Feral/Stray is a Good Catalyst

WE always wonder how bringing in a new critter will affect or upset the balance amongst the critters already in residence.  For most of our crew, Joey coming inside has been good.  He is a good CATalyst.  

It's hard to get my old girl, 18, to eat.  I feed Joey the same time as her, apart but in the same room, and she is eating more these days.  I guess she fears he might eat her food, and he does when she leaves it, so she's eating a desperately needed bit more.  She is also more demanding of my attention and playing a bit more, also good.

Another feral, a true feral, we took in about four years ago has never socialed up as I'd like.  Andy LOVES the dog but is very skittish, even in his own room, which is my office.  We still can't pick Andy up but he will play and he is coming down to play more often and plays for longer.  Andy seems very curious about this newcomer, Joey, who makes no attempt to be mean to him or be overly friendly.  They can pass in a hallway with just a look, no hissing or running away or advancing with a threat.  Andy is now sleeping in spots we never saw him in before, about the rest of our house.  Andy seems to be coming out of himself a bit and it seems as if he is copying Joey.

So Joey has been a good catalyst in our house.  

Really, we think he did the same with the cat who has been hanging around outside for four years, three longer than Joey.  At first Joey would not walk past me through an open gate outside but he would after Chinny Chin Chin did it first.  Now it's the other way around.  Joey decided early he'd been a pet before and he wanted to be one again and he got friendly really fast.  Chinny seems to be copying Joey, playing out in full view in the middle of the yard, allowing pets and now wanting them more than play and almost, almost, coming in the house to follow Joe.

I wonder if anyone else has a similar story?  Of your outside cat making good things happen in the cats you already have once you get him/her to come inside?  

I have had similar experiences with my outside feral cats.  I now have 4 outside and all are socialized to varying degrees.  Yet I use the term socialized loosely as I am the only human they will allow near them.  My DH can sometimes pet/brush one or two of them, but never reliably. 

I worked really hard and for over 9 months with my first feral.  He allows pets and brushings and has been inside the house.  Yet I cannot pick him up and he still has many feral tendencies.  All of the feral/stray cats that have come after him (there have been 7 others) all watch intently when I am petting Shadow.  They watch for weeks as he gets pets and treats.  It is so enticing to them.  It can take months, but eventually they give in and also want to be pet and/or receive treats.  I use play therapy as well.  Even my most feral of ( he lived under my deck for 6 months with me hardly getting glimpses of him) has come around and enjoys pets now. 

I am so hoping this will hold true when we move within the next 1-2 years.  We will be taking all of the ferals and they will be inside kitties.  There will be an enclosed outside space, but they will all enjoy the comforts of inside living.  I have 2 inside only boys and a large dog plus the 4 outside ferals.  I am hoping the more social kitties will help the shyer more feral kitties learn to come out of their shells.

Thank you for sharing your story!