Newly Indoor Stray needs your advice!!! (with photos!)

Hello all! This is Charlie!

Charlie has been visiting us daily for several months. One day after being gone for several days he came back with a hurt paw and scratches. This past Tuesday we took Charlie to the vet and got his paw cleaned up, his ear infections and tapeworm treated, and got him neutered. Since then he's been indoors with us because he is still fighting infection and has several bald spots from being shaved at the vet.

After only a few days he's mastered the litter box so that's not an issue.  The problem is the poor boy does not understand that life is supposed to be fun! He will play with a few of our toys but spends the vast majority of his waking hours meowing and walking back and forth from the windows to the patio door. He is very recently neutered so still has those kitty hormones. He just seems upset most of the day and wants to go outside.

We have 2 other cats as well. One of our cats is warming up to him and they even played a little yesterday.  Our oldest boy however does not like him and hisses and swats at him (to be expected) but it's definitely not helping Charlie's comfort inside the house!

We added a nice cat tree yesterday as well as calming spray and a Feliway diffuser. Charlie's still having to live in the bathroom at night because his meowing keeps us awake.  He meows most of the day as well.  He loves attention and loves to be petted. We've been able to distract him briefly with catnip toys and brushing/petting/etc. but mostly he just wants out!

Any advice on how we can help him out, get his meowing down to a tolerable level and ease his transition indoors?

He's so cute don't you agree? lol

What a sweet face.  And what wonderful people you are for helping him!  It may take him awhile to calm down.  Depending on how long he was outside, on his own, it may take a few weeks before he calms down enough to enjoy the good life inside.

He may also never really play.  We have two cats who don't play and never did.  They were six-month-old ferals when we brought them inside and it took them a year to get used to the idea.  But they are happy indoor cats now who just don't play.  But they eat, sleep and use the potty like regular old house cats.  And they are happy, as Charlie will learn to be soon.

Thank you for helping him!

Thanks for the reply!

The vet estimated Charlie is between 1 and 2 yrs old. We know he's been out at least 6 months because he actually came by a few times back in June then disappeared until October. He was initially very scared of us and would only eat if we put food out and went back inside. Gradually he started coming in, especially when it was cold. He got to the point where he would routinely stay overnight. I'm not sure if he's ever had an indoor home but he's definitely not feral. He has the hang of the litter box already!

He does play with our Kickeroos and occasionally bats at things. He's just still pretty on edge in our house most of the time.

He's quite dashing in a tie!

He sure is!  We have a cat whose been inside since she was five weeks old.  Yet (we think because she was abused), she still runs and hides whenever anyone but my husband or me enters the house.

He may always be timid, he may come out of his shell quickly.  Only time and a lot of patience will tell.  But he sure is a cutie.

He already loves to be petted. He caught on to the litter box concept sooo quickly. The call of the wild is still string though! Do you think once all the hormones disappear after the neuter this may get a little better? And does anyone know about how long that takes?

I've had the same issue with our Patience who is an adult female rehab - she is only just starting to have a little bit of play after nearly 2 months inside and still acts like it is something she shouldn't be caught doing!  Others with more experience will be able to advise better, but my take is that they've spent so much time in survival mode that play is not something that comes naturally, they are always a bit on guard even when safe, especially if there are other cats involved.  As to the hormones, it isn't instant after neutering, especially with males.  Patience is the key (no pun intended).  I've had some success with her with a soft fuzzy catnip stuffed mouse.  Also music or singing or just gentle "sing song" talking seems to be calming. 

I sympathize with the meowing keeping you awake, but communication is better than hiding in silence.

That's what we keep saying. He's always a little on edge....survival mode. It's probably all he's known. We are just OVERJOYED that in a couple days he got the hang of the litter box!!! No accidents since Tuesday morning!!

He's just a loud mouth lol. He's definitely not hiding which IS great. He seeks out our attention and will play with a few things....usually laced in catnip! He's also chased the laser light around a little bit.

I think he's doing great just looking for a little reassurance that we are doing the right things to keep him going in the right direction......and a little encouragement that his behavior and acceptance of the indoors may get better with time!

I agree.  Let him know he's safe and let him take the lead.  Soon enough, he will feel "home."

He still ended up spending the night in the bathroom but he's much quieter so far today. He's out and about, eating, drinking, etc. he seems to have made friends with Kellen and they've chased each other around a bit today. He's really doing very well. He's come around to everything so quickly I'm wondering is he's ever had "people" before!

Oh if you wonder why the top is always behind my fountain....Kirby knocks it off and drinks from the top!

He sure is.

What an absolutely adorable boy!  Thank you so much for rescuing him and providing him with a loving home.  As mentioned above he may never be a cat who likes/loves to play.  I brought a stray/feral into my home in late May.  He hardly did any playing at all for the first 2-3 weeks.  He was working really hard on adjusting to indoor life.  We could pet him but only on his head and back, but could not pick him up.  I scattered toys in his room and they went untouched for a long time.  I tried introducing toys, but he seemed to have very little interest.  A simple shoe string was the first toy he played with.  He then moved on to a feather wand and eventually da bird.  He doesn't like the laser at all.  He does like catnip toys and a few soft spongy balls.  After being in the house now for 8 months, I can now pick him up and he will sit on my lap.  Yet he is still very very skittish and he and my other indoor cat do not really care for each other.  Fortunately they tolerate each other and can coexist in the house.  It seems that your 3 are doing very well. 

Just take it slow and let him take the lead.  He might like to watch you playing with your other two.

Thanks for all the advice!
He's having a calmer day overall today. Playing a bit with Kellen this morning and with a few toys. The most important thing is he is consistently using the litter box.....the rest will come in time we hope!

Jenn812 said:

most important thing is he is consistently using the litter box.....the rest will come in time we hope!

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I'm with you!  As long as they use the litter box, I can work through almost anything else!  Thank you so much for your patience!

Ondine said:

I'm with you!  As long as they use the litter box, I can work through almost anything else!  Thank you so much fro your patience!

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Absolutely! If they are not peeing on my things we're cool! He's getting better each day. We just need to get him to keep his night time "singing" down to a minimum....or at least a dull roar lol

What a gorgeous kitty- love those eyes. So glad to hear that he is getting better every day and that he is successfully using the litter box. Your other cats must be excited- new play buddy in the house   He will adjust at his own pace, as you probably have seen- seems like he's warming up pretty quickly! 

Armina said:

What a gorgeous kitty- love those eyes. So glad to hear that he is getting better every day and that he is successfully using the litter box. Your other cats must be excited- new play buddy in the house :heart:  He will adjust at his own pace, as you probably have seen- seems like he's warming up pretty quickly! 

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Well, one of my cats is happy to have a playmate, the other not so much!

He's is doing quite well though....slowly discovering all the comforts of home!

That pic is him this morning relaxing on our bed with me!

Been there,done that! My little guy was stray for a bit before I found him. When I first brought him indoors,you would think I was killing him. He would pace and wander window to window and meow pathetically. Two years later,he still does it occasionally-only when its warmer out. At least with horrible winters and snow,he's finding inside is pretty good! I bought the Feliway  for him to help calm him,and I have tons of toys. I DO have another indoor cat he gets along great with and plays with,but I think they just still like the smell of fresh air. Who knows. It DOES lessen up is the good news!