Hehehe. Sorry, Fil, but I couldn't help laughing at this point. The
ham-loving, outside-fearing Smokey Poke too wild to adapt to an
apartment? Attacking Nox? Hehehehehehe.

the barn, where he could run outdoors and not be a danger to Nox.

Of course as it turns out, Nox is the one smacking HIM about...but not
doing serious damage.

We were lucky that our Smokey tamed up so fast...many ferals don't.
Don't blame yourself.

I bawled my eyes out "I know you thought you were doing a good thing by
adopting her," she said, "but you can't have her around your boy". She's
right and I know it. Doesn't make it any less painful to see her go, though.

I'm going to help arrange for Animal Welfare Lady to collect IBKFergus'
mother & siblings from work so that they can be speutered and cared for
instead of starving, being injured, being badly treated by cat haters here
etc etc. Why bringing IBKFergus back here at work ever crossed my mind is

AB...

Well at least you are doing something positive! But too little too late!

beyond me, but as I said, it was a desperate thought of an overwhelmed
person. Logic soon prevailed.

She'll be checked over by a vet, her temperement assessed, and will either
be put up for adoption or homed in a cattery. Either way, she'll be safe,
warm and fed for the rest of her days. She'll always hold a peice of my
heart. Plesae join with me and purr that she finds a better foreverhome than
the one we could give her.

Monique Y. Mudama...

I'm so sorry. Of course we will purr for IBK. I still remember your
posts about that little fuzzball. It's so hard to imagine that she
did this to you. But she did, and you have a son to look after.

I'm sure you will think of her often. That you love her was never in
doubt.

Tanada...

<<<<<>>>>

rrb...

I am sorry that she had to go but it was probably best. I hope she finds
the perfect home - one with someone who can work with and take care of
her as a feral cat. I hope she does not end up living the rest of her
life in a cage - which is sad. But I suppose a cage is better than what
can happen out on the street or being PTS.

I still suspect that something physical caused this incident. Hopefully
if there is something it will be found and that it will be something
that is easily treated. She deserves to be well treated and happy
considering her start in life.

How is your hand? Hopefully it is healing and/or feeling better now.

mlbriggs...

You had the strength to do what you had to do. The Yowlet MUST come
first -- always. Best wishes. MLB

You did the best you could in a trying situation. I'm thinking good
thoughts for you all and the owners are purring for you to feel better
and for IBK to have the best life possible.

Pam S on behalf of her and her clowder

Caroline S....

Purrs to you Yowie, for having to make such a difficult decision. You

Sam...

Homing purrs for IBKFergus on the way, along with a generous helping of
comforting purrs for you.

Adrian A...

Purrs for IBKFergus to have along and happy life.

did the right thing by both Cary and IBKFergus. Cary will move on, as
Catherine did when Fizz died. I explained to her then that Fizz was
gone and was not coming back.
Hugs for all of you.

-Caroline S.