Info regarding stray/feral? cat

We trapped a chocolate point siamese cat two weeks ago this Monday.  Had him tested, wormed, shots and neutered. This cat showed up at the end of August and he would eat at our feet and follow me around yard but we could not touch him.  He is now in a safe haven room in our house.  We are still unable to touch him but he will come out of hiding to eat  while we are in the room and while i'm on the computer in room he sits on cat tree 2 ft from me.  He has hissed a few times but thats it.   Used litter box from day one.  We have another cat but we do not want them to interact until we can touch this cat. Also we don't want to let this cat wander the house.  I think he is safer in the safe haven room until he is acclimated to indoors. Would like some input on how to get this cat to accept us.   Don't know if he is feral or just a mistreated scared cat.  I wonder if he will ever get acclimated to living inside.  We have plenty of patience but wonder if we are being cruel to him by keeping him inside.  Any suggestions?

Hello and welcome to TCS.

Thank you so much for saving this kitty! He sounds more like a stray, either abandoned or lost. A ferals would not have accepted you outside so easily.

I think your doing great and also doing the right thing keeping him inside and confined to one room until he's a bit more social. This takes time and patience, possibly a LONG time. Your doing everything right that I can tell, and would only add offering him treats and play. Wand toys are a great way to get him to interact with you. When he eats, try just giving him some light pets on the top of his head, just like a ....good boy pet...then stop. Don't push it. He'll slowly learn that pets equal good feelings. Talk to him a lot. Offer out your hand frequently using treats, if he won't come, put them down and step back, do this consistently and frequently. A feliway diffuser may help also.

He WILL eventually come to you, and adjust to being indoors, it's only been 2 weeks, it can take several. Good luck and keep us posted.

Thank you for the info.  I've read alot so I believe we are doing the right things.  We can not try to pet him while he eats, because he is very nervous while out from his hiding place while we are in the room.  I tried holding a treat out to him while he was on cat tree next to me and he hissed so I just layed the treat down and left him alone.  He played once with me with a robe tie. We bought a wand hes not interested right now.  I am going out today to get a soothing sounds nature player and a laser pointer.  Do you think the natue player is a good idea or bad idea?  Its wonderful that I found this site because I need all the support I can get, sometimes I get sad and stressed that he is in the room and I know he would rather be outside but I am a firm believer that cats should be kept inside for life. My husband and I spend anywhere from 3 to 5 hrs a day in the room with him.  Just sitting, talking and doing work on the computer.

I had 5 cats all from the streets but as kittens.  All were put down at 17, 19, 18 and 15 yrs of age.  Three of old age and 1 with aggressive mouth cancer.  The last 2 were put down in the last year. I still have one cat who was just 15yrs.  Thank you for the support ,...I need it.

I am not sure about nature sounds. Classical music, especially harp music, is known to be soothing to cats. I too think you're doing the right thing. He does sound like a stray cat, not truly feral. He's already made great progress and will continue to make more. Good luck and welcome to TCS!

Sounds like you're doing all you can. Just like Katluver says, it will take time. You might get some Felaway (a plug in with cat pheromones). That might help calm him down. He's a lucky kitty to have found you!

Went and got some classical and harp music and also got a laser pointer.  Will stop and pick up feliway.  By the way his name is Buddy....my husband was calling him that outside so we stuck with it. The vet said his best estimate was that he was born sometime in 2012...about 1yr old. This is a picture of him outside eating at my husbands feet. Please keep the suggestions coming. I can use all the support and info I can get.

What a beautiful cat!

He is just beautiful. I think he was either lost, or sadly left to fend for himself. You are doing everything right, it just takes time and patience. He is a lucky boy,

Well a little progress....maybe.  Just brought Buddy his little treat before bed.  He came out of cubby ate his treats.  Walked and sat next to my chair, gave a little meow chirp looked at me and then went back in cubby. He may be feeling a little more comfortable but I don't want to push it.  I didn't want to reach down and touch him.  Not sure hes ready for that yet....Not sure I'm ready either.  I try not to show any fear but inside i'm just a little scared.

I think that's GREAT progress! He's talking to you. You and Buddy are doing just fine.

That is good!

Remember, when you first reach to touch him, use your fist.  It will look like a cat wanting a head bump.  Don't use an open hand - it frightens them.  When the cat responds to your fist, you can gradually open your fingers to give him a head or chin scratch.

Yes I know. Some days he seems like he ready and other days he does not.  Everything I've read says to let him come to me?  Is that right?

Yes, until he really trusts you, let him call the shots.

Well he was out of hiding place most of the day Bob said.  He was in the cat tree we bought him in front of window most of the day.  I just got home from work and fed him and he ate right away.  Still using litter box with no problems.  He went back in cubby and I tried to play with him and he seemed interested. Was rolling around in cubby with head upside down lol and then he got a little scared and now I'm a little scared lol because he is under desk about 2 ft from my feet but I refuse to show fear.  Sometimes he is just so darn cute I want to just love him up but I know that would be a disaster. I keep saying baby steps, baby steps.

judygb said:

 
Yes I know. Some days he seems like he ready and other days he does not.  Everything I've read says to let him come to me?  Is that right?

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Quite right, but you can use things to entice him, such as treats, or wand toys. Wand toys are good cause they allow him to interact with you, yet keep his distance if he wishes to. They can also be used to slowly work him closer and closer to you. The one I love is called the Da-Bird. It has a very long stick and string which allows for long distance play. Be sure to talk to him a lot. Praise him. He'll come around.

KRZ said:

He is just beautiful. I think he was either lost, or sadly left to fend for himself. You are doing everything right, it just takes time and patience. He is a lucky boy,

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I did try to see if he was lost. Posted on a bunch of websites, checked paper, talked to all our neighbors on our street. No one had ever seen him before 8/18 and that's when we spotted him. We waited till Sept 8th before we trapped him. This cat was out all hours of the day. If he was not feral I believe sadly someone just dumped him.

Well Buddy is doing fine.  Comes out from computer cubby and sits in tree next to me but still skittish.  Sometimes he hisses and other times he talks to me.  Still unable to touch him.  Waiting for him to come to me which I understand may be a long time.  Took advice given and been playing classical music also he played a litte with me but he stays under desk while playing.  He sticks paw out and grabs the robe tie with the stuffed bird tied to it.  I did buy a crinkle ball that he showed interest in and also Da-bird wand which he is not interested in yet.  I actually vacuumed the room today cause I couldn't take it anymore.  He tracks litter.  He didn't freak out he stayed in computer cubby while I vacuumed. It will be 3 weeks on Monday that we trapped him and put him in room.  Any idea how long it will be before he lets us touch him?  We  have patience and will not rush it.  Its a good feeling to just know that he is safe and not outside anymore running accross the street.  Thanks to all for suggestions and support.  Please keep them coming.  I need the contact for support.

Glad he didn't freak out at the vacuum.  They often do.  (Even my tamest cat hides for a few hours after I'm finished).

It sounds like you're doing all the right things.  It does drive one a little batty when it goes so slowly but hang in there.

Have you gotten him any other toys?  The tracks with the balls in them are fun, as are balls and fuzzy mice.  You may have to try a few and see what he responds to.  Thanks for the update!

When I first brought my stray inside, he wouldn't play with anything.  We tried mice, da bird, balls of all sorts, Neko flies, wand, ribbon, etc...  He was just too freaked out to play.  Once he settled down, he was most interested in string.  I had an old string from one of my sons hoodies.  I knotted the ends.  I pick it up when he is in the room alone.  As far as petting him, I was first able to pet my feral after playing with a wand toy.  It took me me almost 7 months before I could pet Shadow.  He lives outside so his interactions with me are sporadic, but he did some inside the house for short visits.  He loved the Da bird and the feather wand toy.  I got to the point of using the feather part to gently touch him.  At first he freaked a bit, but I kept trying.  He began to get used to it and then liked it on top of his head.  He then loved it under the chin.  I began to move the wand closer to my body and my hand closer to his.  Before he knew it, it was my hand touching him and not the wand. 

Shadow cannot get enough pets in as well as being brushed.  I also am able to lift him up and he also will sit on my lap.  I cannot hold him, but I can lift and move him if necessary.  He has been with me now for 3 years.  He still lives outside, but rarely leaves my yard.  My deck is his palace!!

Keep having lots and lots of patience.  There are some really great videos on You tube about socializing ferals.  Gerber stage 1 chicken/turkey baby food is always a winner.  You can start with the cat licking it off a spoon and move to the cat licking it off your fingers.  Cats just love it and it works great for training episodes.

Weeee this is Buddy playing.  He is now out closer to me at my feet.