Meet Tux, our feral (now very friendly)cat we saved from a life on the streets. Not only do we rehab houses, we
rehab cats. Tux is a Maine Coon mix, and lived in the neighborhood for 5-8 years, lurking in our bushes, and
listening to us, but not getting too close. Even then he was intrigued by human company.
When he started to spray a bit too frequently and was upsetting our other cats, we decided to trap, neuter, and
release (TNR) a commonly used protocol for treating feral cats. We stuffed him in a canvas mail sack (he didn't
even scratch!), then fought furiously all the way to the vet, where she immediately sedated him, sticking him
right through the mail sack.!!
rehab cats. Tux is a Maine Coon mix, and lived in the neighborhood for 5-8 years, lurking in our bushes, and
listening to us, but not getting too close. Even then he was intrigued by human company.
When he started to spray a bit too frequently and was upsetting our other cats, we decided to trap, neuter, and
release (TNR) a commonly used protocol for treating feral cats. We stuffed him in a canvas mail sack (he didn't
even scratch!), then fought furiously all the way to the vet, where she immediately sedated him, sticking him
right through the mail sack.!!
Well, this was in late February, and for his recovery we let Tux stay in our garage for a few days, and off course
we fed him dry cat food, and provided a litter box, expecting him to refuse both. He did catch on to the
mysteries of the cat box, and did like the unusual cat food. We only use premium type cat food, and this brand
had different colored and shaped kibble to represent the different nutrients. Well, Tux liked them all except
for his green peas. He managed to eat around every last one of them! We released Tux back into his
environment, in a calmer state and with shave marks all over him. He looked like a child with a razor had
gotten a hold of him - the vet had shaved his and treated numerous battle scars, and had to completely shave
his wonderful tail.
We trapped, we neutered, we released. Only flaw - he returned! He liked that cave he was in, and he REALLY
liked to not hunt down his food. He adopted us slowly over a period of several months, and is now a
cherished member of our family . His hair has all grown back in, his coat is remarkably fluffy and silky
Our Tux has blossomed from a near-starving 13 pounds (average male cats weigh 8 pounds) to a stately 21
pounds, as you can see below!
we fed him dry cat food, and provided a litter box, expecting him to refuse both. He did catch on to the
mysteries of the cat box, and did like the unusual cat food. We only use premium type cat food, and this brand
had different colored and shaped kibble to represent the different nutrients. Well, Tux liked them all except
for his green peas. He managed to eat around every last one of them! We released Tux back into his
environment, in a calmer state and with shave marks all over him. He looked like a child with a razor had
gotten a hold of him - the vet had shaved his and treated numerous battle scars, and had to completely shave
his wonderful tail.
We trapped, we neutered, we released. Only flaw - he returned! He liked that cave he was in, and he REALLY
liked to not hunt down his food. He adopted us slowly over a period of several months, and is now a
cherished member of our family . His hair has all grown back in, his coat is remarkably fluffy and silky
Our Tux has blossomed from a near-starving 13 pounds (average male cats weigh 8 pounds) to a stately 21
pounds, as you can see below!
| Tux, Our Mascot Cat |
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