Introducing feral cat and kitten to resident cats.

I safe-trapped a 6-month old feral cat last November and the next day, she gave birth to three kittens. One kitten died, I found an excellent home for another kitten, and due to the intense protection that mama cat gave to the third kitten, I kept both both that kitten, Jem, and mama cat, Scout. The kitten is now 7 months old, mama cat has been spayed, and they are living together quite happily in a guest bedroom.
The kitten, Jem, seems willing to approach my three other resident adults cats, but Scout hisses at them and hides from them for extended periods of time, thus having no access to her litter box, food, or water. As a result, I haven't allowed introductions between the two sets of cats.
Does anyone have ideas on how to integrate Scout and Jem with the resident cats?

Hi Sunger and welcome to the site . Scout is being protective of Jem. Usually, feral cats will get along with other cats quite readily unless they are unaltered and wanting to breed or have kittens or are going to give birth soon. If Jem is already acclimated to your other cats, then I would allow Jem to be out with the resident cats and keep Scout in that room alone until such time that Jem is completely part of your other group. Do your other cats already like Jem too? You might have to put another litter box somewhere near that room where Jem was living, just so Jem can readily have access to a box near her safe room. Once Scout is separated from her kitten, then I think things will progress somewhat from there. After Jem is part of the resident group, then you can allow Scout out for only short intervals at a time to investigate. Scout will see that Jem is already accepted by the other cats and will not feel as protective or threatened. Try to have some wand toys ready to distract any cats from overracting to eachother. Play sessions can also help bond cats together and is a great way to burn off energy. But, be watchful, some cats get too fired up in play sessions and then can redirect this onto another cat. My Perla does this when she plays, she gets jealous and overexcited and then lashes out at one of her brother's. You can expect some hissing/growling in the beginning of any cat introductions, this is normal. If you do regular, short sessions with Scout out and then return her to her room, things will go more smoothly. Then you can start to leave her out longer and longer, only when you are home. Eventually, you can leave her out all day, but keep her in that room at night. And eventually you should be able to leave her out day and night. This could take a week or could take a couple of months. You will know when it is safe to leave her our unattended. that intros go smoothly!!

Thank you, feralvr, for your ideas. I have previously allowed Jem to investigate the house and interact with the resident cats, but I haven't tried it with Scout staying in the bedroom with the doors closed. I'm going to try that soon.

Hi and Welcome!

I do agree with Feralvr on the plans (which you had already begin with on your own ).

I want to add, it is highly probable Jem will be a sort of bridge between mom Scout and the other cats, and later on, you humans. Jem together with the residents.
Cats do learn from each other, especielly if the other cat is a pal.

Many experienced fosterers prefer to foster the ferale cat alone. But as it hasnt worked here, you can (and will) try out the other way in:
by example of residents.
Surely, she will not be socialized at once. But with time - possible and even probable also Scout will be, a somewhat shy, pet cat.

Good luck!

Thank you for the encouragement, StefanZ!

So, how is it going with Jem? And, Scout!!! Just thinking of you and the kitties. More vibes for all cats to become fast friends

Hi I trapped a mama cat and her babies and now just have the mama cat I'm just beginning to socialize. She's been spayed and tested negative and is starting to come around. I have another female feral cat I successfully socialized and now is a very playful and affectionate cat. My question is I would like to bring both cats together and not have them in separate rooms, more importantly hoping they can become playmates and my playful and affectionate once feral will help me bring around the mama cat who's showing great improvement. What would you suggest? Is it to early or can I begin short visits with them while I'm in the room? I cannot handle mama cat and can only hold my other for a short time, plus she's so used to her surrroundings being in her room all the time it might take her awhile to come out anyway. I would appreciate any advice you can give me. Thanks!

Hi Judy, and Welcome to the Forums!


I think it is best you start your own thread. Easier to get answers.
It will be also easier for you later if you get follow up questions and suggestions.



Good luck!

Thanks...I did try to do that and for some reason it didn't post on the thread so I thought I would try to post here. I'll try again.

Feralvr, thank you for asking for an update. I opened the door for Jem on Saturday morning, and she was eager to go "outside" into the house. She was fine for a few minutes, then was frightened by Abigail Adams, one of the resident cats who is territorial and doesn't play well. Jem retreated to her bedroom and stayed there for the rest of the day. On Sunday, she looked for Abigail and chased her! Yea for Jem! Jem stayed out for a couple of hours then wanted to go back to her bedroom and her mom Scout.
This will be a long process, but I am committed to making a safe home for Jem and Scout.
Jem needs to work things out with Abigail Adams, and then she'll be fine.

Really, this is excellent progress!!! Jem came out for a couple of hours?? That is just perfect. Don't worry, this is very, very common and that is why a safe room is SOOOOO important. That way the newbie can run to the safety of their room. As the days go on, Jem will venture out more and more and Abigail Adams will just have to get used to the little one, and she will , I am sure of it. Abigail might even start to venture towards the safe room !! And just let her investigate on her own. Good that you know that this could very well be a long, slow introduction. But.... long/slow intros. are the best kind and the way cats remain great friends for life that way. Let them find eachother all on their own and in their own comfort level. Take is slow and you will be rewarded with many years of peace amongst the whole clowder

Thanks much for your encouragement and suggestions.

Two kittens were dropped in our neighborhood last summer. They've been gentled by neighbor children, and I've been feeding them. They've caught many voles, squirrels, but were not fixed or immunized. Finally I took the male to the mobile vet for fix/immunizations, but he turned out to be a "marker" inside the house, so he's back to his usual life, but better, since he can get into my garage for food, water, shelter, now. The female is quite tame and friendly, but also a very aggressive fighter. She bit me before I could get her immunized, at quarantine caught a respiratory virus so I couldn't have her fixed at the same time as the male. I don't want her to birth kittens before she can be fixed, so scheduled her for our local vet to spay her sooner than the mobile vet will return. She has her rabies shot now, had antibiotics for the virus, and has had her ears cleaned, so is in better shape than before. She's living in the hall bathroom as her little safe corner, with all the comforts... When she comes out it sounds like the jungle, with our 2 cats and our new one all yowling at eachother. I've been throwing something that would bounce in their general direction to distract them when they start to get too close, to break it up. Just handed my husband one of the long-handled toys to use to distract them--thanks for that suggestion. I wear a mask for spinning my wool, and when the new kitty bumps against it she attacks it--have some healing scratches on my face thanks to that problem. She's affectionate and rubs against my cheek, which is going to be "not OK" until I come to trust her a bit better. The slightest threatening sound and she explodes before I can react. Please tell me this won't last forever! She's beginning to make me nervous, which is also "not OK!" I'm letting her call the shots. She wants to be in my lap, she can jump there. She wants to sleep somewhere, that's OK. She'll fall asleep in my lap when I'm combing her (she's long-haired, so needs that) as long as none of the other cats happen by.

It took a year for one of my cats to accept our rescued Aussie. Our Maine Coon cat mix took only 2 wk. to "tame" the dog. I guess I just need to be patient, and not let them establish habits of actually fighting? I wish ther ewere an easy way to tame her. I note she's much less trusting since her trip to the vet for her pre-op blood work. The staff said it took 3 of them to get the blood--not a good feeling about that... Monday she goes there again and will be overnight, so I guess next week I'll be starting all over working on establishing trust. Suggestions as to vet visits and invasive procedures?