need advice on helping Charlie pls

I have just taken in Charlie after feeding him outside our house for the last year and a half. I manged to trap him about 3 weeks ago we took him to the vet and got him fixed and tested, i was heart broken to find that he is FIV positive and blind in one eye.

He stayed at a shelter for 2 weeks well i figured out what i could do with him having 2 cats already, I ended up calling my mother to take in my 2 I just had to do what i could for Charlie. I have never socialized a cat before i have classical music playing when i am not home (being a working man) i am only able to spend 2 hours or so a day with him. i have him in a small bathroom in my basement. i go in the morning to feed him and he never comes out from behind the toliet, which is what i expect for atleast a month or more. He has been with me for just over a week now i think i have made nice progress with him he will eat treats with my hand beside them and he lets me pet his head while he eats treats i only get hissed at alittle after he eats at which time i back off.

I guess i am just looking for support i find myself questioning if i am doing the right thing. I am finding myself getting discouraged and its only been 9 days i just want to love the little guy.

any help would be appreciated
thanks
beezers

Thank you for helping Charlie!

FIV positive kitties can live long lives, just like HIV positive people can. It is all in the care and nutrition they get. Give him good food and add some L-lysine (crush up the pills) to his food. It will help boost his immune system.

If he hasn't been to the vet yet, take him. He may need some anti-biotics and he certainly needs a check-up.

With any feral or semi-feral cat, the more patient you are, the better. He needs to adjust to this new situation at his own pace - not yours.

Establish a routine - feeding, scooping the litter box, etc., should all happen at the same time every day. The music is a good idea - keep it low and calm.

Never look him in the eye. In the feral world, that's like saying "You want a piece of this?" It is a direct challenge and it will bring a negative response, for sure.

If you do catch his eye, blink slowly. You'll be telling him "it's cool."

If you can, sit in the room for a period of time every evening. Read outloud to him while ignoring him completely. His natural curiosity will soon help him begin to explore and he'll start to approach you slowly.

Good luck and God bless you!

Yes, God Bless you for taking Charlie in. The reward will be well worth it. Just give him time and patience. That is the best advice. Is your mom keeping your 2 other cats? Have they adjusted?

thanks for the help i wanted to know when i should put him in a bigger room should i wait for him to start coming to me i am not clear when i need to move him.

Sorry I have no idea what to about moving in...but we the same cat name. My cat's name is Charlie too!

Take care of your Charlie

Bless you for taking in Charlie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What is your bedroom set up like? Bedrooms are great rooms for isolation/socialization if possible, because there is nothing less threatening than a sleeping human. Of course, living under the bed can be a problem - but I just read a post in another thread by Momofmany where she solved the problem by removing the frame of the bed, I think!

Of course, there was someone here several years ago that rescued an older handicapped kitty - Penguin. I think Pengy lived under the bed for five or six months before venturing out?

But in whatever room Charlie winds up living... just try to spend as much time in there as possible, ignoring Charlie, doing whatever you can - especially down at his level. Lay down a towel and fold laundry, iron, read a book out loud, sing.....

Catnip often helps calm down a feral.
Are you using Feliway?
Bach's Rescue Remedy in the water can help: http://www.bachflower.com/Pets.htm
Harp music can help:
http://www.catfaeries.com/music-for-cats.html
http://www.musicmypet.com/

Leaving a nite light on all night is a good idea.

You know not to look him directly in the eye?

Exercise, yawn, stretch.... nap...

And do as much as you can on a schedule. Fill free feeding dish on a schedule. Provide one or two wet meals of food a day at the same time every day. Clean the litter boxes at the same time every day. Clean and fill the water dish at the same time every day. This will help him understand it is YOU providing for his needs.

Also, wherever he winds up, provide him some hiding places. A box turned on its side with the top flap hanging down is a great hiding place.

Knock gently on the door before you enter the room, and tell him gently you're coming in. Talk to him a lot.

Such a wonderful thing you're doing!

And feel free to keep us updated on his progress - and ask any questions as you go along!

Unless there is a reason to move him, I'd let him stay where he is. He will gradually get more comfrotable, especially if you slowly get him used to a routine (Like LDG said - same time for food, changing the litter, etc.)

Read outloud to him - just be there in a non-threatening way and he'll come around. It occurred to me that you'll also have to be careful not to approach him from his blind side. That would probably startle him, at the very least.

Once he gets the idea, you can introduce him to the rest of the house (and your other cats if they return to live with you). You don't have to worry about them catching the FIV virus. Just like in humans, it take a lot to transmit it. Breeding and fighting are the main ways - and if all the kitties are fixed, the prroblem is pretty much solved.

If your other two kitties do come home, just make sure all introductions are done slowly. Let them get used to the newcomer and him to them. I have a friend with seven cats - three are FIV positive and they all get along great.

About talking a lot to the cat, reading and so....


Im believing more and more in talking in a friendly voice in such cases - yes even baby talk.

They will recognize the behaviour, cats have it too:

Like a friendly tom does courting a reluctant, even hostile female.

Or mom soothing her kittens.



Yawning and stretching mentioned by LDG arent just another easy movements.
They are friendly greetings among cats.


The day he turns his behind to you against your face, you know you have won. Do blow a little puff into his behind (so he believes you did your little sniffing).

How's your lovely Charlie today?

charlie is doing well still will not come out and eat with me in the room but i can tell he is more comfortable than he was.