Feral with day and night reversed.

 My daughter took in a feral last December. She feeds the neighborhood strays year round and had seen this cat for about 3 years and knew it ran from people. It is a small cat and was too thin and was getting in fights. She hoped to keep it inside during the cold months and hoped that it would adjust to being an indoor cat. If not, she is perfectly happy to release it now that the weather is warming. 

The cat has been in the house for 3 months and has not warmed up to the other cats or my daughter. He also hides during the day and then at night he is going from one window to the other and crying all night.  It seems like his internal clock is switched and she can't get any sleep unless she locks him in the basement which she really doesn't want to do. Now that it is warmer, she left the door open so he could leave if that is what he wants to do, but he didn't show any interest in leaving. So the question is whether anyone has had any luck with a feral who is used to sleeping all day and being up all night in switching their days and nights around?

The "switching" is the normal for cats!  Cats ARE essentially nocturnal animals!   Interesing he doesnt wish to leave.  So it means, he is after all OK with the live inside, and your sis and the other cats.  Although he isnt giving them open friendliness....     Probably he is one of those, who WILL come around, given more time...Although it may take years.

Is he spayed?    What active fostering did your sis?    Its wise to leave them in peace some time, so they can land and calm down, but after say one week you should begin with fostering process, if you want to foster them....  

Its perhaps best if you sis register herself here as member, and herself communicate with us?

Last question.  Its swell she is helping and feeding the strays around.   Does she help them with spaying / neutering?   Herself or cooperating with some shelter or TNR / rescue group?     Spaying is the key for long term help.

Good luck!

As asked from above, is the feral cat she brought inside spayed/neutered?  This is very important to know as it can affect the behavior and socialization of the cat.  Also did she go about separating the feral from the other cats and allowing it time to adjust to inside living before allowing the cat to get to know the other cats?  There are some great articles here on properly introducing cats.  Ferals can be tricky and often need some special socializing first. 

It really would be helpful to have your daughter register here too and ask the proper questions.  Spaying and neutering of the stray cats she is feeding is imperative.  If not the population will grow out of control in a very short period of time. 

Thank you for trying to help.

We are both life long cat parents so have a pretty good idea that night wandering is normal for them. To answer your questions - This new male is one of many that she has taken in over the years that have been homeless, abandoned, or feral. She has had them neutered or spayed (including this one) as well a gotten all their shots etc. They have a forever home when she takes them in. 

He was isolated in an upper bedroom for  a few weeks. The other cats then were given access to that room after he was moved to another room to satisfy their curiosity. Then he was moved back for a few more weeks. Then he was given the run of the house and there have been no problems between him and the resident cats.

What has been a continuing problem is that he spends the night going from window to window crying loudly which makes it impossible to sleep. Neither of us has seen this behavior before. Especially after 3 months of indoor life. He seems comfortable moving around the house at night but still hides from her and shows no signs of coming out to join the family.  I thought that letting him choose to return outside was an option but he has failed to take advantage of it. In the meantime, she needs to be able to sleep. I thought that the crying might be because of a buddy who is still outside that he misses, but that seems to be a nonstarter.  So - what do we do about the crying. Feliway?? Catnip?? Something else?? Ask the vet for a pill of some kind?? if a pill, how do we get a cat that doesn't want to be touched to take it??

They have 'calming treats' you can buy on Amazon that work well and are gobbled up even by my 'picky' ones. It wouldn't hurt to try! It will take a long time fro him to adjust to not being able to go outside. I would give him 6 months and if he still isn't happy she may have to consider on letting him out, especially where he wants no contact. Good luck and bless you for taking him in!

I used Composure feline treats when I brought a feral into the house last spring and he was crying all night.  Each night before bed I would give him 2-3 of the treats.   After a few nights the crying diminished.  I occasionally had to go into his room and give him another treat during the night.

Also playing with the cat before bed helps to wear them out.  If you visit Jackson Galaxy's site he has lots and lots of suggestions for cats and night time antics.

I just talked to my daughter and she says the last couple of nights have been somewhat better. Less meowing and more peace and quiet. He actually came up from the basement (his current hiding place) while she was in the kitchen yesterday and walked quickly by her. I hope we have turned the corner. Thanks for the tips on the treats. We will surely try them to see if it calms him down some more.