Hello - I have 2 ferals that I trapped separately in my backyard. One wandered off from a colony, he was part of a TNR (I was able to connect with the rescue group, most of the colony is FIV/FELV positive, this little guy is not). I named him Bylka.
The second feral I have no details on, no tipped ear (I had him neutered, he's FIV/FELV negative) and I named him Watson.
I have Bylka in a spare bedroom, he has a cat tree, toys, litter box etc. Watson is in a room in my basement (which is sadly unfinished), I bought him rugs, he has toys, hiding places, small basement windows etc.
Both cats have been to the vet so I feel good about their health. Bylka and Watson are my first true feral rescues. I do have a one-eyed feral barn cat that I adopted (Juliette), she's only partially feral at this point, we can't touch her but she loves to be with us all the time. So I'm definitely 'green' when it comes to ferals...
I have cameras in both Byelka and Watson's rooms so I can see how they're behaving. They seem ok. Byelka plays with all his toys, grooms, looks out the window, scratches on the scratch box etc. I have only had Watson for a few weeks, he seems like he's adjusting, he's starting to play with the toys, eat the treats etc (he was always eating the food, using the litter box) but he seems to be relaxing more.
Ideally I would like to get to a point where both ferals are in the same room - which will be a bedroom so Watson has normal windows and better climate control. I am going to do it in a neutral / different bedroom. Does anyone have experience with this? Any pointers you can offer? I won't be tackling it for a little while yet bc I have to figure out my plan (divide the room, taking turns with each of them having access to roam the room but not access to each other).
I just want to do right by them. I have a lot of animals in the house so I think it's best if they continue to have their own room(s) and safe place for now.
Thank you
The second feral I have no details on, no tipped ear (I had him neutered, he's FIV/FELV negative) and I named him Watson.
I have Bylka in a spare bedroom, he has a cat tree, toys, litter box etc. Watson is in a room in my basement (which is sadly unfinished), I bought him rugs, he has toys, hiding places, small basement windows etc.
Both cats have been to the vet so I feel good about their health. Bylka and Watson are my first true feral rescues. I do have a one-eyed feral barn cat that I adopted (Juliette), she's only partially feral at this point, we can't touch her but she loves to be with us all the time. So I'm definitely 'green' when it comes to ferals...
I have cameras in both Byelka and Watson's rooms so I can see how they're behaving. They seem ok. Byelka plays with all his toys, grooms, looks out the window, scratches on the scratch box etc. I have only had Watson for a few weeks, he seems like he's adjusting, he's starting to play with the toys, eat the treats etc (he was always eating the food, using the litter box) but he seems to be relaxing more.
Ideally I would like to get to a point where both ferals are in the same room - which will be a bedroom so Watson has normal windows and better climate control. I am going to do it in a neutral / different bedroom. Does anyone have experience with this? Any pointers you can offer? I won't be tackling it for a little while yet bc I have to figure out my plan (divide the room, taking turns with each of them having access to roam the room but not access to each other).
I just want to do right by them. I have a lot of animals in the house so I think it's best if they continue to have their own room(s) and safe place for now.
Thank you