Socializing Feral Community

[sussie64]

Just found your site and need some suggestions.

I have been feeding a feral colony for about 5 years - the property management company recently gave me two weeks to relocate them or animal control would come in to trap.

I trapped most of the friendly ones I formed a bond and are now in my home.The others were sent to a cat sancturary in Naples, FL .

I also have four cats that at one time were feral but I have brought home to care for and are fully socialized indoor cats.

What I am wondering about is what is the best way to integrate all of the new cats into my household ?

How long should I keep them separated ? Some seem to be happy to be with me and others seem to have totally forgotten

that I had been feeding and caring for them. I am unsure on how to proceed without making the situation worse for all the cats involved.

Can anyone help me with the best way to do this that would make everyone happy ?

I appreciate any assistance I can get.

Thanks-

 

[ondine]

Routine, routine, routine. Do the same thing every day at the same times. Feeding, scooping, cleaning. They will soon get used to the new digs and new situation. Are they inside or outside? If outside, you should have them confined so they can't try to "go home.". They will try - they are used to their old territory and will want to return.

What you are doing now is helping them adjust to a new territory. It may take awhile, so leave the introductions for the future. The new cats should be vet checked before any intors happen, anyway. They and your current cat's may not have the same germs, so there is a possibility they will ake one another sick. Also, the vet should check for fleas, worms and ear mites. No sense in spreading them!

 

[ritz]

I agree with Ondine.  Routine routine routine. 

Hopefully your house / apartment is big enough that you can separate the two groups of cats.

I would install a lot of Feliway, one for every room at least.  You can also add Rescue Remedy to their food.  I've heard good things about a similar product for ferals (can't find the name off hand).

Also, place soft music in the rooms.

I assume all of them are spayed/neutered.

Once they get semi-use to being indoors, then introduce the other cats.  There is some value to a socialized cat 'teaching' a stray cat that humans aren't bad--they will see the older cats liking to play and being petted and think, maybe I'll like it too.

But first things first.

 

[shadowsrescue]

The feral remedy Ritz is referring too is Feral Cat Rehab from Spirit Essences.  It is a fabulous product. 

It is a very gradual process and will take time and patience.  I have a stray turned feral I just brought into my house on Tuesday.  I also have an indoor cat and dog as well as two other ferals outside.  The new addition inside the house is doing really well during the day.  Yet, time time is really hard for him.  He has his own room with lots of comforts and a high place to look outside.  He cries/meows off and on all night.  I have heard it can take a month or longer for him to settle at night.  I just keep doing the same thing each day.  It gets better each day.  He now eats, loves to see me and uses the litter box.  The first day he cried and cried and kept throwing himself against the window.  I just want to quiet at night!
 

 

[sussie64]

Hi,

I just wanted to thank all of you for responding.

My order of the Feral Rehab just came in and hopefully it helps all of them out.

They all know me and aren't scared of me just seem to be scared of everything else around them.

I have a routine down so they all know when I am coming and going, cleaning, feeding etc.

All of the cats I have brought home are from the same colony- how long do they remember each other ?

Is it better for them to interact with each other or should I keep them separate ?

I agree that it's best to keep my cats away for now- that will all come in time.

Thank you again - my situation has been stressful and I appreciate all of the help !

 

[ondine]

I would still keep them separated for a bit. First of all, you'll want to make sure the newcomers aren't sick and second of all, they may have had rivalries in the colony, so reintroductions should be slow. Good luck!

 

[StefanZ]

Do you Sussie plan to adopt yourself these newbes, or are you planning on adopting them out with time when they had become somewhat socialized?

One comment. Your residents are themselves ex homeless, even ex-ferales, yes?  So they are surely of more tough wood then a random buyed home cat.  These who arent of tough wood simply dont become ferale, they die off before.

So, I do agree with the others, dont take any unnecessary risks, dont break their separation till you are sure the newcomers are healthy, but you dont need either to overdo this quarantine.  Unlike you would do with residents buyed, inside only home raised cats.

It often helps much in fostering for them to have example from socialized, friendly home cats.

Say, you can have a netted door, and they will see you interact with your residents.

Later on, when they have met, and become good friends, this will be even more evident.

Also, shy semiferales tend to adapt easily to residents.

The big exception is a dominant tom, who may be friendly to the caretaker. Such a tom can beat up the residents...  In such a case, you must neuter him several weeks before you even think on letting them meet.   A dominant female may also try to make herself a new revire as alpha...

Some thougts.  

Please continue with reporting and asking!

Good luck!

 

[sussie64]

Hello again,

All of my cats are originally from the same colony however many have become my indoor cats and have all adapted well.The difference is if I brought one home

I could give them all of my attention for as long as they needed until they were comfortable. Now I have brought home quite a few at one time so it's that much harder

to spend time with each one as well as keep my house cats happy. I am planning on keeping each of the ferals at my home. I have a bond with each one and it would be hard to adopt them out.

They have all been to the vet- and no one has any symptoms of being sick. Will the newbies actually remember any of my home cats and vice versa ?

Will the newbies remember each other since I have brought them home and been separated ?

How long exactly should I keep my home cats from the newbie ferals ?  I am not sure how long is a long time ?

For example one of the newbies I brought home has been in my bathroom for about 6 weeks.

I thought maybe getting her used to the house room by room would be a good idea. I can pick her up easily and move her into my bedroom.

Once there she just freezes and goes into survival mode. She doesn't listen to my voice and I feel I am only making things worse for her.

When she is back in the bathroom she is sweet and relaxed again. The problem is I also feel bad she has so little space and am wondering if I am approaching

this wrong. Should I allow her to explore the entire home at one time ? What if she ends up under the coach and I can't get to her ?

I know she will be shellshocked and that is why I am hesitant to do so.

Does anyone have any advice on this ?

I need all of the help I can get !

Thanks again,

 

[ondine]

She may be smelling the other cats in the bedroom. If there is no immediate reason to have her out of the bathroom, i'd let her stay there as long as she wants. If you open the bathroom door, can the other cats get to her? Maybe you can get a screen door to put up so she can "meet" the other cats through the screen.