What is my next step?

freemike

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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
 

molly92

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I think you're doing all the right things, and patience is going to be the key. It sounds like food is going to be a good motivator! If you want to teach him to come to you faster you can try sitting down across the room from him with his favorite treat and require him to come to you to get it.

Some cats are not big on play time, but it's probably way too early to tell if he actually likes to play or not. Even fully socialized cats who are in a new environment can take weeks to feel comfortable enough to start playing. Also, only about half of cats respond to catnip.

If you want to let your cats outside unsupervised that's completely your choice. Just be aware that no outdoor environment is as safe as it is inside for a domesticated animal like cats.
 
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freemike

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Thank you Molly . Much appreciated. I am lucky enough to have a very unusual city location with virtually no immediate neighbors.  I have let my cats out doors now for 20 years or so and 'knock on wood' never had a problem. I am cautious and do not simply abandon them for hours on end  and never let them out over night.. 

Thanks again

Michael
 

calicosrspecial

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I agree with Molly 92. You are doing the right things and patience will be the key. He sounds like a great cat so he will most likely come around. Molly 92 is right, not all cats want to play right away so I use food as the motivator. Do a little trail of treats to you, he may not come right away but he will. It has only been a week, he is still getting use to the new home. Just hang out with him and eventually he'll get the courage to rub on you, and then he'll progress from there most likely. It is about building trust and confidence.  Some come around quicker than others. But you are feeding him and that will build trust. Just don't go too fast and push it, just let him do things on his terms. There will be ebb and flows but ti sounds like he should come around.

One of my girls always is a bit more difficult accepting new cats. But she comes around with slow introduction. When you get there we'll give more advice but feeding them where they can smell each other and site swapping can work well. There is a lot we can share when we get to that point. 

Make sure he is checked out de-wormed, free of parasites etc before introducing them. just to nip any issues in the bud before a lot of work is needed. 

Good luck and keep us posted. Theo sounds like a good cat.
 

piano cat

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I swear by the long, skinny stick.  I break off a flexible branch and wiggle it mostly behind, just a tip showing, of, say, a closet door,  the other side of a cardboard box, under a piece of mat or newspaper.  To start with a really wild feral I hide myself if I can.  It hasn't failed me yet.  When I have homed ferals we've socialed up  I send a long, skinnyy stick home with them.  Worth a try?
 
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