Need Some Advice for a Feral Cat ASAP

How is Bartholomew doing??? Just checking in and hoping all is going well in your room with everyone

Bartholomew is doing well! He comes out a lot more and it seems like he loves to watch the kittens. Sometimes I can trick him by making cat noises and he'll come out. Giving him the medicine in the wet food is working great. He makes the saddest noises at night, and I feel so bad for him. Other than that, all is well

Super news!! I was thinking of you and wondering how he is progressing and it sounds like great progress! I am so happy for him that he found someone like you to take him in, care for him and show him to way to feeling loved by someone

Such a relief he's eating his meds!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And glad to hear he's doing so well.

He sure is a lucky guy to have you!

Wow you are pretty amazing. Four kitties, a dog, and a feral cat in your room while going to school?

Bartholomew is just adorable and you did such a great job on his cage!

I never knew what ear tipping was until I read this post (and googled it). I finally know why my kitty has one clipped ear. He is the sweetest cat ever, but refuses to be medicated. I have to mix it into his canned food and hope he eats it all =)

So happy he is settling in!

I try to do what I can. Two of the kittens were adopted together on Saturday. Another was adopted today. And the other is going to his new home on Thursday. So we decided to bring in one of the cats from my grandma's because we missed her. So now we're down to two cats and two dogs

Bartholomew doesn't seem to mind the dogs at all. They walk up to his cage when he's eating and he doesn't mind them at all. On occasion he still hisses when I approach his cage, but not nearly as often. He's been coming out a lot more too. Right now he's sleeping outside of the cardboard box where we can see him. He still runs to his box when we walk by though.

How do I go about cat testing him? I haven't heard him hiss or anything at the kittens, but he's completely enclosed, so I'm not sure if that tells me anything. They would go up to the plexiglass window when he was eating and he would try to sniff them for a second and then went back to eating. To me, it seems like he loves other cats and I feel so bad for keeping him in the cage. He doesn't seem to mind the cat from my grandma's either (and she doesn't seem to mind him). She went up to the plexi glass and they both touched their noses to it all cute-like lol.

Also, he tries to get out of the cage every night by pushing on the plexiglass and trying to climb out the top. We put stuff in front of it to make sure that he can't get out, but it makes me feel so bad. How much longer should I keep him in the cage?

And what is the next step for me to do? We have left him alone for the past week (other than changing litter/food/water/giving him medicine). I talk to him sometimes. We have stayed about 10 feet away from the cage for the most part. (My bed is about 10 feet away.) We try not to startle him or anything and we try not to move too much when he's out.

He'd be released from his cage into a foster room, right? He'd just have more space and be able to interact with the other animals? Or he'd have the run of your flat?

If it's a foster room and cat proof, I say go ahead and let him out. Our Chum only took about a week to adjust to living inside. He was still scared, and often got all big-eyed... but then we were able to start introducing toys to him (terrified of them at first). Outside, Chumley was THE MOST food aggressive cat we'd ever seen. He ran off the entire feral colony, and it took them THREE DAYS to come back to eat after we'd removed him from outside.

Once inside, on a schedule - he's one of the cat-friendliest cats we've ever seen.

If he's not puffing and hissing from seeing the kitties or dogs, and he's trying to sniff and touch noses - I'd say he's probably going to be just fine.

I would keep a throw blanket at the ready, however, just in case.

He'd be released into my bedroom (where his cage currently is). I spend most of my time in my bedroom (along with my dogs). So he would just have more room to explore and be able to interact with all the animals. My only concern is that he will try to hide somewhere and not come out. And then I have to worry about leaving him with another cat when I'm gone during the day (though I'm so paranoid, I would probably keep her in a separate room when I'm not home even if he seems to get along wither her).

Also, when I was cleaning out his cage today, I noticed a couple of tufts of fur. I got on google and think that it might be ringworm, but I can't really check him to see if he has lesions. I wouldn't be surprised if he had ringworm because of where he's been and since his immune system is weakened. Any magic home remedies? lol

Since he might have ringworm, should I wait to let the cat out of the bag? (lol, I had to say it)

That's amazing that he ran off the entire colony, but is fine with cats indoors. I hope Bartholomew adjusts quickly, he seems like such a sweetheart. I need to get another picture of him on here because the first ones did not do him justice at all. I've got my camera by my bed, so next time he comes out, I'll be sure to take a few.

If you suspect ring worm, keep him isolated until you know for sure!!!!

I THINK there's some way to see it with a black light - or some type of flourescing light. I don't know if it needs to be special. Call the vet to find out what your options are for figuring out if he's got it.

Yeah I read somewhere that there's a few tests you can do to find out if it's ringworm. When I took him to get neutered, one of the vets there told me that they know this other vet from church and she gave me her number. I tried calling earlier, but she was with patients at the time. I'll call back a little later.

Here are a couple of new pictures of Bartholomew.

The fact that he didn't hiss/growl when the kittens or grandma's cat approached the plexi-glass is a real positive sign. I bet he would do just fantastic with another cat IMO. I would, however, leave his cage where it is, and leave the door open so he has somewhere to retreat to in the event he is feeling insecure. Most likely, he will run to the safety of his cage. When I started letting Magilla out of her room, she would always, like clockwork, run to her room for safety.

I would not leave the two cats unsupervised at this point. Only when you are in your room. Just get Bartholomew back into his enclosure when you have to leave. Magilla has learned, when I stomp (gently) on the floor or clank her dish she runs to her room to be fed. She is so smart and quite willing to please, she never ceases to amaze me how intelligent she is!!!! You can teach Bartholomew to return to his enclosure too, with a little food as a motivation.

It might not be ringworm. I am sure he is starting to shed out quickly going from outdoor to indoors. If you see scabs on the tufts of hair, then he might need the vet. I sure hope it is just shedding and not something else.

I'm pretty sure it's just shedding. Last night he got out of his cage because I forgot to put something in front of it. I took my grandma's cat back to her house immediately because we didn't have the time to introduce them and my fiance doesn't want to put another cat at risk, however small the chance. Bartholomew decided to take over an area that I always block off from the dogs whenever we have cats (because of the litter box and cat food). Hopefully he gets more comfortable now that he is out of his cage. I checked the sheet that I put in his cage and it was covered in fur (like he was shedding) and I sifted through all of the fur and didn't find any scabs. His coat looks like he's shedding as well.

I am dead set on socializing him, no matter how long it takes. Once he's socialized, does anyone know of any rescues that would take him in? And what's the difference between a carrier of FIV and just FIV? I was looking for rescues and I found some cats that the rescue said were only carriers and others at that same rescue just said that they were FIV+.

OH this pictures of Bartholomew are fantastic. He really is a handsome boy with a darling face. I am so happy you saved him . You can get a black light from Petsmart by Stink Free. I got mine there and it is great to have on hand! If it is ringworm, which I doubt, you have to turn out all the lights and hold the black light up close to the lesion area. It will glow, oh shoot, I am not sure of the color. Orange?? it will say on the box instructions the light came in. But now you have to hold him, in a darkened room, with this long scary purple monster light at the same time trying to part the hair to get at the lesion all the while he is squirming and scratching! Might be a problem and require two people or more . You can't just aim the black light at him from a few feet away, it won't work, it has to be inches from the lesion.

As for the FIV, I am not sure at all about that. LDG??? Are you there

I'm guessing that "carriers of FIV" is basically just a misrepresentation, actually. I believe it would mean they tested positive for FIV but aren't "sick" - like the difference between a human with HIV and someone with AIDS. But as most cats with FIV don't progress to the human equivalent of AIDS... I have no idea what they mean.

My understanding is that any cat with the FIV virus in them is having its immune system slowly degrading - they'll all be at different rates. Most cats with FIV get sick with OTHER stuff because of the gradually weaking immune system. You just have to be aggressive about treating anything, and sometimes it'll take stronger antibiotics or it'll take longer (or both).

But most cats with FIV don't seem to be sick - at least not at first, some not for many years, and some never, and they end up dying of "normal" stuff.

I believe Fiv+ (=fiv-positive) and Fiv carrier is in practice the same.


IF there is a difference only meds and vets do really know. Laymen uses the term equvalent which comes first on their tongue, I think.

All cats shed when they are nervous and I'm sure Bartholomew has been plenty nervous. Until he gets out of that enclosure you have him in, he won't start to totally relax. Have you put a sweaty sweatshirt or something with your scent on it in his enclosure so he can get used to your scent? Can you take a comb or brush and run it down his back to get some loose fur to get a closer look for ringworm? Hopefully he will have full run of the room and will be able to check it out for himself. He looks like a doll.

I read this thread and just wanted to tell you what a great thing you are doing for Bartholomew.

My Callie is fiv+ and my 3 boys are not and she has been here since Oct 2009. I was nervous at first too but my vet is great and agreed with all the kind people here and a rescue person I know in CT and said it would be ok.

Good luck He is adorable.

Since he got out on Wednesday, we decided that it would be best if we just let him stay out of the cage. I don't want to try to catch him and traumatize him again. The first couple of days, I hardly saw him at all, and I only saw him when I was looking for him. He's decided that the entertainment center in my room is the best place to hide. Today, I saw one of his cute little paws sticking out He also decided that he would go and eat and use the litter box while I was in the room. I still can't get near him without him growling, but I'm hoping it will get better. I'm pretty sure it's just shedding. I looked at his coat from a distance and didn't notice any lesions or bald patches. I try to take pictures too and then look through them to see if I notice anything.

If I could, I would brush him, but I have a feeling it will take quite some time to get to that point.


Should I continue keeping my distance from him? Or should I try to sit near him (like 4 feet away) when I'm doing homework? And what about vacuuming? I know that's an odd question, but I hate vacuuming with cats that are unfamiliar to vacuums in the room. I don't want to freak him out more than he already is. I vacuumed when he was in his cage, but I didn't vacuum near him. Now that he's out, I'm worried that he is going to freak out and hurt himself (by trying to climb the walls to escape and falling) Am I just overly paranoid?

I'm still nervous about introducing him to another cat, and my fiance doesn't want to just because we've read that about it being passed through mutual grooming (which I don't really believe anymore) and we don't know what his reaction is going to be with another cat. I would think that he would be okay, but still not completely sure.

When they say it's only transmitted through bite wounds, does that mean that just a little fight (like rough housing) could result in the other cat getting FIV?

And thank you all for all of your help and kind words, it has helped tremendously.

Originally Posted by alexisanb

Should I continue keeping my distance from him? Or should I try to sit near him (like 4 feet away) when I'm doing homework? And what about vacuuming? I know that's an odd question, but I hate vacuuming with cats that are unfamiliar to vacuums in the room. I don't want to freak him out more than he already is. I vacuumed when he was in his cage, but I didn't vacuum near him. Now that he's out, I'm worried that he is going to freak out and hurt himself (by trying to climb the walls to escape and falling) Am I just overly paranoid?

I'm still nervous about introducing him to another cat, and my fiance doesn't want to just because we've read that about it being passed through mutual grooming (which I don't really believe anymore) and we don't know what his reaction is going to be with another cat. I would think that he would be okay, but still not completely sure.

When they say it's only transmitted through bite wounds, does that mean that just a little fight (like rough housing) could result in the other cat getting FIV?

And thank you all for all of your help and kind words, it has helped tremendously.

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I think if he allows you to be 4 feet from him, minding your own business, you can begin. Make sure he has a couple of retreat places, safety zones to run to, if he cant stand it.

I agree with you - wait with vacuum cleaner. It freaking also for many home-cats. Use wet-cleaning with some wet, old towel. Or take him in a carrier (if it dont stress him) take him into say your bathroom, and vacuum the living room when is is not present.

Rough playing draws very seldom blood. My two boys do often wrestles- at least they did when they were younger. They often play rougly one standing above, the other beneath - and strikes vigoruously with their paws. Sometimes even blow themselves up against each other... (they were both studs, thus both late neutered). They had never drawn blood from each other, I think. Although at one exhibtion the vet did saw there was traces of a bite in the ear of the son.
The only blood we ever did saw was if they happened to scratch themselves.

Im not expert on Fiv+, but I know in many sickednesses, human and cat, it is important to be stressfree. Ie, a cat carrier can live many good years being a carrier. The sickedness blows up when there is some big disturbance...
Thus, keeping him stressfree, using among other Feliway, and so on, is important.

This said, I think it is wise to prolong his quarantine. First - stressfree as said. Second. When he was catched, he had extreme stress-levels. IF he is a carrier for real - there is some danger this Fiv may blow up. So you should wait longer than the usual period - till you are sure the danger is over.
How long? I dont know at this moment - this is probably the next question.

Do you ask - if the Fiv doesn blow up although his sky high stress level when catched - it is perhaps an indicium he hasnt Fiv+? A false larm?? Possibly! Discuss this with a good vet, perhaps?

Otherwise, you could soon begin with some slow, controlled introduction.
He reacted well to the previous meeting with dogs and resident cats - so normally - you wouldnt need to overdo the procedure. Here, you will play it safe.

I know I dont write entirely logical nor consistent, but I hope this is anyway for some help. You are the pilot, you must decide.

Good luck!

Absolutely, start sitting as close as you can to "B" now. Just do homework, or read and be peaceful. You can train him to go into his cage if you leave it open when you need to clean your room. And it is a good idea to teach him this anyway, I taught Magilla to retreat to her room if I need the cats put away for some cleaning. Just tap him with maybe a wand toy or something and talk to him about going into his cage and just keep persisting, he will eventually move from that hiding spot and you can direct him to his enclosure. give him a treat and close the door. You can use a clicker as well for this. I have taught Magilla the clicker and she knows now when I click to go to the safety of her room and she will get a treat.

When "B" is in the enclosure, start sitting extremely close to him and just be quiet, you can move your hand towards him, very low and kinda stroke the floor near him slowly, and then try to start petting him under his chin and the side of his neck. Don't go over his head with your hand at this time. If you don't start this next process, things will go a bit slower. I would start moving to the next step of the socialization or he could just hide for a very long time. The fact he came out to eat and use the litter box with you in the room is a very good sign too