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12. The Feral Cat Setup: Long-term FostersThe “Feral Cat Setup” is for confining a feralcat over an extended period, beyond the severaldays typically required for a TNR project. A catmay need to recuperate from a serious injury like abite wound or broken limb or be treated for anillness that requires a course of antibiotics. Or youmay need to hold a mom raising a litter of newbornkittens. The Feral Cat Setup is also useful when aferal cat is being adopted and introduced intosomeone’s home (see “Socialization techniques forferal teenagers & adults” in Chapter 16.)Whether to use the Feral Cat Setup instead of atrap depends largely on how long the confinementwill last. If the cat needs to be confined for more than two weeks, the Feral Cat Setupshould be used. For less than two weeks, much depends on the particular cat’sdisposition. If he remains calm and appears relaxed, a trap should work fine. If he startsacting restless and stressed after being in a trap for a few days, the Feral Cat Setup is abetter choice.One of the worst things you can do in a long-term foster situation is let a feral catloose into a room or open space, even a bathroom. The cat will either go find a place tohide, often a spot you never knew existed, and stay there the entire time, or literally startclimbing the walls trying to escape. You lose almost all control over the situation andwhen the time comes to transport the cat out of the room, it could be difficult andpossibly dangerous to re-capture him. The Feral Cat Setup, with its den inside a cage, isa much safer way to go and will provide a more secure, comforting environment for thecat once he learns the cage is “his” space. Materials neededCage, approximately 36" L x 21" W x 24" HFeral cat denSmall litter panLitter or shredded newspaperBroomstick handle (or similar long, narrow device which can reach throughthe bars of the cage to open and shut the side door of the feral cat den)Cotton sheetNewspaperFood and water dishesSmall towel109