Stray/10 hour drive

Hi everybody! I have some questions and concerns regarding a semi-stray kitty. She is actually the(probably 2 year old) mother of my 1 year old cat. She was originally a completely feral cat living on a construction site and was finally captured by my neighbor when she was pregnant with 9 kittens. When she was captured she slept in my neighbors garage, birthed her kittens, and nursed all of them until they were adopted away.

Fast forward one year and she is a 100% outdoor cat who sleeps in my neighbor's garage only at night IF she comes in. She pretty much refuses to eat dry kibble and won't even touch wet food. She will lick the gravy off but mostly sticks to mice and lizards. She is super thin and ridiculously small for her size. Though she is very skittish and sometimes attacks, she is actually extremely friendly and desperate for human affection. My neighbors have asked me to take her as they have only kept her because nobody else will take her. 

I am thrilled because I love her! But my biggest concern is that I live 10 hours away and would need to transport her by car to a house where I have another cat, her son. Because she is 100% outdoor and she isn't crazy for food I'm afraid she will run away and never come back. I know it would be best to keep her inside for a few days to a week but I'm afraid she will freak out, especially if there's another cat because she has never ever set foot inside a house before. I don't think she's box trained at all.

I know she is already fixed and up to date on her shots, I will make sure she is treated for fleas and worms. I know I should probably put her in one room to let her adjust, and I definitely won't introduce her to my cat right away.

If anybody has any advice on the 10 hour car ride, the transition to becoming an indoor/outdoor cat, introducing my cat to her please let me know. 

Nattybumbums said:

 
Hi everybody! I have some questions and concerns regarding a semi-stray kitty. She is actually the(probably 2 year old) mother of my 1 year old cat. She was originally a completely feral cat living on a construction site and was finally captured by my neighbor when she was pregnant with 9 kittens. When she was captured she slept in my neighbors garage, birthed her kittens, and nursed all of them until they were adopted away.

Fast forward one year and she is a 100% outdoor cat who sleeps in my neighbor's garage only at night IF she comes in. She pretty much refuses to eat dry kibble and won't even touch wet food. She will lick the gravy off but mostly sticks to mice and lizards. She is super thin and ridiculously small for her size. Though she is very skittish and sometimes attacks, she is actually extremely friendly and desperate for human affection. My neighbors have asked me to take her as they have only kept her because nobody else will take her. 

I am thrilled because I love her! But my biggest concern is that I live 10 hours away and would need to transport her by car to a house where I have another cat, her son. Because she is 100% outdoor and she isn't crazy for food I'm afraid she will run away and never come back. I know it would be best to keep her inside for a few days to a week but I'm afraid she will freak out, especially if there's another cat because she has never ever set foot inside a house before. I don't think she's box trained at all.

I know she is already fixed and up to date on her shots, I will make sure she is treated for fleas and worms. I know I should probably put her in one room to let her adjust, and I definitely won't introduce her to my cat right away.

If anybody has any advice on the 10 hour car ride, the transition to becoming an indoor/outdoor cat, introducing my cat to her please let me know. 

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for wanting to help you.  Your love and kindness is to be recognized!

First off I would contact a vet and ask if there is anything you can give to possibly sedate her for the long trip.  If that is not possible, you can try Rescue Remedy, Comfort Zone spray and/or Composure calming treats.  Be sure that she is in a secure carrier and cover it with a light weigh sheet.  Covering it will make her much more calm.  Yet I would first off be sure to contact a vet for some extra help.

As for keeping her inside.  When you locate her to the new home, she will need an acclimation period of 3-4 weeks before she should be allowed back outside.  If you let her out sooner, her instinct will be to run and find her way back to her old home.  So it is very important she NOT be let back outside.

She will need a room of her own that is cat proofed. This will be her safe room and one that she may need for a period of months. It depends on how quickly she acclimates.  Do not allow your other cat into this room.   If the room has a bed in it, the bed should be removed or placed flat on the floor.  Under the bed is the first place she will run.  You don't want her hiding.  Also block off behind all other large furniture.  I like to get on the floor and see from a cats level.  They can squeeze into very tight spaces.  Do have a cat tree or something for her to perch on.  Also be sure to have two litter boxes to start.  Since she may not know how to use one, you can try using garden soil or get some Dr. Elsey's LItter Attract.  It work so well.  Have a spot away from the litter boxes for her food and water.

Be sure all windows are tightly closed.  Watch for blinds/curtains too.  You don't want her trying to escape.

I like to keep a radio or tv on.  This helps her adjust to sounds of others.  If you have the funds available a feliway diffuser might help too.

Visit her often.  She will be upset and scared at first.  I find Composure calming treats to work very well.  If she doesn't like the taste you can try Composure liquid max and mix it into wet food or with water.  Some cats will lap it up straight. 

Since food is an issue, you will have to get creative.  She might appreciate a raw diet.  You can go to the Nutrition section here and read about it and get some great advice.  http://www.thecatsite.com/f/65/raw-home-cooked-cat-food

She will need to stay in this room or at least inside for many weeks.  I would not do introductions until the new kitty is settled.  This may take awhile.  I would give her plenty of time to adjust to being inside.  Introductions should be a slow gradual process.  Some cats adjust very easily while other can take weeks, months or even a year to fully acclimate.  It depends very much on the personalities of the cats.  You need to watch your cats closely to see how they are adjusting.  I would give the new kitty at least 2 weeks of living inside before attempting introductions.  You can start with simple scent swapping after a week of so if all is going well.  Yet if the new kitty is the least bit stressed, you don't want to add more stress by doing introductions.

Here are some articles and a video on cat to cat intros.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

ShadowsRescue said:

 
Thank you so much for wanting to help you.  Your love and kindness is to be recognized!

First off I would contact a vet and ask if there is anything you can give to possibly sedate her for the long trip.  If that is not possible, you can try Rescue Remedy, Comfort Zone spray and/or Composure calming treats.  Be sure that she is in a secure carrier and cover it with a light weigh sheet.  Covering it will make her much more calm.  Yet I would first off be sure to contact a vet for some extra help.

As for keeping her inside.  When you locate her to the new home, she will need an acclimation period of 3-4 weeks before she should be allowed back outside.  If you let her out sooner, her instinct will be to run and find her way back to her old home.  So it is very important she NOT be let back outside.

She will need a room of her own that is cat proofed. This will be her safe room and one that she may need for a period of months. It depends on how quickly she acclimates.  Do not allow your other cat into this room.   If the room has a bed in it, the bed should be removed or placed flat on the floor.  Under the bed is the first place she will run.  You don't want her hiding.  Also block off behind all other large furniture.  I like to get on the floor and see from a cats level.  They can squeeze into very tight spaces.  Do have a cat tree or something for her to perch on.  Also be sure to have two litter boxes to start.  Since she may not know how to use one, you can try using garden soil or get some Dr. Elsey's LItter Attract.  It work so well.  Have a spot away from the litter boxes for her food and water.

Be sure all windows are tightly closed.  Watch for blinds/curtains too.  You don't want her trying to escape.

I like to keep a radio or tv on.  This helps her adjust to sounds of others.   If you have the funds available a feliway diffuser might help too.

Visit her often.  She will be upset and scared at first.  I find Composure calming treats to work very well.  If she doesn't like the taste you can try Composure liquid max and mix it into wet food or with water.  Some cats will lap it up straight. 

Since food is an issue, you will have to get creative.  She might appreciate a raw diet.  You can go to the Nutrition section here and read about it and get some great advice.  http://www.thecatsite.com/f/65/raw-home-cooked-cat-food

She will need to stay in this room or at least inside for many weeks.  I would not do introductions until the new kitty is settled.  This may take awhile.  I would give her plenty of time to adjust to being inside.  Introductions should be a slow gradual process.  Some cats adjust very easily while other can take weeks, months or even a year to fully acclimate.  It depends very much on the personalities of the cats.  You need to watch your cats closely to see how they are adjusting.  I would give the new kitty at least 2 weeks of living inside before attempting introductions.  You can start with simple scent swapping after a week of so if all is going well.  Yet if the new kitty is the least bit stressed, you don't want to add more stress by doing introductions.

Here are some articles and a video on cat to cat intros.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

Click to expand...

A great post.

A comment to this in bold:  Have radio on first when she has landed, ie isnt afraid of humans, and know she is in a safe place.   Before this, radio with human voices will just trigger ALERT ON in a shy cat.   While you want her to relax and calm down...   So in the first period, use calming relaxing music.

But when you are sure she is NOW feeling safe in your home and her quarters - yes the radio or tv on is nice and helps much.

During the transport, have a leash on her if its possible.  So if something happens, you have control on her.  The risk of them fleeing in the middle of the transport is serious.   Using a cage with cat igloo, litter, some water works sometimes with cats whom dont like to be transported by car.

If you cant have cage,  make a hidey hole of a carrier.  Shy cats are used to hide in a hidey many hours if necessary.  So although not optimal, this is not as bad as it sounds.

Driwing 10 hours - ie in practice 2x10 hours, "just to fetch a stray", its strong...  I salut you.

Wow ShadowsRescue and StefanZ thank you so much for your responses. I have found them extremely helpful. I made the transport with her just yesterday and she was a champ! She stayed calm but a little afraid the entire way and is adjusting to her room extremely well.

Now my biggest concern is getting the two to get along. I made the mistake of accidentally leaving the door to her room open and I woke up to my cat yowling at and cornering the new girl. I immediately removed him and she seems to be just fine. I know that I need to make sure they have no actual contact for at least a week and will make sure to do that. I have read up on scent swapping and even space swapping when they are more comfortable.
My next concern is that I have been away for a few weeks and my resident cat seems to barely remember me and is very aloof and now with this new cat I feel like he hates me. I guess I need to work on them b or individually before I introduce them. Along with that fact because of the setup of our house the room that we made for the new girl is actually our bedroom/bathroom which I feel like is angering my resident cat even more as it seems as though we are replacing him? I have no choice but to do this because of space issues. Would it be a good idea to let my resident cat in our bedroom
And keep the new girl in our bathroom. And then let the girl out in our bedroom when he is not around?
P.s ShadowsRescue, the mother that I adopted is named Shadow, how funny!

What I've found very helpful when taking in a new cat is to give plenty of extra attention to both. Buy some new toys for them--I use catnip toys, because my kitties love them. Also get a wand toy and a laser toy, both are great interactive toys for you and the cats. Spend time playing with each of them individually, then with them together a little later on. Give extra food treats (Temptations, Greenies, etc) to them. My cats have learned over the years (because I've taken in various cats at various times) that the addition of a new cat definitely has its perks--new toys, extra treats, extra play time, extra attention and getting spoiled rotten, lol.  I got a second cat tree when I took in a feral kitten 4 months ago because the new kitty was hunkered down in their old one--now all five cats enjoy both trees.  Play therapy is great for socializing a new cat to yourself and home, and also for socializing cats together. You only have to socialize your new kitty to one other cat--I've socialized new cats to 3 or 4 others at a time, and they have always learned to get along in time. The last one I took in was a female, and she bonded with the other four cats within two weeks. Sometimes we luck out, and the process goes easier than we could have hoped for. It sounds like things are going great for you so far! This new kitty is very lucky to live inside your home now.

MsAimee, thank you so much! All I've heard is horror stories and the possibility that they may never get along...I was starting to panic. The positive stories are so helpful

I brought a stray cat who had been living outside on his own for 1.5-2 years thus turned mostly feral into my home and introduced him to my resident cat.  The process took one solid year.  The new boy had a room of his own all during this time.  I first allowed the new cat to adjust to indoor living again and also to get used to me and the other members of my family.  This took us a few months.  I wanted to be sure I could handle the new cat if/when necessary.  When I first started introductions all went really well.  Yet as many people do, I rushed this process.  This set up back quite a bit.  Yet I kept at it and worked so hard with them both.  Food rewards were huge when it was time for face to face intros.  The key is to take things slowly and watch for cues from both cats.  Some cats will adapt very quickly while others take a bit of time.  Mine were both alpha males that took awhile to adjust.

Definitely start with scent swapping.  This can be done right away.  But do it daily for awhile.  Start with just a wash cloth that you have rubbed on each cat and then exchange the wash clothes.  Next move to putting the wash cloth under a food source.  You can also swap bedding as time goes by.

After scent swapping you can do room swapping.  This too should happen over the course of many days to a week or more.  There is no hard and fast rule for how fast you move between steps.  You do want to watch out for any vocalizations such as yowling, hissing, growling as well as tail swishing, ears going flat and any chasing or all out fighting.  Watch the cats closely for  these cues.

Here are some great articles to read as well as a video on cat to cat intros.

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats

http://www.catbehaviorassociates.com/a-simple-little-trick-to-use-during-new-cat-introductions/

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/virtual-pet-behaviorist/cat-behavior/introducing-your-cat-new-cat

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/