Not sure if I should bring in two ferals or not

There are a total of 4 strays/ferals that I take care of outside. There are two black females (Peanut and Pepper) that I have been taking care of since they were born under my shed a little over a year ago and I've grown particularly fond of them. I wasn't able to get near them for the better part of their lives but curiously once they became pregnant and had kittens (which I regret, this was before I was able to TNR them) they have become downright friendly with me. They literally live on my porch and stare through my window at me and cry for me to come out.

Peanut is definitely less skittish than Pepper. I can pet her and even put her on my lap where she will stay for a few minutes. She purrs and rubs up against me and curls up and sleeps next to me on our chair outside. I can even pick her up, though she squirms.  I even allowed Peanut to recover in my bathroom for about 2 weeks when she was spayed which I think helped solidify our bond. I sincerely wanted to keep her as an inside cat but my other cats contracted a URI from her and to be straightforward, things got a little overwhelming for me so I let her back outside and she seemed very content and happy for the most part. I feel awful when it rains though and am not looking forward to the upcoming wintry weather.

I just had her sister, Pepper,  spayed last month and she is showing signs of being as friendly as Peanut though she is not quite there yet. I can pet her which she LOVES and she purrs but sometimes she runs from me.

I would like to bring both of them inside but I don't know how realistic that is because I have 4 cats right now (ages 3, 10, 12, 14) . I believe I have the space but 6 cats is definitely well over my limit though I remember when I said that about 4 cats and it really works perfectly now. Also as I am sure many of you deal with, I know that my husband is not entirely keen on the idea. It took some convincing for me to have him agree to bring Peanut inside when the weather gets colder and now I am considering bringing in a second cat! Though he says he will support whatever I say, I know that when things get problematic such as cat fights, possible urination and just general discontent among the cats it will displease him (and me). We run a very clean house so these are things that concern me in addition to an extra litter box but I have

some ideas for that.

Has anyone here ever integrated 2 "semi-feral" cats that are familiar with each other (from the same litter) with 4 other inside cats?

I feel like it will be a nightmare. Also, they are all female! I don't know how only female cats find me but I have never owned a male cat.

I know I definitely want to bring  Peanut in but I don't have the heart to separate them and leave Pepper alone. While they aren't best

buddies, they do "hang out" and play together. Is this a silly thought?

I also wonder what people think about these cats being truly feral because their behavior has made me questions whether feral cats

can truly be tamed past a certain age. These cats were born under my shed to a mom cat with a limp that I fed(she has since disappeared and I assume the other kittens either relocated or are sadly, dead) These two thrived however and I watched them grow all year in my yard though I could never touch them and assumed that I never could. Then one day I pet Peanut through the screen door and the rest is history. I mean, this cat knows her name and comes when I call her (or knows the sound of my voice). My father who lives with us and sits out on the porch with them before I get home from work tells me that they can recognize the sound of my car coming up the street.

I guess I don't know what to do and just wanted to vent a little about my situation. Both cats are well loved and taken care of but I always feel like I'm not spending enough time with them. Here is a picture. When they sit and stare at me through my kitchen door, I both think it's cute and feel so guilty like they are just begging to come inside which they would be if I didn't have 4 other cats to worry about. Peanut is in front, Pepper is in the back.

Thank you for helping these kitties!



I think its do-able but you need to believe that before you start.  Set aside a room for them alone, where they can adjust to being inside only.  They will need a litter box, beds and a couple of boxes or crates for hiding spots.  If the room is empty of furniture, it will be easier for you, as they will have no place to hide where you can't get to them.  A cat tree would be great, too.  At first, put a little dirt or dried leaves on the litter.  They are used to using that and it will make the adjustment easier for them.



Once inside, they may be jumpy and antsy.  They are used to being outside and free to move around.  But this time will give you an opportunity to assess whether they can make the adjustment or not.



If they settle down pretty quickly, you can start working with them to make the adjustment permanent.  That includes spending time with them in the room (reading out loud is an excellent way for them to get used to your voice and presence,).



After a week or so, rub one or both of them with a towel.  Rub you other cats with the other end.  Put the towel under the door, their scent on the outside of the room and your other cat's scent on the inside.  Put treats on the towels.  This helps all the cats get used to the scent of the others, while enjoying something nice (the treats).



After a bit, you can put up a screen door at the entrance to their room.  This will give the cats an opportunity to see but not touch.  You will be able to judge from their interactions how much of a challenge really integrating them all will be.



Here are couple of other forums you might find helpful



http://www.thecatsite.com/t/277917/introducing-a-stray-semi-feral-to-a-indoor-cats-household



http://www.thecatsite.com/t/262632/behavior-cues-when-introducing-a-new-cat

Thank you very much for your thoughtful reply. I have read quite a few threads here but I don't know that I've seen those, so thank you.

Good news is I have introduced my cat Brontë to two of my others before, Carly and Audrey, so I still have a screen door from when we

did that process 5 years ago. Bronte stayed in the bathroom/laundry room and things were very dicey at first and I don't remember

exactly how long it took but I think it was only about a week, maybe 2.  I do remember that the alpha female, Carly, HATED  Brontë at first

and now they sleep together and even groom one another, something I never thought would be possible so that gives me some hope.

My other, Leela, was found in my garden as a 2-3 week old kitten so that process was easier than introducing a full grown cat.

I luckily have a spare bedroom upstairs and plan to remove the bed. My other concern is that the room is carpeted. It wouldn't

be the end of the world if an accident were to happen as it honestly needs replacing anyway (plus my husband knows how to

install carpet) but I don't even want to spend a day with cat urine on the carpet as our clothing is stored in that room and we get

ready in the mornings in there. When Peanut was inside for those two weeks recovery from her spay and URI, she had a few

instances where she peed on a throw rug I had in the bathroom with her. Once I removed all towels and blankets, she took to

the litter just fine and I was able to  put them back in with her again with no issue. But Pepper has never been inside before so

I have no idea how she will take to a litter box. I have a feeling she will do well as we a little bit of old sand underneath our deck

and yeah, as you can imagine it's like a giant litter box for them. But if we decide to bring them in, I will definitely take your advice

and put some leaves and maybe even some of the sand in the litter box as well.

My other concern is their ages. Peanut and Pepper are about 1 1/2. I estimate they were born in March of 2013. Clearly they

are more playful than my 10, 12 & 14 year old cats. The older cats decidedly do not care much for my 3 year old Leela, who loves

to play and be mischievous. I feel like they will hate Peanut and Pepper as well but maybe that could be a positive and Leela

will finally have someone willing to play with her.

Has anyone ever had the feeling like they can't leave them outside but they can't bring them in either? It weighs on me so much

seeing them out there in the rain and possibly crossing the street and crying for me when I have to go to bed and then I hear

cat fights outside and ugh! I know I am doing the best I can for them at the moment. They have their shots and they are spayed

and they are fed, watered and pet daily but I feel so torn.

If they do not work out as inside cats, you can make an area in your yard that belongs to them. A small shelter and feeding area would be ideal. There are all sorts of shelters designed to blend in, so it does not have to be intrusive. If they have a territory where they feel safe, they are less likely to wander, especially as they are spayed now.

Thanks again. I have been looking into shelters as well since there is also a calico kitten (about 5 months old) and her mother outside that I take care of.

So no matter what I do, a shelter of some sort needs to be created.

Right now I feel like they don't travel as much as they once did for sure. Every time I look outside,  they are on my deck or in the yard. If not,

I just call Peanut and she comes running, sometimes from the next door neighbor's yard.

I've looked at lots of different shelters and threads on here. I'm still not sure how many and how big they need to be for 2-4 cats. Do they

need 1 for each of them? Is it better to build or to buy? I wish I lived in a warmer climate. I live in PA  and it gets pretty cold here in the winter time.

I think it depends on your yard.  The feral villa and the kitty tube are both designed for outside use.  Each will hold two cats, so you will probably need more than one house.  If you have a shed, you can adapt it for their use by add a cat door or two and putting straw down for bedding.

I've made them from Rubbermaid totes.  They last about 6 years.  If you afford it, I'd go with the Kitty Tube or Feral Villa.  Feral Villa makes a feeding station, too.

Make sure you get everyone fixed as soon as possible, if that hasn't been done yet.  I say that because it will make them less territorial and less likely to fight or chase one another off the property.

I've looked into those options and will give them more thought with your endorsement. I am also considering having my husband build something insulated.

And yes! Everyone is spayed and recovered as of last month including what we refer to as "the kitten" at about 5 months old. Such a big relief to have that done.

I have a question that I know only I can probably answer based on how they interact but can they be put in a room together? Has anyone ever integrated two cats at once?

If they've been sharing their outside territory, they are at least familiar with one another.  It does depend on that and on their personalities.  I've never introduced more than one cat at a time but I imagine it would be the same process, only a little more complicated.

If you husband is handy, building a shelter shouldn't be too difficult.  If a klutz like me can do it, pretty much anyone can!