Feral boy

About a year and a half ago I trapped a few cats in the neighborhood and got them fixed.  After finding homes for some, we were down to 2.  2 boys that are big time buddies.  The one I can pet sometimes, the other one have never been able to.  Long story short, I decided to trap and bring inside.  I was able to trap the one I can't touch but not the other.  The other one was too smart and would not walk in far enough for me to pull the pin and let the door come down.  So I put Moe Moe in my spare room and after 2 days of him peeing and pooping on the floor I set up the xlg dog crate I've used for fostering and got him to run in there.  He is scared to death but not the hissing, growling swatting scared.  He will not move when I'm in there to feed or clean the litter box.  First night in the crate he must've tried desperately to get out of the crate, he broke a weld and pushed a wire out but thankfully too small for him to get out.  After realizing he was trying to get out of the crate, I figured out that before I put him in there he must've tried getting out of the window that was cracked since I found dried blood on the windowsill.  I have his crate covered to create a dark space and it looks like he is chewing holes in the blanket.  I'm looking for some new ideas from people that maybe have been in this situation.  I know it will take a long time and I'm totally fine if I can never touch him just don't want him to be desperate to get out.  I'm still trying to catch his buddy.  I think that will help him but not sure how soon that will be.  Tonight I'm going to start putting in his water Jackson Galaxy's Scaredy Cat.  I tried that before when he was outside but not sure how much he drank because he always preferred puddles.  Any suggestions?

I understand you are taking on yourself quite a challenge. He is a decently succesful ferale, its no pity on him to remain as tnr:ed. And if he gets some help, whoa!

The easy solution is to just let him be there outside.

But OK, you do have the time, patience, love, dedication... Its worth a try.  

Calming, relaxing music. Classical harp music is best they say, but many types may work.  Feliway diffuser may help.  Scratching post.  Some hidey hole (this you surely know).  When you are in there do talk much, with low, friendly voice. Make sympathetic, crooning voices.  Sing if you can and want...  This is natural language by cats.

You know surely about the slowly blinking trick, and not looking into the eyes.  Lesser known tricks is yawing, and standing on all fours, stretch yourself forwards and backwards.  Like friendly cats do greeting each other...

Having his pal inside as company may help.

Do you have a friendly resident??  Whom is fully vaccinated, healthy etc??

I do have a friendly cat who is fully vaccinated.  He has been wanting to go in that room so bad so I think I'll try that.  I did have the tv on for a couple of days but I'll switch that to a calming music channel.  The easy thing would be to put him back outside but what prompted this was my association where I live didn't want the shelter and food bowls on the front porch anymore so I was going to try and move them around back into my fenced in yard but I would still worry about them in bad weather and not sure how they would react when I take the dogs out.  Thanks for the tips.

As Stefan said, yawning, stretching and blinking are feral language that says "We're cool."  You could also sit in his room and read out loud to him.  Or just talk to him sweetly.  This will help him get used to your voice and presence.

Blessings on you for helping him.  I hope you catch his buddy - that will probably really help him adjust.

tammysueszoo said:

 
I do have a friendly cat who is fully vaccinated.  He has been wanting to go in that room so bad so I think I'll try that.  I did have the tv on for a couple of days but I'll switch that to a calming music channel.  The easy thing would be to put him back outside but what prompted this was my association where I live didn't want the shelter and food bowls on the front porch anymore so I was going to try and move them around back into my fenced in yard but I would still worry about them in bad weather and not sure how they would react when I take the dogs out.  Thanks for the tips.

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Ouch, this may have been a mistake.  Human voices on radio TV may be good when they HAD landed, to prompt being their used to human voices.  But in the initatial phase, before he accepted he is inside now and need calming and to feel safe and sound, relaxing music is a much better bet.

In the initial phase, when he still is scared and high stressed, human voices from radioTv just adds to his stress.

They could work on a bought home raised cat, but not on a shy ferale!

But YOU actively making friendly noises, or even reading, is another thing.  Compare a friendly tom courting - lotsa noises and crooning!

With a territorial, unfriendly tom whom just takes what he wants, perhaps even beating up too for good measure.

So lotsa of friendly sounds is a natural language for cats, they do recognize it, they themselves use it in some circumstances.

Hello, I am a newbie but because I've some experience with this, I am responding. I hope this is ok.

I have one feral cat. We were fortunate to have found her when she was young (around 6  months). It sounds like you have an older cat. This makes things more complicated. Idgy, our ferel, is now 8 years old and will still attack, on occasion, if she feels even the slightest bit of tension. I can only say that caging him is not going to make it better and sometimes isolation will also make worse unless it is a room you frequent often. The ferel has to bond with you, and that takes a lot of time and patience. I've only had the one ferel, but I am told that they seldom bond with more than one person. I have found that to be true with my Idgy.

Here are some suggestions.

If the cat is isolated from the rest of the house, put some of your dirty clothes at or very near the spot in the room where the cat sleeps. This will help to imprint your smell so that he relates it to warmth and safety.  Do not use clothes that have food spills or other spills, you just want him to smell your sweat and natural odors.

When you feed him dry food, roll the food around in your hand gently. This allows him to smell your scent as he eats, thereby relating it again to the warmth and safety.  

If he is hiding, do not attempt to coax him out. Just leave the food.

Make sure his litter is cleaned everyday and kept fresh.  This cat has never used a litter box, some will acclimate, some will not, My Idgy did not. 

Replace the dirty cloths every other day. ( remember, just sweaty clothes, shirts mainly).

Spend as much time in the room with the cat as possible. Consider taking in your laptop and spend time just being there. Try to go at the same time each day as cats like continuity. You do not have to try to work with the cat. He will work with you if he chooses. He will become accustomed to your being there.  Just act normal. 

Make sure he can see outside. 

The first rule however, is to never approach him, let him approach you, and when he does , hold your hand out very slowly, if he hisses, lunges or swats it is too soon, if he smells and backs off, let him go, but that is a good sign, if he sniffs and licks and runs, you've made great progress.

Do not use the kitty kitty voice, be silent or say his name like you would normally so that he conditions to it and the sound of your voice.

Sit on the floor as close to his level as you can but a little above him, when he makes eye contact, slowly blink your eyes, this will tell him you are not a threat. One poster said don't use music and such, I agree. Your voice and behavior is the bonding agent. Another poster said that stretching , yawning, and slow blinking are signals that all is cool.  I am not so sure this is accurate of ferels. I would need to do more research to find out.

The one problem you may encounter is the attitude of domesticated cats towards the feral. I have found that some simply will never warm up to them, others will dominate them, it just depends. But ferels will never be like your normal everyday cat. They will always have a protocol that isn't necessary with other cats. If you truly plan to take care of this cat, you will need to make a lifelong commitment as finding someone willing to take a cat with protocols is nearly impossible.  

I hope this and the other advice you are given helps. 

This morning was the first morning his crate wasn't a mess from trying to get out.  Yay, some progress.  I turned tv to classical music monday night and last night switched it to soundscapes which i think will be even more relaxing for him.  I'm giving him jackson galaxy's stress stopper 3x a day.  Working on getting a different trap to get his buddy since he was too leary of the previous one.  I'm desperate to get them back together.

@Perched Kitty  I appreciate all your advice.  Right now he does need to stay in the crate.  The first couple of days I had him loose in the room and he was peeing and pooping under the futon so I had to confine him to an even smaller space so that he learned the litter box.  He's been using it ever since I put him in the crate.  The other reason he needs to stay in the crate for now is that my window was cracked only an inch and he was clawing to get out, to the point of drawing blood.  He did the first 2 nights in the crate too but last night was his 4th night and he does seem to have settled in a bit.  He still hides in the corner when I clean his litter box but I know that he may always hide from me.  I am going to keep him in the crate until I can get his buddy to put them in there together and so the other one can learn the litter box too.  This is going to be a long road but I was too worried about them outside.  This one is fiv+ and once I get the other I will have him tested as well.  No more snow and rain for them.

I think the crate will work until he's calmed down and gotten used to the idea of indoor life.  In six months, I bet you find that he will run the other way every time you open the outside door.

If you wash the trap with a good enzyme cleaner (Nature's Miracle or such), it will take the stink of fear off it.  You can also spray catnip on it once its clean as an attractant.

Fingers crossed trapping goes well.

Thank you. I wish you the best of luck. Just please keep in mind that if this is truly a feral cat, the chances of it ever being fully socialized are small. If that becomes the case, he will be a lifelong commitment and if something changes later in your situation and you can no longer care for him, it is unlikely you will find an alternative suitable home. In the case of a true feral cat, trap and release is the best option for his health and chances for survival. 

Oh definitely all about lifetime commitment.  He's my 11th cat in the house along with a bunny a 17 yo cocker spaniel and a foster dog.  This feral boys buddy will be my 12th cat.  I volunteered and fostered for a local humane society for 10+ years and saw the poor excuses people gave for surrendering an animal.  I am also currently involved with many rescues in our area.  Too many to save and not enough people to help. I have an 11 yo cat that I've had since she was 4 weeks old and she barely lets me touch her unless I'm laying on the sofa or maybe sitting down but yet I am the only one she trusts.

@tammysueszoo  - you are definitely a god send to these critters.  Blessings on you for all you do.