1'st time fosterhome for a feral cat, could really need advice

Hi all!

I'm fosterhome for my local animal protection society. I've had two cats so far, both a little timid and shy but soon warmed up to be really sociable and secure.

I've said that I'm open to foster timid and insecure cats and on Monday I got Ralf in my hands. He had been in a fosterhome for about 6 months but they felt that they couldn't invest

the time needed for him. He was a lot more than timid though. I have been told that he wasn't socialized with people before 4 months of age and that in the last fosterhome "he was at some point up on the couch". I'm uncertain if that means they could pet him or if he just was feeling secure enough to roam about.

(my apartment is only about 35 m2, one bedroom, one very small bathroom and kitchen livingroom as one)

It has only been about six days but I'm at a point where I'm a little bit less optimistic and very unsure where to go from here.

Where we are at now is that: he spends most of the time at his safe-place, only venturing out for a short while at night/evening. He is not as vary as before and goes about investigating the apartment, sitting by the windows etc. while im in proximity. He now eats while I'm near, also progressed to him eating tuna from from a spoon that i hold, also he plays with a toy that i control.

(As i'm writing this, Ralf came out looking for food [He doesn't have food available at his active times when I'm home, thus I know when I can interact with him], I held the spoon with tuna at the bottom of the stem and managed to "pet"/ touch him with a finger the whole time)

Following is in short what has happened since he came to me

1'st day he was let out of his "cage" (I was told he went fullblown defensive when he was apprehended, biting through gloves etc.). He bolted to safety and I let him be without disturbing him.

Made sure he had food water and toilet

2'nd day I tried approaching him, with treats, slowblinks, and trying to not be threatening. He hissed and growled.

3'rd day I practiced a tip I read on this site. I did not look at him at all. he would take a few steps then look at me, I slowblinked not looking at him, he would take another few steps and do the same. Repeat.

4'th day brought  some good progress. He was more relaxed, investigating the appartment while not too worried about me. I managed to get him to eat tuna from a spoon i held, also we played with a string-toy I controlled

5'th day was like the day before

I'm uncertain where to go from here. He spends all day at his safe-place (under the couch in the livingroom) only venturing out less than an hour at late evening/night. With such a limited timeframe to interact with him, I'm thinking that there won't be much progress in the future.

Should I maybe take away his safe-place an hour or so a day when he's active, so that he have to adjust to being "vulnerable" hopefully learning that nothing bad happens to him being without his safeplace, near me?

Any advice how to progress is very much appreciated

Sorry for long post!

I think you are progressing excellently.   It will be slow, and prob more difficult then with a freshly rescued one...

Some tips along the line of slow blinking.  Yawning is also friendly.  So is stretching out, standing on all fours, both backwards and forwards.   Btw, if he is laying down, and stretces one leg forwards, its a mini version of stretching.   Or laying down, you nearing, and him opening and closing his paw, again, a mini verstion of threading...

If he happens to set up his rear end to you, its giving you the chance to smell on his behind.  Blow a little on him, it feels like you smelled...  He will be contendend and turn around for the usual pets...  

Re petting.   It may be easier to pet with a  spoon made of wood.  Wood feels warm to the touch.  And yet itsnt your hand which he is wary about.

  Next step may be to brush with a tooth brush - its alike moms licking and washing...

Its often easier to pet them when they are up on a sofa or chair.  Many cats, even home cats, arent fond of being petted when standing on the floor.  so it may even be one of the reasons he doesnt wants to be petted!

Have you tried with a Feliway adapter?   It may be worth the try to get him feel more harmonious, and more at ease.

Relaxing, nice music may help.  Classical harp music is probably best, but other could work too...  Classic or more modern.

Did you said anything about talking?  Talking a lot with a friendly voice, making sympatetic voices and sounds, singing softly if you like singing, are potent aids here.  Its the natural language of cats, both cat moms and friendly toms courting ladies.

Im not sure re refusing him the privilege of his safe place, even if well meant.

I think its better you give him an extra safe place, type a cat igloo, or even a sideturned cardboard box, with something nice to lay on.   Oh, I know, put in a heat pad!   It will make him to prefer this legal safe place...

(as a note for future: lay down the bed on te floor, so he cant hide under the bed...and be totally unaccessible.  Its better he has his safe point in a cat igloo - where you CAN reach him if necessary).

I hope others will fill in!

Tx for what you are doing!

Good luck!

Takk for feedback StefanZ!

I have bought a feliway adapter now, and hopefully It will help our progression. When it is suitable for me, I'm also playing harp music low on the stereo.

I'll try using wooden appliance to touch him with as well. As for another safeplace, so far he hasn't shown any interest to the ones I've set up for him. But I will try arranging a new cozy place for him!

Thanks for advice

My cat Nyx was a feral I adopted and it took almost 6 months for her to trust me- a year later we still make strides together For 6 days, this is sounds good to me! Make sure he has his space, so I definitely think he needs his safe space. Also, what @Stefanz said about the Feliway- it truly helps.

3,5 weeks has gone by since my last post, and there's been no improvement at all really.

I bought the Feliway adapter and it might have helped with his level of stress, as it's now empty and his stress seems to have elevated.

He still spends most of the time hidden away at his safe spots, coming out at night and for food. Every day I sit down on the floor and offer him tuna from a spoon, recently from my hands (which is an improvement i guess).

When he hears voices from either outside or from the TV, he panics and darts to safety. He is still very wary of me, and will hiss when I come to close or move to fast for him.

I don't know where to go from here, I was thinking that he just needed time to feel safer. It has only been about 5 weeks though.

I leave him alone at his safe spots, don't look him in the eyes, use calming signals, move slowly and predictable.

Any advice on what I could try, besides time?

@Marjuice I don't have the experience of a lot of the people here, but I've learned that it really does take time - it's a slow process.

I'm hoping this article may be of use while we're waiting for more help.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/handling-feral-cats

Five weeks is nothing when dealing with feral cats. While some come around fairly quickly, others require months or even years to get to the point where they're comfortable with at least some humans.

Treats that they find irresistible are a big help. Most of the ferals at the shelter love Dreamies, which are first tossed to them from a distance, then placed in front of them. Eventually many of them will take them out of your hand. Talking to them to get them used to your voice and presence is essential, of course. Whenever there's any sort of eye contact, slowly blinking to show you mean no harm will reassure him.

I've found that spraying a little Feliway on my jeans about a half hour before bringing in food or cleaning litter boxes helps once they start closing the distance between you.