Need advice, fast!!!!

plucky's dad

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Hello all,

I will make this brief; I currently have 4 cats who get along well. All are rescues. There's a 5th kitty now begging to be brought in to my home; he's about 5 months old, alone, and it's -20 degrees outside tonight (that's -4 farenheit for you american folks). I've been feeding him for about 3 months now. When he sees me, he comes running, meowing, and rolls around on the ground. If I open the door *right now*, he'll cautiously walk in and go rub noses with my cats, but then panics and wants out of the house. If I close the door, obviously, he goes berserk and hides.

2 of my cats are indifferent, one seems skittish around him, and the other avoids him but hisses if he gets too close.

Can I safely let him in and close the door, hoping he'll get used to things in time...or will I be harming him?

HELP! I don't want to leave him outside if I don't have to. :( 
 

jtbo

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Hello all,



I will make this brief; I currently have 4 cats who get along well. All are rescues. There's a 5th kitty now begging to be brought in to my home; he's about 5 months old, alone, and it's -20 degrees outside tonight (that's -4 farenheit for you american folks). I've been feeding him for about 3 months now. When he sees me, he comes running, meowing, and rolls around on the ground. If I open the door *right now*, he'll cautiously walk in and go rub noses with my cats, but then panics and wants out of the house. If I close the door, obviously, he goes berserk and hides.



2 of my cats are indifferent, one seems skittish around him, and the other avoids him but hisses if he gets too close.



Can I safely let him in and close the door, hoping he'll get used to things in time...or will I be harming him?



HELP! I don't want to leave him outside if I don't have to. :( 
Could you spare one room to isolate new comer for some time? Bathroom is often used afaik.

There is something that did surprised me, it is that even cat allows to be petted, when exit is removed there will be long time where cat is total stranger. Of course not all cats do this, but many seem to do it.

However I think that cat might be stray or lost pet, might be quite short perioid of getting used to, but there will be some time where cat is bit lost and might be afraid of everything, isolating to small room might get him around of it quicker and also it would give time to new cat smell to blend in with other cats, it would not be so much of intruder to other cats.

Probably closing door and not having separate room will be quite a bit of adventure with perhaps even long time problems, but eventually it might get okay, with some cats it seems to be that introducing new one is easier than with others, but it really would be best to introduce them slowly.

That is at least what I have read about this.

My own introducing attempts all really have failed, cats running among other cats and after few days playing already together, but it might get much worse too, so it would be better to have them get used to smells slowly.
 

feralvr

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Oh dear - yes - bring the kitty inside!!!! Too :cold: for this baby to be outside and is obviously a very friendly kitty. This kitten might be a lost pet or just abandoned :(. Can you keep the kitten in a separate room, away from your other cat's until this kitten is checked for a microchip (for ownership). The kitten should also be tested for FeLK/FIV before you allow this kitten to meet and socialize with your own cats. Also, neutering, shot's and de-worming's. This could take at least a couple of week's to get this done and have a negative fecal sample. So keeping the kitten separate is a must do. AWWWWWW BLESS you for caring and do rescue this poor baby who needs you so :hugs::hugs: Keep us posted :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

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I agree with the above posters! Bring the kitty inside, but put kitty in a separate room that has no escape. A bathroom is good, as usually there are fewer things that can be damaged as he looks to find a way out. :nod: Once they realize there's no way out, they often calm down. Having a box placed on its side - or some kind of hidey place - is important. With a kitty that friendly, it will likely just be a matter of a couple of days of scooping litter, putting out food, etc. before he realizes he is SAFE and properly cared for again. :nod:

He's only so scared inside because it's new territory. So a separate room is good for two reasons - you need to make sure he's not sick or carrying anything that will make your cats sick (or ensure he doesn't have fleas, whatever) before he really interacts with your others. Those introductions are best made more slowly anyway. :nod: But another important reason is so that he can make that space "his," and feel safe.

In the meantime, you can put up posters and make calls to see if kitty actually has a home somewhere and someone's looking for him. Given how long he's been around and you've been caring for him, I doubt it. :( But you never know.

Thank you for wanting to help this cat!!!!
 

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Oh, for imprompu litter box, if you can spare one of the other's.... or a spare plastic storage container - you can either add litter, if you have some on hand, or just "borrow" some from the other boxes for now...
 

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I actually have used cardboard box long time as a litter box, when there is enough sand there will be no issues with it, also one can put plastic bag to bottom then sand on top of that to make sure it does not cause problems.

Also I don't usually throw away any cardboard boxes, they are so good for many uses that I just fold them and store for day they might be needed so I have always box when I need one, easy to store even under bed, behind book case and such places.
 
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plucky's dad

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Thanks folks! I will be bringing him in then...although keeping him separate from the others may be a bit of a problem since the only way I have of bringing him in is leaving the door open, then closing it once he creeps in...then he'll bolt and run deeper into the house. I will definitely try though.

Side note; this is a kitten born to a mommy outside, in my neighbor's yard. Mommy is still around but they didn't stay together...so I'mquite sure he is not a lost pet, as I've been watching him (I'm naming him L'il Stinker) grow up since the spring.
 

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It is quite easy to get him into room you would like him to go when it is dark outside, leave lights out from room where you would like to him to go, then position yourself so that you are not between that room and a cat, his instincts tell him to find something darker than surroundings, and in there find place that is nicely small, where can be hiding, but still see around and something with more than one exit, like under the bed etc.

Chasing him off will add to time you need to come friends with him again, so try to avoid that.

Any small opening or gap is what cat sees after you close the door, that is of course after he has found out windows are something one can't go trough and clawing the door is not digging or helpful, in that process whatever there is on tables or near window, or at bookself ledge are thrown down.

Best way to calm him might be to just sit down and do something else, ignoring the cat completely, staying away where he cant see you is one good way, but he might cause some damage even then.

They are of course individuals and it might go fast and easy too, but it might take easily a week, maybe even month or more to be friends again.

My young ones were such that they really did not want to stay in their separate room, but did escape to where my other cats were and liked to hide there better than close to me.

So bedroom is not perhaps best place as they would not feel it their own territory, but rarely visited room might be good.

Knocking door before entering is something I have found rather helpful, they don't get so spooked when entering to 'their' territory.
 

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Bring the kitty in!  I got a cat the very same way and was one of the closest friends of my life for a great many years.  He's yours.  He will adjust for a while.  He wants to be part of the family.  Congratulations.  :)  
 

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Thanks folks! I will be bringing him in then...although keeping him separate from the others may be a bit of a problem since the only way I have of bringing him in is leaving the door open, then closing it once he creeps in...then he'll bolt and run deeper into the house. I will definitely try though.

Side note; this is a kitten born to a mommy outside, in my neighbor's yard. Mommy is still around but they didn't stay together...so I'mquite sure he is not a lost pet, as I've been watching him (I'm naming him L'il Stinker) grow up since the spring.
I would not advise doing that - just letting the kitten run into the house. :eek:hno: He could find a place to hide quickly and you also want to keep him separate from your other cat's as well. Very important until test's are done. Start feeding Lil Stinker :D in a cat crate outside the door. In a few day's after he is used to going in and out of that crate to eat, then just calmly shut the door to the crate once he is inside eating. Bring him in the house, in the crate and into a secure small room or bathroom. That is what I would do :nod: Good luck - Lil Stinker sounds adorable :D Of course, if he is friendly enough for you to pick up and cuddle, then you could try to get him in the crate that way. Although, this is risky, because if he freak's out and run's off, you will be back to square one with him trusting you. OR you could try to quickly carry him to his safe room in the house - if he can remain calm while you are carrying him. I have also in the past wrapped up a kitten tightly in a towel with only the head popping out :lol3: and carried them into my foster room. Just a few other option's other than just letting him come in on his own inside the house. Good luck :cross:

:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: For the poor momma cat. She really needs to be trapped and spayed, the poor dear. There will be more kitten's if not :(.
 
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jtbo

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I would not advise doing that - just letting the kitten run into the house. :eek:hno: He could find a place to hide quickly and you also want to keep him separate from your other cat's as well. Very important until test's are done. Start feeding Lil Stinker :D in a cat crate outside the door. In a few day's after he is used to going in and out of that crate to eat, then just calmly shut the door to the crate once he is inside eating. Bring him in the house, in the crate and into a secure small room or bathroom. That is what I would do :nod: Good luck - Lil Stinker sounds adorable :D Of course, if he is friendly enough for you to pick up and cuddle, then you could try to get him in the crate that way. Although, this is risky, because if he freak's out and run's off, you will be back to square one with him trusting you. OR you could try to quickly carry him to his safe room in the house - if he can remain calm while you are carrying him. I have also in the past wrapped up a kitten tightly in a towel with only the head popping out :lol3: and carried them into my foster room. Just a few other option's other than just letting him come in on his own inside the house. Good luck :cross:

:vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes: For the poor momma cat. She really needs to be trapped and spayed, the poor dear. There will be more kitten's if not :(.
Or if local shelter can borrow a trap, then it would be rather simple to get little one trapped and transferred directly to appropriate place, even to vet. I did bought own trap as found one that was not too expensive and I have used that many times to caught ferals and lost pets, some to shelter, some to vet, etc. It is so much easier than trying to trap cat manually, I mean I have tried to trap cat into carrier, it is not very easy, they are really fast and strong, especially those living in wild, they are fighting from their life and seem to consider their life being in line when trying to close door of cat carrier, with trap it is easy, put next to wall, car tire etc. put some bait, preferrably attached to trap and shielded so that they can't get it from outside, some cardboard to bottom of trap, then set around 1 hour before typical time that cat comes to visit, in no time cat is trapped and easy to transport, put some blanket around the trap before picking up so cat is not panicking.

No need to stress and no need to spend hours stalking, but when it is cold, it is good to check trap enough often, good to place trap so that one can see it from window.
 
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plucky's dad

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Well good news everyone; after a few more days of feeding and talking to L'il Stinker on my front porch, last night I was able to leave the front door open (it was 25 degrees celsius below zero!!!) and have him sit on the carpet just inside the door. A few minutes of soft talking and reaching out slowly, and I was able to pet him and get him purring.

I closed the front door, and he didn't really freak out! He walked abouot cautiously, meowing, and then hopped up on a kitchen chair and sat there. I spent a half hour petting him (he purred and wrapped himself around my hand!) then just picked him up and carried him into a separate room. He spent last night there with some food and water and a small litter pan. He was very, very affectionate when I got home from work tonight and petted him.

In one hour, he goes to the vet for his parasite/FIH/FELV check. It looks like, with a bit more time and slow exposure to my other cats, he may just have found a home. :)
 

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:woohoo: :jump: :bigthumb: You should see my eyes right now - :lol3: They are wide open and I am SO surprised at how easy this was. AND what a sweet kitty - just want's to be loved :heart3: YAY :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap: AWWWWWWWW GOOD JOB !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D I just love happy stories like this one. Please let us know how it goes at the vet's for Lil Stinker :hugs::hugs: :rub::rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

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That was nice to hear, clearly cat is used to humans at some level, perhaps father/mother has been tame at some point at least, there is huge difference with those who have tame parent(s) and those whom parents have never been socialized.
 
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plucky's dad

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It was a big vet's bill, but that's normal with all the different tests and whatnot. No fleas, no injuries, a bit of gingivitis, no FIV or FELV. Clean bill of health for L'il Stinker. :) I've got some precautionary de-worming pills and 2 months of Revolution, but otherwise he's a clean kitty!! I spent this morning in the room with him, he was again a little cautious after yesterday's trip to the vet but he warmed up quickly and started rolling around at my feet, purring. I was able to pick him up and cuddle him for almost 10 minutes while he purred happily.

Now he wants out of the room! He scratches at the glass and headbutts the door trying to push on it hehe. Soon...I want to give him 2 more days of staring at (and being stared at) with Scout, Trio, Tar Pit and Plucky.

My two boys seem to have no problem with him or else seem cautious and even a bit afraid. My two girls hiss at him quietly through the glass. I'm thinking it will be the cold shoulder form them for a while, but the boys will probably be ok with him at first. STINKER, on the other hand, wants to go and headbutt them all hehe. 
 
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plucky's dad

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I thought I would add in pictures of my little family!

First, my Plucky...the guy I originally found outside under a bush in front of my house, full of bites and blood and a crusted over left eye. He has been living with me now for 4 years and is a bit tubby, but we're working on it!



Then we have Trio, a real princess, one of 3 kittens I fed and cared for from 2009 until 2010. They lived in a large Rubbermaid container I'd filled with straw and stuck a heated kitty pad into to keep them safe during our nasty winters. When they started turning up with bad injuries the following spring, I brought them all inside!



This is Trio's sister Scout. Scout earned her name by being the first of the 3 kittens to be brave enough and walk right up to me and rub against my legs as I was feeding them. :)



Here we have the third kitty, and my 2nd little boy...Tar Pit! He got this name as a kitten by being well...white, and spotted with black blotches!

 

And finally...my newst l'il guy, L'il Stinker! Seven months old, and just adorable. This was taken about 2 months ago, when he was just starting to be curious about this big guy putting out all the noms for him!

 

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WOW just fabulous news all the way around! :clap: :clap: :clap:

One of our older rescues kitties, Billy, was VERY cat friendly. He wanted to headbutt all our kitties - who just thought he was crazy. :lol3: Our girls are pissy too. One is still hissing at our last rescue - it's only been 1.5 years. :lol3: But she just complains, she doesn't do anything about it.

Vibes :vibes: :vibes: :vibes: for all to be smooth sailing! :clap:
 

jtbo

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Face of Tar Pit is like not so feral version of my Mauku :D

Seems not to be only similarity as here it tends to get rather cold during winter too and we seem to have similar number of indoor cats.

All of your cats looks so comfortable and relaxed, really nice work! I hope that mine could get as relaxed too so I could at least get some kind of photos from them, poor things like to hide from camera most of the time ;)

Amazing how quickly Little Stinker get used to indoor living, but they are individuals indeed, even kittens from same litter are not the same in there how easily they get used to humans, that is what I have found with mine, it is really nice how things did go with this kitten :)
 

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:thud: Oh Goodness!!!! What a wonderful kitty family you have. They are ALL so very beautiful and adorable, all at the same time. I am absolutely in love with L'il Stinker too. What a fantastic expression, you can see the sweetness in his eyes. I think you are VERY lucky to have this special boy. :woohoo: For the negative tests too !!!!! Great news all around :clap::clap::clap:
 
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