Semi-feral cat we've taken in - what next?

Hello all.

About 18 months ago we accidentally started feeding a stray cat - he followed my cats home and lived in our garden. When we realised, we got him neutered and vet treated - which included having the majority of his teeth removed because they had rotted to the bone.

We recently moved house and with the help of a humane trap took him with us. He is now living in our spare bedroom.

The thing is, I don't know what to do now… He is very, very, very fearful of humans: he has now started to trust me enough that he'll eat in front of me and will on occasion sniff my hand, but I can't stroke or touch him. He is terrified of my fiance and still hisses at him even if he is bringing him food.

Our plan was to keep him in the spare bedroom for a month, then start leaving the door open, letting him have access to the rest of the house. He wouldn't be able to go outside as we're not planning on letting our own cats have outside access until after Christmas.

Does this sound like a good idea? Or am I going to end up with a semi-feral cat living in a cupboard or under the floorboards or something?

We truly don't mind if he is never willing to let us stroke him - we have two cats that are ultra affectionate, but I don't want to end up with a feral cat living in the walls or something.

Eventually, we plan on opening up the cat flap and giving him a kennel outside too so that he can either live inside or outside and come and go as he pleases. 

Hi,

Thanks for helping this cat and for bringing him with you to your new place. He's really lucky to have you.

Some feral cats take a lot longer than others to get used to people. There are cases in which they never get used to people, but with this cat is's still early days. Having him confined to a room of his own is a great idea. Have you tried using a Feliway diffuser? They can help a lot to keep a cat calm.

If he's happier with just you feeding him I would stick to that until he is more comfortable. Moving house is quite a lot of stress for him to deal with. Wait until he has grown secure with his new environment before you try to introduce your fiance.

You could try getting him more used to your presence by sitting in his room and reading to him. Some cats really like harp music. If you could play him some music at low volume it could help to sooth him.

Just go really slowly and keep him in his room until he's got used to you.

Thank you for rescuing this sweet one.  It may take some time, but it is possible.  I brought a feral/stray cat into my home over 2 years ago.  He was approximately 3 years old and had been living outside on his own for near 2 years.  I was his food source as well as I had him neutered.  I decided to bring him into my home and give him a shot at indoor life.

At first it was very hard.  He threw himself against the windows and meowed and yowled all night.  I began playing harp music at night for him.  I also used Feliway diffusers and  Composure calming treats.  I then switched to Composure liquid max as he didn't want to eat the treats.  They helped so much to keep him calm at night.

Another trick was to bring him a really yummy treat each time I came to visit.  At first my visits were short, just 5 minutes or so.  I would bring a small piece of plain cooked chicken and toss it his way.  Then I would sit and just talk to him.  Always sit on the floor at his level so you are not looming over him.  Watch for eye contact too, you may need to keep you gaze down or over the top of his head.  Visit often for a short time at first.  Then you can increase the length.  Always tell him that he is safe and that you are doing the best you can for him. 

It may take awhile, but give him lots of patience.  How is he doing with the litter box? 

Just be sure that you don't let him get outside.  Since you recently moved, he does not know this territory yet and he will do whatever he can to try and make it back to his old home. 

When you are ready to try and touch him, I have a picture of a handmade pet petter that I made that I can show you.  It's a long dowel rod or old wand toy with a soft bunched sock on the end.  I have used to to start touching some of the ferals I have worked with.  It's super easy to make.

Just take it all very very slowly with little expectations.  I bet he will come around, but it's best if you don't set yourself with "in a month I hope to open the door....." as in a month, he may not be ready.  Instead just say that you are hopeful one day the door will be open and he can begin to explore our home.  .

Thank you for your reply.

We have a feliway plug in for the little chap and I do sometimes read to him too! 

Trouble is, my fiance has to go in and feed him every other day at least because I have to leave the house really early on some days and don't have time. He only goes in there to feed him though. There's a bed in the room and the cat will just go under that if he comes in.

I'm not sure this cat will ever get used to people - he is an older cat. What do I do then? At some point I'm going to need the room back (I can have him in there for 6 months, but not 6 years I mean!). How can I tell when he's ready to explore the rest of the house?

Hexidecimal said:

 
Thank you for your reply.

We have a feliway plug in for the little chap and I do sometimes read to him too! 

Trouble is, my fiance has to go in and feed him every other day at least because I have to leave the house really early on some days and don't have time. He only goes in there to feed him though. There's a bed in the room and the cat will just go under that if he comes in.

I'm not sure this cat will ever get used to people - he is an older cat. What do I do then? At some point I'm going to need the room back (I can have him in there for 6 months, but not 6 years I mean!). How can I tell when he's ready to explore the rest of the house?

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IF possible, I would pick the bed up.  Either lay it flat on the floor or put it up against the wall.  You really don't want the cat hiding under there.  Instead you want to make a safe place for him to hide such as a cat tree with a hiding box or even a cardboard box with a cozy blanket.  Just not under the bed.  Also watch for hiding behind large furniture.

I would keep him confined in the room with as much human contact as possible.  While gone during the day, leave the radio on for him.  You really don't want him out and about in your home until he is more comfortable and not hiding from you.  If you let him out too soon who knows where he will go to hide.  So I really can't give you a time frame for when you can let him out.  He needs to get lots of human contact from you and your fiance and he needs to not hide under the bed.  This will help to force him out a bit. 

Do you have any other animals in the home? 

ShadowsRescue said:

 
IF possible, I would pick the bed up.  Either lay it flat on the floor or put it up against the wall.  You really don't want the cat hiding under there.  Instead you want to make a safe place for him to hide such as a cat tree with a hiding box or even a cardboard box with a cozy blanket.  Just not under the bed.  Also watch for hiding behind large furniture.

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I don't really want to remove the bed because our house is quite cold/we've just moved in and haven't got the heating properly fixed. There are blankets under there for him to snuggle in if he gets too cold.

Should have probably added, it's a small child-sized bed and he does come out from under it when he realises it's just me. He has a cat tent and box, but isn't as keen on them.

We had accidental progress last night: I came home and he was sitting on top of a suitcase we have in there* and didn't run and hide when he saw me. He did hiss once, but it was half hearted. He came up to me when he saw I had food and I put food down for him.

The trouble is, I'm a bit scared of him when he's bold: I don't really want to be bitten so when he walks towards me I get scared he's going to attack me. When he has got braver with our cats he has started swiping at them and am worried now he knows I'm not a threat he might do the same.

We do have other pets - two cats. He sees me carrying them around (they love to be held), petted and beg for human attention. Try to expose him to this as much as I can so that he realises that humans + cats = good.

More updates as they come…

*(our cats love sitting on suitcases so I put an old one in there where the sun shines through during the day so that he can sunbathe). 

Update: My smart cat managed to let the semi-feral stray out of the holding room. I actually can't believe he managed to get the door open (huge, heavy Victorian door with high handle), but he did.

The cat got out and hid for about half a day. Left him rather than drag him out. Then, weirdly, he just decided that we were no danger and came out.

He now sleeps quite out in the open and will walk in to the bedroom if I am here. He has stopped hiding and hissing.

He is still ultra timid and I am not any closer to being able to stroke him, but the improvement since his 'escape' has been drastic. 

I'll see him intensely watching my interactions with my two cuddly cats and can almost see the cogs in his brain turning.

We're just letting him go wherever he wants in the house and feeding him in his safe room. All the cats are indoor at the moment because we've just moved so he doesn't have outside access.

At the moment he is asleep under my bed in the drawer where I keep my night clothes. I will continue to try to tame him further because that will make things like vet visits etc. much easier, but ultimately, going to just let him go at his own pace. 

Wow Hexidecimal, that's great news!  It sounds like he's really turned a corner!  So glad!

Sounds like things are going well.  Try using the pet petter I mentioned.  You can use it as a toy first and then start to pet him with it.  He might be frightened at first, but most catch on.  Try it with your other cats while he is watching.  This may entice him to want to be pet with it too.  In time you can replace your hand instead of the pet petter.

Also, I wouldn't let him outside if possible.  If he is happy and content inside you do not want to worry about him running off.  If you want him to have time for fresh air, look for a catio or even a small pet tent where he can safely be outside.

Here is a picture of the pet petter I use.

Further update: he has gone downstairs and is just hanging out on the sofa now. Not sure if that's because he is brave or because I am upstairs and it means he is far away from me. But he always liked that sofa - when he was stray and before we moved he would sneak in at night to sleep on it.

Just to clarify, they won't be allowed outside, any of them, until Feb next year - we have a small garden and are planning to get a high fence to try and encourage them to stay in.

sounds like you have made great progress, fantastic work!!! You are so kind to give this kitty a safe and loving home, not to mention the medical attention required 

Wow, amazing progress! That's great. Have you checked out cat proof fencing? You need to have an overhang inclined inwards at a 45 degree angle to stop cats trying to climb out.  Take a look at some of these fences. It's easy enough to make your own.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Catproof-Your-Yard/

If you Goggle cat proof fences you'll see lots of other options.

@Norachan  Thank you for that info about the fencing!  I've been noticing that Nero, the feral or semi-feral or whatever he is/was that I've taken in, sniffs at the edges of the windows and where they come together in the middle (I have crappy builder-grade windows that allow quite a bit of air in) at his most anxious times, and I know he can smell "the outside."  And it makes me sad for him, so I've started thinking of finding a way he can still enjoy it safely.  I will look into this more for sure!

My avatar cat started off as a feral tom too. It took me a couple of years to persuade him that life indoors with an enclosure to relax in beat sleeping rough.



Have you considered applying for our Friends of Ferals badge?

 [thread="251561"]Friend Of Ferals Award Badge Apply Here​[/thread]  

If you just copy and paste your post about Nero in the Black Cats Only thread I'm sure you'd be considered for a badge.

Norachan said:

 
Wow, amazing progress! That's great. Have you checked out cat proof fencing? You need to have an overhang inclined inwards at a 45 degree angle to stop cats trying to climb out.  Take a look at some of these fences. It's easy enough to make your own.

http://www.instructables.com/id/Catproof-Your-Yard/

If you Goggle cat proof fences you'll see lots of other options.

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Ohh, I was going to buy some specialist stuff - but that looks like I can probably do my own. Thank you!

Also, we live in a Victorian terraced house - which means all our gardens back on to each other with no road access. So they would only be able to go in to other gardens when they ARE allowed out.

Another update: yesterday he tried twice to jump on the bed when I was in it (I've been sick so working from home the last three days) but he chickened out at the last moment both times.

Today he is trying to play with my cats - but unfortunately, he is rather slow, old and chubby and doesn't quite understand their game of 'run round the house as fast as I can while screaming - then turn and run the other way'. So there's two ultra-fast cats tearing around followed by what looks like a slow black and white throw pillow.

He sleeps under our bed in the bedsheet drawer during the day but is happy to be out and about when I am here. He is still TERRIFIED of my fiance, which is sad, because he is the softest one out of us all and genuinely wouldn't hurt a fly. He is just very tall and accidentally loud so I've found cats take a while to warm to him.

Hexidecimal said:

 
Does this sound like a good idea? Or am I going to end up with a semi-feral cat living in a cupboard or under the floorboards or something?

We truly don't mind if he is never willing to let us stroke him - we have two cats that are ultra affectionate, but I don't want to end up with a feral cat living in the walls or something.

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But this description really had me laughing, partly because it also reminds me of one of my girls that's mostly black and white and quite portly.  She doesn't run often, but now when I look at her, especially with her long hair, I'm going to be thinking of the "throw pillow" thing.  XD
Well, at least he's trying!  Hahahaha!!  Sounds like it could do him some good, and I'm so glad he's starting to play.  My feral boy Nero was scared of the little catnip mice I gave him, but now a month later, I wake up to all this thrashing under the bed, and concerned, I looked under and he was "killing" one of the mice.  I was so happy!  After the hard life I'm sure he had outside, it's so nice to see him simply PLAY!  

About your fiancé, if he's accidentally loud that could be part of it, but it could also be that he was abused by a male.  You'll never know for sure, and perhaps not, but it makes me wonder.  I know you have the Feliway diffuser, but maybe if you got a bottle of the spray and your fiancé sprayed some of it on himself?  I have no idea if that would make a difference, but it might be worth a shot, seeing as it would also be useful for when you have to take him to the vet, etc.

I'm so glad for you that it's turning out so well!  Keep us posted!  

Hexidecimal said:

 
Another update: yesterday he tried twice to jump on the bed when I was in it (I've been sick so working from home the last three days) but he chickened out at the last moment both times.

Today he is trying to play with my cats - but unfortunately, he is rather slow, old and chubby and doesn't quite understand their game of 'run round the house as fast as I can while screaming - then turn and run the other way'. So there's two ultra-fast cats tearing around followed by what looks like a slow black and white throw pillow.

He sleeps under our bed in the bedsheet drawer during the day but is happy to be out and about when I am here. He is still TERRIFIED of my fiance, which is sad, because he is the softest one out of us all and genuinely wouldn't hurt a fly. He is just very tall and accidentally loud so I've found cats take a while to warm to him.

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LOL great update, love the "slow black and white throw pillow" comment. It sounds like things are going very well

Norachan said:

 
My avatar cat started off as a feral tom too. It took me a couple of years to persuade him that life indoors with an enclosure to relax in beat sleeping rough.

Have you considered applying for our Friends of Ferals badge?

 [thread="251561"]Friend Of Ferals Award Badge Apply Here​[/thread]  

If you just copy and paste your post about Nero in the Black Cats Only thread I'm sure you'd be considered for a badge.

Click to expand...

Oh, wow, I'm pretty new here and I didn't know there was one.  Thank you for the suggestion Norachan!  I certainly will consider applying, but really, I'm sure there are others on here far more deserving than me.  I do what I can in the area around my home, but I bet there are people on here that it's practically their life's work!  Although I've thought about starting a TNR program in my neighborhood.  There's no way I can do it county wide, but in my subdivision and perhaps the surrounding ones, maybe I can make a difference.  I'm just not set up quite yet to be able to handle that.  In the meantime, I already have my eye on my latest "future victim".  Muuuhahhahaha!!  XD

Well, every cat counts so even if you have only saved one cat you qualify for the Friends of Feral badge. You too @Hexidecimal