Moving: Take the feral?

So I have a feral cat (I call him Tom Cat Tom) that was in my neighborhood when I moved in. I thought the cat belonged to my neighbor because I always saw the cat (and his mother) around her house. I think the cats used to eat my neighbor's dog's food. When my neighbor moved out, I asked if she was taking the cats. She said, "Oh those are feral cats. They were here when I moved in. The one is the mom to the other one. She is pregnant again." Sadly, mom had kittens and then was hit by a car a week later. I looked for the kittens but could not find them.

After my neighbor moved I started feeding Tom. He was initially afraid of me, but one day he rubbed against me and let me pet him. I have been petting him ever since. Every morning he is at my door waiting to be fed. He is usually on my porch when I come home for lunch and when I get home at the end of the day. I feed him 3 times a day.

I am in a rental house right now, and I am hoping to buy a house. I really don't know what to do with Tom. I have 3 dogs that like to chase cats. One has a very high prey drive, and I have no doubt she would kill a cat if she got a hold of one.

Tom is very good friends with the cat next door too. They hang around together a lot. I should also mention that a black cat comes to eat at my house every night. I have also seen a tabby cat a few times and there was a little kitten eating on my porch the other day. It was feral (very afraid of me)  too. So I have a feral cat colony running around my area.

So here is my dilemma....do I take Tom with me when I move, knowing that I can never bring him into me house and make him my cat because of my dogs, or do I leave Tom here with his friends and cat colony? The black cat and kitten scram as quick as they see me, but Tom seems to actually really want contact with me. Sometimes I find him on the front porch, pressed up against the door as close as he can get. But he is also very wary and afraid most of the time. I would like to make him my (outdoor) cat and take him with me when I move, but I don't know if that is fair. I think if I asked Tom what he would prefer, he would want to stay here. This area is all he has known all of his life. This is where his friends are. I have considered getting bringing Tom with me and getting a feral kitten and hoping that could be his new friend...but who knows if they would even get along. And I do not know if Tom would stay at my new place or disappear. Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Shelly

Thank you for thinking of Tom.  Many people would be like your neighbor and just leave..

When you move a feral cat, you must confine him to the new area for at least two weeks so that he leanrs this is his new territory.  With your dog situation, where would you be able to keep him for that time?  Perhaps you can locate a house that has a big enough yard for a catio or other enclosure.  A dog kennel secured with corner covers and a wire or mesh roof would work.  An added expense but it will make sure he does not try to go back "home" which he will try to do if he's not confined.

The only other option is to give him his own room in the new house - away from the dogs.  Again, not the best option.

If you decide to take him, get him neutered if needed and have him checked by a vet, just to be sure he's healthy and worm and flea free.

If you decide to leave him, perhaps you can find another neighbor who is feeding or who is willing to feed them.  That way, you will know Tom will be taken care of.  You could offer to buy food and visit occassionally.  I would also make sure he's at least neutered.  It will make his life so much better - no fighting over food, territory and females.

If you can take him with you I think he would adjust well.  It just takes some effort and patience.  Getting him neutered and vet checked is step one.  I would tend to trap him, get him neutered and then keep him inside until you move in a spare room.  He will take a few days to adjust, but if you do it all in one step it will be so much easier.  Or trap him right when you move and when you bring him home after the neuter/vet check put him in a spare room for 2 weeks.  You then can see how he transitions and see if it is possible for him to get used to your dogs or if he should go back outside.  It is is possible to introduce dogs to cats.  I have a large dog and 2 inside outside cats and 3 outdoor ferals.  She has done well with all of them.  It just took a bit of time. 

If you cannot bring him, please do try to get him neutered and be sure there is someone to care for him and provide him shelter.  He seems to have a bond with you so I hope you can decide to try.  We all can help you along the way.  There are some great articles here even one on introducing dogs and cats.

Let us know if you can further assist you.

Hi Shelly - A few different viewpoints here! And things to all consider. :nod:

If it were me and you know there is someone else feeding the cats, then I would leave him in his territory. Moving a feral cat is very risky if not done properly. He would need confinement outdoors in a sheltered area in a cage (since you say you can't bring him in because of the dogs) for at least a month. This will be very stressful on him and with your dogs coming in and out of the house to do their business. Even then, you will not be guaranteed that he will stick around and may leave searching for his old territory thus putting him at great risk of getting lost or worse.

IF he were to come with you and be an outdoor cat, then bringing him inside in the new home is no good either UNLESS you can keep him indoors permanently. He must be confined outside in the yard where you would expect him to live. The dogs worry me though and I don't know how he will stick around with three dogs and one of whom has a high prey drive. He does sound really sweet, though, and not truly feral if he were rubbing up on you so easily and allowing pets. It is possible for dogs/cats to coexist and I have Jack Russell Terriers!! I think if you can commit to bringing Tom indoors permanently and that he would have his own room, then do that otherwise... I would leave Tom there BUT I encourage and plead with you to tald with the neighbor's about getting a TNR group involved to get these cats/kittens all spayed/neutered. To me, that would be the kindest thing you could do for Tom rather than taking him from the only place he has ever known - his territory. Most feral cats can survive quite well on their own but when you take them and relocate them - it is risky if you have never done it before nor have the facilities to do it properly.

Where do you live? Are you moving far? Could you come back and assist in trapping all of the feral cats? If you tell us where you live, we can help locate a TNR group to assist.

Thank you for the suggestions. I gave Tom some treats today right inside my front door. He walked in the house and ate the treats. The dogs were out back so I shut the door behind Tom and kept him in. He totally freaked out. He was absolutely panicked and trying to find a way out. We hurried up and opened the door to let him out and he ran away. After that experience I just couldn't imagine trying to keep Tom confined anywhere. I think he will just stay here when I move. I will hate leaving him, but I think it is best for him. I can't imagine freaking him out like that again.

Hi Shelly,

I had a feral cat that I fed and got to the point where he was would let me pet him and come inside for short periods of time.  One time when he was in, a delivery guy came and my cat completely freaked.  He tried to go straight through the screen door.  I have never seen a cat so upset.  Anyway, I had to move and decided to take him with me.  The first night he was in a basement room and it was pretty rough.  The room had high up windows but he jumped up and pulled the screen out trying to get out.  It kept getting progressively better though.  I think it helped that his buddy cat came with me (fully socialized cat of a neighbor that the neighbor abandoned).  After I let him out into the main house after a few days, there was a lot of meowing at night and running about and he hid a lot for the first few months.  He is now a totally fine indoor only cat.  He still doesn't like it when other people come over but it isn't a full on freak out.  He just hides under the couch.  Anyway, if what you really want to do is take Tom with you, it can most likely be done but it will take a big commitment on your part.

ShellyChip said:

Thank you for the suggestions. I gave Tom some treats today right inside my front door. He walked in the house and ate the treats. The dogs were out back so I shut the door behind Tom and kept him in. He totally freaked out. He was absolutely panicked and trying to find a way out. We hurried up and opened the door to let him out and he ran away. After that experience I just couldn't imagine trying to keep Tom confined anywhere. I think he will just stay here when I move. I will hate leaving him, but I think it is best for him. I can't imagine freaking him out like that again.

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Yes - they are going to get extremely stressed out - totally, in the beginning. This is very typical but they do settle down once they know the routine, schedule and that they are going to be safe. It sounds to me that he is VERY trusting of you, taking treats and coming inside the house. He is NOT a truly feral cat. I can tell you that even my cats, IF locked inside of a room or other, would freak out. That is just cats - most of them anyway. IF you were to decide to take Tom and give him a safer life, indoors-only, then it could happen but you would have to be extremely patient with him while he adjust to indoor life, etc. Otherwise, it would probably be best to leave Tom in his own territory if you cannot commit to keeping indoors-only. AND, that is OK. Just driving home my point that I feel he would be a great, loving indoor cat from what you describe of him BUT that moving him and keeping him outdoors would be very dangerous with dire consequences for him AND for your heart. So, IMO, yes, move him with you and commit to keep him indoors OR better to leave him behind. Again, I wonder if there is a way you can help get the cats all neutered? TNRd?? Another person caring for the cats?? Maybe please talk with them before you move. Otherwise, more cats and more feral cats to come. :shame:

I wanted to also mention something about the dogs and the cats versus inside and outside. Most dogs willingly accept an indoor only cat that their owner is bringing into the fold (or in dog language - Pack). The dogs see you, the owner, caring for the cat, loving the cat, and IF the dogs respect you as their leader then they will accept the indoor cat. OUTDOOR cats are a whole other viewpoint for dogs regardless of whether you are caring for the outdoor cat or not. Dogs will see the outdoor cat as an intruder on their territory and will chase the cat away consistently.

I brought a feral cat into my home 2 years ago.  He had a room of his own that was completely cat proofed.  For the first 6 hours or more, he tried to throw himself over and over again at the window.  He was completely freaked.  Yet within the next few days, he completely settled and learned how to use a litter box.  He was scared and it awhile for him to settle and meet my other cat and large inside dog, but it was the best thing I ever did.  He was a large orange tabby cat.  I had done TNR on him a few months prior.  Yet he was fighting with my other ferals.  I had no place to take him as all rescues were full.  It was my only option.  It took a full year for him to completely acclimate and accept humans and other animals, but he is now the most loving and sweetest cat.  It was worth all of the effort.  My other choice was to take him to the Humane Society who would have euthanized him.  I just could not do that without trying.

I have allowed several of my ferals into my home for short periods.  If I close the door they all freak out and try to go through screen doors.  That does not mean at all he wouldn't settle.  It was just his first gut reaction.  If you do want to try and move him, then you will need to trap him or get him into a carrier and put him into a small cat proofed room.  He will settle down.  It will just take some time.  So if you really want to take him with you, it can be done.  A small room with the cat essentials is less threatening that the wide open space of your home. 

Thank you. I found that propping open the door a bit is working. The feral comes in and has treats. He is weary, but he seems to like the house. Last night he did something he has never done: He showed up at my house at night. In fact, I think he was meowing at the front door, as my dog started barking and jumping at the door. So I put the dogs out in the yard and fed the cat and let him in for a little while. I think he really wants to come into our house more and be our cat. So I am working on my dogs. I introduced the feral to my small dog this morning and they got along fine. But the two big ones? I truly have no idea how it will ever work.

ShellyChip said:

I introduced the feral to my small dog this morning and they got along fine. But the two big ones? I truly have no idea how it will ever work.

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Wow. Truly this cat doesn't sound too feral to me. I just think you would have to make the decision/commitment to go ahead and make him an indoor only cat if you move obviously before you move. You may have some time :dk: to work on this before your move date and then be able to make a solid decision. Best of luck!! He sounds very, very sweet. :rub:

Can he be an indoor/outdoor cat? What are the reasons he should be an indoor only cat? I think he would still like to go outside even if I adopt him for good.

Also, I know he doesn't sound too feral. He is used to dogs because he and his mom used to spend time in my neighbor's back yard with their dog. I think they used to eat the dog's food. He was born to a mom cat that I thought was my neighbor's. But they told me the mom was there when they moved in. They told me they had found homes for all of the other kittens, so they must have been handling the kittens. They did not find a home for this one though. When they moved out they told me the cats were wild and that they couldn't even touch them. But my cat must remember being handled as a kitten a little bit at least. He really seems like he wants to be our pet. He is always laying on our porch or sleeping in our yard. This is him:

If you take him with you, he will have to be confiend for at least two weeks.  This gives him time to acclimate to the new territory.  Keeping him inside all that time will get him used to being inside.  Once you let him out, you will need to watch him closely, as he may take off and try to find "home."

I'm betting, though, that after two weeks inside as a pampered house cat, he won't want to go outside.  All of ours are rescues and five out of six run the other way when the door opens.  The other one greets us at the door but does not even think to go outside.

ShellyChip said:

Can he be an indoor/outdoor cat? What are the reasons he should be an indoor only cat? I think he would still like to go outside even if I adopt him for good.

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Only after at least a month of being indoors or much longer for your dogs to accept a cat, IMO. Also, you mentioned that one of your dogs.........

ShellyChip said:

I have 3 dogs that like to chase cats. One has a very high prey drive, and I have no doubt she would kill a cat if she got a hold of one.

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has a high prey drive and that is why I recommended you keep the kitty indoors only because until your dogs completely accept the new cat or I fear they will chase the cat away from the yard once outside. It is a natural territorial behavior for dogs unless they accept the cat as part of their "pack". If you have that fear that your one dog would kill a cat, then it may be so, especially out in the new yard. Any cat may be fair game. So, indoors only until the dogs are 100% on board with the cat as a new family member. Otherwise, if "Tom" has a fear of one of your dogs and you let him outside, he will be gone and that will be very, very sad for him and for you.

AND - he is very, very adorable. A beautiful boy. :love: Thanks for sharing the ix:

I think I am just going to try to find a room with its own entrance and exit separate from the rest of the house to keep Tom in at my next house. I think he would make a great barn cat too, so maybe that will be an option. I have thought about getting a kitten to put with him when we move. Does that sound like a good option? Do adult males accept/like kittens? Would it be better to get a grown up spayed female? Or no other cat at all? My thoughts were that Tom might not feel so bad about the situation if there was another cat around. But I don't want another cat to make him feel even more nervous than he already is, which is why I thought a young non-threatening kitten might be best. What do you guys think?

Also, do they sell cat shots that you can administer at home the way they do with dogs? I thought this might be the best option for Tom.

ShellyChip said:

 
I think I am just going to try to find a room with its own entrance and exit separate from the rest of the house to keep Tom in at my next house. I think he would make a great barn cat too, so maybe that will be an option. I have thought about getting a kitten to put with him when we move. Does that sound like a good option? Do adult males accept/like kittens? Would it be better to get a grown up spayed female? Or no other cat at all? My thoughts were that Tom might not feel so bad about the situation if there was another cat around. But I don't want another cat to make him feel even more nervous than he already is, which is why I thought a young non-threatening kitten might be best. What do you guys think?

Also, do they sell cat shots that you can administer at home the way they do with dogs? I thought this might be the best option for Tom.

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I would not be in a rush to get another cat.  Wait and see how he adjusts first.  Just allow him time (lots of time) and then see if another cat is on the horizon.

The first thing you need to do is get him to a vet for a check up and to get him neutered.  He should not be out wandering around looking for a mate especially during the peak of the summer.  He also will need to be dewormed and checked for FIV and Felv.

I would not be giving a cat shots at home that I do not know his medical history.  If you cannot afford a vet, then try a low cost clinic. 

I am not so sure that adding another cat/kitten is in the best interest of Tom, at least until he is completely settled which could take a few months. He definitely needs to be neutered first. He is already going to be quite stressed with such a huge move and a huge change in his life all at once. A new cat/kitten thrown into his world may very well be too much for him and could completely backfire from your original good intentions and then you will be in quite a predicament. I am confused about the room with another entrance/exit too? Exit to where? If you are planning on giving him to a barn, then they must confine him to a crate for a few weeks to make sure he sticks around there too. IF you want to find him a barn situation, then I would contact a TNR Organization in your area and see if someone knows how to acclimate and relocate feral cats properly and then you can bring them to a trusted feral caretaker. Also - maybe the TNR Organization could help and get the other stray cats in your area neutered. It seems you are on the fence in regards to Tom - wanting to bring him with you, but not sure on being able to commit to indoors only for a few months, worried about your dogs and Tom and now talking about adding another cat/kitten with a dog that has a high prey drive and then going to the barn cat idea. Just a bit confusing to me. Either way - it does sound like you are attached to Tom and want to take him with you when you move. I hope it all works out well for him, you and your dog family. Lots to think about!

I also would never recommend giving a cat you are not able to handle completely with full trust and try to administer a shot. So much could go wrong. I agree with ShadowsRescue and try to find a low cost clinic to get him fully examined, tested, neutered and vaccinated.

Ok, I guess I did not explain that well enough. I plan to buy a house with a barn or outdoor building. I would like Tom to stay there most of the time. But I would also like to be able to bring him in. Hence my thoughts on getting a house with a door that opens to a room that can be shut off from the rest of the house (and the dogs). We saw a house that had a room that opened to a back patio that could be shut off from the rest of the house. I am just trying to figure out a way to make it all work.

That sounds like a perfect setup for Tom if you get this house and barn! I hope it all works out the way you want. :cross:

Is there a caretaker of the cats in your neighborhood now? It would be so awesome for the cats if someone would contact a TNR Organization and begin the process of getting them all trapped and neutered. Much better, healthful and happy lives for them after they are done. And, since Tom is not neutered yet, then he could be the first one of the group!!! :high5: Best of luck in all of these big changes!

Yes, I plan to get Tom neutered when we move. Possibly before if I get him tamed down a bit more. Right now even the voices on the TV scare him. I do want to take him to the vet to get his shots/wormed and will neuter him at that time.