Need advice for feral cat taken in please!!

newbiecatlover

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Hi everyone! I recently started a thread about a family of feral cats and kittens that we've been feeding and successfully TNR'd. 

Unfortunately, one of the 3 kittens was run over on Saturday. It has been extremely hard for us. We really love these cats and were considering taking them in, but 3 would have been really difficult for us. 

After Cookie was run over, the boyfriend and I immediately decided to take the 2 kittens in. It was really easy to get Patches. He lets us pet him and all we had to do was pick him up and place in in our spare room. He howled a little at night, but he has become very comfortable. 

Two days later, we brought his brother Alpha in by baiting him with food into our room. We're a bit worried about him. It's been 48 hours and he's still hiding. We have a big cat tree, scratching posts, food, water, kitty litter, and toys for them to play with. Of course Patches has taken a liking to everything and has been using the kitty litter. Alpha, on the other hand, has been hiding behind the cat tree and now that we've put a bed against the wall, he's been hiding behind the bed.

I understand this will take time. They're both roughly 10 months old. When they were outside, they played together all day and were literally attached to the hip. 

I want to hear some tips, tricks, and encouraging words that will ease our minds about Alpha adjusting in time. We live in a 3 bedroom house and have 2 other house mates (my sister and her boyfriend). Patches is comfortable enough to let them pet him. 

What steps should be taken? My sister and her boyfriend came into the room yesterday and Alpha has become more scared after seeing them. He was about to play with our toys until the two of my housemates came in and since then he's continued to hide.

I truly appreciate any advice. Thank you! 
 
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StefanZ

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Hi everyone! I recently started a thread about a family of feral cats and kittens that we've been feeding and successfully TNR'd. 

Unfortunately, one of the 3 kittens was run over on Saturday. It has been extremely hard for us. We really love these cats and were considering taking them in, but 3 would have been really difficult for us. 

After Cookie was run over, the boyfriend and I immediately decided to take the 2 kittens in. It was really easy to get Patches. He lets us pet him and all we had to do was pick him up and place in in our spare room. He howled a little at night, but he has become very comfortable. 

Two days later, we brought his brother Alpha in by baiting him with food into our room. We're a bit worried about him. It's been 48 hours and he's still hiding. We have a big cat tree, scratching posts, food, water, kitty litter, and toys for them to play with. Of course Patches has taken a liking to everything and has been using the kitty litter. Alpha, on the other hand, has been hiding behind the cat tree and now that we've put a bed against the wall, he's been hiding behind the bed.

I understand this will take time. They're both roughly 10 months old. When they were outside, they played together all day and were literally attached to the hip. 

I want to hear some tips, tricks, and encouraging words that will ease our minds about Alpha adjusting in time. We live in a 3 bedroom house and have 2 other house mates (my sister and her boyfriend). Patches is comfortable enough to let them pet him. 

What steps should be taken? My sister and her boyfriend came into the room yesterday and Alpha has become more scared after seeing them. He was about to play with our toys until the two of my housemates came in and since then he's continued to hide.

I truly appreciate any advice. Thank you! 
Some tips.   The bed was apparently a mistake. Take away the bed, or at least, lay down the matterass directly on the floor.   So he cant hide behind the bed.   But be sure he can "hide" somewhere, alike a cat igloo, a sideturned cardboard box, or perhaps best, a carrier, with something cozy on the bottom, and a towel above, so the whole carrier is alike a nice hiding hole.

Work on the more daring bro.  He will be the bridge and ambassadeur and positive example to the more shy bro.

Your extra co-habitants, later on they will be good to have as extra fosterers of the shy one, but at this moment its too early. 

Talk a lot with friendly voice, make friendly small sounds.  Be low - perhaps sitting on the floor or low chair.  Or laying down on a low matterass is very effective. (fostering them in the bedroom - without beds to hide behind) is very effective, by this reason.

Stretch yourself standing on all four - its friendly greetings in the cat world.  Same with yawning.
 
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newbiecatlover

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Thanks for the tips. I laid the mattress flat and alphas back to his semi hiding spot behind the cat tree. He actually ate a little and drank water. He came out a few times to look at me. I then left the room to get food and when I returned he was on the mattress hissing at me.

I played some harp music and they seemed to like it. I hope in time he will adjust.
 
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