Keep Blacky on outside porch or take him inside

I trapped a feral on my outdoor porch a couple of weeks ago.  He has a little heated mat on the one of the couches out there and I put a cat tree for him too.  I live in Boston so it's very cold out right now and out there.  I would like to bring him inside but my boyfriend thinks he is fine where he is because he is used to the cold and to keep him out there until I can socialize/bond with him and because he has more hiding places, i.e. under the couch than he would in the house.    I have two other cats as well and have not been able to get the feral to the vets yet but I know he is a TNR cat.  My vet thinks it is a very low risk to bring him in if he does have something that my cats could catch if I disinfect the room when I let him out.

What do you think?  Should I keep him out there until I can bond with him or take him in.  My worry is the cold.

Thanks,

When you say you trapped him, do you mean that he's enclosed in your back porch? How is he acting--does he act as though he wants to get loose from your porch--is he crying and clawing at the windows? If he seems content to be in an enclosed space on your porch, then he likely isn't a feral, but a stray. You might try to open your door and see if he comes into your house on his own.

I've taken in a number of ferals and strays over the years and they were inside with my other cats for a week before I took them to the vet, and none of my indoor cats ever got sick. As long as your indoor cats are vaccinated, there shouldn't be a problem. You will want to treat him with Frontline, however, so he doesn't infest your home and other cats with fleas.

Cats never truly "get used to the cold." Their fur isn't thick enough to protect them from frostbite or hypothermia when the temperatures and wind are in the sub-zero range, or there's snow on the ground. My outdoor feral doesn't home out of his pet house except to eat when it's very cold and is clearly uncomfortable especially in the bitter wind. You can always get him a little pet house, or devise some space for him to hide inside your house.

If you bring him inside, he will need a room of his own to settle himself to indoor life as well as get to know you.  He really shouldn't have any contact with your other cats before he is checked by a vet.  You will want to have him current on his vaccines, dewormed as well as tested for FIV and Felv. 

If you do bring him inside and in a room to himself, make sure he cannot get under a bed or dresser and get himself stuck.  He will need safe hiding places. 

Both great answers.  It really depends on the cat's personality and whether you think he can become part of your family. As long as he has a warm place to escape the weather, food and a litter box, he should be fine on your porch.  But if you think he'd be a good candidate for an inside cat, give it a shot.

Either way, he does deserve a trip to the vet - just to make sure he doesn't have parasites or is positive for FIV/FELV.

Is his ear tipped - is that how you know he's been fixed?

Thank you for helping him!

I tried to let him in the house tonight but he wouldn't come in and god scared.  He seems comfortable out there; doesn't cry, scratch or run wild ever since he's been there.  Since I scared him I might have taken a step back in trust.  Will keep trying to bring him in.  Any tips on how to get him to come in the house other than with food as I tried that tonight?

I tried to let him in the house tonight but he wouldn't come in and god scared. He seems comfortable out there; doesn't cry, scratch or run wild ever since he's been there. Since I scared him I might have taken a step back in trust. Will keep trying to bring him in. Any tips on how to get him to come in the house other than with food as I tried that tonight?

I set up a separate room for him with his old outdoor insulated house and a blanket draped over a table so he could hid in it if he does come in and a box as well and a litter box  I won't let him near my other cats until he is vet checked. 

Yes, he let ear is tipped.

Hi,I just read your post and I think you are quite an angel!
Lil feral kitty won't come in on his own probably becuz his reaction to the smell of other cats.Try placing rugs,pads blankets with your and sig-other as well as indoor cats odors placed where he hangs on the porch.To get him familiar with these scents.also.When you feel ready to bring him in have a carrier(that you have been putting his daily food and water in) and when he's about 1/2 way done,gently latch the door and bring him to a room that's quiet and has some of his blankets(with his cat smell).this will take (,depending on how feral he is)couple of weeks give or take.You can come post here any questions,there's lots of us that want to help.

When I brought my stray Marvin inside, I too tried to lure him into the house with food.  It didn't work.  I had to lure him into a largish cat carrier with food and then take him inside to his special room.  It took me 2 hours to get him into the carrier.  Once he was 1/2 way in, I had to push him in and latch it up.  He was not happy, but it was the only way. 

You also might try to retrap him in a humane trap and take him promptly to the vet and then bring him into your house that way.  It would save you the step of getting him into the house and then getting him into a carrier to get to the vet.

Hi Shawsrescue,

I think I took a step backwards trying to get him in.  He walked a little way toward the food in the house and then turned around and went back on the porch.  I left the kitchen door open and sat on the couch opposite side of him.  He actually jumped up on the other couch and sat across from me.  That was good.  I then got up slowly and put something to block the entrance to the couch he was hiding behind and that's when he kind of paniced started to run around.  I uncovered the entrance to the back of the couch and he went behind there.  I gave up after that because I don't want to traumatize him.  Now, he doesn't trust me again.  He hissed at me the day after when I went to put his food down but doesn't hiss anymore, just goes under the couch.  So again, I have to gain his trust. 

I emailed a person from the MSPCA shelter about taking him in as my boyfriend thought he was fine out there and used to the cold.  She told me he was "spot on".  That cats grow an extra layer of fur for the cold.  I think for now I am going to try to bond with him on the porch.  As little time as I spend out there now because it is so cold.  I put the storm windows up so it is a little warmer in there and more quiet but that is the only thing I can do for now.  I hold my cats up to the window from the kitchen and pat them to hopefully show him he can trust me.  Try the slow blinks, which he used to give me back before I tried to take him in.  I'm getting them back now but less often. 

When the weather gets more tolerable for me to sit out there I'll spend more time hoping to gain his trust again.  I guess when the time is right I will be able to somehow get him in a carrier and bring him to the vets and then indoors from that.  He seems OK out in the porch and comfortable on his little heated mat on the couch so I guess it is me who is worrying too much as my bf said.  Spring will be here in about 4 weeks so I'll go from there. 

Anything else you can suggest?

Hi, thanks.  I'm trying my best to be patient.  Please read my reply to Shadows Rescue for an update.  Thanks.

It sounds like you are doing all the right things.  Cats, especially those who've been on their own for awhile, can really take a long time to adjust.  It takes so much patience but you sound like you have it.  Thanks for the update - and for caring about him.

and you're right - SPRING IS COMING! 

Patience is the key.  Cats that have lived on their own for a long time and who may be considered feral will take a long time to socialize.  Since he seems content on your porch, I would leave him there.  I know it's very cold outside and hard to spend time with him.  Yet, even when you go to take the food out, talk quietly to him.  When you come out to see him, offer a really special yummy treat.  He may not eat it right away, but he will associate you with good things.  When you leave, give another treat.  Try something special such as plain cooked chicken, tuna or other fish product.  Just give a little bit. 

As the weather warms and you can get outside more, sit with him and talk quietly.  You might just even read aloud to him.  Offer him so toys such as small mice, spongy balls, catnip toys.  Does he have something to scratch on like a cat tree, scratching post or scratching mat?  Outdoor cats love to scratch and need to scratch to keep their nails filed down.  Does he have a perch to sit on and watch the outside? 

You might want to go ahead and get a carrier for him.  If you get one large enough, you can start to feed him in the carrier.  Start by placing the food just inside the door and each day move it back until it's all the way in the back.  He will start to see the carrier as a safe place.  Just be sure you leave the carrier door open all the way while he is acclimating to it.  This will make it very easy for you to take him to the vet when you are ready.  On the day of the appt, you can just feed him as normal, but this time block the exit with a chair pad or large pillow and close/latch the door.  Then if you choose, you can bring him back from the vet and place him in a safe room away from you other cats.  This really does work.  I have used the trick on Marvin many times.  When I first brought him into the house, I acclimated him to the carrier for 3 weeks before I took him to the vet.  On the morning of the appt I just put his food inside, he walked right in and I used a firm chair pad to block his exit and zipped him right up.  He was afraid, but quickly quieted once I covered the carrier with a sheet. 

Remember patience is your friend.  The process may take a very long time.  Don't set a time period when he must be inside, just take it day by day and allow him the freedom to work at his own pace.

Also have you tried Feral Cat Rehab from Spirit Essences?  I have used it on 4 ferals and it worked really well.

Building trust with a feral is always a matter of taking two steps forward, one step back. I've been taking care of my outside feral for two and a half years, and whenever I have to do something he doesn't like (most recently, spray his infected ear with a wound spray), he will get upset and be skittish around me for a few days. But then he forgives and forgets. Even domesticated cats are a little like this. Whenever I take my 14 year-old cat to the vet, he's horribly upset with me and avoids me for the rest of the day, running and hiding under the bed. Cats get upset, but unless someone truly hurts them, they forgive quickly--the good we do for them outweighs any of the occasional difficult stuff that we do to them that they can't understand. So don't take it personally or feel you've done something wrong if you try something and your feral gets scared for a few days. It will pass.

I know this sounds silly, but if you can sing in a soft voice, cats really like this. I tamed the two ferals I brought inside by talking and singing softly to them. Even my outdoor feral closes his eyes and rests when I sing him the song I made up for him. Your feral will get very used to your voice, moreso than anything else, and associate it with food and protection.  You should name him, and start calling him by the name.

No matter whether you wait a day or a few months, when you do take your feral inside, there's going to be a period of adjustment that will last anywhere from weeks to months. He will be scared and upset being in a new place, and getting used to you, your boyfriend, and the other cats. There will be some hissing and hiding, and most likely non-stop crying the first few days. But it will be well worth it, because when your feral  adjusts to you and realizes that he's in a safe, warm place with plenty of food, he will love you. I took in a 10 month old feral 6 months ago, and while she is still easily frightened, she sleeps on the bed with me at night on top of my feet or legs and loves to play and play with her wand toy.  She is very happy inside, and whenever I open the front door and she feels the cold, she turns and runs away back upstairs. It is well worth being patient.