Finally trapped Oskar! Next steps

Hi there,

I've gotten a lot of good advice from you guys so I'm hoping to get some more even if it's just psychological support. Ha!

I JUST trapped Oskar, my other cats mom who has been living in my backyard for a year. Now waiting for my vet to open to get her checked out and vaccinated (she's already fixed, which I did last year).

Room is all set up. Now I wonder about next steps. I figured I will leave her in the room for about 24 hours and then lock up my cats and let Oskar explore the house (if she comes out of her room) to get comfortable knowing her surroundings.

I also thought I will stack baby gates to allow my cats to be around her without direct contact. Hopefully will be able to feed them in front of the baby gates so they start associating their favorite times of the day with each other.

What are some things I should be aware of / things that can go wrong etc? I want to be prepared for the unexpected.

Thank you for trapping her and taking her into your home.  First off, be sure the room is completely cat proofed.  If there is a bed in the room, lay it flat on the floor or pick it up.  Under the bed is the first place a cat will run to hide and it's so hard to get them out.  Also block behind and under large furniture.  Watch for open windows, keep them closed as a cat can easily push a screen. 

Here are some really great tips:

http://bestfriends.org/resources/socializing-cats-how-socialize-very-shy-or-fearful-cat

and a few more:

1.  No direct eye contact.  Feral cats find this very threatening.  Keep your gaze over the top of their head or look down.

2.  Talk softly.  You want them to get used to your voice.  Carry on a conversation or even read aloud from a book or magazine.

3.  Sit on the ground so you are not looming over the cat.  You also want to keep your movements slow.

4.  Food rewards are the way to a ferals heart.  Find a special yummy treat such as plain cooked chicken or turkey, salmon, tuna or sardines.  I would start by giving them a very small plate with some of the special treat.  I would then have small pieces beside me and begin to toss the treat towards the cat.  Each toss I would get the treat a little closer to me.  I would do this activity each day.  After a few weeks, the cats are often getting quite close as long as you keep your movements slow and gaze down.

A very special food reward I stumbled across is Gerber Stage 2 baby food.  Cats love the chicken or turkey.  The jar is very small with a blue label.  The ingredients are chicken or turkey and water, no added spices.  I started with a bit on a plate and as time went by, I  offered it on a spoon.  When working with young ferals or kittens, they can often be coaxed to lick this off your fingers.  Just remember this is a treat reward and not a meal replacement.

5.  Remember that when working with ferals it is often 1 step forward and 2 steps back.  Just take it slow and steady.  Also celebrate the small advancements.  I remember the day that Shadow first meowed to me.  He had been with me for 3 months.  I cried tears of joy that morning!

6.  Jackson Galaxy of Animal Planets, “My Cat From Hell” series is the cat guru.  He has a line of flower essences that are specially designed for cat behaviors.  He even has one for feral cats.  I have used this essence with great success on all of my feral cats.  Here is a link.

7.  When I first began working with Shadow I searched the internet for ideas.  I really wanted to see a video.  I stumbled across this 3 part video series from the Urban Cat League of New York.  The videos show the rescue and socialization of feral kittens.  Even though I have never rescued feral kittens, many of the techniques can be applied to older feral cats too.  Check out the videos here.

Socializing a Feral You Bring Inside the House

I wanted to briefly mention a few tips if you decide to bring a feral cat inside your home.  Marvin was a stray turned feral who I brought inside to socialize.  Many of the tips mentioned above will work, but here are a few added ideas.

1.  The first tip is to have a room that is dedicated to the cat.  If possible this should be a room where the cat will be confined for a period of time.  You can use a spare bedroom or even a small bathroom.  If using a bedroom or other room of your home, be sure that the room is cat proofed.  Remove mattress and box springs or place them directly on the floor.  Hiding under a bed is the first place the cat will run and it is almost impossible to get them out.  Also block behind dressers or book cases.  Cats can fit into very small spaces.  You do want to have an appropriate hiding spot for the cat.  This can be an old box turned on its side or a hiding box found on a cat tree.  Also make sure all windows are tightly closed and blinds are up with the cords hidden.  Do not be surprised if the cat throws himself against the window in an attempt to escape.

2.  If you do not have an empty room available or the cat is very wild,  you can use a large dog crate or fasten two smaller crates together.  Just be sure there is enough room for a small litter pan and food.  If you need to use a crate, I would suggest keeping the crate covered with a sheet or towel  when the cat is alone.  This will help to calm the cat.  Eventually you will need a cat proofed space where you can move the cat.

3.  You will want to start with 2 litter boxes.  Many feral cats are not used to urinating and defecating in the same location. When choosing a  litter, you can use fresh clean potting soil mixed with non clumping litter or you can try Dr. Elsey’s Litter Attract.  I have found the Litter Attract to work very well.  If the cat has an accident on the floor, sop up the urine with a paper towel and bury it into the litter box.  Do the same with any stool.  Make sure you clean the area very well with a good enzymatic cleaner to remove all traces of odor.  Place the litter boxes away from the food and water.

4.  Feliway plugins are a great way to help a nervous cat adjust.  Most cats find the product soothing.  You can find Feliway at most pet stores as well as on Amazon.

5.  Another product I found helpful was Composure treats or Composure Liquid Max.  The first few nights inside are very stressful.  The cat will often yowl and cry all night.  The Composure is very useful in calming the cat at night.  I first tried the treats, but after a week or so, the cat no longer liked the treat.  I then switched to the liquid as it was very easy to mix into wet food.  Composure is available at the best price on Amazon.

6.  Most of the other tips from the top of this page will also apply when you bring a feral cat into your home.  Here is a great article with many tips and suggestions.

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Thanks so much for the great tips. I already have feliway plugged in in her room as well as the house to reduce stress in my cats. The baby chicken food is also a great idea. Oskar even licks it off my finger when I bring it out. Definitely gotta get some later. I just worry so much that having trapped her, she will never trust me again. She became very close to me in this one year. Snuggling up when I sit on the porch etc.

My god, the time is just not going by. I keep staring at the clock hoping it'll turn 8 so I can call my vet.

She will trust you again.  Just be prepared for her to try to want out and some crying.  That is normal.  Just be patient and give her lots of time to adjust.  I would keep her in the room by herself for longer than 24 hours before allowing her to explore.  You want her comfortable in her safe room first.  She also should be eating and using the litter box.  You also don't want her to get somewhere in your home that she cannot reach her.  Give her time.  Once she is calm and you can safely handle her, allow her some time out.  YOu just need to be sure you can get her back into the room. 

When I brought Marvin into my home it took him 5 days to stop crying.  He mainly only did it at night, but sometime during the day.  He took a long time to adjust.  So just be patient and allow Oskar to take the lead on how fast you progress.  I have learned that setting a set schedule of when you want things to happen only leads to frustration and disappointment.  It's easier to just let things happen and not set lofty goals. 

I hope the vet visit goes well!

Back from the vet. Oskar is a very healthy cat! She's in her room now. When I opened the carrier she immediately came outside and sniffed me but she looked scared. Should I stay put until dinner time or occasionally check on her?

I did think of one big question! How on earth am I going to trim her nails? She got a nail trim while she was under but I don't assume I will be able to handle her for a few months...

AlexIsOnTofu said:

 
Back from the vet. Oskar is a very healthy cat! She's in her room now. When I opened the carrier she immediately came outside and sniffed me but she looked scared. Should I stay put until dinner time or occasionally check on her?

I did think of one big question! How on earth am I going to trim her nails? She got a nail trim while she was under but I don't assume I will be able to handle her for a few months...

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I would allow her some time to explore and be on her own.  Just leave her some food and check on her every 30 minutes or so. 

As for the nail trims, don't worry about that now.  Just provide her with a scratcher.  You may have to try different kinds as some cats like vertical and some horizontal.  Also different textures.  I wasn't able to trim my feral cats nails for over a year.  Yet he would scratch on the scratcher.  It just took me awhile to find the right kind of material. 

UPDATE: Oskar was hiding all last night and did not eat her dinner. This morning as soon as I walked into the room, she came out, rubbed against me with her tail and butt raised (like she always does), meowed and ate some breakfast right next to me. Afterwards she even played for a hot second with me and then licked her favorite cat nip toy. I guess all good signs?

How do I know that she's ready to explore more? She already knows most of the house because I have let her in multiple times before trapping.

It sounds like everything is going great, just having her visible is a miracle! (mine spent two weeks hidden!). Get one of those cardboard scratchers, they love them. I have NEVER trimmed any of my cats nails, nor bathed them (unless they were covered in something bad) so for now I wouldn't worry about it. My cats nails are the same length they were 10 years ago. Thank you so much for bringing her in, you will be blessed for it and she will reward you in so many ways! I'll keep you both in my prayers, all the luck! 

As long as you can always get to her and you can pick her up to take her back to her room, then I would allow her to guide you.  Yet, you do want to be clear that you are not letting her back outside.  Be sure there is no way for her to escape.  She may want out of the room to try and get back outside.  Keeping her in the room allows her time to get used to inside living.

Do you have a perch or cat tree for her to look outside? 

So we just locked up our cats and let Oskar out for about 1.5 hours. Lots of mewoing and scratching at the porch door but also some playing and for the first time she let me pet her and she rubbed against my fiancé, which she has never done before! HOWEVER! It was such a struggle to get her back into the room, which is in the basement area of the house. She is NOT food motivated. We had to tag team it by blocking the stairs when she finally went down. How on earth am I going to do this in the future? I wanted to let her out again before bed but it took 30min to get her into the room. Any ideas are GREATLY appreciated!!!!!!!

ShadowsRescue said:

As long as you can always get to her and you can pick her up to take her back to her room, then I would allow her to guide you.

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I doubt that I will be able to pick her up anytime soon (i.e., few months). I was hoping that she will recognize that room as her own and knows exactly where to hide in there. She's just so comfortable upstairs with us. My fiancé and I did our thing and she never once ran away. Body language was also good. Lots of rubbing against us etc. I just visited her again and she finally ate a normal sized meal and snuggled up again. Also used the litter box. I tried to show her how to get onto the windowsill so I hope she can figure that out. My god, seeing her sad and confused breaks my heart! I know its for the best but still :/

Day 3 is going very very well. Drastically less mewoing and she just went back into her room on her own after exploring for an hour. We played for about 2 hours in her room as well. Lots of pees in her litter boxes but no poop yet.

Today is day 4 of Oskar being in the house and things are going pretty well. She eats and drinks well, pees and poops on the litter boxes and plays a lot with me in her room. We let her out 2-3x per day for as long as she wants (she goes back to her room on her own after 30min or so). I want to help her adjust but unsure how. When she's upstairs she paces (seems very strategic) from the porch window where she meows through the living room, other rooms, back downstairs and then back upstairs to the porch window. I've successfully managed to get her to play a few times for a minute or so but otherwise she's still very agitated. Got the feral flower spirt essence today and have feliway plugged in around the house. She has not yet, and won't until she's less agitated, interacted with my other 2 cats (one of them her son). I'm not sure if I should just let her do her thing when she's upstairs or keep trying to get her to play to start associating upstairs with fun times? Any advice?

I would also LOVE to hear other people's experiences how this process went (pacing, mewoing, etc) and any tips and tricks to help adjustment. I know every cat is different, there are no timelines, and often 2 steps forward 1 step back, but it would be great to get a range of experiences.

Thanks so much!!!

AlexIsOnTofu said:

Today is day 4 of Oskar being in the house and things are going pretty well. She eats and drinks well, pees and poops on the litter boxes and plays a lot with me in her room. We let her out 2-3x per day for as long as she wants (she goes back to her room on her own after 30min or so). I want to help her adjust but unsure how. When she's upstairs she paces (seems very strategic) from the porch window where she meows through the living room, other rooms, back downstairs and then back upstairs to the porch window. I've successfully managed to get her to play a few times for a minute or so but otherwise she's still very agitated. Got the feral flower spirt essence today and have feliway plugged in around the house. She has not yet, and won't until she's less agitated, interacted with my other 2 cats (one of them her son). I'm not sure if I should just let her do her thing when she's upstairs or keep trying to get her to play to start associating upstairs with fun times? Any advice?

I would also LOVE to hear other people's experiences how this process went (pacing, mewoing, etc) and any tips and tricks to help adjustment. I know every cat is different, there are no timelines, and often 2 steps forward 1 step back, but it would be great to get a range of experiences.

Thanks so much!!!

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The feral cat I brought into my home 3 years ago took over 2 full months to adjust to living inside.  He would either hide in his hiding box, or pace and meow for hours.  He did this for weeks, but it lessened as time went by.  Composure really helped him especially during the night time.  I started with the treat formula and then moved to the liquid as it was easy to mix into food.  Moving from outside living to inside living is hard.  They cry as they are confused.  They want outside.  They are scared.  The process takes lots and lots of time and patience.

I would keep the cats separated for now.  Your goal is to acclimate Oskar to full time inside living.  It is just too much and too soon to expect her to want to interact with other cats.  At this time, the fact that one of the cats is one of her kittens, does not matter.  Some times the maternal bond is only present through the nursing phase of kittenhood. 

Just be patient with her.  Allow her time.

ShadowsRescue said:

The feral cat I brought into my home 3 years ago took over 2 full months to adjust to living inside.  He would either hide in his hiding box, or pace and meow for hours.  He did this for weeks, but it lessened as time went by.  Composure really helped him especially during the night time.  I started with the treat formula and then moved to the liquid as it was easy to mix into food.  Moving from outside living to inside living is hard.  They cry as they are confused.  They want outside.  They are scared.  The process takes lots and lots of time and patience.

I would keep the cats separated for now.  Your goal is to acclimate Oskar to full time inside living.  It is just too much and too soon to expect her to want to interact with other cats.  At this time, the fact that one of the cats is one of her kittens, does not matter.  Some times the maternal bond is only present through the nursing phase of kittenhood. 

Just be patient with her.  Allow her time.

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Oh absolutely! Like I said I don't foresee any intros anytime soon. In her agitated state it would be a recipe for disaster. Last night was the best night thus far. No pacing, no mewoing. Just playing, snuggling, and napping. I do have to say that after I sprayed the spirit essence where we were playing she seemed at ease for the first time. Napped for an hour as I was watching TV (See pictures).

How often should I let her out? I don't want to overwhelm her.

She does look very relaxed!!  Yea for Spirit Essences. 

I would let her out maybe 2x a day, but just for short visits.  You can gradually increase they amount of time she stays out if she is relaxed.  Yet you don't want to freak out your resident cats since they have to be put away while she is out. 

I would visit her as often as possible.  One thing that I used when I brought my feral cat into my home that really helped was a screen door.  I didn't want to deface the current door so I bought a cheap wooden screen door and attached it to the door with tension rods.  This allowed the new cat the ability to hear what was going on in the house as well as see a little bit too.  Yet it kept the cats separate.  It was a great tool for introducing.  I know they also sell tri or bi fold screens.  I have a picture of the set up I used if you'd like to see.  It was a bit of a hassle to put it up and take down when I needed int the room, but it worked so well. 

ShadowsRescue said:

She does look very relaxed!!  Yea for Spirit Essences. 

I would let her out maybe 2x a day, but just for short visits.  You can gradually increase they amount of time she stays out if she is relaxed.  Yet you don't want to freak out your resident cats since they have to be put away while she is out. 

I would visit her as often as possible.  One thing that I used when I brought my feral cat into my home that really helped was a screen door.  I didn't want to deface the current door so I bought a cheap wooden screen door and attached it to the door with tension rods.  This allowed the new cat the ability to hear what was going on in the house as well as see a little bit too.  Yet it kept the cats separate.  It was a great tool for introducing.  I know they also sell tri or bi fold screens.  I have a picture of the set up I used if you'd like to see.  It was a bit of a hassle to put it up and take down when I needed int the room, but it worked so well. 

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Oh, wait, so your cats did see the others prior to formal intros? How did that go? We were planning on blocking off half of the upstairs in our house with stacked baby gates and supervise from both sides, tho we wanted to wait til Oskar feels more at ease. That's what we did when we brought Catsby inside. Baby gate supervised feedings closer and closer to the gates and playtime. Took several weeks but now they're best buds.

They had seen each other through a sliding door when the feral lived outside.  Once inside I waited many weeks before doing any formal intros.  Yet I did allow some sniffing under the door and some supervised sight visits.  I tried the two baby gates and they were easily knocked down.  With the screen door, I put a baby gate in the door frame for extra protection and then the screen door.  They could then sniff and see each other.  I only did this in very short (less than 5 minutes) and usually only once a day.  When I started formal intros the screen door was invaluable.  My two took a very very very long time to get used to each other.  Yet now they are buddies.  It just required a lot of time and patience.

ShadowsRescue said:

They had seen each other through a sliding door when the feral lived outside.  Once inside I waited many weeks before doing any formal intros.  Yet I did allow some sniffing under the door and some supervised sight visits.  I tried the two baby gates and they were easily knocked down.  With the screen door, I put a baby gate in the door frame for extra protection and then the screen door.  They could then sniff and see each other.  I only did this in very short (less than 5 minutes) and usually only once a day.  When I started formal intros the screen door was invaluable.  My two took a very very very long time to get used to each other.  Yet now they are buddies.  It just required a lot of time and patience.

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Would you mind sending me a picture of how you attached the screen door? Mine have also known each other for a year now through the sliding door. They even played on both sides with each other but I don't anticipate that that will not happen in the house once we do sight visits. Last night she hung out again like the night before. Played and napped. Very little pacing and mewoing. Same this morning. It's going so well that I worry I'm missing something. She's adjusting way faster than I thought. Maybe the big bang will come once we do sight visits. I am honestly SO worried about those even tho when she was outside they seemed to get along just fine.

My two did fine on either side of the sliding door.  Yet once inside, it was game on!  Cats are so territorial and my resident cat owned it all.  He was not happy about sharing.  Then the new guy wanted all the territory.  I had to do what felt like back flips to get them adjusted.  Yet my feral boy had been living outside on his own for over 1.5 years.  He was a bully with other cats, but became very sweet with my family.  He still runs and hides with loud noises and little things still set him off, but he is so happy inside the house.  Once inside, he never ever tried to get out the door. 

You always can test the waters and see how things go.  I tried that with my two.  All went well for a week and then the storm came crashing down.  Yet we regrouped and started very slow intros. 

Here is a picture of the setup I used