Conference misery::feline_v1

    Jo-Ann,
    
    I've got 4 ferals, ranging in age from 2 1/2 years to 6 months.  They
    all have the same mother and all but the kitten had the same dad.  My
    experience is that it depends on how old they were when rescued. 
    Robin, the oldest of my ferals, was about 7 months old and was quite
    used to fending for herself.  She's very quiet, and I don't think I've
    ever, ever heard a peep out of her.  Then came Biff, whom I rescued at
    about 6-8 weeks.  He's alot more outgoing than Robin, having been
    socialized earlier, but he's quiet too.  He only meows, or whines, when
    he has a complaint.  Mikey is 3 months younger than Biff, but he was
    about 6 months old before he consented to coming inside (hey, winter
    was coming).  Mikey and Biff are best friends, and although Mikey is
    rather shy, but not as bad as Robin, he's also pretty much non-vocal.
    And then there's Beth...she's the baby and I rescued her when she was
    only 4-5 weeks old.  At first, she was very withdrawn and very quiet,
    but right now, I'd give anything to shut her up.  She constantly
    chatters and chirps, she even does it in her sleep (and mine....).
    
    My vet told me that feral Moms teach their kittens not to cry so that
    they can remain hidden and not easily detected.  It's kind of a feral
    defense mechanism, I guess.  I think the longer that is patterned in
    them, the more it becomes a way of life.
    
    It's really something, though, watching them change from being in fear
    of you to actually allowing you to pet them while they purr.  I think
    the sweetest sound I ever heard was 3 days after I rescued Beth.  I
    went into the bathroom where she cowered in a corner and picked her up. 
    As I started wiping her gummy eyes and kissed her, she gave me her
    first purr.  I was hooked...
    
    Mary
    

    I really think the word, GRATEFUL, sums up how my two ex-ferals feel
    about them adopting me :^).  They are so different from the 3, spoiled
    rotten cats that *I* chose to live with!!  T.K. and Nikki never
    complain about anything and never do anything wrong.  They are quiet,
    well behaved, and very loving and affectionate.
    
    I have seen this pattern evolve in my 15 years of owning cats.  The
    stray ones were always easygoing and very eager to please.
    
    This isn't a rule of thumb with stray/feral cats, only my observations.
    
    
    -Roberta
    

    I have two domestics and one feral.  The domestics are mischivious
    and obnoxious :-) but my feral is quiet and ladylike.  Like yours,
    she never meows, but she does have the most adorable chirrup or
    squeak.  She never jumps on counters, and if trapped (again like
    yours) she never cries out.  Sits there and hopefully you will notice
    she is missing and find her!  I think she is just really SPECIAL!
    Shy and timid with strangers, but constantly chasing me around looking
    for a hug or a petting.  I would take in a feral ANY day....  My
    Suki is my favorite!
    
    Nancy

    Onxy was approx. 8 weeks old and feral when I brought him into my
    house complete with foxtail in his nose.  He spent alot of time at 
    vet initially and he had alot of forced handling in those early weeks
    in his new environment.  He was a little more standoffish when his mom 
    and siblings were around.  Since they've been placed in new homes, he's 
    become a little love bug.  He's all over me all the time and is very 
    demanding of attention.  Geez, you'd think he was one of Jo Ann's Birman 
    kittens.
    
    Onyx's sister (Shelby) was extremely shy.  According to her new mom
    she has opened up quite a bit but still runs and hides when company
    comes over.  
    
    Onyx's brother (Domino, now Baghera) was the most outgoing of the bunch 
    and basically feared nothing.  He was becoming quite the lover before he 
    went to his new home and his dad tells me he has kept that loving quality. 
    
    Mom (Paddy) was another story entirely.  She loves to be petted and 
    feels secure in her small space but open the bedroom door and give her 
    the run of the house and she freaks out, its too overwhelming for her.  
    She was quite shy when outside and only got herself captured because she 
    new all of her kittens were in our house.  We had to be very sneaky to 
    get her.
    
    By the way...I'm still willing to place Onxy in a new home in case some
    wonderful Feliner wants to take in a cat that will most likely attach
    himself to you, literally.  I love the little guy and will probably
    keep him if I don't find a home but my guys are wishing the Cat Max of
    3 would still stand.
    
    Jan

    I have threatened more than once to put Mocha outside permanently
    again. When he came to us as a stray he was so greatful to be inside
    and ate anything, and was loving. NOW.... forget it. He is so obnoxious
    he is unbearable. When EVERYTHING doesn't go his way he gets into these
    real hissy fits. He wants to go in and out when he wants to and eat
    when he wants to (even if you have fed the other cats and his food was
    eaten 'cause he didn't want to eat then) and doesn't want to be picked
    or or petted. In other words, he's a real pain. I am convinced he
    would be so much happier in a one cat household that has a cat door.
    Oh well....
    
    Ming and Miyagi are wonderful. They are purebreds and have always been
    house cats and spoiled but, they are so loving and don't act spoiled.
    They seem to appreciate everything around them. Miyagi does talk a lot
    but does it softly, (we call it the silent meow) and Ming only purrs.
    I guess what is so terrible when Mocha gets into one of his hissy fits
    it's so loud and high pitched that you couldn't ignor it and it like
    he has hit a nerve.
    
    I love hearing these stories about the different cats personalities.
    
    Barbara & her 3M's

    In my opinion I don't think the different personalities has
    anything to do with being X-ferals.  With my crew...I have some
    that meow, some that crirp, some real Macho cats, and some very
    sensitive ones. 
    
    I find there is a total difference in the two feral cats (old ones)
    that I have been working with in my neighborhood for the last 9 
    months.  I have gained the total trust of one...but not the other.  
    My guess is the one that I can't gain the total trust of yet...
    has had one heck of a rough life...and has not been treated to
    fairly by the human race.  But...I'll get to him yet!!! 
    
    Even though your little ones were born in the wild...thank god
    you captured them young enough where they haven't been beaten
    up or threatened by humans for years.  Thank god you found them...
    and they found you!!      
    
    Sandy
                        

    re: never do anything wrong -
    
    Well, BOB is the klutz of the house!  He can knock things over 
    faster than anyone I've ever seen.  He's just so darned big and
    clumsy.  He's always jumping up on things and knocking whatever
    is up there to the ground.    
    
    What a clown!