New Feral Cat Mom - HELP!

ashdash87

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Hello!!

Lola is a sweet and active white kitten who I have been feeding for the past month. Last night she took food out of my hand for the first time (she just can't resist bologna!). My husband and I have a done a lot of research to try and catch her and bring her in the house and I think we'll be able to catch her anyday as we have been trying to build up trust with her and she is fairly used to us now. However, she is still outside because we don't want to just grab her and scare her too much so we're trying to let her get used to us.

I read a great article about brining stray feral cats into our home and I have a good idea of what to do and how to make her feel comfortable my questions are these:

1. How long should I leave her in a seperate room from the rest of the house? I know she may need a few days to get used to being inside and me feeding her, etc. but we have another cat who is 3-years old and a male and he is NOT happy about the idea of another pet in the home (He's spoiled rotten & my baby). SO, I am wondering how long she should be seperate frmo him so they can learn that they will now be living together. I am really nervous aboutt his because I don't want to make my male cat really mad at me.
2. What is the best way to integrate the two cats together? George is a strickly indoor cat (he's terrified of being outside) and is declawed and fixed but he doesn't do well with other cats; he hasn't ever been around them really. Lola (our kitten feral cat), is small (I would guess maybe 2 pounds, and has claws). I worry George will hiss & growl at her and she won't understand because she's so little. I just want to make sure they don't hurt each other and instead learn to play with eachother and love eachother.

Any advice!? Thanks in advance!!!!
 

StefanZ

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Hi and welcome to the Forums!


You want to get her in by herself. An alternative is of course, to use a human trap, the quickest and easiest way.


How long to keep them separated?? It is not their being used to each other as is the main, but the lengh of necessary quarantine.

I hope your resident is healthy and fully vaccinated? But as he is indoor only, you should take precautions.

First, she must get vet checked, preferably including tests.
She must be dewormed and deparasited.
And all the vaccines and deworming must have time to develop.

2 weeks perhaps? 3 if you will take it verry safequarded.

She may be spayed too, and should be, but it is not necessary to do it now, you can wait a little with it, if you wish. Talk with the vet.
Good you are NOT planning for declawing the girl. We dont like this.

The introduction between them two? Good you are planning to take it easy, especielly as he isnt used to other cats.
But she is young and understands older cats, AND residents, wants to be the master cat. So probably she will be rather submissive to him, eager to please herself in.
Good you are prepared for some hissing - there will be some. And good you are prepared to let it take some time.

There are a lot of tricks, and lotsa of threads, about a slow and scientific intrduction. There are also many who do it a little quicker...


Good luck!
 

feralvr

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Welcome to TCS
. AW Lola sounds like a sweetie pie. I love white kitties so much. She needs you so much and will be happy and safe to be indoors. Please don't get her declawed, but please do get her spayed right away, all her shots need to be done, wormings and of course the FeLK/FIV test.

The length of time in her safe room will depend on her and your other cat. It could be two to three weeks or a couple of months. You want to first get her fully vetted and she needs to adjust to living indoors and feel safe. The trust has to be instilled in you before you even think about introduction to your other cat. After a couple of weeks and Lola has settled in nicely, then start the scent swapping. An example would be to take a bed Lola has been sleeping in and put it where George likes to sleep and vise versa with Georges bed. Use the same brushes on each
of them too. They will also be able to smell eachother through the bottom of the door, if there is a small crack. If scent swapping goes well, then you can bring out Lola and put George in her room for a few minute while Lola investigates the house. Very short sessions to start. After a few days of that, then allow George to go in her room while she is in there. Expect some initial hissing, especially if George is leary of other cats. Again, short sessions. This could take days or weeks. You have to be patient. First thing is to get Lola totally comfortable with you and your husband before any relationship can begin with George. Much luck to you!! Would love to see a picture of Lola
 
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