It has now been a week that Theo a stray cat has been living in our guest room after returning from the vet (see my previous posts). I am now interested in getting some more advice on where to go from here. Theo is responding well to my presence and is not freaked out and running off to hide when I enter the room. He is to say the least very fond of food and may even meet me as I open the door. I started out soothing him with a dowel on the back of his neck and sides. I can now even use my gloved hand to truly massage him and get him turning over in glee and purring at my touch. This usually happens by my approaching him slowly in the area where he eats. This morning he was even meowing behind the guest room door when he heard me in the kitchen next to the guest room. I am guessing at his age being at least a year. The vet advised feeding him adult cat food which I am purchasing from the vet - it is the same food they were giving him while he was at the vet for neutering. What I am curious about is the fact that Theo does not want to play if, for example, I dangle something in front of him , say something hanging from a dowel. I even tried giveing him some cat nip which did not seem to interest him. I assume it would be a useful part of the socializing process if I could get him to COME TO ME when I am lying on the floor as opposed to my going to him to pet him. I am careful not to make eye contact with him and continue to speak to him in a soft voice. Is it just a question of my having patience for him to start approaching me. He may still hiss at me when I first see him in the morning but he has so far not bitten or even scratched my gloved hand when I pet him. Any advice on what approach I should take to have him seek me out? I want to try eventually to introduce him to my two house cats. He seemed to get on well with my big main coon cat when they encountered each other outside on my deck. My little female black cat with very similar marking is another story and she shows more hostility. Our main coon and my black cat get on famously. I don't know if ultimately Theo can become our third cat . Our cats currently do go out doors because we live in a ravine area which is very safe for them . Whether Theo can ever be brought back in doors if he is let out is another story we may have to face down the road.
Thanks
Michael
Thanks
Michael