I think I adopted a formerly feral cat... HELP!

Except for the fleas (yikes!), that is really good news. I wish I had a visiting vet. Sounds like a great practice.

Great news!  Hopefully all her test results will come back negative.

I would make sure that you don't just open the door and let Roxie out while Brutus is out.  There is a great article on introducing cats

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/introducing-cats-to-cats

You don't want to have a cat fight right off the bat.  Some cats will easily get along and do so well.  Others ( like the 2 I have) take tons of hard work and lots and lots of patience. 

Hopefully Brutus and Roxie will be quick friends.

Great news, Roxie is NEGATIVE!  The vet suggested I get another Feliway diffuser for the living room, and I have to see than she can't get into the back of the recliner, but the door opens tonite...barring any major confrontations, we'll see what happens.

The vet thinks that based on Brutus' personality, (hes SOOO laid back) that he'll give her the space she needs.

Wonderful, wonderful news!  Vibes that everyone gets along tonight.

Great, great and wonderful news!!!!!!!!!! About all of it, except for those darn fleas. But, with new products on the market you will have them wiped out in no time.

I agree with your vet that now is the time to allow Roxie and Brutus meet on their own terms by leaving that door open a bit. Roxie will still have her room to retreat to if she feels frightened. I am just so happy that she was given the stamp of approval to being quite the healthy girl. Just letting Roxie come around in her own time IS the best way to approach bonding with her at this point. Who knows, she may or may not ever be a lap cat, but she surely is lucky to now have a forever home and can just be herself.

What a nite... very little of anything happened tonite. I opened the door around 7 this evening, and other than a little growling, it's been fine. Brutus followed me right in, and explored the room, Roxie growled at him the whole time. Then he hopped up into his hammock and let her be... every now and then he'd kind of stick his head closer, and she'd growl, but then they both relaxed and just sat there together. Brutus would come out and play then go back and lay in my chair, or in his hammock. I gave them treats in the same room and she ate at the same time. She went into the bathroom for a bit, sat on the counter, then went back into "her" room. When she was in the bathroom he sat under her on the floor, crying. Is he trying to comfort her? If it keeps up like this, and they get along, I'll be very happy.

Sounds like a really good start.  I don't know about the crying.  When Marvin does that to Jake, it means he wants to get him!  Watch for ear placement and tail placement.  THey say alot about cats.  You want the ears in an upright, yet relaxed state.  Any time the ears go back or almost appear laying flat, the cat is either very frightened or about to attack.  I think you can search the internet for pictures of cats ears and tails.  It  does help alot.  I used to think that when Marvin made a little chirpy sound to Jake that he wanted his attention, yet instead he would make the sound and then pounce on him.  I had to watch his ears and facial expressions instead.

It seems to me that he's calling to her, like he wants her to play... we had a peaceful nite,. She was on the cedar chest in my bedroom when I went to bed, but was back in the "safe room" by morning... I think Brutus' exuberant morning "after poop" happy dance un-nerved her, but she holds her ground... under the rocker in "her bedroom" Brutes wants to play, but she let him know to back off... He seems to respect that. She is more growl-y toward me, but i just ignore it. Would LOVE to vacuum the carpet in her room, but want to do that when she's in another part of the apt... Will continue to post updates. Still very positive.

Roxie has taken up residence on top of the toilet tank again... been there for 2 days. I'm not feeding her in there, I basically ignore her, she keeps knocking over the spare TP so she can lay there and "yell" at me when I use the toilet. I know she used the litter box in there, but don't know if she's stepped out to eat. 

Meanwhile, I'm using the flea comb on Brutus, and still finding flea dirt, and found a live one today, too! Would love to brush Roxie, because I think she's the source. Fat chance of that. 

Suggestions? 

Roxie finally VERY cautiously came out of the bathroom for food. She's also aware that there is food in the kitchen 'cause that was her first stop. I closed off the bathroom door to force her into choosing somewhere else, and she's back on her perch in the safe room. Yay! I rewarded her with treats, she and Brutus both got treats and ate them together, with her growling the whole time. I bet she was really hungry. I think that's good, she'll associate me more as a source of food. Brutus is just so curious yet respectful, he doesn't chase her, although the first time she went in the kitchen looking for food, I didn't notice until I saw him following her.

Got some D E to help with getting rid of fleas, and read added to cat's food, it will help prevent hairballs. Anyone with experience there? 

Sounds like great progress all in all and I hope that day by day Roxie will improve her trust issues and feel more secure in her new home. :cross:

I would definitely treat all of your pets in the household with a flea topical from the vet. Make sure you get the human grade DE http://www.ehow.com/facts_5210073_effective-diatomaceous-earth-fleas_.html.

Would not recommend using DE in the food for hairballs. There are many, many hairball remedy options to choose from. Following is a thread on using Egg Yolk Lecithin (which I also use) for hairballs. http://www.thecatsite.com/t/266178/...using-egg-yolk-lecithin-to-dissolve-hairballs

Dear Feralvr,

Thanks for your help! I'm using Pertomalt, and because her skin (I think) seems really dry, I'm also giving her Vitamin E oil, and Fish oil. I tried once to use a slicker brush on her back, and the skin seemed really dry and crusty.

We ARE making progress! Roxie spend most of the evening in the dining room, and went into the kitchen to eat 3 times. She looked around the living room, but changed her mind.

Her newest spot is on one of the chairs in the dining room. She's still very cautious and although I think Brutus is being very patient, they had a brief moment of "I want to come say Hi" and "get away" this morning. Roxie is holding her ground and not running off to hide.

Roxie IS such a brave girl venturing out and taking claim of that dining room chair. Those chairs are a favorite for kitties being up off the ground and tucked under a table. My Perla has a favorite dining chair as well. Brutus sounds like such a good, kind soul. He seems to like having Roxie around and knows to take things slow with her. Follow his lead!!!!!! :lol3: Taking things slow. I am so happy for ALL of you that things are coming together. :rub:

The fish oil is a great addition, though. Alaskan salmon oil is a popular one to use. Will help with skin dryness, etc. First, I would get the fleas terminated and then I think the skin condition will improve. The fleas are the main reason for her itchy skin condition.

Brutus is very excited that Roxie is here, (yesterday morning, maybe a little too excited).. I think he is hoping she'll play with him. She hid a good part of the evening then came out again to reclaim her spot, where I found her this morning.  She must have been a little rattled, because she started growling at me again this morning when I fed her, swiped at me when I went to take the dish away.

I will continue the fish oil, have read that a diet of high quality chicken is good for skin issues and beef not so much...Really wish I could check her for fleas, she's still scratching.

AWW Brutus is in love. :love: Don't be too surprised about those little outbursts from Roxie. I still think you are a saint for taking her in and just know that it is going to take quite some time for her to completely give in and trust, and I hate to say this, BUT she may always be a bit standoffish. Time will tell and just love her the way you are right now and things will improve. :bigthumb:

Yeah, those fleas.... need to be eradicated!! What product did the vet use on Roxie for the fleas? Did you treat the house with the DE yet? I hope soon you will be flea-free! :cross:

DE and LOTS of vacuuming... just have to be careful where and when so I don't scare her! I agree, I think Brutus is in love! She continues to hold her ground on "her chair" and is looking interested in exploring the living room. The hardest part for me is to just ignore her, but it works. I keep putting out treats in spots she'd find enticing, and Brutus keeps eating them! They're both food motivated. (I know that means I have to be careful for weight issues) BUT... this morning when I gave Roxie her breakfast, she didn't growl, she meowed! Also I noticed her tail as she's moving about, she's beginning to hold it up more, like straight out, not down or curled under, a clear sign to me that she's beginning to feel more confident. She is spending more time closer to where we are, not hiding in another room.

SHE RUBBED AGAINST MY LEGS TONITE!!!   I'm in shock...    I was putting out food for them, standing at the counter and she rubbed my legs TWICE! I'm over the moon. This is much more than i would have expected. Still  not approaching her, she will come to me. I just had to share. 

jseltzer said:

 
SHE RUBBED AGAINST MY LEGS TONITE!!!  

I'm in shock...    I was putting out food for them, standing at the counter and she rubbed my legs TWICE! I'm over the moon. This is much more than i would have expected. Still  not approaching her, she will come to me. I just had to share. 

Click to expand...

This is such wonderful news!!  Yea Roxie!!!!  Hopefully before long she will start to enjoy some petting.  I think letting her take things at her own pace is really helping.  So glad she is coming out of her shell.  Just love to read about good news!

jseltzer said:

SHE RUBBED AGAINST MY LEGS TONITE!!!   I'm in shock...    I was putting out food for them, standing at the counter and she rubbed my legs TWICE! I'm over the moon. This is much more than i would have expected. Still  not approaching her, she will come to me. I just had to share. 

Click to expand...

SEE HOW WONDERFUL that feels!!!!!!!!!!! You are getting into her heart now and she is trusting you day by day. Such a gift and treat to us when they start to show any little sign. :bigthumb: I am SO happy for you, hun. Keep up the great work!!!!!!!!!!!