Feral or Stray??

luckycat123

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Hello everyone. I have come here in hopes that I can get an opinion or two about a cat that has been living on my back porch for almost a year now. Here's the story...

He started popping up around my house here and there almost two years ago. When we started seeing him he didn't look particularly scrawny or dirty. I started looking around to see if anyone had lost a cat like him. I got nowhere with that. For a while, my mother would go out with food, and as soon as she got out the door, he would hide in a bush on the outskirts of the yard (many many MANY feet away) looking very frightened. He'd meow at us from afar and sometimes hiss. My mother would leave the food down and when she was inside he would finally come out and eat it. It went on like this for quite a while. She kept moving the dish closer and closer to the house and he would come closer and closer to eat. After several weeks, we made it onto the deck. And I don't remember how or when, but eventually he became able to be petted and would rub against our legs. We built him a house to sleep in. A shelter has been helping us and they got him in to be neutered. He went AWOL on us for about a month after that, but came back, and basically never leaves the property during the day now (don't know about night time). He drinks clean water from a bowl and eats three square meals a day from his own little dishes. He LOVES being petted and brushed and purrs like crazy (my mom and I even give him bear hugs and kiss him on the head). When we sit at the picnic table he jumps up to sit next to us and nuzzle us. He sometimes rests his head on our laps. Even walked over my lap once (only once). He doesn't mind us picking through his fur to get ticks off (which he never even has anymore). I've given him a flea/tick treatment (one of those liquid tube things). He rolls over and shows his belly to us (but we have not been daring enough to try to pet it...we know it's a vulnerable area). He rubs his face on the picnic table in our presence. If we have strangers over, he will go right up to them and start rubbing all over them and letting them pet him. He likes playing with cat toys and uses the cardboard scratch pad we got him (used it pretty much right away). He has brought us dead things (I try really hard to take it as a compliment). And lately he has been trying like crazy to get inside the house. He will try to sneak past us or under the door when we open it and he has even shown up at the front door and the door that leads to the kitchen inside the garage. Lately he has been standing on his tiptoes on top of the grill and peeking into our kitchen window. The only thing is he uses our horseshoe pits as giant litter boxes (we have tried providing him with an actual box but no go) and we don't know if he can be picked up. My father picked him up once and put him on the bench of the picnic table next to him, but that was when he was intoxicated and my mom and I are not that daring. He didn't look comfortable (my dad held him wrong -- under the belly) but he didn't totally freak out or bite or scratch (but the amount of time he was held was only about a second or two).

That's all I can think of right now. The people at the shelter said he probably would never be able to live in a house/be adoptable. They estimated him at around three years old and think he's been outdoors most or all of his life. They said at the shelter he didn't eat or drink, didn't use the litter box, and was very scared (he was there for about two days). I volunteer at a cat shelter and we have cats that come in like that all the time that came from homes. Everything I read about the difference between feral, stray, and outdoor cats makes it a little confusing to me. He doesn't seem to fit the description of a feral cat. At the beginning he was very skittish and frightened, but now I'd say he's more affectionate, accepting of petting, etc, than the two domesticated, strictly- indoor cats that we've had for about three years (one of whom I consider quite friendly).

Can anyone tell me what they think about this cat? Does he sound like he's a feral that just warmed up very nicely? Or does he sound like a stray? Might he be able to come inside at some point or should we avoid that altogether? 

Thank you for reading this whole thing!
 
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bigperm20

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The first question is "Is he Neutered"? That would really make a huge difference as to whether or not he and your cats would get along. If he's not, he could spray even if they get along fine. Trust me, you don't want that.

Also, he sounds like a stray, or possible former house cat to me. His desire to go inside might indicate that he considers you his new family and he lived in a house with his old family. He definitely isn't ferrell IMO b/c according to your description, he seems to have had prior interaction with people.

Another possibility is that he smells your other cats on you, and cam smell that they are inside. He wants to check them out? Are they spayed/neutered

To be honest though, there is really no way to know his history for sure. It's all speculation and somewhat frivilous. What isn't frivilous is your taking the time to take care of a precious little kitty. If you want to bring him inside do so and see how it goes, but before you do ha e your vet check him for the common nasties that strays get. Especially FELV
 

StefanZ

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This question is really not necessary to answer as things stands here and now.    :)

The only question left is, do you want him as yours outside kitty, or yours inside kitty.  (is outside/inside feasible to you? or are the residents strictly inside?

If they others are strictly inside, not easy to have one in/out).

He got neutered right? Good, so this is done. Take him by wrapping him in a towel. This way you dont need to be afraid or worry. Wrapped up in a burrito, he will get submissive.

Take him to your vet for a check up, etc. Take him inside for some quarantine and training on litter. (use dr Elseys kitten attract litter, you will see it in other treads here).

After it, you begin the meeting with your residents. Supervised at first of course.  If you think both residents and him, now neutered since several months, are friendly - you dont need to overdo it.

Just make sure both parts know the meeting room, and both have places to jump off, if necessary...

If you see they are hostile more than some dutifully hissings and swap with soft paw - take it more scientifically and slowly...  :)

Congrats for your wonderful furry friend!

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!
 
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feralvr

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He really doesn't sound feral. He seems to have lost his way in life and was abandoned. Poor fellow. I think the shelter people cannot make that assumption in such a short time. He would need a room all his own and be confined until he is completely at ease. Cats need routine and a schedule - the same each and every day. At the shelter - he was completely freaked out and stressed. He may very well not be that way in a home environment. You have to make that decision for yourself and for him. It will be a commitment on your part and a change of life for him. But I think that it is worth the try. He really sounds like a sweet boy and might love to have an indoor home with you. Let us know what you decide. We would love to help you with the transition if you so decide. :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 
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