tips on making the feral cat more comfortable in coming indoors?

mouver

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Like the title said, I'm looking for ways on making the cat (in this case, Snickerdoodles) feel more comfortable about coming in, or at least feel comfortable being brought into the house. I've been feeding her easily for over a year and she's has become close to my heart. 

I can pick her up, love her for hours, brush her, she follows me around. But god forgive if I bring her inside the house, it's the last place she'd like to be. 

I'm only wondering this because I know I won't be living here forever, and I know I want to bring her along to where ever I go next.

Thanks in advance!
 

ondine

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If you bring her in, will it be permanent?  (She won't be going out again).  If that is the case, I'd bring her into one room with all her supplies (potty, food, water, comfy bed) and let her get used to that before exposing her to the entire house.

You are definitely going to have to make sure she knows how to use a litterbox before you do that, though.  Whenever I have ferals I'm not sure about, I put leaves and/or dirt on top of the litter.  They are used to using that medium and they get the idea pretty quickly.

If she's still going to be an inside/outside cat, you'll need to give her an escape route any time she comes in, especially at the beginning, so she knows she's not "trapped."  Maybe let her come in on her own, rather than taking her inside.  You could bribe her by feeding her inside - just isndie the door at first, then gradually moving her furhter in.  Always let her call the timing.

If she isn't fixed, get that done ASAP.  It will help her settle down.

If you take her with you when you move, you would need to confine her for a few weeks anyway or else she'll try to find her way back "home." 

Good luck!
 

cindi406

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Ondine is right on with her advise. My sister had a feral that she tamed outside and then brought in. The first time she tried to bring her in and closed the door behind her. Bad move!

She learned quickly that that best way to acclimate ferals to your home is to do exactly as Ondine recommended, make sure they can escape. They have to check it out themselves and they have to be able to quickly flee in the beginning. 

My sister had to leave her door open and feed her just inside for quite some time. She made her a bed inside and still had to leave a door open during those times. Eventually, the cat became acclimated and trusted the environment. She came in, slept in the bed, used the litter box and would go in and out.

When she came in and my sister could close the door, my sister constantly opened and shut the door for her. This was to let her know she could come and go. Eventually, she stayed in more and more.

Good luck and I am sure everything will be just fine! :-)
 
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