Please help, trying take in a feral or two

My wife and I have been feeding two ferals, a brother and sister for about 4 to 6 months now.  They were born feral and have warmed up to us. I'm aware of the costs to spay/neutuer and get all vacinations... the money isn't my problem. My problem is not knowing what to expect and fearing for the worst.  I've never had a cat before. I want to turn at least one of these cats into a pet but I fear they won't be able to be tamed.

It's my fault because I seem to have traumatized one of the cats by attempting to catch it. Since then whenever I let the cat in the house he starts freaking out by climbing screen doors and windows. In addition, he meows very loudly.  Yet, the strange part is that he will sit by my window every night looking into the house and watching TV.  I fed him last night and he kept rubbing up to the screen window where I was able to pet him and he seemed to like it.  He also purred constantly and would close his eyes like or as if he was sleeping when looking at me. I'm just worried he will freak out again in the house. It's been maybe 3 instances where he started climbing and meowing loudly. The advice I was given was to place the cat in the bathroom and leave him there for a while until he gets comfortable. I realize he will freak out, I just want someone who has experience with ferals to let me know that it will eventually go away or if they can provide me with some steps or advice that would be greatly appreciated.

I'm really lost since I want to save the life of this cat but I'm afraid of the cat going crazy in my house by breaking things and disturbing my neighbors with his loud meowing. I rent a town house where I rent and don't want any trouble.  Is there any advice someone can provide me with?  Please?

My only other concern is that seeing these cats are feral can they give any diseases or problems to humans?

Thanks for your time, greatly appreciated.

-Mtsymbal

Welcome and glad you found us!!! First off, you won't get any diseases from these cats. Of course, you would need to take him straight away to the vet right after trapping for neutering, shots, deworming, flea treatment, etc. They most likely do have worms and will need deworming. I am saying, THEY :lol3:, because I am hoping you will take in his sister too. If not, at the very least she needs to be spayed. She could, in fact, be pregnant by the brother. OH how do you know they are male and female?? The best place is to confine to a small bedroom or bathroom with some nice safe, hiding spots. Even a cardboard box with a couple of holes cut out will do nicely. You can put a nice, fuzzy blanket inside the box. Socializing can be done, but it can take a very long time on your part and you will need a lot of patience. I find his behavior unlikely of a feral cat due to the window screen rubbing and purring and the fact that he comes in the house. Does not sound like a feral cat to me but he might just be very trusting of you since you and your wife have cared for him for all of these months. Still odd for a feral cat. :lol3: Anyway, the bashing and rushing about is just terror of never being in a house before. That is why confinement with hiding spots is important. Vertical space is also important. A tall cat tree would be nice and if you have a room with a window, perfect!!! If not, any small space will do. Hope the following article will help. Let us know and I am sure others will come along soon with support too.

http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm and another http://www.thecatsite.com/a/handling-feral-cats

Mtsymbal, I am contemplating the same thing.   There is a feral kitty that I wish I could turn into a housecat, but I'm worried about the flailing around that might occur indoors.    Your guy sounds like he's already formed a bond with you though and that is very promising!

Feralvr, more questions for you that might help Mtsymbal too....how long does the "indoor freakout" stage usually last?

mtsymbal said:

would close his eyes like or as if he was sleeping when looking at me.

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Ah, THAT is very friendly! 

Let me guess. He is also a lazy cat, yawning as soon he sees you, and stretching both backwards and forwards? 

This is NOT laziness. It is token of friendship this too.   

You got exellent advices from Feralv.  I would add, get yourself Feliway, a diffuser and or spray.

Spray profusely around in his room to be... So he will feel a little destressed and calmer.

Classical soft, relaxing music, perhaps by harp, is also recommendable.  You can begin with this music already now, when he is outside.  If you notice he likes it, playing it later in your home will remind him it was nice music, something nice he recognizes.

Consider perhaps using a trap. This way, it si not you closing the door backwards after him, but he himself happing to go into the trap - and you letting him out...

Welcome to our Forums!

Good luck!

Thank you so much for caring for these cats.

The indoor freakout will last a few minutes then the cat will find a place to hide (like under a chair) and chill out. 

Even cats who are somewhat socialized (stray) will find a place to hide for some time, normal.

Been there done that.  A small room, bathroom or otherwise, is idea. 

How to counteract:  let the cats BE.  Go in at regular hours will smelly food.  Leave it for them.  Repeat... they'll get the message that two legged person = food = warm inside = nice.

Not to rain on your parade, but some of the cat's behavior might means she/he is going into heat.  Or will be soon.

You can try to trap the cats or lure them into a cat carrier with food.

And definitely as soon as you trap, take them in to be S/N, vaccinated, etc.  (Don't do as I did once and delay, just going to have to retrap the cat, more traumatic.)  Then take them home to a small room or spare bathroom.  And let the loving begin.

Thanks everyone for your kindness and welcoming, I greatly appreciate it.  Thank you for your suggestions and advice! Those articles are a great help.  I must apologize in advance for a very long post. There is just a lot of information as I'm trying to provide you all with info. In addition, I have taken pictures and videos of the cats which I will post soon as well.

Just an FYI, we've named the boy cat "Smokey" and the girl cat "Blondie" ...  As much as I'd like to take both, I probably won't due to my available living space restrictions, costs and willingness - due to me never having a cat. In addition, Blondie doesn't seem as friendly and is more aggressive towards thinking I always have food in my hands. She will push Smokey out of the way and will start scratching my window and even my hands if I don't move them in time. She also hogs all of the food when they both are eating. This has caused me to appreciate and love Smokey even more seeing that he always eats the scraps / left overs where I just feel bad for him. The mother cat barely comes around but whenever she does, she steals all of the food, will hiss at her children and will even attack - scratch them to the point where they're bleeding. Blondie on the other is a fighter and I can see her surviving outside while Smokey is more reserved and passive.

Last night was a wonderful experience. Not only did Smokey sit by my window but I reached out and was able to pet him. I scratched the back of his head and was able to move my hand down his back. I did that two or three times last night. He was really soft and was purring while this occurred. I did this when he had his back turned. I'm afraid to do it head on with him looking at me since he starts reaching towards my hands with his claws whenever I do that. I think that's because he thinks I have food. Whenever I tried with Blondie, she would turn around and just start reaching with her claws, never allowing me to pet her. My wife and I felt so bad that we threw a sweater out there for him because it is getting cold now.

I'm trying to figure out what the best option is on how to proceed with converting him to a house cat. He appears to be a very nice cat and tamed from the window. When I open the door he is afraid to walk into the house where he goes in and then pulls back. Meanwhile, at the window he will purr, close his eyes and allow me to pet him. 

I have a carrying cage but currently left it outside thinking they'd use it. Instead, they keep far from it.  I have trapped both of them in it before and could probably do it again. Unfortunately it won't allow me to add food, water or anything into it. I've also seen Smokey freak out in it before. My original thought was to capture him in that cage and bring him to the vet. I let him go before because my wife and I weren't sure and were afraid.

I'm wondering if I should enroll in a TNR program so I could utilize their tools. I'm thinking to have Smokey TNR'd so it would reduce my vet costs. Afterwards I'm thinking of taking him to the vet for whatever else the TNR program would not do such as flea collar, etc. I just don't know much and what it entails. 

I guess what I'm asking for is what is the best route to take to domesticate Smokey. 

My other problem is that I realize I need to confine him in a small room which would be my bathroom. Yes, I would need to use it for my own needs, LoL. My problem is that it is a small bathroom which is why I can't take both cats.  I should be able to fit the litter box. I think I can barely fit a box for him to hide in.  I should be able to fit a food and water bowl and provide a small toy. I doubt I can provide a scratching post due to it being a small bathroom.

I honestly wish there was a guide on the best route to take and step by step instructions on what and how to do it.

Thanks again for the support and help everyone!

-Mtsymbal

One other thing is that I'm thinking if I go the TNR route that I'll try to TNR the other cats and release them.  It's something I'm considering and even though I realize it's not my job. I think it'll help the cats in the end. -MT

mtsymbal said:

I have a carrying cage but currently left it outside thinking they'd use it. Instead, they keep far from it.  I have trapped both of them in it before and could probably do it again. Unfortunately it won't allow me to add food, water or anything into it. I've also seen Smokey freak out in it before.

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You say you have trapped them before? What was the reason? That would have been a good time to get them in for neutering. Please do get both of them fixed as well as the mother. She will only become pregnant again, if not already and you will have even more kittens to feed and get neutered. They all freak out in the traps and crates. You would take them directly to the TNR vet once you trap them. Most will allow you to have a "floating" appt. because you don't which day you can trap cats. If you want to catch them in that crate you put outside, then only put food in the crate and leave the door propped open. Once they are used to going in and out, (and since they are used to you being close by) then you just close the door and take that one to the vet. I usually bring a crate anyway to the vet. They put the cat in the crate after surgery and shots, etc. When I bring the crate home, I either leave the crate with the door propped open in the foster room OR put the crate inside a very, very large dog crate. Of course, the foster room and the very large dog crate have all of the cats necessities inside all set up.

I really think Smokey would become a loving cat as would Blondie. Just because she is more standoffish, doesn't mean she won't come around. They need to be neutered immediately. They are approaching adulthood and will be breeding if not already. Plus, that will settle them down a bit. Please trap and neuter the whole family very, very soon. You can always release them back outside and work on getting Smokey in after that. Most importantly is to get them sterilized so no more kittens, IMO.

Again, thanks everyone for your assistance and feedback! 

Blondie hasn't warmed up to me like Smokey has, perhaps she just isn't as affectionate as he is. I have spent the last 2 days petting him at my window for hours, Smokey is very affectionate. I can sense a bond that I have developed with him. 

Feralvr, thanks for the advice. I must apologize as this is all new to me. I wanted to take both kittens at the time but my wife wouldn't allow it whereas now she has warmed up to the idea. That's why we never took them to the vet before.  My other problem/reason for not taking them yet is due to costs and how to trap. As well as the fear of what to expect when I bring one or two of them and confine them in my small and only bathroom within my duplex apartment/town-house.

As promised, here are some pictures of Smokey and Blondie.  I took videos of myself feeding them and how I was petting Smokey and his recations. He was always pressing up towards my hand and his tail was pointing upwards. He would close his eyes and purr.  Meanwhile, I tried the same with Blondie but she instead would try to grab/scratch my hands.

Thanks again to you all for your support. Any and all advice is appreciated.  Right now, I'm actually enrolled in the humane society and learning about TNR... looking to get certified. I figured I should at least TNR Blondie and the mother cat if I don't take them in.  I'm thinking about doing the same for Smokey and then bringing him to the vet to do the rest. Could someone advise on what the best method I should take as I have no experience in this matter what-so-ever. Thanks in advance!

Pictures:

http://postimage.org/image/l5nvog0fl/

http://postimage.org/image/kuwaf4vhh/

http://postimage.org/image/axf5o2809/781d5782/

http://postimage.org/image/i6pu7w5ot/a8826641/

http://postimage.org/image/zdn7ny8tt/488f3226/

http://postimage.org/image/l4mt1ldcd/65d9b86a/

http://postimage.org/image/l4mt1ldcd/

Again, I'll try to post up some videos on youtube for you guys and gals. Thanks again to everyone here!

-Mtsymbal

Feralvr, thanks and I was going to bring them to the vet when I caught them. Only reason why I didn't was because my wife at the time was against the idea and forced me to release the "poor defenseless animals" and so I did.

These past 2 days have been great. I have started petting Smokey for hours on end by window and even recorded it using my phone camera which I will post at a later time for all to see. Below I posted some pictures for everyone to see. I attempted to do the same with Blondie but she simply trys to grab/scratch my hands whenever I try. When she wasn't looking, I would try gently petting her like I do Smokey but she runs away in fear immediately so I'm trying to give her time. Honestly though, I think I would be very happy with just Smokey which leads me to my next questions....

I recently enrolled in the humane society's TNR program for ferals so I could get certified and find a place that offers TNR in my area. I'm thinking that if I don't take Blondie and even the mother cat who we called Betsy BTW, LoL...  I would spay them using the TNR method. My question is if I should do the same with Smokey since I'm thinking it'll be cheaper and will do most of the work/costs. Then afterwards bring Smokey to the vet for all other things not covered by the TNR. I just want to ask what the best approach would be to making sure I'm doing the right thing here as I'm new to all of this and do not know what I'm doing what-so-ever.  Although I must say, it's a nice feeling when a wild animal / feral cat warms up to you and allows you to pet him... it's truly an experience. I'm a man and I get emotional just about the fact that I was able to accomplish this with Smokey who is still very skiddish at times and still runs away from loud sounds, or if I approach too fast or appear malcious to him.

I hope you guys and gals can advise me into the right direction. What I want to do is take Smokey home as a pet. My dilema is that I live in a 1 bed room apartment / duplex town house. I do not have a safe room. My bathroom is NOT large. I think I could fit a litterbox and maybe one small box for hiding. I need to know what the best possible approach is on how to ensure that Smokey will not freak out when I bring him home after he is sterilized. Again, never had a cat before and let alone one from the outside so any and all advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks agian in advance!

Here are some pictures of Smokey and Blondie. Again, I'll try to put up some videos later on!  -MT

http://postimage.org/image/l5nvog0fl/

http://postimage.org/image/kuwaf4vhh/

http://postimage.org/image/axf5o2809/781d5782/

http://postimage.org/image/i6pu7w5ot/a8826641/

http://postimage.org/image/zdn7ny8tt/488f3226/

http://postimage.org/image/l4mt1ldcd/65d9b86a/

http://postimage.org/image/l4mt1ldcd/

Follow your heart, that's my advice. You seem to be doing everything just right for both kittens.  They are heart breakers, I am so glad they found you!