Living on a rural residential property in Mishicot, Wisconsin, we’re used to wildlife passing through. Deer, turkeys, opossums, raccoons, a coyote here and there – and cats. Most of the time, they keep their distance and move on.
Last year, we noticed an adult cat wandering the property. We hoped she belonged to someone nearby, and for a while there wasn’t much reason to think otherwise. Then, in early summer, we found a deceased young kitten near our driveway. There were no other kittens in sight.
That was the first sign that we might be dealing with an unowned, outdoor cat.
Winter Tracks in the Snow
Fast forward to December. As the weather turned colder, we started seeing small tracks in the snow near our goat pasture. Not long after that, we caught brief glimpses of a juvenile cat. He would bolt the second he realized we were looking at him.
Because he looked young and the forecast was calling for a deep freeze with nearly -50 wind chills, we made the decision to try to catch him before temperatures dropped further. The goal wasn’t to bring him inside permanently or force socialization – it was simply about safety and preventing another litter come spring.
We successfully trapped him.
And then immediately learned just how far out veterinary clinics are booking surgeries.
Definitely backwards. But here we are.
Who He Is (and Who He Isn’t)
It became clear very quickly that this cat is feral and unsocialized. He doesn’t want attention, doesn’t seek interaction, and prefers that we pretend he doesn’t exist.
At the same time, he surprised us.
He eats well. He uses the litter box reliably. On camera, we see him stretched out, relaxed, grooming, and resting. As long as we keep interaction minimal, he seems to be handling crate life far better than we expected.
He’s also extremely interested in the goats.
Because of that, we think there’s a decent chance he could settle into life as a barn cat once neutered – assuming he chooses to stay. We’re realistic about the fact that outdoor cats ultimately decide for themselves.
The Plan Going Forward
- Take him to a TNR rescue at the appointment we managed to book next week
- Check for a microchip
- Have him neutered, vaccinated, tested for FeLV, and ear-tipped
- Allow a short recovery period in a quiet shelter
- Contain him near the goats for about a month
- Release him with daily access to food and shelter
From there, we’ll see what he decides. If he sticks around, great. If not, he’ll still be healthier, safer, and no longer contributing to the feral cycle.
We’re also keeping an eye out for his mother. If we can trap her, she’ll be checked for a microchip as well, and spayed if she isn’t owned.
Why We’re Doing This
This isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about responding thoughtfully when a situation presents itself.
Feral and semi-feral cats live in a difficult in-between space. Helping them doesn’t always look like adoption or socialization. Sometimes it looks like quiet intervention, patience, and letting them remain who they are – just with fewer risks.
Operation CatNap is still unfolding, but one thing is already clear: doing something small and imperfect is better than doing nothing at all.
