New Feral "Valentino" needs advice..

I found the cat living in a drainage pipe to a retention pond behind my apt.. in the snow (CT.).. I trapped it took it to the vet.. FIP-FeLV neg.. rabies shot,distemper shot dewormed, neutered.. The cat is very wild will jump climb walls etc.. However despite all that he did NOT attempt to bite scratch or anyone at the vet he only growls a bit.. and lets you pet him, He is not agressive just frightened . After I got him home he only stays in his carrier.. hes in the bathroom now has  Feliway being dispensed, Enya playing softly through wireless speaker, and I spent 2x 30 mins with him just hanging out.. 

Im just trying to see if there is anything else i can do for now.. trying to calm him down enough to get him to a shelter, I know it may take time .. I have done this before but can always use some advise..

What a handsome boy! Sit down and read to him, sit down when you bring his food in - the usual suggestions you probably know better than I do.

Here's hoping the shelter is a no-kill that will find him a good home.

Absolutely no-kill..Thanks for the advice will read to him as well..

Oh, he's beautiful! Time is the only advice I would offer. Be patient and Just let him get to know you on his own terms and in his own time. Just be around him and let him get used to you. He may never become affectionate or allow much touching, but he can be a good companion nonetheless.

Oh, look at that sweet face!  You are correct, he's probably scared.  Time and patience- but you know that already.  Vibes being sent your way that he comes around quickly.

A couple of months ago I took in a feral female. She was already tnr'd but her colony was being removed from their home and she was the last one remaining. I had taken care of the colony and her for 3 years so she was familiar with me. She spent the first month in the carrier in a bathroom. She would eat only when the bathroom door was closed and occasionally sleep in the sink however when the door opened she went right into the carrier. She would swipe and hiss at me if I got to close. Otherwise she was ok.

After a month or so I started to leave the bathroom door open just a crack. Over the next month I began leaving the door open a little more every couple of days. She still would not leave the carrier when anybody was around. Eventually I moved her food dishes outside the bathroom and she slowly began to get comfortable coming to eat. She has been here about 3 months and is comfortable around my wife and I. She sleeps in the dining room area and family room but stays on the first floor of the house. If the front door opens or she hears a stranger she runs right to the carrier in the bathroom. I can pick her up and handle her now and she has become very affectionate towards me however is still somewhat cautious with my wife. I would play with a string and catnip toy every night and even did this for a couple of the weeks she would not leave the carrier. Basically she would come to the front of the carrier and play with the toy for @ 30 minutes a night. That is how she ended up coming out of the carrier initially although she would run right back in when we stopped playing. I have let her do this in her own time and now she is more like a regular cat that is just timid and afraid of strangers.

This cat was born feral and lived outside for almost 4 years so she has really come a long way in a short time. I know your experiences may be different but I wanted to give you an example of a similar situation that is successfully happening right now. Good luck and you are really doing a great service to this kitty. Also once he is neutered for awhile he will likely calm down.

So he is getting a bit more comfortable he comes out of his carrier when I am there and he lets me pet him, he will eat in front of me but he still looks scared .. when do I open the bathroom door and let him wander a bit more into say the attached bedroom?  Poor boy is still frieghtened, very unaggressive doesn't hiss or spit havn't heard a growl in days..

Any advice on the last post please?

Rayd

So sorry - I thought I chimed in on this. Anyway, unless you need to move him, leave him where he is for now. Have you gone in there and just hung out? Sometimes sitting quietly, getting work done, or reading out loud to him softly can help him get acclimated to your presence and your voice. He sounds like he may need a little more time to adjust to the changes.

Also wanted to add a big thank you for helping him!

@Rayd Did you mention how long you've been keeping in the bathroom?  Reread your post and was wondering.  If he's still acting frightened I'd give him a little more time to calm down before you take the next step.

I go in a lot. the cat lets me touch him and turn his plate while he eats. Didn't want to move him just open the door so he can wander a bit. But didn't know if that's to much for him now??
This site is so great thanks everyone for your help and advice

1 week tmrrw

if you have no other pets to worry about, I'd open the door and see.  I wouldn't let him out into the whole house just yet, in case he hides.  Cat-proof the bedroom as best you can - just make sure there's no place he can hunker down that you won't be able to get to him, especailly if you need to catch him soon for a vet visit.

Thank you. Been to vet. All is well and done. He's good to go on that front. Just new space.

OH, that's great! It really sounds like you have all the bases covered.

Rayd said:

I go in a lot. the cat lets me touch him and turn his plate while he eats. Didn't want to move him just open the door so he can wander a bit. But didn't know if that's to much for him now??
This site is so great thanks everyone for your help and advice

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I would make a string toy (or buy one) that has some catnip in it. I made one that was @ 5 ft. long so the cat could keep a safe distance while playing. It really ended up being a key part of the cat coming out of the carrier and wandering out of the bathroom initially. It took a couple weeks of playing with her daily before she would start doing it outside of the bathroom she was staying in.

Breakthrough. Valentino now eats pieces of tuna from my hand. Also enjoys back of ear rubbed. 12 days ago living in a drainage pipe 11 month old feral. Climbing walls and frightened to death. PEOPLE THIS CAN BE DONE!!!

2 weeks. Photo says it all still hides next to toilet. But I think some of that is temp as well.

Oh that is such a sweet sweet picture!!  You're right.  It does say it all.

Very lucky he came around quick 2.5 weeks now will sit on my lap. This was a cat that was so wild not mean biting or hissing. But wild escaped at the vet trashed the room and had to be captured with a rabies stick.