Familiar Stray Taken Inside, Doesn't Like it

Hello, all.

I just registered, and my real name is Mike.

I have been feeding a stray who has been living in my front garden, and under my porch since the summer.

I think it's a she, and she looks as though she might have cataracts or something else wrong with her eyes, but it doesn't appear to be causing her problems seeing.

She's very vocal, and is used to me, but still aloof.

I can pet her, and pick her up, but within a few seconds, she seems to get scared.

This afternoon, about 5pm New York time, I brought her inside, because it's supposed to get down to about 15 degrees fahrenheit tonight, and I didn't want her to freeze.

A few seconds after I picked her up, she began to scream, and tried to get out of my grip, but I got her into the basement before she scratched me.

She's down there right now hiding under a chair.

She's quiet, but doesn't seem too afraid, as I think she knows who I am, but she doesn't recognize her surroundings.

I've been feeding her everyday for about 5 months, but it doesn't look as though she's touched the food I left her; it's been about 8 hours.

What's the best thing to do?

Leave her alone?

I have 2 of my own cats which always stay inside, and I know enough not to let them intermingle with her, as she's never been to the vet.

By the way, she's what I call a big kitten; probably between 8 and 12 months old.

I've noticed her grow since the summer.

How long will she remain afraid, or not eat?

The weather here has been way above average, as most of you know, but tonight is brutal, and I don't know how low a temperature a cat can stand.

As frightened as she might be, I think it's much better that she's inside on a night like this.

Any advice is appreciated.

Mike

Thank you so much for caring for her. She is definitely better off inside and you are very wise not to let her meet the two residents until she's vetted.

She's overwhelmed at the changes, good as they may be. Cats don't like change and depending on their personality and experience, it may take awhile for her to appreciate the new deal. I would leave her alone for a day or so. Leave her food, water and a potty, of course. If you put dried leaves or a bit of dirt on the litter, she'll soon figure out what it's for.

I would try to limit her space at first. One room is enough - the whole basement must seem so huge to her. A large dog crate (or two cobbled together) will work, too. Cover one, put the potty in the other and maybe a carrier, if there's room. This gives you a little better access to her.

You can sit on the floor near her and read out loud. It will remind her that she liked you and help her adjust to being inside. I am of the school that doesn't force cats, so I'd advise hands off until she comes to you.

Others may advise wrapping her in a towel and holding her until she gets used to it. I guess it depends on her personality and your comfort levels.

In any case, welcome to TCS!

BTW, I am assuming you'll keep her inside at least until she's vetted and spayed. Please don't let her out again until that is done. Otherwise, you'll have more than one cat in your yard!

I agree with the above, cats can take days to get used to a new experience, even  weeks. She most likely will have MANY kittens if she is not spayed, so bringing her to a vet is sparing her the pain and worry of bringing up litter after litter into a cold, hostile world. I would bet in a week she will calm down and get back to normal, I'm sure she smells and hears your other cats too, so this frightens her. Just sit with her as often as you can and speak softly. I have a stray in the shop right now, and after two weeks of dirt in a litter box I have switched to litter and he is doing fine. He's even come in to the house a few times and is doing well after being very skittish for weeks. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking her in, I pray you are blessed for your kindness, she doesn't know yet what this all means to her, but she will!

Thank you all for the kind words, but when it comes to caring for animals, I would say that everyone at this, and every other site like this loves animals.

To me, they're like children that can't talk.

Update on the basement cat:

She has moved a few times since last night. Every time I go downstairs, she's in a different spot, so she must be exploring, but hides when she hears me coming down. I usually find her quickly under a chair or couch.

She stays about 5 feet away from me, doesn't come any closer, but doesn't seem scared.

I just bought her a litter box, and she watched as I filled it with litter, so I think she'll catch on.

I also think she ate a little of the food I left her.

I am not an expert on cats by any means, but I do have a little experience.

I have two black cat brothers which someone abandoned in June, 2012. They were 4 months old then.

I took them home, because they were starting to wander away, and I didn't want anything to happen to them.

They have been spayed, and never go outside. They have such nice cat personalities.

I have been taking care of another cat, a grey tabby at club I belong to since 2007.

For now, I'll just let the basement cat get used to her new surroundings.

I will keep you all updated on her progress.

Thank you again very much for your advice, and please keep it coming.

Mike    

Sounds like you are doing things just perfectly. Animals recognize a kind heart, I think.

If you find any of her poop or pee outside of the litterbox, bury it in the box. A paper towel can soak up the pee and be buried. It will tell her this is the bathroom.

Hello again, everyone.

I am happy to report that my new guest seems to be settling in.

The first day she seemed scared, but seemed to show that she knew me.

Now, almost every time I go downstairs, she's in the cat bed which I left for her.

She's eating, but not a great deal, but then again this cat was never a big eater when she was outdoors.

About half a can of wet food, and half a bowl of dry food per day.

No poop or pee in the litter box yet, but it doesn't smell down there either.

I'm just glad she's out of the cold.

The temperatures have gone back up into the mid 40s, and are supposed to stay there for the next few days, but it's supposed to get very cold again next week.

I'll post a picture as soon as I can.

I'll also tell you more about the other cats in my life as I become more familiar with this forum.

I would like to thank everyone who offered any advise or a kind word; it truly is appreciated.

Thank you.

Mike

Thanks for the update.!  Things seem to be going well.

Hello again, all.

Here's an update on my newest tenant

She's moved from the cat bed I gave her to a laundry bag in the next room; the next room is where the furnace is, so I guess she likes the warmth.

She gave me a scare this morning, as I couldn't find her for about half an hour.

Then, I began searching for her slowly, and methodically, and found her on an old rug in back of a box.

All the time I was calling her, but she didn't respond at all; this is what got me worried.

Is this a common thing for cats to do?

My basement is finished, though not used much, and has many storage boxes and old furniture in it. From a cat's point of view, it's probably quite cozy.

The furnace room is obviously the warmer of the two rooms, though the finished room is pretty warm as well.

She's started using the litter box I left her without any help from me, but she's still a little aloof.

She has always been a little shy as far as letting someone pet her.

When it's dinner time, sometimes she'll walk toward me from the other end of the room as if to greet me, and then half hide under a chair till I put her food down, and other times remain completely hidden until the food is near her, and then slowly begin to eat.

I have two black cat brothers who, from kittenhood have been very gregarious and playful, and the other cat I take care of is more reserved than my blacks, but more outgoing than the new grey cat.

I guess all cats have different personalities, and I shouldn't compare them, and expect them to all behave alike.

So, that's what's new with her one week on. I'm assuming she's a she, as she acts more like a female cat from what others have told me.

I have to start reading more here on cat behavior.

Thanks.

Mike

Sounds like she's already well on her way to being a happy indoor (much safer, less frozen) kitty's ours 100% right in saying that cats have different personalities! I've worked at/volunteered for shelters for years and every single kitties of the thousands I've dealt with we're all different. Just like people A lot of commonalities, but still each unique.

Cats who have spent all/most of their lives outdoors - particularly those who are truly feral (virtually no human contact) are generally extremely quiet. The general school of thought is that a lot of cat vocalization we hear is in response to the sounds we humans make --either mimicking us or trying to communicate--but generally because they realize sounds get responses in humans. Versus as outdoor cats - meowing would alert predators to them & startle their prey - so they're usually extremely quiet. That said, we currently have a "resident feral" we neutered & returned outside (he'd truly had no human contact at the time, so us - or anyone-adopting him at that time was out of the question) we named Crosby who "chats" non-stop! So there are exceptions to every rule!

So she's learned that being quiet & hiding keeps her alive - so it may take awhile for her to start "showing herself" more quickly. But I can bet she appreciates the warmth & food! You might want to put a radio down there for her (tuned quietly to a little soft music/talk radio) also to get her more used to human voices & to give her a little more stimulation.

Definitely visit her & talk softly to her as much as possible. I try to sit and read (even read aloud) or use my laptop with any kitty I'm socializing as often as possible. It helps the bonding process & speeds the socialization.

Definitely get her to the vet & get her spayed before letting her have contact with your guys (even if she seems healthy, you want to make 100% sure) or finding her another home (although my bet is you're going to end up with a wonderful new addition

Definitely use & peruse this site. The community here is SO helpful! Welcome - & thanks for saving this kitty from a very cold time outside!

Hello again, all.

It seems that my unnamed cat which is the subject of this thread is slowly adjusting to life inside.

She's been inside now since January 4th, and here's what I have to report:

She used to hide completely when I came downstairs to feed her, but now she stands closer and closer to the stairway as if to greet me.

She's much more talkative now, almost back to the level she was at when she was living under the porch, and came out to greet me at feeding time.

She comes up to me, and almost rubs against my leg, but this is the same that she did while outside.

She's always been shy, and would only let me pet her for a few seconds, then run away and hide. A few hours later, it was as though this never happened.

Now, when I go downstairs, she sometimes meows softly without looking at me. Is she sad or am I just projecting human emotions into a cat? 

I'm not really worried, after all she's alive, and warm; some of the days and nights here have been very cold.

I visit her as often as I can.

I'll post a picture as soon as I can. She has two rooms, about 500 square feet to herself, so she's got room to live and explore.

Any advice appreciated.

Mike

P.S. I've read a few threads here about ferals/strays who have been killed, and it makes me very sad.

It is sad - losing them to things we can't control at all (when we want to help them as much as possible!). But think how much safer yours is now - she won't face any of the dangers these completely outside guys have to face (not through any fault of the caretakers). She'll eventually be MUCH happier! Sounds like she's well on her way to that already

(500 feet is more room than one of my friends has in New York!)

Your posts show how time can work wonders.  She safe, warm, fed and you are allowing her to adjust at her own speed.  Can't get any better than that!

OK, my new cat seems to be adjusting slowly, and smoothly, but here's a new development: soft stools.

The cat seems friendly, and less afraid than she used to be, but she seems to be eating less, and the last 3 poo events were soft.

She is going in the litter box.

She doesn't seem sick or weak, just soft stools.

I'm feeding her the same food I've been feeding her since the summer: Meow mix dry food, and a variety of Friskies wet food.

She was never a big eater, but I am a little concerned.

She always has fresh water, and if she doesn't eat the wet food I've given her in about 6 hours, I replace it with new food.

Any ideas what might be going on?

Thanks.

Mike

I'd take a look at the specific wet food you've fed her.  Maybe one variety disagreed with her.  My cats can't eat tuna - they all get the rumble guts.  No matter the brand, tuna upsets them.

Any change in diet can cause issues, so just keep track.  If there seems no correlation to the food and her symptoms, I'd talk to the vet.

Is she adjusting well otherwise?

Yes, she is adjusting well.

I took her in on January 4th, and for the next week she hid, but I always found her.

The next week or so she half-hid, sitting under a chair, but in plain site.

Now, when I go downstairs, she almost always greets me near the stairs, and begins to meow.

She's also begun rubbing against my legs.  

She is both a semi-shy cat, and a vocal one.

As a matter of coincidence, the food I've been giving her lately is Friskies flaked tuna with egg.

I will change her food at the next feeding time.

As I said, she doesn't appear weak or sick.

Thank you so much for the advice, Ondine; I really do appreciate it.

I'll keep you posted on her progress.

Mike 

Sounds like she's making fantastic progress! The fact that she's not only coming out more - but that she's getting comfortable enough to wind between your legs--that's wonderful!!!! The meowing is a great sign too! She's trying to communicate with you! (Something she wouldn't do if she weren't getting slit more comfortable with you!!!)

I agree with @Ondine - try sticking with one kind of food for a bit (not just brand, but even flavor). Cats (like people!) often like some brands & flavors more than others. And -again like people- kitties tend to have bowel issues when food is one brand/flavor for awhile & then flavors change (think of how your tummy reacts if you eat soup & grilled cheese all week, then on the weekend you go out for spicy Indian food - chances are you'll becreaching for the pepto Bismol). Plus kitties (as Onfine noted) can actually be allergic/sensitive to foods. And it can be flavor - specific -like hers and tuna. Feeding a single brand AND flavor for days in a row can help you decide what she likes/doesn't like, and what ingredients/flavors might cause tummy issues. And soft stools is not nearly as concerning as watery/explosive diarrhea. For that I'd see a vet soon.

As long as she's still drinking, eating & using the litterbox, I wouldn't get overly worried yet. She's still stressed (albeit less so then at first) and a stressed cat tends to eat less.

If she does stop drinking - you'll want to get her to a vet. Dehydration in a cat can happen quickly & it's very hard on them. If you can pet her fairly easily - you can check for dehydration in her by pinching the skin on her neck, just in front of her shoulder blades. Pinch it gently & pull the skin upward, and if it stays up (like a tent) and is very slow to go back down to normal-she's dehydrated & a quickly scheduled vet visit s very important. Here's a link that actually shows you how to do this:

http://m.wikihow.com/Check-Cats-for-Dehydration

Keep us posted!

She's still a little shy to let me try to check her fur, but I did the other obvious thing: checked her water auto-fill bowl.

It's definitely going down, and I would say at an average to an above average pace.

I just got back from the doing laundry, and again, she greeted me near the bottom of the stairs, she paraded in front of me toward her food bowl, and I gave her some more dry food, which she ate while I was there.

She continued to eat as I sorted and hung the laundry, and after about 15 minutes, she was half-hiding under a chair.

I don't think she was scared at all, probably wondering what I was doing in her room for so long.

I thank you very much for the advice, and reply, Kittychick, and I will keep everyone posted on her progress.

Thank you.

Mike

Hello again, everyone, here is another progress report.

The soft stools/diarrhea has stopped! Thank you, God!  

Since the last report, she had one episode of soft stools, but all her movements since then have been solid!

I did change her food from Friskies tuna, to Sheba chicken, and some other high-end cat food I can't really recall right now; perhaps, Beyond?

Her behavior is getting more consistent: As she hears me coming down the stairs, she greets me near the bottom of the stairs, and I ask permission to enter her house, which she grants pleasantly. 

It looks to me like her third eyelid is showing, which probably means she's ill from something. I know you want her to trust you more before you take her to the vet, but I think a thorough vet visit is needed now. Yes, she will be very scared and upset and may avoid you for a little while afterwards, but if she needs medication sooner is better than waiting, and when she starts to feel better she will be very grateful!

You can start giving her food in her carrier, and then do so right before her vet appointment and close the door behind her. I know it feels deceitful, but it's probably the least-stressful option.