Threat display - patience needed?

freyascats

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Last May, I began feeding a very skinny feral Siamese Tom hanging around our house in the woods, and two months ago, was able to trap him and have him neutered, vaccinated, de-wormed, etc. Our vet estimated him to be about a year old and cautioned that we might never be able to tame him or integrate him with our three indoor cats.

Since then, he's been living on our 8x12 screened cat porch where he has a 'cave' to hide in and shelves to climb onto and find refuge. In the beginning he was terribly wild, and while I don't think he's absolutely feral, it's apparent that he's had little socialization. I've been patient and persistent, letting him set the pace. I go out onto the porch to read, sing and talk to him and just hang out several times a day, so he can become more comfortable with me.

For a long time he only came out to eat or use the litter box at night, so we named him 'Ghost'. Then, when he did begin coming out, he was terribly anxious and frightened, spitting and hissing if I got too close. He's clearly very conflicted about how to interact with me. He acts like he'd like to engage but also frantically paces, treads, rubs and scent-marks. With regular feeding and care, he's blossomed into a gorgeous cat and about two weeks ago, we finally had a little breakthrough. I've gotten him to start playing with a feather lure. He clearly enjoys this and I can see that he's starting to associate me with positive things: food and play. Since then, he's grown more tolerant and I've been able to move his food dish closer to where I sit each time I feed him until the dish is now at my feet. Over the past few days, I began offering him wet food on a long-handled spoon and last night we graduated to a regular spoon. This morning, he ate with my hand right next to the spoon's bowl, so he kept rubbing his muzzle and head against my hand as he ate. This was the first real contact and gave me hope.

All this to say, we're making progress, but very slowly. However, he still charges me when I first come out onto the porch to feed him, hissing and occasionally swatting. (He's never actually scratched me.) I tell him "No" in a quiet, firm voice, refuse to be intimidated and wait until he calms down to feed him. I'm not sure what this threat display is about, only that it accompanies him being much more assertive about coming out or down off his shelf for food and me making him have to come close to me to get fed. He gets Solliquin, which our vet suggested, to help him relax and I've considered Feliway, but on a screen porch, I think it would dissipate too readily. I'd welcome any suggestions about how to get this beautiful boy to 'warm up' and relax. 

 

ondine

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It sounds like you are doing everything right.  There is a spray version of Feliway that you can use on things.  I spray our cats' beds and all our cat trees.  This might work on the porch environment.

I'd keep doing what you'redoing, speaking to him calmly and not reacting with fear when he charges.  It sounds like he may have a dominate personality and just needs to feel likes he's boss.

He's a beautiful cat!
 

janeofthejungle

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I'm going thru the same thing with a feral I have.unfortunatley I have reacted to the charging and backed away at times. As they say 2 steps forward 5 steps back.I think you are doing everything right and hope to be where u are soon.i have gotten mine to play as well so I know I'm making progresss. Thank you for sharing and saving the kitty!
 
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freyascats

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Ghost and I continue to make progress. He now comes right out of his cave or off his shelf as soon as I come out with food. I've begun sitting on the floor and this morning he ate from the plate balanced on my foot. He's also begun letting me pet his back as he eats, although he's still anxious if I touch his head. While he's batted at me occasionally, I think that's become an attempt to get the food rather than an active threat display. Also this morning, I was able to bring two of our three indoor cats onto the porch and engage all three with the feather lure. Ghost remained on his shelf and my other two stayed on the floor, but there was no hostility displayed!

 

msaimee

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You are making great progress, especially considering this is an adult feral. He obviously feels comfortable enough with you to allow you to take his picture :) Some ferals never allow a human to touch them, so it's encouraging that he's allowing you to make physical contact with him. Keep doing what you're doing. I predict that within another few months, you'll be able to pet him and maybe he'll consider coming inside your house, especially when it gets cold outside.

You should know that most ferals, even when domesticated, will always react instinctively with apprehension when being approached certain ways. For example, if your hand suddenly comes towards them too quickly to pet, or if they're on the ground and you loom over them to pet them. One of my domesticated feral cats will still swipe at me if I don't give him ample warning and come down to his level to pet him or pick him up, and I've had him since he was 3 months old and he's three and a half years old now.  Just be patient and respect that he may always be a bit apprehensive, but that doesn't mean he won't make a loving, fun pet.
 
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