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.

Simba is doing well. She isn't darting under the bed when she hears us coming upstairs any more. She's following us around while we're up there and happily taking treats from our hands. She's still not letting us get more than a quick pat or two in but she's rubbed up against us a few times. And she'll plop down and go to sleep in the open while we're in the room. So she's clearly feeling more comfortable. Here's a few more pics of the little cutie.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...feacdfe5a9.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dc4469c7d7.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...ca616c7cbb.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d1451d155b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...98bb2250aa.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...7f1aa93e78.jpg

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She's a beautiful cat, I like her fur...& those eyes! Sounds like she's pretty happy to be living the easy life indoors. :gj:

Glad she’s starting to settle down a bit for you Craig ,really nice looking cat


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We got an update on Simba yesterday. We were out in the yard and the neighbor came walking over. She asked if we had seen the stray lately.

She was soooooooo relieved that Simba was inside and living with us now.

Apparently the neighbor was the one who trapped Simba after she had kittens. One of her cats was the father, so she felt like she should fix Simba before she had another litter of strays. But she had no intention of keeping the "feral stray" indoors so released her back into the neighborhood.

Turns out Simba had an ovarian cyst when she was brought it to the vet for spaying. The vet told the neighbor that had she not brought the cat in she would have been dead in months.

....So, Simba is also a survivor!!!

She's doing extremely well and acclimating nicely. She not nearly as shy and seems to enjoy our company now. Instead of darting under the bed when she hears us coming up the stairs she's now waiting at the door for us.
She seems to be learning her name. She's allowing more and more petting, but still not a lot. She's figured out that her pink dish is for her "scoops" of canned food and will often follow us into the kitchen when we grab her dish. Then when we start walking back to her room, she trots ahead of us and sits where her dish goes.
She's become much more playful, but still prefers to play on her own while we watch.
So far her favorite toys are flip flops and pipe cleaners!!!

Anyway, here she is with her favorite toy...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...cfb96f37dc.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...3ddac7e619.jpg

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What an awesome story, Craig! Sounds like it was just meant to be.

Thanks for being the one who stepped up for that poor baby. That's truly awesome.

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Originally Posted by Shayne

What an awesome story, Craig! Sounds like it was just meant to be.

Thanks for being the one who stepped up for that poor baby. That's truly awesome.

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Thanks, it was a long journey to get her in. We just hated worrying about her in the winter... but no longer! :)

She's turning out to be a great addition to the family. And she definitely seems happy to be a domesticated house cat.
She may never be a "lap cat", but we love her just the way she is.



Ooooh, and P.S. those of you who thought the clipped ear was when she was spayed were absolutely right. The neighbor confirmed that but I forgot to mention it earlier.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

Thanks, it was a long journey to get her in. We just hated worrying about her in the winter... but no longer! :)

She's turning out to be a great addition to the family. And she definitely seems happy to be a domesticated house cat.
She may never be a "lap cat", but we love her just the way she is.



Ooooh, and P.S. those of you who thought the clipped ear was when she was spayed were absolutely right. The neighbor confirmed that but I forgot to mention it earlier.

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Great to hear she's doing so well with you Craig! It's always so nice and comforting to see strays being taken in and cared for with the patience and commitment they deserve! And wow what a little survivor!

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Originally Posted by MissterDog

Great to hear she's doing so well with you Craig! It's always so nice and comforting to see strays being taken in and cared for with the patience and commitment they deserve! And wow what a little survivor!

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Thanks! She's coming along. We have her upstairs still in our empty apartment. But we make sure we spend time upstairs with her a few times a day. We still want her to acclimate before introducing her to our other cat.

Simba is doing well. She's much more comfortable around us and even approaches us for a quick pat now and then. She still doesn't let us pet her for long, but let's us more often. She's a sweet cat and seems happy to have found her way off the "mean streets" of my little town and into the family.

Simba and Nala have been introduced, with so-so results. Nala just hissed while Simaba tried to sniff Nala. Then they just stared at each other from a few feet away.
The second time they met Nala hissed again while Simba looked curious and friendly. Nala just casually left the room and that was that.
I think Nala is just being protective of "her" house and showing Simba that she's boss, hahahha.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...dcb083d005.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...44abc13a7a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e5c5d65e20.jpg

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Glad to see that things are falling in place for Simba. Hopefully Nala will warm up some more soon.

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Originally Posted by Reinz

Glad to see that things are falling in place for Simba. Hopefully Nala will warm up some more soon.

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We're hoping so too. Nala is 11 years old and has never lived with another cat, so hopefully she figures out that it's ok sooner than later

I figured today was a good day for an update on Simba, it's Cat Saturday after all...

She's doing extremely well :D

We got our first snowfall of the year this week, only 20" in two days (uggggggh...I HATE SNOW!!!!) and while hanging out with Simba we realized we won't have to worry about Simba all winter like the past two...she's warm and toasty inside!!
We used to worry about her all winter long, and it was worse after a storm. We'd usually go days without seeing her after a storm, but not this year!!

She's acclimated really well to becoming an indoor cat. Whoever said this cat was feral must have been cuckoo, she's a little angel wrapped in fur.

Unfortunately, she's still living upstairs since Nala is too set in her ways to share her living space. Simba tries coming down but Nala hisses and chases her back upstairs. Now we just keep them separated. But we spend time with her every day a few times a day. She's definitely developed an attachment, she follows us around now, purrs like crazy and has been letting us pet her a bit, but only when she's on her blanket :confusd:

Anyway, she's doing really well and we're so happy she's safe indoors and a part of the family :D

I figured I'd share a pic or two, please forgive the crappy quality.

Here she is kneading and taking a treat from her Momma.
P.S. she's definitely put on a little weight since March!! Hahahahttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...56917b5897.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...31921bd4e8.jpg

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Simba has made HUGE strides the past few months. She's now scenting/rubbing her head on our feet and legs when we're sitting on the floor with her. She's getting more comfortable with us patting her a little here and there, but still a little unsure. She'll climb up onto our laps to get a treat, but as soon as she's got her treat she's gone, hahaha. She likes to lay real close to us, but still far enough that it's on her terms and she can bolt if she gets spooked. She's become MUCH more playful with her toys and will play with us a little now. She's such a little cutie pie and has become a loved family member. Here are a few new pics...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...555132b3c5.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...c485664002.jpg

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I don't know what's up with Tapatalk, but it keeps screwing up my pictures....
Let's try this again...https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...e93ef9f050.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7b7f55e635.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...aec813243b.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...4ec88d4029.jpg

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Lovely eyes on her Craig, glad she's settling in got you

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Originally Posted by richardhind1972

Lovely eyes on her Craig, glad she's settling in got you

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Thanks Richard!! She does have pretty eyes, especially in the sun.

Not just eyes...I like her coat colors too. She's very lucky & I'm glad she's learning to really trust you all.

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Originally Posted by Bogertophis

Not just eyes...I like her coat colors too. She's very lucky & I'm glad she's learning to really trust you all.

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Thanks!! Her coat is beautiful. She's got such jet black fur, with beautiful greys, whites and tans throughout. She's got the cutest little chin and black lips too.

I kinda forgot to update here....

BIG NEWS!!! Simba lets us pat her!!!

She's so funny, she's still only comfortable in "her" room. If she's in another room when we get upstairs she bolts into her room. That's the only room she'll let us near her in.

She also has her blue blanket on her bed. This is the only place we can pat her so far, but it's a start!!!
It started slowly with us coaxing her with treats, and she looked terrified at the same time she appeared to be loving it.

Now, as soon as we get upstairs she hops on her blue blanket and lays right down for pats. She even skips her treat in favor of pats!! It's like she realized what she's been missing and wants all the loving she can get!!

I'll get some pics tonight after Katie gets home. I just realized I haven't taken any.
...and what's a cat story without cats pics????

Such a pretty lady!! So wonderful that the trusting relationship is building! [emoji3590][emoji3590][emoji3590]

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Originally Posted by MamaRhea

Such a pretty lady!! So wonderful that the trusting relationship is building! [emoji3590][emoji3590][emoji3590]

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She's becoming such a sweet cat. Whoever deemed her feral is a fool. She's never showed any aggression, she's just been reluctant to trust. But those first pats were priceless, it felt so good to know we've earned her trust. Only took 10+ months, hahhahahaha. But so worth it.

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Originally Posted by Craiga 01453

She's becoming such a sweet cat. Whoever deemed her feral is a fool. She's never showed any aggression, she's just been reluctant to trust. But those first pats were priceless, it felt so good to know we've earned her trust. Only took 10+ months, hahhahahaha. But so worth it.

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I'm sure it'll start to go quicker now that she's officially decided that you probably won't eat her. It really is so rewarding to earn an animals trust. Honestly it means more than earning a person's trust. They are just so pure [emoji7]

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Originally Posted by MamaRhea

I'm sure it'll start to go quicker now that she's officially decided that you probably won't eat her. It really is so rewarding to earn an animals trust. Honestly it means more than earning a person's trust. They are just so pure [emoji7]

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I couldn't agree more. You can fool people, animals know. And let's be honest, I like animals better anyway :rofl:

And you're right, it's like once she realized she could relax and enjoy it, it's all she wants. My snake room is upstairs too (closed off of course) and when I'm up there in the snake room Simba meows and meows until I go in and pet her. Well the last two days anyway...
The next step will be to pick her up.

Here are a few pics. I wish they came out better, but there's a happy kitty there and that's what's important. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...9efc489fb0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...7b1b79a6cc.jpg

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Ok, Tapatalk is really ticking me off lately!!!!
Let's try this again!!! https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...76062d3093.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...bbce545f64.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...599829ae04.jpg

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Lol at that happy girl!

"Ohhhh so THIS is what love feels like... Never stop"

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