update and question on feral cat family from June 1

Hi,  On June 1st, we came home to a family of feral kittens and their mama in our driveway.  With lots of effort, we have completely domesticated the 3 kittens, and they are part of the family.  Mama is another story.  We had her spayed, I wanted to release her, my husband wanted to keep her, so she now lives in our laundry room.  We have been working with her every day for almost 3 months.  She still hisses at us and won't let us touch her.  My husband wants to release her into the rest of the house, and just let her hide out wherever.  We have 2 very old cats as well, and I am concerned, because the 2 old ladies are declawed and defenseless.  (Don't worry, we are not going to declaw any of these new guys!)  We are also leavig on a trip for the month of Oct, and they will have to survive a pet sitter. Well, cat experts, what should we do?

Thanks!

Sherry

She can survive as indoors half-tame semiferale. Some do it, and perhaps become pets firstly after 6 years...  So it is feasible.

Make some introduction with your residents before you let her out into the rest of the house.

If you see it goes OK...  Use an extra room where both parties feels OK with.

If they are OK in the introduction room, they will be OK.

Spayed, she will not be dominating.

the mest probable, she will be rather submissive to the residents, but accept their company.

If nothing works, you can of course release her, and have her as your outside protegee cat.  As she is feral from the beginning, this is no ill-deed.

Tx a lot for caring!

Good luck!
 

Thanks for the advice!  My husband wants to try everything before we give up and release her.  We lives in a forest with many predators, it is amazing that she was able to raise her family for the 1st 6 weeks before they showed up in our driveway.  She had them in a culvert down the street.  She is still very fearful of us.  I will try introducing our senior residents to her, one at a time.  My 2 old cats have hated each other for years, so this should be interesting. (2 old, spayed females in their early 20s).  Thanks again!  I'll let you know how it goes.

Sherry

I have several indoor ferals. 2 are fully feral and won't even stay in the same room with me :tongue2:. Even after 3 years. But one thing they all have in common is that none are bullies to the tame cats. They mostly keep their distance, unless the tame cat initiates contact. I think ferals have a better sense of proper cat manners than most home-raised kitties. So I don't think she'll bother the old ladies at all. . .they may not even notice she's there unless you make an effort to introduce them.

What do the old ladies think of the kittens? I can't say I've had a lot of success introducing kittens to elderly cats! :lol3:.

One old lady accepts them grudgingly, she even played with the new kitten toys I brought in today, she has an inner kitten in her!  The other one hisses when they come close, but the little guys have learned to keep their distance.  We have the master bedroom/bath set up as the "senior center" where the 2 oldies can go to spend quiet time alone.  Also, at night, only the 2 old cats are allowed in our bedroom, that gives them plenty of kitten-free time and time to claim us as their own.  Thanks for the feral info, I am thinking that is what we will end up with, a cat in the shadows.  As long as she continues to use a litter box, we'll be fine.  I once had a feral( I adopted from a shelter, not knowing his history) in the house who decided to use my son's closet as a bathroom...so I am a little nervous about letting her roam free.

Sherry

I've never had trouble with a feral not using a litterbox (if the shelter kitty was feral, how did you get him out of the cage and home?). They have very strong instincts. But if she's too scared to venture out when people are around, she may not be able to hold it until nighttime and could have an accident. If you put a box close to her chosen hiding place it would help.

I second what Willowy said on two counts. First, most feral cats can live quite harmoniously with resident kitties in the house. They actually will bond quite closely with them and form very close relationships - more with them than the humans that live in the house :lol3: So I wouldn't worry about her "attacking" or going after your older cats. I commend you for trying this for her as living indoors (even if she never is totally comfortable around you and your husband) is much safer for her. I bet she will be a very good girl. And Second, I agree that all of the feral cats that I have ever socialized ALWAYS use a litter box. It is second nature to them to bury their waste to keep predators from finding them. It is an instinct of survival to them. The only reason a feral kitty might have an accident would be because she could not get to the box easily if people are around, for example. Just make sure you have ample boxes spread about and near her favorite hiding spots. Good luck and keep us posted

I think this cat will never turn around and be a pet. Having said that..I think she will be fine in your house as long as you don't have expectations of her being any other way. I think she will leave the other cats alone..she knows she is not queen of the house.

My last question regarding this situation is:  Do you think having the mama loose around her now tame kittens will make them revert to being afraid of us?  If they see she is never near us, will they copy her behaviors?  I have worked hard to make loving, purring little sweeties out of the kittens and would hate to see my work undone.  Thanks for all the advice!  We have no expectations of mama ever liking us much, we plan on releasing her into the house next week, after kittens are all recovered from neutering/spaying.

she and her kits had been separated now a longer time, yes? she shy where she is and they inside with the family, being now full-blooded loving family pets?

1. I think they will proceed to be your loving residents.  Sooner the opposite may happen - she will warm up seeing all the other cats are so happy.  Ie - this WILL happen, but we dont know if it will happen after 6-8 years, or already in just one year... 

2. They are now in an age where she would prob reject them, even if they were together.

They had been separated. Quite possible they will barely recognize each other.

Any way, good you are thinking on it, the prepared is also armed as the proverb says.

But I think you should take the plunge. The odds are heavily on your side.

Good luck!

I think putting them all together won't take away from how far you have progressed with the kittens at all. The kittens are already on their way to trusting humans and love the attention and loving. I think all is good with that. Hmmmmm - maybe mom cat would see that you humans are not so bad :cross: