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

Just another stray thought (no pun intended, really!), do you have one of those stick and string toys for your cats?  Try getting him interested in that, as well.  The play time together will help him bond to you.  I've seen it work with ferals and semi-ferals before.  Just part of the total package you're already offering him.

As for your fiance, perhaps he could spend some time in the same room with the cat, sitting down, preferably on the floor.  It's the rare cat who will attack without any warning at all.  Ears back, body low, that moaning sound...he'll know if Nero is getting ready to launch an offensive.

Update: He is getting tamer every day. He has actively sought me out a few times, choosing to sit in the same room as I am, very close on a chair at the end of the sofa. This was taken the other day but he is back there today:

He has also slimmed down a bit (he was borderline obese before) from using the stairs and his fur is looking shiny, glossy and white again.

great progress, I love his black nose 

Great progress!!  He has come so far.

It's just a shame that he snores as loud as a bi-plane full of geese taking off. 

Oh, he looks great. Over weight cats do tend to snore. Little Boy, our 16 pound tuxedo, sounds like a steam train.

Ok, we've had a setback…

Stray cat followed me downstairs this morning and I gave him a bowl of food. He wasn't scared of me at all.

Then, suddenly, the back kitchen door burst open and my husband-to-be ran in from the bathroom - dripping wet, naked and shouting. He'd forgotten to take a towel in with him for a shower.

The cat was petrified - he was having a lovely quiet breakfast, then the terrible giant man he hates jumped out COVERED IN WATER. It was like a thing of his nightmares.

Cat is hiding under the bed now. I'm similarly traumatised but I am having a cup of tea on the sofa.

Oh, I'm sorry. I've got such a funny picture in my head now.

I think cat will get over it. Mine are all semi-feral and very skittish. We had two men from the gas board in the house and walking around outside for an hour this week as they disconnected our old gas heater and sealed all the holes where the gas pipes had been. Terrifying for the kitties, but they were all OK after an hour or so.

I'm sure your cat will be fine. I'm a little worried about you though, don't you need something a bit stronger in that tea? 

Norachan said:

I'm sure your cat will be fine. I'm a little worried about you though, don't you need something a bit stronger in that tea? 

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There's some things that even Feliway can't fix… 

Another update:

The cat has recovered from seeing my darling husband-to-be naked.

When I went to bed last night the cat was asleep on a chair at the end of the bed (this is a new thing - he is normally asleep under the bed in the pj drawer).

He didn't panic or run away when we went to bed, and was walking out and about this morning.

We have bought him a tin of tuna for Christmas, so are hoping that this will help him learn to trust us a bit more!

So I thought I'd post this rather sweet update: we've had a few ups and downs - namely the stray inexplicably peeing on a suitcase full of Christmas presents, but we've turned a few corners too.

I've been sick in bed with food poisoning for the last two days, and he hasn't left my side. He has either been on the floor next to the bed or on the bed itself a few times. My other two cats will stay with me if I'm sick but was really surprised to see him mimicking their behaviour.

Hexidecimal said:

So I thought I'd post this rather sweet update: we've had a few ups and downs - namely the stray inexplicably peeing on a suitcase full of Christmas presents, but we've turned a few corners too.

I've been sick in bed with food poisoning for the last two days, and he hasn't left my side. He has either been on the floor next to the bed or on the bed itself a few times. My other two cats will stay with me if I'm sick but was really surprised to see him mimicking their behaviour.

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That is some great progress.  How sweet that he knows he is needed.  So sorry about the food poisoning.  Been there too many times and it is so not fun. 

I wonder if the peeing on the suitcase was a territory marking or fear based. 

Take care and hope you feel better soon.

Hexidecimal said:

So I thought I'd post this rather sweet update: we've had a few ups and downs - namely the stray inexplicably peeing on a suitcase full of Christmas presents, but we've turned a few corners too.

I've been sick in bed with food poisoning for the last two days, and he hasn't left my side. He has either been on the floor next to the bed or on the bed itself a few times. My other two cats will stay with me if I'm sick but was really surprised to see him mimicking their behaviour.

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Well, Christmas means upheaval means stress, especially for cats.  Maybe he somehow made the association?

And...awwwwwwww....see, he knows who loves him and who he loves (whom?  My grandmother would slap me upside the head for not being sure)

Just getting caught up on the updates!  OMG Hexidecimal you really make me laugh!  A great way to start of the day!    So glad he's doing well and that you both have recovered from the "shower" incident!  LOL!

He sounds like a very sweet boy, I hope you share a few more pictures of him when you get a chance 

Update: the day that he knew was coming arrived… I lulled him in to a false sense of security, then kicked him in the head.

In my defence, it didn't quite happen like that… The cat inexplicably decided to try and run between my legs, from behind me, when I was going down the stairs, so I accidentally kicked him. But now he is looking at me like… "I KNEW IT. I KNEW IT ALL ALONG", like this whole six months has been an elaborate plan to make him let his guard down so that I could kick him.

I never feel guiltier than when I accidentally tread on one of the cats

Other than that, we're coming on leaps and bounds. He will now sleep on the bed with the other cats during the day, and sleeps on a chair in our room at night. I still can't stroke him yet, he moves his head out of the way, but I can lie down on the bed next to him and he'll sniff my hands and will reach out to nose bop my hand.

Small steps.

LOL poor guy, it doesn't take long for them to figure out that we are these big, hairless, putzy oafs. Midnight who is black has been stepped on a few times at night. He has quickly learned to turn on his proximity alarm at night. Every time I am walking in the dark he is always sounding off, I am here, you oaf don't step on me. It is quite funny I wonder what he is thinking?  

Awwww sounds like all is coming along well. The next time he nose bops you, try running your hand over his head and body.

The feral I took in was afraid of every approach, and it was scary, for sure.  Focus on behind the head.