Quaratining Integrating stray with three other cats???

Hello, I have been feeding two strays I think were abandoned during the foreclosure problem here in Las Vegas. I've been feeding them for a year and they both trust me but are both male and fight a lot and hurt each other. One started coming around during the day so I had an insulated house built and a lot of days he would eat in the morning and sleep in there. After a couple months of my three cats seeing him through the screen and getting used to I let the most easy going cat, Frank,a Gray Tabby out in the walled in back yard with the cat I named Oreo....they were fine just layed around in the dirt in the sun...eventually I let the younger Gray Tabby, Tigger and my hi strung domestic shorthair, Rams, out also and they would hiss a little if he approached but are used to him and they go about their business and even sniff him. Well Oreo got in another big fight wioth Midnight the other stray and I had enough and got a carrier and put his food in the back of it and he walked right in the second day I attempted. He has trusted me for months and rolled around and let me pet him and has been like an outside pet, but I took him up to the upstairs bathroom I prepared for him with his blankets and catnip and toys and scratcher, etc.. He needs to be looked at by a vet and neutered which I will do asap but might not be possible till Monday. Sorry for long story lol...

MY QUESTION is.....I am worried how he will act tonight when his clock goes off that its getting dark and time for him to go roam and he cant' because he's stuck in a bathroom...how miserable will he be and what can I do to help him cause I will feel terrible and probably not be able to sleep over it and I want him to be happy not miserable.

Will it be a faster transition since my cats have months of experience with him or is it a whole different ballgame since he'll be in THEIR house? I am making up a spare room for him to stay in after he's checked/neutered.

Can stray cats sometimes be used to / enjoy being out all night that they NEVER get used to being in a house? Will I be making his life worse to him even though it may be a longer healthier life inside???

Will I EVER be able to leave the house with and not lock him up for fear of fighting with the other kitties? I already have to lock up Tigger because he chases Rams alot. I just need some advice and encouragement. Thank you.

Eric in Las Vegas

Neutering is practically a must in such cases. It is probably why they do fight. Neutered he will be more submissive to your residents, and the need to roam will be lesser.
So you are doing quite right.

Although his hormon niveus may be on several weeks, so it is not sure he will be more calm at once. It MAY happen, but dont count on this.

I see they had already met, and even had some fight. So you dont need to think about a real quarantene. Otherwise a quarantene is the usual recommendation...
But I gather your residents are healthy, fully vaccinated, and used to be outside?

some Quarantene is good, he has surely some fleas and worms, and you dont want them over the whole house.

Just stand out if he meows. Put on some calm music if you wish.

Tx for caring, and good luck!

You are doing everything just fine here. The cat's are fighting and will continue to fight until they are all neutered. You did the right thing by bringing in that one male. Yes, get him neutered quickly and tested for FIV/FeLK, and all shots too. He will be just fine in your spare room. You will be surprised how quickly they adjust to living indoors. He will be so happy to have a safe, warm place to sleep, food to eat, your company, toys, etc. If he does start meowing, it is just his hormones and him wanting to do what's natural. Once he is neutered, it will take a couple of weeks for him to totally settle down. Don't let him socialize with your other cats just yet. Even though they have met through the door, does not mean they will play nice inside. This cat is now IN your cats home turf. Do the introductions as if they have never met before. If you take it very slowly and wait till this boy is totally healthy and been neutered for a few weeks before attempting intros. This will also give him some time to adjust to living indoors and his new territory. It sounds like a very sweet boy . Keep us posted

Need to clarify that Oreo is not fighting with my resident cats. They have gotten along fine when he came around and I'd let my kitties out back with him. He only fought with another stray outside who is also not neutered. I plan to trap and Neuter him but don't knowwhether I can bring him in the house also.

Originally Posted by EY5150

Need to clarify that Oreo is not fighting with my resident cats. They have gotten along fine when he came around and I'd let my kitties out back with him. He only fought with another stray outside who is also not neutered.

Click to expand...

Ah, wonderful! So you wont have any problems.
And you can probably begin to integrate him quite soon (although, remember, better slow and safe than quick and sorry).

Shy, friendly toms are usually not difficult to integrate with residents, they are submissive to them.
It goes even easier after neutering. And their hormons levels drops fairly quickly after neutering.

Although not so shy, dominant and territorial toms - them must be neutered several weeks before you even try to let them meet. The risk is big they do beat up the residents. AND their hormon levels can be high also several weeks after neutering.


Good you are thinking about helping this other tom too.
If he is used to live outside, and not so friendly - yes, you can consider to let him continue to live outside. Neuter, let him rest 24-48 hours, perhaps in a dog cage in your cellar, and release. He will do OK.


Good luck!

Thanks for the words of advice....now that I think...Oreo is probably dominant and territorial lol...because the other stray Midnight would try to eat sometimes and Oreo would crouch near him with a long loud whine or noise. Only sometimes though...sometimes they were fine...and he has NEVER done that with any of my kitties when they are outside together during the day..maybe because he know they're mine and he likes me...or because its during the day and not at night?... He also like to pee on the wall surrounding the backyard and the house and whatever else to mark his territory...so he kind of has both characteristics..shy and submissive and dominant and territorial...I believe he starts the fights with the other stray going by what I've seen during the eating..

I've also noticed what sounds like respiratory issues with him. At times his breathing is loud and bronchial...asthmatic maybe? but there is something going on... and I've watched him eat hundreds of times but last night when I went in to see him after work, he hadn't eaten but immediately started eating his dry food when I came in..I guess I put him at ease....but after he stopped he had a like a violent hairball type episode but with no hairball...it didnt really sound like a hairball that i've heard with my cats over the years..it scared me....but then it stopped and he seemed ok. I'm worried about this issue especially with him going to get neutered and if they have to put him under with this breathing issue.

Also...he is doing a lot of resting...(not a whole lot more to do in a bathroom even though I have catnip toys, scratcher, etc..) and I wonder should I try to be quiet around the house or should I go about things as normal...he's in an upstairs bathroom....would having the t.v. sound and sound of me doing things around the house comfort him or frighten him?? I'm sure he's used to ambient sounds having been outdoors 24/7 but did those sounds frighten him or was he used to them....I just want to make him more at ease when I'm not in there with him.

Thank you for this advice...I'm in uncharted territory and I REALLY want Oreo to be a happy part of the family

Nay, he doesnt sound like dominant and territorial to me. Possibly normal grade, not even a cent more.

About his breething. The vet willof course check him up before the neutering. But mention this, so he will check a little more thoroughly.

As there is probably no point of neutering if he is for example seriously ill. These fights may have get him feLV, taking one example.
- IF - in this situation most rescuers chose to give the last help.
Although with a friendly cat is is probably possible to try and live on.
- So think over some what you do IF you get bad news...

There si another possibility with breething. It may be a variation of spinning. My younger resident, an ex stud, does sometimes have a peculiar breathing sound when he is lying nearby and holding company. It is a variation of spinning. He has an excellent health and had always good health.

This almost hairball retchin could have been worms. He has surely worms, as practically all homeless have, so this is no news.
Is so, it may also be the explanation of this funny breathing.
Some worm-sorts are attacking bronchis and or lungs.
so, to summarize: he does almost surely have a rather heavy infection of worms, affecting his bronchial system.

Vet will deworm him too.

So ask the vet when you are there.


Good luck!

Your vet will check out Oreo before the neutering and advise you. Also don't worry about making your normal household noises. He will get used to things quickly and he already sounds like a very friendly cat. Those cats might have been someones pets at one point in time. So adjusting to your home will probably go smoothly for Oreo. Hope he is doing well tonight

He's doing ok..sleeping a lot...I go in there every few hours to check on him. He took the scab off a wound on his left front elbow area. I worry about his breathing and his stomach makes a lot of noise after eating when lying down. I went to the bathroom a lot yesterday and I should have been more careful cleaning his litter pan..forgot about worms...I just hope me or my other kitties don't get anything he may have..I wouldn't forgive myself...I just care so much I forget to be careful....vet appt in the morning..I will pray tonight..

I do understand your concern and this is the chance we all take when we rescue these poor cats. Yes, I bet there is a worm overload in this cat and that could cause the noises in his tummy. I am sure you haven't passed anything on to your cats, just keep his cat pan scooped and wash your hands after scooping. I would bring a stool sample in with you tomorrow to the vet. But even so, the cat will need deworming anyway. Will send prayers your way for a great vet visit tomorrow.

**UPDATE**

Got Oreo into carrier and took him to my longtime vet Dr. Fontes at Sunridge Animal Hospital. He wouldnt let Dr. Fontes examine him he bolted and jumped to a high window and then up on top of some cabinets. We got him down nudging him with a broom and got him in a large vet carrier so they have to put him under to take care of him....a 2 week antibiotic shot for his left elbow wound, Aids and Leukemia tests, Fecal exam, neutering, clipping nails... The Doc said I can probably pick him up about 6 or 7 this evening. Oreos gonna be so mad at me lol...but it had to be done.

Should I have a big soft cat bed or something will he need something soft to lay on..will he be sore? I'm thinking Ishould get some Nutro cat food thats for easy digestion also?....

Thanks for everyones suggestions and caring...hopefully everything goes well and we can move on into Oreo getting settled into the home and family

OH MY!! I can just picture Oreo flying around that room. Oh, the dreaded broom I have seen that before with very frightened cats. Actually, Oreo will be bonding even stronger with you after all of this today. . You will be the one picking him up and bringing him back to safety . So you are going to be a "sight for sore eyes" when you pick him up.

Sure a nice soft, cozy bed would be a welcome place for him to sleep tonight. As for diet, I have had luck (only temporarily though) with asking the vet for some Hill's Prescription W/D cat food. Comes in wet and dry and is easy to digest, gentle on their tummies and will help firm up the stool during the two weeks that he will probably be getting de-wormed. Then you can integrate the Nutro if that is what you are feeding. Just ask the vet about a good diet for Oreo during the next couple of weeks, it has been alot of stress too . And stress on you too Will be praying for the tests to come back negative

Ok.....after his adrenaline came down from going to the vet, yesterday he was really tired and probably somewhat sore too, so he slept most of the day....he started getting restless and meowing about midnight or so...I went in to give him some treats, calm him that I was still there, talked to him and pet him and rubbed his tummy, then he went back up on the bathroom counter and curled up. We all went to bed and this morning I just felt awful that he was locked up in that dungeon of a bathroom with no window to speak of when there was a nice pleasant spare room with a window bunk beds and everything waiting for him, so later this morning I went in and put some wet food in his carrier, praying he wound go in ....and he did! I closed it gently behind him and reassured him we were only going a few feet and not to anyplace bad

I gently set down the carrier and opened the door and talked to him gently and he slowly came out and sniffed a couple things..then right under the bottom bed lol ...it's a tube like bunk bed with a nice big futon on the bottom with some blankets set up for him to curl up on or just the mattress in a part in case he likes firm. and the upper bed the same way, and I placed a little desk and a little book shelf (secured) strategically so that he could hop up to top bunk if he wants. Little desk and bookshelf are also right by window so he can finally have some things to see besides a mirror and walls lol.

I went out to clean his litter and bring it back in and after only 10 minutes in the room he was already up on the futon laying in a blanket, although when I came in he went back down under......but I think he might actually like this room

NOW MY QUESTION on sound. He has been a stray and I'm sure used to constant noise day and night of people, dogs, cars at all hours, wind, etc... When I first brought him into the bathroom he seemed to meow if it was quiet so I kept the downstairs t.v. running all night so the sound would come up for him, and I think it helped, though not 100% positive, but since he is used to noise I would maybe think so.

I don't want to leave a t.v. running all the time...it's hard for me to sleep...but should I get a little radio and put it to a talk station and leave it really low in his room just so that it's not silent, or would I be starting something that would have to be permanent for him...the room he's in now is facing the street so he should get noise from the cars, etc..hopefully enough to make him at ease? Thanks!!!

AWWWW What a good boy he is . Going in that carrier and being so trusting of you is very telling . I am sure Oreo is loving his new accomodations and his own private room. Sounds just perfect . I do have a small TV in my foster room that I will leave on just for a few hours during the day. I also have a small radio and play classical or harp (recommended by a long time member here on TCS) music. I guess cats have approved that type of music . So you could leave at least a radio on low for Oreo. You are right, he is used to all of the outside noises, but not used to the inside noises and might be hyper-vigilant in the beginning with any noise. That is just normal and he will adjust to the household noises and the "silence" too . He might actually really appreciate some quiet . Am enjoying hearing about Oreo... hope you both have a great night

p.s. Did the vet ever say anything about the breathing noises? Maybe he couldn't even listen to his lungs/heart if he was too wild. Bless his little heart

Oh yeah lol Dr. said heart and lungs sounded fine...I actually think it might be snoring lol. Cause I think he was so tired..when he'd lay down with his head up..that half lay down thing or relaxed sitting whichever it is..lol that's when the noise would start and yesterday when I heard I looked and his eyes were closed. So if doc says he's good I'm glad.
I still need to figure what to do late at night because that's when he's most awake and I'm sure wants to wander...he meows and when I start to come in the door he's right there and tries to get out..and acts like he's unhappy. So I got a scratching post, catnip, big feather toy since hes a big tomcat, and a sisal post toy with a ball on top in addition to the catnip cigar, shoelaces and balls. I just want stuff for him to do....so tonight before I go to bed ( I go to bed late usually between midnight & one) and I'll try to have a good play session with him so hopefully that will help.

Another question, tomorrow I'm thinking of cracking the window (theres a screen) and maybe letting some fresh air and sounds come in...would this be a good or bad idea...would it help him or get him wanting to go outside more??

Too be continued.....

Good news about the breathing . I would definitely start to have play sessions at night with Oreo. I do this with my cats each night, and actually they are so scheduled about it, that if I am late getting started, they start bugging me about it . Lots of great inexpensive toys out there to choose from. Da Bird and Cat Dancer (this one is on a wire with cardboard rolls on the end and it looks like a dragon fly is about three bucks at Petco) are favorites for most cats. Oreo should love this time with you and you will bond quickly. Your other cats might want some playtime with you as well, they will know what you are doing in that room Don't leave the wand toys out, cats will eat the string or get tangled up and could strangle themselves. Just put them away when you are done.

Be very careful about the window. If you open it about two inches and it is HARD for you to pull up on it, then I think it would be alright. But if you think Oreo could push it up further on his own, then I wouldn't do it. I have pretty sticky windows and my cats cannot push them open, but I did have heard of cats trying to get them to open up more. There is also screen grills you can get at Home Depot or I think Lowes too. I haven't used them, but know other's who put them up to keep their cats from pushing out the screens.

How are your other cats doing with the new friend behind closed doors??

Thanks for all the toy advice My windows actually open from the side so I just slide them open from the side. All the screens seem like they would be really hard to push out, but I don't think any of my Kitties have really tried, although Oreo might, huh. I just wonder if the outside sounds will soothe or give him flashbacks.

Yeah my kitties realize Oreos in the house. I know they've heard him meow and smelled under the bathroom door when he was in there. The good thing is it was a spare bathroom and this is a spare bedroom which the doors were always closed so my cats aren't noticing anything different lol.

Oreo is actually not new to them at all He has been coming to our back porch for a year...first only at night and then coming in the morning too..I would feed him and it took a loooong time but he started trusting me to pet him etc...but all the time the screen was closed but they would see and smell each other every day through the screen.. About a month ago when I realized how gentle Oreo was on a daily basis, I let Frank my mello cat out with him and they just had a ball laying in the dirt lol. Then I started letting them all out with him so they've had a month or more even of spending time out with Oreo so they are all familiar

Just read through this thread. Congratulations on rescuing Oreo and welcome to TCS!

Is Midnight next?

Midnight is next but will have to be a trap and neuter as he doesn't come around during the day only in the middle of the night. He at least needs to be neutered though. He and Oreo were fighting for at least a year that I know of and Oreo just naturally came during the day and bonded with me and never showed aggression to my babies.

I'm not sure beyond neutering for Midnight since I will already have 4 cats with Oreo and I'm already violating my HOA big time but I have had an unbelievable lady Sandy whos cell # I was given by a friend and she is at the Humane Society. I've talked with her at least 50 times through this process so if it is not possible for me to give Midnight a home, I know Sandy with her personal relationship with me and how much she cares she would personally oversee getting Midnight a home...although I'll miss him

Sounds like the perfect introduction already has been done with your cats and Oreo. A year with them sniffing through a screen would do it Frank and Oreo sound like they for sure are already friends. I am sure all of your cats will readily and quickly accept Oreo when the time is right for you.

I sure hope Midnight can get trapped and fixed soon. That would be excellent to have the help of Sandy, she must be a great lady with a big heart.

Hope Oreo is doing well tonight