Bringing a stray inside with 2 indoor cats

So I have 2, 3 year old neutered male cats. We got them from a kitten rescue at 3 months old. They are indoor cats.

We've had a stray grey cat coming around for the last couple months. When it first started coming around it was a total bag of bones .. you could feel every single one, so I started to feed it.

Fast forward to now .. a decent weight, very friendly, cuddly and TALKATIVE!. The only problem it has right now is it will occasionally wolf down food so fast and gag and vomit. (nurse said they are 'opportunity eaters', like lions and if they've gone with out food .. will tend to scoff the lot because they don't know were the next lot is coming from)

I took my cats to get their boosters today and decided to take it so I could find out if it was male or female as it kinda looked like there was a sack there but not really .. well it explains it because he's a neutered boy! This to me says he was someone's pet, has got lost, or dumped. He has no microchip.

I plan to go get all his vaccinations on Saturday and Aids/Leukaemia/FIP tests.

I'd really like to bring him in side ... he acts like he wants to and knows to come inside, but he really don't like my cats and hisses (they don't hiss at him, just are curious) the nurse today said it's prolly because he feels out numbered (there are also a number of feral tom cats around here so he's prolly had to fight some) .. she suggested putting him in the create and bringing him in for a couple hours at a time a day (once vaccinated) and get them used to each other that way.

I don't want to just bring him in and plonk him in the middle of all the action as I also have a 8 month old baby and I have to think of her .. I'd rather do it slowly and by stages. I've taken her out to see him, I even put her in her jumparoo on the porch and he doesn't seem bothered by her, he even let her pet him, but you just don't know how his attitude could change if he feels stressed about being trapped in with 2 other male cats.

Do you have any suggestions that could make the transition from outside to inside a bit easier .. also to help them all get a long and not to overwhelm the poor lad (yet to think of a name. My other two are Winston and Murphy!) Is it even possible to bring an outdoor cat to an totally inside cat?

I also have to try and make my husband feel better about it as I kinda guilt tripped him in to letting me help lol. His thoughts are .. This has been the boys home for 3 years, he don't want them to feel pushed out ... what about if they never get on and fight, what if he won't get used to using a litter tray (we use the breeze litter system) and what if he starts clawing the furniture. I said to him that getting them used to each other won't be over night process .. it could take a few weeks.

I mean, people do it every day, so it's got to be possible?!

TIA!!

Welcome to the Forums!


You do have exciting and sound plans. Right, go on! You will surely succeed.

The real issue is not if they will become friends - or at least, have a peacefully co-existence.. They will, this way or another.

The problem is the quarantine. You ARE thinking on it, as you are going to vaccine him and boost them residents vaccines.
But there are always SOME issues with homeless, and your boys are entirely indoors, so you must be rather strickt with prevention. If nothing else, you dont want to have fleas thorough the entire house...

Perhaps best to take him in, keep him in one room (bathroom? A dog cage in your cellar? A dog cage in your bedroom?). De-parasite him. And go on from there.

Make sure there is room for all. Also good possibilites to go aside, even hide some. - Each own food place, extra litter at different places.

This will help them to co-exist even if they dont become friends. It reduces also stress.

You can also try with a Feliway diffuser to reduce stress even more, but I dont think it will be necessary.

Do cuddle much with your residents! so they dont have any reason to be jelaous.

Etc....

Look also in the Behaviour forum. There are many threads about introducing newcomer to resident.


Tx, and good luck!

Hi and welcome, you sound like you have a good plan. My Billy cat was a stray and similar situation I fed him up and then brought him inside after him being nuetered, jabs e.t.c... all our other cats are girls and I was worried about him fitting in but a year and a half later and he is fine, actually he is a total gentleman and he lets the girls finish eating before he gets stuck in, or it could be that he just eats whats left so he can have more You sound like you are pretty clued up on introducing them slowly, I would go for it and see what happens. You are right to be wary about your baby but again you have been doing totally the right thing. Good luck and keep us updated. Ruth.x

Thanks much for your reply!

I've checked him over and I don't see any fleas (not to say there isn't eggs) He don't smell like a stray would either really. I've found a couple of ticks tho and removed them (I used to work in a dog kennel and this was routine so I can get them all out) He'll certainly get checked for this on Saturday.

I'd really like to take him to the vets sooner than Saturday, but today carrying 3 cats and 18lb baby there is much more than my post pregnancy back can take lol, so I've gotta wait till Saturday so hubby can stay with the baby.

So if I put him in my spare bedroom and shut the door, they will still be able to smell each other ok? I read somewhere to get 2 baby gates and put them on top of each other in the door way .. do you think this would be too much too soon?
Should I keep him totally quarantined for a few weeks (ie, no taking the boys in there in their creates to sniff him?) As he's been fixed, I'm hoping this means the person also saw fit to vaccinate so the threat of distemper is reduced. Like I said he's been around a while now and I've seen no signs of it.
Where would I put that Feliway diffuser .. in the room with him, or in the hallway outside?

What about a litter tray. I've still got the clay one in the garage, I'll put that in there, but do you think he'll 'get it' and start using it rather than pooping on my spare bed lol.

Sorry for all the questions, I just want to help this go as well as I can because I want to prove my hubby wrong haha. I mean if the worse comes to the absolute worse and it all goes wrong I'll find him home where he would be the only cat cause he absolutely LOVES people and a cuddle.

He had home once, so he will surely easily catch what the litter is for. Good you will use common clay litter.
With a semiferal born outside, it may be more complicated, but it shoulndt be the case here. So do not worry about this.
Unless of course he got dumped precisely because he did outside the litter... Which happens with some few cats.

Do have a couple extra litters just to be guarded: both for him and IF your resident got to be nervous..


The Feliway diffuser? You put it where you think it does the best use.

If you think he will be stressed? put it in his room.

If you think your residents may be stressed? Put it in theirs room / outside.

If you are worried for the baby, put it in the baby´ room.

Or do have two different Feliway diffusers if you want to be super-guarded.

Of course you shall ask. Asking is not only for getting answers, but while you put down the question, the thinking is proceeding, and many times you will yourself think out a good answer.

Good luck!

Thank you for rescuing this baby boy!

Cats are all about territory, so confining a new cat to one room at first is the best possible thing, especially when there are existing cats. It gives the new cat the chance to calm down, get used to the new scents, smells and sounds - and it gives the resident cats a chance to get used to the idea that there's another cat in the house.

Forget the baby gates for now - for at least the quarantine period, he should be isolated. This gives him time to make the room his "safe space." He should get all his shots and be given revolution. I'd also get a stool sample to the vet - they can test to see if he has giardia (our vet has to send it out for that. You can simply assume he has round worm at a minimum). And if he's had ticks - don't take the risk. Revolution or - I think the other one is called Advantage Plus - whatever it is that your vet uses - make sure they use the one that treats both internal and external parasites. Then you don't have to worry about it. It will last one month. Even though he'll have been inside for a month, he should be treated again. The toxins only kill adult round worm, and their life cycle is such that they need to be treated again. After that he should be OK.

But after receiving his vaccinations and being tested for FeLV and FIV, I'd recommend a quarantine of at least a week - it gives the meds the time to do their work to kill off fleas, ticks and round worm, and if he's carrying any virus - even just cold virus or anything - the stress of moving inside will make it "bloom" inside of a week or so - after that you can be pretty sure he doesn't have anything to pass on to your cats.

f you can afford it, I'd get two Feliway diffusers, and put one in his room and one in a main room where your other kitties hang out.

Given he was neutered, he probably knows how to use a box - but starting with clay litter isn't a bad idea. We actually use clumping litter right off the bat for strays - though putting a few leaves or something on the top of the litter (or whatever ground cover is outside) can help. In fact, if you have access to a pet store that sells Dr. Elsley's Cat Attract litter, you may want to use that initially then slowly blend in whatever you use with the other cats.

Then.... for just the first few days, spend whatever time you can in the room - even better with the baby some times to make sure there aren't going to be issues. Read out loud, sing, fold laundry - watch TV, sew - whatever. That said, cleaning his water dish, putting out food &etc. on a schedule (or as much as one as possible) really helps them calm down and figure out being inside with you is a good thing.

After the Revolution or Advantage plus have had a chance to do their thing - after three or four days or so, if you're petting him, wipe him all over with some wash cloths or clean rags or something. Put one under each food dish of the other cats. Have another one to put treats down onto after play sessions with the other kitties - and take one cloth and wipe it all over both of your other kitties, and put it under his food dish.

This "scent swapping" will help the cats become familiar with each others' scents prior to physically meeting - and it will help them associate each other with things they love (food, play, treats &etc).

The main thing to remember when it comes to physical introduction time is that the generally idea is to 1) Make the resident kitties think having the new kitty around is a total party. It means MORE attention, it means treats, more play &etc. and 2) ALWAYS pay attention to the resident kitties first. I know this is hard because we always feel bad for the newbie - but it helps reassure them so they're more accepting.

You can decide how to go about intros after you see the reaction to their knowledge of his presence in the house. Some kitties want to play with feet under the door - others are definitely hissy and growly about it at first. This is just a matter of time. If they care he's there, you can open the door a crack and let them sniff each other - and see how they react. If no one is hissing or growling or puffing tails or anything, they're ready to meet. I'd take one cat into his room at a time (as soon as you're sure he's comfortable and feels safe there). Have treats or wand toy (or both) to distract them - the focus should be on the food or the game - and just play it by ear. It could go great - it could be a ball of hissing fur. Have an empty can of coins ready to rattle LOUDLY to startle them out of combat if that's what happens, and hustle the resident kitty out of the room - and just work further on scent swapping and just give it more time.

And, of course, we're here for advice and support along the way!

If you have time, there are several threads where socialization levels were totally different among the cats, but in each case, kitties had to be intro'd:

Killerapple's thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=206271 Socialization / intros discussion begins like page 3? 4?

Lovewhisker's thread: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=210849

Orpheygene's thread (probably closest to your situation?) http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=213171

As to the food gobbling.... though wet food diets are healthiest for cats, we free feed dry and give them wet food once or twice a day. Don't know what you plan or how you manage it, but with gobblers, the best way to help them is to feed them numerous small meals frequently - the tighter you can stick to a schedule the better, this REALLY helps reinforce that food doesn't need to be gobbled, but it does take some time for them to learn. If you free feed kibble to your other cats, then with this boy (for now) use a large size kibble. Figure out how much a day you're going to feed him, and divide it up into as many portions as you're going to be able to regularly give him (the smaller and more frequent the better, but even if it's 3-4 times a day, that works), put a small amount on a plate (they can't "shovel" off a plate like they can out of a bowl), and set the plate up on a stool (they can't lean down to gobble). If you feed an exclusively wet food diet - do the same thing. Put it on a plate, up on a stool, &etc. And I cannot impress upon you the good it does to provide the food at the same times every day, whenever those times are going to be or how frequent or infrequent they are going to be.

Wow thanks so much for your reply! Lots of information I'm excited to bring him in and wish I could tonight! (I'm impatient lol) but one step at a time, I have to keep everyone happy and healthy!

During the day, I tend to open my front room windows a few inches (there's a bug screen in front of it so they don't get out) and he sits on my porch, the others sit on the sill sniffing him. There's been hisses and growls but no swipes so I'm hopeful!

Re putting wash cloths under their bowls, I've actually for the last week took one of my boys old beds out on to the porch and put it between his food/water bowl. He sniffed it a bit, looked at me a bit disgusted, wandered off for an hour and then came back and ate. I think he was trying to make a point

I shall keep you updated! I posted a pic of him (and my boys) in the new kids on the block section if you're interested to see him. He's a handsome lad! Even more so now he's got some meat on his bones/face. This should link: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=216353

Thanks so much again! I'm sure I'll be back with worried questions lol.

Yeah, the first time you go through it there's always a million questions.

That's great they're already "meeting" through the porch screen. That's the way another member brought in a stray kitty (it's documented in a number of threads, not just one - but has videos, which you may find helpful):

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=205008
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=206019
Remember - the cats were interacting quite a bit before they brought Marlow in:
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=206906
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=206776
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=207934
Marlow got injured outside: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=207980
...and became an indoor-only kitty: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=208543
He had a little trouble adjusting: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209520
The boys became friends, and Marlow worried about Sasha when he got sick: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=209943
He jumped on diggerled's lap: http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=212032
April 2010 - Marlow, one year later http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=215351

This is a little different than your situation, because the cats got to know each other through the screen for about 6 months, so you'll have to work a bit more on the intros than diggerled and his wife, Becky did. But I thought you'd enjoy reading this series, especially because of the videos.

IF you ever find the time to go through some of the other links and these, you'll have a great idea of how to go about this based on how kitty interacts with you and your other kitties.

...and we know that feeling too - many vibes this week just flies by and Saturday arrives with your stray safe and ready to go to the vet.

Morning!

Well being the impatient me I couldn't wait till Saturday lol. So off I went at 8am baby and cat in tow to the vets.

We decided on Charlie for a name .. kinda goes with Winston and Murphy =)

So the vet said the following:

Neutered male
Around 3 years old (Same as the other 2)
Weight: 9lb 14
Leukaemia and Aids negative
No fleas or worms (Although I still got him a tube of Revolution just to be better safe than sorry.)

He's all Rabies/Distemper vaccinated. They said as he's gonna be a indoor cat he don't need the leukaemia vaccination.

So he's now upstairs in his room with his sofa bed and litter tray! Winston and Murphy are camped outside the door supervising the whole event. There was a bit of hissing when I brought him inside and up stairs in the carrier, but that was it. The boys really are curious and want to go in and say hello!

I've put a bunch of their bedding in there so their smell is in there and they slept in there last night also. So far, so good! I'm just gonna leave him be today to be quiet as I'm sure the vaccinations will put him a bit off colour.

I really want to get one of those feliway defuser thingys, but wow they are expensive .. $40!! I've just done $200 bucks at the vets in the last week between the 3 of them so I think that might have to wait a couple weeks or my husbands gonna kick my butt haha.

I wanted to ask .. so since I've been pregnant and had a kid I seem to all of a sudden developed some kind of allergy to all cats but my own. Even freinds cats who I was totally fine with before.
I mean its not terrible, Its only if I stroke the other cats and put my hands to my face or they rub my face I get itchy eyes and sneezy. I mean its no real bother, just means I need to wash my hands after petting him, but I wondered if anyone has had this .. do you think I'll get used to him in a while and that will stop? I guess I'm ok with mine because we've had them since they were little.

Here's a couple pics of Charlie in his room! =)

Hi ya!

This is ChaoticOtter, I just didn't want to confuse anyone.

I had been trying to guess my old login name and password for days and finally figured it out lol. I'm asking if I can have this post swapped to this log in!

I blame baby brain

I'm not sure they can "combine" the two - but you can just keep using Okuda. You need to PM a moderator to ask.

I don't know about the pregnancy allergy thing - but I developed allergies as an adult. I had an allergy to cats as a kid - it was the same thing, and all I had to do was wash my hands after petting a cat. But they got worse as I got older. I take zyrtec-D because I live with 7 cats now and want them to be able to sleep with us. We use hepa air filters, vacuum a lot, put throw blankets over the couches & stuff that are easy to wash weekly and easy to pick up when company comes - also great because then I don't have to vacuum the furniture for cat hair LOL.

But.... congrats on bringing Charlie inside! So glad he's FIV, FeLV negative!

They were able to combine them!

Yea, I was holding my breath about FIP as when we first got Winston, we also got another lil kitten called Arnie, we had him a couple days and he got really sick, long story short he had FIP and had to be put to sleep. So sad

OK! So night one went great. I've been giving him small handfuls of food every couple hours at the moment. I've also been hand feeding him 1 bit at a time to try and get him used to eating slower.

He used the litter tray!

He's hiding under the futon for the most part but as soon as the Hubby and I go on he comes out. He did the funniest thing last night. I dunno if you've ever seen those fainting goats .. but he was just standing there looking at me, and just fell over like one of those and then put his feet in the air and proceeded to rub his back all over the floor purring lol. There was nothing graceful about it but I guess he likes being inside!

We had a peaceful night, no crying or howling. The boys are still camped outside the door. When I go in he can see them and still kinda growls at them and turns his back.

I did find 1 flea on his face yesterday. I squished it and then gave him a good looking over for more and couldn't find any .. or any flea dirt. I'm hoping if he did have a couple that the Revolution is gonna take care of that as the vet says it lasts a month. I'll give it a good vacuum in there today.

So yea, so far, so good, he's taken to being inside like a duck to water!!

Re allergies, I've kept a teashirt to the side that I'm wearing when I go in there to give him a cuddle.

Congratulations on your new furbaby and hurray for you for the rescue!

We have a "fainting goat" kitty so I know exactly what you're talking about Sounds like he is sooooooooo happy to be home!

Since he is comfortable with you and eating out of your hand, that is a GREAT idea for your little gobbler!

Things are still going well! I've not been able to give him as much attention as I would have liked yesterday as my daughter came down with a viral infection and a fever of 103+ However! He has started to play now and is a licker!! If you make kissy sounds he'll come lick you like a dog haha.

Thanks for the update. Hope your daughter is doing better.

Jennie is a licker too. The behavior is not exclusive to dogs, many cats like to wash their humans, or other cats in the household, it is normal cat behavior.

Hi all!

Well things are going well! On Tuesday after the week quarantine, I went and got a couple of cheap pressure baby gates and put them on top of each other in the door way so the boys could get used to seeing each other, as when the door was cracked there was still hissing and stuff.

Today I thought, well why not just take the gate down for a bit while I sit in there and see what happens. Winston went in first (Murphy was still downstairs) he sniffed around a bit .. all the time Charlie was sitting on the sofa bed observing. Then Winston stopped, sat down and then started doing these little squeaks, almost like when a cheater is calling its baby .. like a cheep, right at Charlie. Then he walked over and they sniffed noses for a few seconds. There was a little hiss from both sides, but that was it.

Then Murphy came in, and a sniff around, went up, sniffed Charlies paw .. there was a little growl from Murphy, nothing from Charlie, then Murphy went back to sniffing the room.

It went a lot better than I thought! My husband is up there supervising them at the moment. I'm super excited about this! Of course I fully expect there to be a few scuffles while they work out whos who in the house, but I'm SO happy its going well. Oh and I have one of those feliway things cause I found a $10 off token on the internet!

Here are a few pics for your viewing pleasure! Oh and I think Charlie now that he is putting on weight is gonna be bigger than Winston! (he's 10.5lbs, Murphy is small like a female cat at just 9lbs lol)

Charlie posing


Winston chattering to Charlie


Murph saying hi!


All 3!


Just hanging out.

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!!!!

That is such happy news!

LOVE the pictures!

BTW - they are all gorgeous kitties - and they're all so cute together!

Well after 1 day of the gates up, Charlie kept asking to come out .. headbutting them, scratching them, so I took them down .. it's been 24 hours of them all free range in the house. So far so good! They will tolerate each other in the same room, Charlie gets a bit mad if they go up and sniff his butt and turns round and swats them lol. Most the time he does a lil growl if they are getting too close and they are respectful and back off. They are more curious than anything else and are not going out their way to be aggressive to him.

He even went and used the breeze litter system tray I have down stairs! I'm SO happy because I can't stand the clay being tracked everywhere from the tray up stairs, so I went and brought a 2nd breeze tray today and put it up stairs..

Winston is still doing that odd chatter thing to Charlie .. you know when they sit at the window and death chatter the birds? Like that! lol. He's such a dork because Winston will initiate contact with Charlie, go up to him, they will be sniffing nose to nose and all of a sudden Winston will recoil and hiss .. Charlie gives him the .. "well you got up in MY face!" look

I'm quite shocked at how easy this has been .. from how Charlie was outside and growling and hissing at the boys thru the crack of the front door I thought this would be SO much harder!! I mean, they are not best of friends by no means, Charlie pretty much stays up stairs and the boys sleep down here, but they are tolerating each other, and who knows what will happen in a few months when they are properly used to each other, I might come home to find them all curled up!

Thanks SO much for all your excellent advice =)