crying feral.....

I live in a small townhouse with 3 other humans and 3 cats. I started joining in the feeding of a TNR colony of about 50 cats near my home. One has followed me home and is quite friendly. I noticed a rash on his belly and loss of fur, and I decided I would bring him to the vet and keep him. I trapped him and brought him into the house. This is his fourth night. He can tolerate the other cats from a distance and I intervene if things get heated. He responds to petting and head-rubbing (I have spent several weeks developing a relationship with him). The problem occurs at night, when he meows incessantly, jumping from window to door, obviously wanting to get out. I have spent two nights sleeping on the floor of the bedroom, keeping him segregated from other other cats, and last night and tonight, on the couch to be near him. He really responds to human contact and the vet thought he was once a house cat but the one who started feeding the colony 11 years ago said he was definitely born outside. How should I handle the crying when I can't attend to him as I must get some sleep and go to work? If I segregate him in the bedroom, he gets stir crazy, frantic, and wants out, but if i let him go in the main area with the other cats, I'm afraid there will be a problem and I won't be there to handle things. I want him to be an indoor cat because it's safer and healthier for him, but am I torturing him by making him adjust to the indoors? I'm sorry if this has been answered already, but it's after 2 AM, I have to get up in less than 5 hours for work, and I'm too exhausted to research other threads. Thanks!

He is neutered, yes?  As this is a TNR colony.

Btw, what did vet told about the rash and loss of fur?  And his overall healt is good?    What I mean, unless your cats are used to roam outside, or are themselves ex homeless, I would want to keep him isolated a couple of weeks, till I were entirey sure.  Also, the deworming and deparasiting has work and is done.

As ex-semiferal, he is prob easier to agree with residents, than an average bought home raised cat. So I hope this shouldnt be big problems, but the quarantene or lack of it, may.

OK, if he is already neutered, what to do.

Feliway diffuser.  Music on, preferably calming soft music.  Purring sounds from you-tube.

Perhaps TV on, so he has something to watch.

If you do have a balcony, an innetted balcony is often the trick.

Lotsa of toys.

Do play with him with Da-Bird toy in the evening, so he is more tired...

Good you took him in, he is apparently a given candidate for fostering into a home cat.

Good luck!

ps.  If there is no issues with the quarantene, one obvious try for solution, is to let them together.  Make just sure they can retreat and flee away, if things begins to go tense or even sour.

If there IS problems with the quarantee, and you must have your night sleep, it cant be helped.  Close him in somewheree, say in the bathroom with sleeping place (cat igloo perhaps), litter, water, some food to nibble on, some toys, put the radio on with this calming music, and close the door.    Just like that.  If he wishes to wail, it will be for himself.

After all, he is not a human baby whom shouldnt be uncared for  so.  He is an adult, indenpendent individual, who can manage and survive on his own if necessary.

At my insistence the vet did an FIV and FIL combo. Both were negative. Despite my telling him twice that i plan to keep him, he just gave him a cortisone shot for the rash which he said was allergy - no test for worms or parasites and told me i could let him be with my cats, which I've done. He is neutered. Now I'm worried.poops look normal. Should i buy over the counter deparasiting and deworming products at this point or just hope for the best?

fourcatsmom said:

At my insistence the vet did an FIV and FIL combo. Both were negative. Despite my telling him twice that i plan to keep him, he just gave him a cortisone shot for the rash which he said was allergy - no test for worms or parasites and told me i could let him be with my cats, which I've done. He is neutered. Now I'm worried.poops look normal. Should i buy over the counter deparasiting and deworming products at this point or just hope for the best?

Click to expand...

I think you should, unless the vet gave him something in injection, without telling it in clear.

But you must know which OTC are good and safe.  I think its best you use some all-round, both for  round- and tape worms. Also some allround for mites and fleas.

Tell us which brands there are where you live, or google at least.    You can also buy trough Amazon, or similiar.

Milbomax is an all round for worms,  good and safe.

Tricky, the exact combination to recommend may depend on what exactly you do have axcess to.

Do not buy something just because it is there - some arent good...   As a rule of thumb, big producents who do make lots of medicines for humans, and or lots of veterinary medicines, they are reliable.

These who do only for pets for OTC sale - are less reilable, some products are good, men quite a few are disasters.