Operation Fred-Chapter Seven
101 Ways to NOT Catch a Cat
I felt so sure that I was ready. The cage had arrived and was easy to set up. I practiced putting food in it a few times to make sure I knew that it could be sprung. I took it out on the porch and set it next to the carrying case to get him used to it.
I had set up one of our guest rooms just for Fred. I put the pillows, blankets, and linens in the closet, removed anything that could be knocked over and broken, set down a towel for the food and water dishes and set up the litter box, complete with sticks and leaves from the yard, following my online research about how to get an outdoor cat to use a litter box.
I had purchased calming collars for both Fred and Penelope. Penelope had been wearing hers already for several days. I also began to add calming probiotics to Fred’s food, along with deworming meds and flea and tick meds. I had a backup of gabapentin, but that would be a last resort step.
I had called a vet who said to just call them when we had him trapped, and we’d go from there. I also had about 5 other backup vet options just in case. I was ready!
It was in these days that Operation Fred was originally dubbed “Project Fred.” Somone told me that my efforts were much like a special military project, taking every tiny detail into account for success.
Preparation was coming along nicely, and Fred and I were still experiencing firsts. I had tried several times for him to take treats from my hand to no avail. But a friend of mine suggested putting wet cat food on my hands to see if he would take his “treats” that way, and I decided to give it a try.
I must admit that it was a pretty gross feeling, and I had a little bit of anxiety about potentially getting bitten, but I did it anyway. And it worked! Another major milestone passed.
With all these successes, I was certain everything would go smoothly.
The best laid plans…
We decided that July 17 was the day. I was ready. So ready! And so eager.
And on July 17, Project Fred became Operation Fred. This was the start of something amazing!
But instead, it was a disaster. An unmitigated disaster.
First, my plan was to put food in the cage, cover the cage with a blanket (as if he knew what a cage was), run back inside, and watch for him to calmly walk in, eat the food, and spring the trap.
Looking back now I so clearly see all the mistakes I made, and there were many of them.
But let’s start with the disaster first and work backwards to my mistakes. Fred did indeed test out the cage to find the food. He got his head in, started on the food, and spring the trap.
Problem number one? Fred was too big for the cage. At least a quarter of his body was still outside of the trap, so when it sprung, he got a whack to the back instead of a door closed behind him.
He ran so fast off the porch, up the fence and over, that I could only watch in horror. I not only made a bad mistake. I could have hurt him. As the tears ran down my face, I also feared that I had blown it. I thought I lost him forever.
I was almost inconsolable that whole day. Just writing about it now brings back all the guilt.
Of my many mistakes that day, I realized that the biggest one of all was that I changed the rules. Whatever made me think I could just put out a cage, throw a blanket over it and run in and hide? We had been having breakfast together for weeks now, and I not only changed the routine, but I inserted new things too quickly.
I was too eager. Too impatient. Too fixated on being able to get this done on my time that I didn’t take him into account. I prayed that he would come back again. I looked for him at dinner time, and stayed up late, hoping he would show up. By morning I was devastated and certain all was lost, especially since Penelope didn’t announce his arrival.
But much to my complete joy, there he was, at the back door as usual, the next morning.
I had a chance to do it again and do it right. Operation Fred was in its next phase. Step one: buy a bigger cage.
Momma’s POV–Chapter Seven
OK, let’s do this! I think I have everything ready. I have talked to everyone possible to help me make this a success, and they have confidence in my plan. I really want to get this done this week
Momma’s POV - Chapter Seven
OK, let’s do this! I think I have everything ready. I have talked to everyone possible to help me make this a success, and they have confidence in my plan. I really want to get this done this week. We leave for Kristi’s wedding in two weeks, and I’d like to know that we have Fred captured, neutered, healed, and acclimated before we go. I think we’ll be in great shape and he and Penelope will be adjusted by then.
We were able to determine this week that Fred is, indeed, male. He must be younger than we thought though since we hadn’t really noticed until now.
Tomorrow is the day. I am so glad we’ll have him trapped by this time tomorrow. Tonight, he was lounging on our front porch again before we went to bed. All of a sudden, he perked up. I looked out into the street to see one of the neighbor cats crossing the street slowly, as if to come over to say hello. But Fred stood up, hissed, and then took off after the cat!
Afraid for him, I opened the door and watched Fred defend our home. There was a scuffle, but I cried out, scaring both cats. The neighbor cat slunk away. Fred looked at me strangely, and then meandered down the street.
Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.
Fred’s POV – Chapter Seven
I love coming for breakfast every morning. Momma is pretty nice. She gives me lots of nice food, and she spends so much time with me. I don’t feel lonely when I am with her.
Fred’s POV – Chapter Seven
I love coming for breakfast every morning. Momma is pretty nice. She gives me lots of nice food, and she spends so much time with me. I don’t feel lonely when I am with her.
But this morning, something is wrong. Momma isn’t bringing out all of her things to sit with me. She is bringing out food. I can smell it. But she’s putting it somewhere that I can’t see.
Why is she doing that? And why is she acting so strange? She smells different to me, and I don’t know what it is.
Now she’s back in the house, just looking at me. This isn’t how we have breakfast. But I am pretty hungry, so I’ll just go see where she put the food.
Oh! It’s in here. This strange box. It’s pretty dark, but I can smell the food. Let me just take a bite. OW!!!
Ouch! That really hurt! Something in this box just hit me!
I must leave. Get out of here. Be safe.
Why did momma let me get hurt?