Meet Simba

So this is Simba. She was a stray living in my yard for over two years. Apparently she had a litter of kittens about a year and a half ago, and my neighbor was able to find them all homes. However, Momma kitty wasn't letting anybody catch her.

So, we started to feed her, built her a little "hut" to crash in when weather was bad and tried to get her to let us pet her. She slowly started getting closer, but was always just out of reach. She had her guard up.

Well, before winter hit, we were trying to get her inside. Slowly getting her closer and closer, but she was always a step ahead. She started letting us pet her cheek the tiniest bit and would spend much of her day on the stoop outside our door. But wouldn't let us too close.

As spring set in she was much more trusting of us, but still always on alert and still keeping just enough distance.

Well, I decided to set her food dish just inside the door and see what happened. I propped the storm door open and sat back and watched. She was extremely cautious, but would come just inside, bolting out the door at the slightest sound.
I gradually brought the bowl further into the house, and she would creep in farther and farther, but always close enough to the door to bolt.

Well, last week I brought the bowl in a bit farther just to see....
Well, she came all the way in...and then into the living room. She's been with us since!!!
She's currently living in our vacant upstairs apartment until she settles in. We want to make sure she's healthy before introducing her to our cat Nala.

But she's making great progress socializing with us, using the litter box (zero accidents!) and is LOVING the blankets and toys that are something she's never had.

So, without further ado, meet Simba!!
(We originally thought she was a "he", hence Simba since we already have a Nala. But it stuck)https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cf20e2d4e7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...16d453a721.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d4b4141426.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f6b6ef2659.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ddb4fbb25c.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...8c31aa8ac1.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...4983509185.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e5ae9e94e8.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f4bc30a703.jpg

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Great job rounding her up! :gj: Now get her fixed...:rolleyes:

Congrats on getting her turned around! Sounds like she'll be able to settle in at home well once she's free to roam. :) She's a pretty girl, good luck with her!

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Great job rounding her up! :gj: Now get her fixed...:rolleyes:

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Judging from the notched ear, she's already fixed. A TNR team must have fixed her after her kittens were either born or rehomed.

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Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa

Congrats on getting her turned around! Sounds like she'll be able to settle in at home well once she's free to roam. :) She's a pretty girl, good luck with her!



Judging from the notched ear, she's already fixed. A TNR team must have fixed her after her kittens were either born or rehomed.

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Thanks!!!

Can you tell me more about the clipped ear? We were obviously curious about that. Is clipping the ear common among strays who've been fixed?
I hadn't heard that, but it makes perfect sense.

We were just gonna wait and see what the vet said....

She's pretty, btw. I hope she gets along with your other cat.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Thanks!!!

Can you tell me more about the clipped ear? We were obviously curious about that. Is clipping the ear common among strays who've been fixed?
I hadn't heard that, but it makes perfect sense.

We were just gonna wait and see what the vet said....

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In my experience I've often seen this practice used to identify strays that have been captured, fixed and released(if unable to be adopted). At least it has been with the shelters my mother and I have been involved with in the past back in Canada. My cat Milo has the same clipped ear back when he was a stray. Of course this was long before we knew he was going to adopt me and I took him home with me haha. Sometimes the cat really just chooses the person!

You can see his clipped ear here. I take him out for walks with me often on a harness :)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7aso1_1280.jpg

Also congrats on being able to gain little mama's trust and having her adjust! Hoping Simba and Nala get along over time!

Congrats on the cute kitty Craig. Way to provide a loving home for a critter in need! :gj:

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

In my experience I've often seen this practice used to identify strays that have been captured, fixed and released(if unable to be adopted). At least it has been with the shelters my mother and I have been involved with in the past back in Canada. My cat Milo has the same clipped ear back when he was a stray. Of course this was long before we knew he was going to adopt me and I took him home with me haha. Sometimes the cat really just chooses the person!

You can see his clipped ear here. I take him out for walks with me often on a harness :)

https://ball-pythons.net/forums/cach...7aso1_1280.jpg

Also congrats on being able to gain little mama's trust and having her adjust! Hoping Simba and Nala get along over time!

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Milo is such a cutie pie!!!

Congratulations on earning Simba’s trust and coaxing her inside. Thank you for having the heart to do it.

I see the tipped ears here in VA as well for catch and release ferals.

Awesome work! We have three cats, one of which was stray that had been ditched by it's momma and was found wondering around with a dog near my mother-in-law's house. My daughter fed it, and one thing led to another, he has become a pretty great house cat. Still spends more time outside than my other two, but all of the food aggression and jumpy behavior is gone.