Going from being around many cats to none: what to look out for?

Background:  Twiddledee has been part of my feral/stray/abandoned cat colony since January 2012.  TNRd then.  Previously owned, he could be rehomed, he is that friendly. 

About a week ago (after being on vacation for two weeks) I immediately noticed he wasn't putting any weight on his front left paw.

Today noticing Twiddedee's paw wasn't getting any better, I scruffed him and took him to the cattery where I volunteer for evaluation. Short of x-rays, best guess is a sprain/pulled muscle which, given his lifestyle, is having a hard time healing.  Tested negative for FIV/FELK. 

Healthy weight.

So I decided to put him into my second bedroom to rest, hoping after a week or so, the muscle will be better.  He hasn't moved from the (open) cat carrier, but that is to be expected.  Meowing a little, again, to be expected. 

My question is:  he is use to living/being around the cats in the colony, including his presumed brother (both showed up at the same time, both look identical, I can tell them apart because Dee has darker spots, Twiddledum, lighter spots).  I'm concerned that Dee will be very lonely and meow a lot and be unhappy.   I work 12 hour days, so can't spend a lot of time with him.  And obviously I am not going to introduce him to my resident, only child Ritz.  Any suggestions how to make him less lonely, afraid?   Any other thing I should look out for.  Thanks.

You can  set on soft music.  You can prob even set on some talking too...  As he had good experience with humans.

Set on TV...  If you have video with these  birds on, or fish aquarium...

So he will feel something is happening, although not dangerous.

Good luck!

Thanks.  I'm playing music on the radio, from the 50s I think.

He is still hiding behind the file cabinet.

Aw poor Twiddledee :rub: I bet he is glad you are home and can help him now. I honestly would not worry about this too much as it is only for a week. He probably will be coming around more by the end of the week just in time for you to let him back outside. I agree with the music or TV for background noise. I hope Twiddledum won't miss him tooooo much this week. Hope Dee heals up quickly. :cross:

When I come in to the room, he is hiding under the pink chair, but then comes right out and loves me.  I'm not use to such an affectionate cat.

I do think he is missing other cats.  I opened the patio screen door and he was a bit too interested in the smells, sights.  I closed the door then.  Should I leave it open?

Paw doesn't seem much better, he does walk on it, but when he stands still (not often!), he holds up his paw.

A man and women who were serving warrants (for arrest) around the cat colony spoted Twiddledee and some other of the friendlies, and has expressed interest in adopting a cat.  (They lost their cat recently).  They are moving to the area late this month, so I will foster Twiddledee until they are ready to adopt TD or another cat.

That is SO great, Cindy!!!!! TD might have a home and he sounds SOOO very sweet and has settled into his foster room quite readily. I hope this possible adoption happens for him or one of the other kitties. :cross: I think leaving the patio door open is alright as long as there is no way he can bust out. Like through a screen or something. :slant: Although, he might drive you more nuts if you do that because he then might want the next thing after the door being open - being let out!!!! Continued vibes for that paw

Not so great:  Twiddledee now feels comfortable/uncomfortable enough to meow a lot during the night, and to go back and forth between the metal window blinds and the glass patio door.  He is either bored or wants out or both.  I got five hours of sleep last night.

The screen is secure within the frame, but of poor quality; Ritz has put some minor tears in it.  I will open the door/screen a little when I am in that room and see how he reacts.

Ritz heard TD, and they exchanged footsies (with me feeding Ritz treats on her side and TD on his side of the door) and hisses.  After a while Ritz got bored and walked away.

Yesterday was one of those 14 hour days, hopefully today/tonight I'll have time to play with TD and get him a little more tired so maybe he'll sleep more at night.  I do need to keep in mind he has a bum paw, I don't want to aggravate any injury.

What do you think about me putting Ritz in a safe room (master bedroom where she sleeps with me) and letting TD explore more.

I do *not* intend to adopt TD myself.  I want another cat eventually, but now is not a good time.

Thanks.

Sorry about the sleep deprivation. Believe me, I know all about that in caring for an elderly dog AND a couple of my six like to wake me during the night for pets. I think if you put Ritz in the master bedroom and then let TD out to explore a bit is a super idea. BUT then again, there in lies another problem of TD wanting to be out of that room ALL the time and not being happy having to be locked in his room. I have had this happen to me once or twice :lol3: and it is not easy. SO I learned that IF they are truly fosters (i.e. temporary) and I don't want them to mingle with my other cats permanently while they are being fostered, then I keep them confined in that room. What they don't know won't hurt them meaning that if you let him out of that room to explore, you are opening up a whole other can of worms..... or can of "meows and cries" :lol3:

Thanks Feral lover.  As it happens, Twiddledee was quiet last night after the first 10 or 15 minutes.  It helps that Ritz is a bit bored by it all and doesn't hang around outside the door.

Thanks for the advice about letting Twiddledee explore.  You're right--what they don't know about, they won't miss.  I do plan on adopting out TD as soon as possible; one woman may see TD this weekend.  Another couple early next month.

Which brings me to my next question:  Twiddledee is still holding up his paw when sitting still for any length of time.  He puts weight on all paws when eating. I don't know for sure what is wrong with his paw, best guess, sprain or pulled muscle.  Should I take him to the vet to get an definitive diagnosis?  If it is a soft tissue injury, I don't believe that will show up on x-rays, and only 'cure' is rest.

Thanks.

He can - and does- put his weight on it, so it isn't broken.

You might want to check for a thorn or splinter, but if there is no inflammation it isn't very likely.

A sprained or bruised paw is the most likely, and, like you say, it just needs time to heal.

Holding up the paw may even have become a bit of a habit....
 

Thanks Jisketfet.  His paw was examined thoroughly by the man who heads the cat sanctuary where I volunteer.  No sign of inflamation or--my biggest fear--glass embedded in the paw. 

(I fed the ferals by a dumpster.  The people who live in the condo complex all to often dump trash BY the dumpster, not IN it.)

The woman who will be meeting TD soon has years of experience with cats.  I think I'll hold off on the vet visit unless the woman raises a question or expresses hesitation.

I also thought maybe it was a habit, an affectation if you will. 

Time will tell.

Morning, Cindy You are right, an xray will not show any soft tissue injury. It could even be a broken toe or twisted toe from getting caught on something. I had a feral cat once who was limping outside for the longest time. I did trap him and get him to the vet. He was sedated in the trap before examination. There was a broken toe. Vet said he probably was climbing a tree, fence or something and the claw got caught and twisted the toe. It did heal just fine all on it's own. :nod:

I would wait till that lady comes to see TD. I cannot imagine that would have any bearing on her adopting TD. It might make her more willing to want to rescue him. :rub: Most times these things just take time to heal but they eventually DO. :nod:

Thanks. Sometimes a 'cure' is worse than the 'disease'.  He can run on it when he wants/has to.

He's been play biting some, I think it's redirected agression, sadness.  I opened the patio door last evening to let the free air in and so he could hear the noises, and it meowed sadly, plaintively.

He's heard a vacuum cleaner before:  stayed beside the pink chair when I was running it.

I need to clip his nails, I'll try to do it on the bum paw and see how he reacts.  I did cut two of his nails before he decided he'd had enough and walked away.