I don't know if this is the cheapest place to get it, but it's a product called "Feliway" and it is a synthetic hormone that mimics the "friendly" scent markers in cats' cheeks. It can be purchased in a spray bottle (spray it everywhere in the house - every few feet at cat cheek height - it doesn't stain anything that we can find - couches, wood, walls, curtains - we've used it on everything) or in a plug-in "Feliway Comfort Zone), like air freshener. We had one in every room for a while (we've got six cats, all feral rescues, only two rescued at the same time and we've fostered a bunch along the way). It really seemed to help out here. Just don't spray near litterboxes or where they're supposed to scratch. Here's a link: http://www.catfaeries.com/feliway.html
At the same site, you can find Flower Essences. We used calm and serene for one cat that was having problems with all the other cats and started obsessively licking herself. It seemed to help - but there are lots of choices for multicat houses and feral rescues.
You can also rub the cat or cats the newbie's having problems with - rub them really well with a washcloth or something that was washed without softener (the less "other" scent the better). Put that cloth under a dish that newbie eats from. If you are willing to use more than one peice of cloth or wash cloth or whatever, you can also put treats on it for him (after having rubbed the kittie(s) he's having problems with all over - get their scent good and on it. Works best if it's only one cat, but.... ). The point is to get him to start associating good things with that/those scents.
Same for the cat that's having a problem with newbie. Rub newbie with a wash cloth or whatever, and put it under the food dish of the one that really dislikes him. Same thing for putting out treats.
Also, if you want to look for organizations that can help, use this link:
http://www.pets911.com/organizations/organizations.php
Type in your zip, and start calling. Maybe you can find someone that can foster, or some way of getting out info that there's a feral that needs to be socialized if someone wants to adopt....
You can also contact the Best Friends' No More Homeless Pet Network:
you can either join the network or just e-mail them about the situation. Their may be other network people in your area that might be able to help in some way - either in assuming his foster care or adopting him.
Sorry it's turned into such a stressful thing!
Maybe there's some way you can confine him to one room to help ease the stress levels? Is there a room that the other cat's don't "need" to access? It might help calm everyone down. Just a thought.
Sending lots of calming vibes your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hang in there - and hopefully you can find someone either to adopt him or to assume his foster care. Whatever happens, thanks for helping this guy!
Laurie
At the same site, you can find Flower Essences. We used calm and serene for one cat that was having problems with all the other cats and started obsessively licking herself. It seemed to help - but there are lots of choices for multicat houses and feral rescues.
You can also rub the cat or cats the newbie's having problems with - rub them really well with a washcloth or something that was washed without softener (the less "other" scent the better). Put that cloth under a dish that newbie eats from. If you are willing to use more than one peice of cloth or wash cloth or whatever, you can also put treats on it for him (after having rubbed the kittie(s) he's having problems with all over - get their scent good and on it. Works best if it's only one cat, but.... ). The point is to get him to start associating good things with that/those scents.
Same for the cat that's having a problem with newbie. Rub newbie with a wash cloth or whatever, and put it under the food dish of the one that really dislikes him. Same thing for putting out treats.
Also, if you want to look for organizations that can help, use this link:
http://www.pets911.com/organizations/organizations.php
Type in your zip, and start calling. Maybe you can find someone that can foster, or some way of getting out info that there's a feral that needs to be socialized if someone wants to adopt....
You can also contact the Best Friends' No More Homeless Pet Network:
you can either join the network or just e-mail them about the situation. Their may be other network people in your area that might be able to help in some way - either in assuming his foster care or adopting him.
Sorry it's turned into such a stressful thing!
Maybe there's some way you can confine him to one room to help ease the stress levels? Is there a room that the other cat's don't "need" to access? It might help calm everyone down. Just a thought.
Sending lots of calming vibes your way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hang in there - and hopefully you can find someone either to adopt him or to assume his foster care. Whatever happens, thanks for helping this guy!
Laurie
