Need input - FIV+ and FIV- cats living together. Risks/Concerns

Status
Not open for further replies.

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
Socialization to humans is done at a very early age, even before 6-7 weeks, by 9 weeks old they have developed mentally to where even if taken and tamed at that point, with strangers he will always have a feral streak intact for life, around new people.

He would show signs of feral behavior.

What his behavior shows is that he was socialized early on including inside a house, but has been on his own outside for some time, getting used to that which is why the temporary security he needed with the open door to exit 'in case'.

He he had never had early exposure, there is no way on earth he would be eating, napping and cruising around inside now.

Even if he had years of daily exposure to your feeding him while outside, inside would be very foreign and frightening to him.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #142

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
I see. I'm still new with all of this feral/stray stuff!


What you say does make sense, and it makes both his and Henryetta's stories particularly sad to me. If indeed they were taken in at a young age (perhaps a cat over there gave birth and they found the kittens) by the people over there and then were abandoned when the people abandoned their house, taking their dogs only, it's very sad. I moved here only two or three months before these people left. I didn't know the people but what I observed did not endear me to them.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
It's very sad, tragically sad.

Why people think cats will do fine on their own makes me crazy. They are not fine just because they can hunt for mice :(

Glad you are there for him.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #144

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
Henryetta is afraid of new people. It has taken her one year to become somewhat okay with my friends from out-of-state who come to stay for a few days. She will now eventually come out and stay in the room we are in, but as far as letting them touch her, no. It's kind of sad, especially for my friends. They adopted one of her kittens. She hides from other people who stop by.   I expect Orville will be the same, in terms of hiding from people who visit. He runs when anyone comes to the back of the house, or when my neighbor gets in her car.

These two cats having been once house cats may explain why there are not many tabbies roaming around, nor are there a lot of orange cats (her kittens were orange tabbies with one buff tabby). The kittens' father was a buff colored cat and she is a torbi-co, as  call her, with orange/ black/ and white patches along with her tabby markings. There is one other male tabby in the area. He's hissy and growly with other cats. Most avoid him, except Orville. They are okay with each other. Litter mates/House mates? He is also not afraid of humans, unlike my two were at first.  That male cat is neutered from what I can't see on him, so someone is caring for him.
 
Last edited:

kittyluv387

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Sep 10, 2015
Messages
3,368
Purraise
5,177
Look at orvilles big butt lol. You can try leaving a small "present" in the litterbox and throw some dirt and leaves on top. So nice he has decided to be a house cat. :)
 

zed xyzed

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 10, 2015
Messages
3,786
Purraise
3,740
Location
Toronto Canada
This is wonderful news, I am glad you are making such wonderful progress. Orville is one lucky boy to have found you. 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #147

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
Look at orvilles big butt lol. You can try leaving a small "present" in the litterbox and throw some dirt and leaves on top. So nice he has decided to be a house cat.
He's put on a lot of weight since I started feeding him. He didn't stay inside last night. It wasn't too cold and I am still not comfortable with him doing so. Not so much for him and Chaucer but for the furniture and things that are sitting out. My house is not cat-proof despite having two cats.

I have over the past months wondered if he belonged to someone in the neighborhood behind me because that is the direction he heads,  but then I realized that if he did belong to someone he would not have been going around unable to put his foot down not long after I started feeding him. He limped for a week or two, and his wound from fights would have been taken care of...hopefully.  Years ago when I was a child, I saw my mother doctor our male Siamese's  battle wounds. He was eventually neutered. (It wasn't as common back then to neuter and spay, or keep your cats indoors.)

Zed Xyzed, thanks. He's a really good cat, and he loves playing with all the toys.  He wants to play with Chaucer too. They've both done the "Halloween Cat" hop toward each other. Orville likes to chase Chaucer who will sometimes just stop and turn. Orville stops. 

The FIV is still a concern but my friend who is a nurse practitioner reminds me that it is a blood-borne infection and not from eating, playing or drinking, and you have all told me this too. Still cautious but am coming around.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #148

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
I had to share this!  It just happened. Chaucer was lying on a blanket on the sofa and Orville jumped up, touched noses with Chaucer for a few seconds and then walked over and laid down on the same blanket, less than a foot away. It looked like he was going to sleep near Chaucer, but a minute or so later, Orville jumped down. Still, it was a moment of real friendship!
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #151

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
Yes, it's really great!  Orville doesn't seem to want back outside. I've gone in and out the door a couple of times and he looks at me from his bed. I brought in the pet bed and blanket for him and it's right next to the glass door so he can see out.

Two things are concerning me, though. 

1) Orville has not gone to the litter box all day. He has been in the house since 6:30 AM and it is now 2:45 PM.  I went outside and got some soil from the unused planter and some leaves. I mixed this into the litter in the pan. I put him in the pan, moved his front two paws in the mixture.  On his own, he's put his two paws in a couple of times, sniffed and then gone one his way. The box is in the family room in plain view but near a wall between some furniture for a little privacy. He has been in the laundry room where the other two regular litter boxes are and he knows they are there. I am hoping that when he really needs to go, he will choose one of the three boxes.

2) Henryetta screamed at him, unprovoked, so she's not just hissing and growling. He backed away.  She has never screamed at Chaucer. This concerns me as I don't want her to attack him and him fight back.
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
I wouldn't be too concerned with either, as far as the litterboxes go, he knows. He just hasn't had to go yet or he is holding it somewhat, but after he finally does use it, if/when, it will be a done deal and established he feels comfortable enough to use it.

That's basically going to be a wait and see.

Or he might even take more time on this part and ask to be let outside to do his business.

Females and males won't fight like that. Occasionally there will be a male who is challenging to a female, very challenging, to the point that he will not back down, leaving the female to swat or pounce, but these types of males are very few and far between, it's not instinctual.

If you re-read what you wrote, Orville did as he is supposed to and backed down, there won't be any brawling going on there at all.

He doesn't have that aggressive type nature at all. 

I do understand your concerns though! I would be like-but what if!!.......not going to happen though :) Rest assured.

Typical girl too. 

I love how he is feeling right at home these days!
 
Last edited:
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #153

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
Chaucer doesn't back down from Henryetta's hissing and growling. He'll pester on until she runs off. He also leaps on her and wrestles her, much to her annoyance sometimes.

I think Orville is very tired, and it may be because he has had to be on alert for so long. He is not gobbling food today either - even turned down some roast chicken. He's been in his bed for hours. He hasn't even gotten up when I've open the door!  I hope all it means is he is exhausted from his life outside. I'm going to keep him inside tonight, leaving my bedroom door open so I can hear any activity.  Please keep your fingers crossed that this works out.
 

zed xyzed

TCS Member
Top Cat
Joined
Nov 10, 2015
Messages
3,786
Purraise
3,740
Location
Toronto Canada
I hope that Orville is just finally taking time out and relaxing. I hope he is not sick. What you have accomplish with Orville is truly amazing. You certainly have the makings of a cat whisperer 
 
 

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
 
Chaucer doesn't back down from Henryetta's hissing and growling. He'll pester on until she runs off. He also leaps on her and wrestles her, much to her annoyance sometimes.

I think Orville is very tired, and it may be because he has had to be on alert for so long. He is not gobbling food today either - even turned down some roast chicken. He's been in his bed for hours. He hasn't even gotten up when I've open the door!  I hope all it means is he is exhausted from his life outside. I'm going to keep him inside tonight, leaving my bedroom door open so I can hear any activity.  Please keep your fingers crossed that this works out.
Chaucer is doing so in play/pesky mode though, not as in 'I'm not going to allow you to run the show and will kick your butt' mode but of course Henryetta gets fed up with it.

He must have been young when you got him? 
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #158

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
Well, I am going to disappoint everyone.  I was going back and forth about leaving him in last night and I didn't want to spend the night on my five-foot sofa to make sure things went okay, so I caved and let him out at 7:00 PM. He had not used the box for 12.5 hours.  

He's a big boy and he does intimidate Chaucer. Henryetta not only hisses and growls at Orville but she does this with Chaucer when Orville is inside.  She doesn't usually growl or hiss at Chaucer unless he is pestering her. Now it is when he is just in the same area, like she does with Orville. Neither of my two will really play when Orville is in because the latter rushes for every toy. My guess is that this may be the first time in a very long time that he has had access to toys and feels comfortable letting his guard down and playing.

Orville was not unwell with all the sleeping yesterday. He got quite active before I let him out. I guess he was just exhausted, but it is a concern with his FIV.
He must have been young when you got him? 
Yes, Chaucer was about 4 months old when I got him from the local shelter. He was one who "picked me". He's dapper and at the same time has a cheeky personality. I don't want to see him lose this through Orville's playful intimidation.

I'm wondering how CatSnip404's situation is with her FIV rescue.
 
Last edited:

catwoman707

TCS Member
Veteran
Joined
Dec 16, 2011
Messages
7,689
Purraise
2,263
Location
Vallejo, CA
 
Well, I am going to disappoint everyone.  I was going back and forth about leaving him in last night and I didn't want to spend the night on my five-foot sofa to make sure things went okay, so I caved and let him out at 7:00 PM. He had not used the box for 12.5 hours.  

He's a big boy and he does intimidate Chaucer. Henryetta not only hisses and growls at Orville but she does this with Chaucer when Orville is inside.  She doesn't usually growl or hiss at Chaucer unless he is pestering her. Now it is when he is just in the same area, like she does with Orville. Neither of my two will really play when Orville is in because the latter rushes for every toy. My guess is that this may be the first time in a very long time that he has had access to toys and feels comfortable letting his guard down and playing.

Orville was not unwell with all the sleeping yesterday. He got quite active before I let him out. I guess he was just exhausted, but it is a concern with his FIV.
Yes, Chaucer was about 4 months old when I got him from the local shelter. He was one who "picked me". He's dapper and at the same time has a cheeky personality. I don't want to see him lose this through Orville's playful intimidation.

I'm wondering how CatSnip404's situation is with her FIV rescue.
Not disappointing at all! He got to spend many hours/majority of the entire day inside, get some much needed deep sleep, and he is used to being outside so it was nothing he would have protested, it's just not time is all.

Very typical for Henryetta to be more on guard and crabby towards Chaucer too, that one does take time, typically when a new cat comes and is inside 24/7, it takes a good month or more for her to feel she has established with the 'new guy' their boundaries and will lighten up, but Orville not being inside 24/7, it can take longer. Girls think it's their job to be bitchy :D!

Chaucer sounds like he's a character, full of spunk and personality. That will come out again in time also.

Learning to adapt with each other and accept is one part, once that is accomplished then the behavior and personalities mixing part will happen but takes longer.

All 3 will be feeling differently, more alert, more guarded, protective, possessive, etc. It won't change them for good, just until they have a level of comfort and security that life continues, the change is not temporary, and it's just okay, they will get back to the norm.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #160

chaucer

TCS Member
Thread starter
Alpha Cat
Joined
Apr 6, 2014
Messages
697
Purraise
243
Location
Southern US
f
 
Not disappointing at all! He got to spend many hours/majority of the entire day inside, get some much needed deep sleep, and he is used to being outside so it was nothing he would have protested, it's just not time is all.

Very typical for Henryetta to be more on guard and crabby towards Chaucer too, that one does take time, typically when a new cat comes and is inside 24/7, it takes a good month or more for her to feel she has established with the 'new guy' their boundaries and will lighten up, but Orville not being inside 24/7, it can take longer. Girls think it's their job to be bitchy :D!

Chaucer sounds like he's a character, full of spunk and personality. That will come out again in time also.

Learning to adapt with each other and accept is one part, once that is accomplished then the behavior and personalities mixing part will happen but takes longer.

All 3 will be feeling differently, more alert, more guarded, protective, possessive, etc. It won't change them for good, just until they have a level of comfort and security that life continues, the change is not temporary, and it's just okay, they will get back to the norm.
I needed this today. I have been going back and forth since last night about whether to  just love, care for,  play with  and feed him, letting him come inside during very cold or very hot weather, storms and rain. I then thought of re-arranging my laundry room (for the third time since I've moved here) and seeing if he will stay in there at night.  This morning, I tried an experiment - I let all three cats stay alone in the house while I was gone for an hour. I think it was okay, but when I got home Orville got a little hyper. He was chasing and batting Chaucer and then ran at Henryetta. Chaucer had a puffed up tail and ridged back, which is not something I want to see. I think this is more my problem than the cats' issues in that I hadn't planned on having three cats. It just feels like a lot to me.  I've only had one at a time, up until Henryetta came along.  I will keep trying with Orville, though. I committed to helping him when he first showed up and he is attached to me, as I am to him.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top