I want to take in a stray male and have 2 females

[deljo]

Need advice. There are 3 strays where I work, an apartment bldg. A resident feeds them each day but it is heartbreaking to see them sitting outside staring in the office window. Its getting colder and I don't know if I can stand this much longer. They wait for the resident and when she goes out in her electric wheel chair they run to her and follow her to where she feeds them. Anyway, I have 2 adult females, one was feral and is afraid of her own shadow. The other hisses at my daughter's cat when she brings him over but has never challenged him. As far as I know the stray male has not been neutered if this would make a difference. Can't tell age, but he has one blind eye and the other is going. He needs care. He is so sweet, you can tell he has been a house cat. He needs affection, and a home. I can't jeopardize my two but Uno, "the neighborhood kids named him, maybe for his eye" needs a home and if it seems doable I'm really thinking about taking him. I would appreciate your advice as females and a male cat getting along and sharing a small space. That brings up another issue. The absolutely is not anywhere I can keep him seperate. I'm in a small 2 BR and 1Bath, no basement. He would have the run of the house and they would just have to get used to each other.

[StefanZ]

Good thinking on your part, and also your neighboor int that wheel chair.

It is easer with a neutered male to two touchy females, then yet another female. But he must be neutered first. He will be prob submissive to your resident cats, so the possible problems will be still lesser.
At their first meeting, you can use the vanilla trick. Use the search-function. Otherwise this, and the procedure of first meeting, is much describet in the behaviour forum.
You can also try with a Feliway diffuser, as your girls are somewhat touchy and one is shy.

Dont forget vet check up, including neutering, shots, deworming... Some quarantene period good (especielly if your girls are strict indoor cats).
You can have the quarantene in your bathroom, or in a dog cage in a cellar somewhere...
- You can perhaps talk with the wheel-chair neigbour to help with the quarantene?? She too wants very much to help the cats!

Hey! you can perhaps have this quarantene somewhere in this office? As said, the room doesnt need to be perfect, he can be in there in a big dog cage.


Tx for helping this guy, and also that girl of yours who is ex-ferale.

Good luck!


ps. I shall ask a mod to move this thread to the Stray forum. They have there a big experience of adopting strays, in fact there are now a somewhat similiar thread going on.

But look also around here for tips on the first meeting...

[LDG]

What a sweet thing to want to do.

We've found that integrating males is MUCH easier.

As to cats getting along... we have 7 cats (all feral rescues) in a small space - we live in an RV that is 38 feet long and 8 feet wide. The trick to making it work is VERTICAL SPACE.

If you want to adopt the male, he should be taken DIRECTLY to the vet for a neuter and a check-up BEFORE bringing him inside or home. He may have fleas, ticks, ear mites, or be carrying some disease. A fecal should be done to ensure he does not have internal parasites. Because we cannot separate cats before bringing them home and we have a kitty that has a compromised immune system, we keep the cat to be adopted at the vet for whatever length of time it takes until the vet is sure the cat is clean of parasites and not sick. We adopted our 7th cat 1 year ago tomorrow ( ). He had giardia, so had to stay at the vet for 10 days before he came home. Terrifying for him - but SO HAPPY to be in a MUCH less scary place when released into our home!

But if he were to stay for at least a couple of days, if he does NOT have external parasites, you can bring a couple of wash cloths with you, wipe him with them, and put those under your current kitties' food dish. You don't have a lot of time for them to adjust, but this will help at least a little.

I'd also buy Feliway and spray it all around (except not near the litter boxes). Buy at least one more litter box.

What we do is release them in our bedroom and shut everyone out for a few hours. I'd do it for the night if you could.

...if you don't work, this is easier. If you do work - you just have to trust they'll work it out. Make sure everyone's nails are clipped - have his clipped by the vet.

Tell your girls repeatedly they're getting a new brother, and he's homeless, so you'd appreciate it if they'd let him be.

There most likely will be hissing - even potentially some fighting. This is normal. Just watch their body language at first - best to bring him home on a weekend if you work (or whenever you can be around the most for the longest period of time). Hissing and batting - even jumping or rushing each other is normal. Ears back may happen. But ears back, black pupils and ridged back with VERY agitated tail - distract kitties as soon as possible.

...but cats are territorial, so hissing and batting, even some fighting is VERY normal. One of our cats took about four months to stop hissing at and rushing at Billy (but Bill was very submissive, so he never fought back). One of our females took a full year to stop hissing at another female rescue - a full year before we caught her grooming the "newbie."

Cats are territorial, so many older kitties are just not happy with someone new invading their territory. But they adjust! It just takes some time.

But you can do this if you want to!

[Ruthyb]

We have four female cats and adopted (or rather he adopted us) male cat last year, we got him nuetered and vet checked almost immediately and he gets on so well with the girls,he is in actual fact a true gentleman, although sometimes he tries to play a bit too rough with them but they put him in his place I think you should take this little chap and its great that you care so much, your girls will accept him I'm sure, they will be a bit weary at first but he sounds like he is a fab cat and you want to give him a great chance in life, well done you, please keep us all updated.xx