This refers to the huge male feral cat from my previous post, see here for background. Let me sum up how the situation is going so far:
Frequency
He now visits me every day
Some days he won't come close easily but if I throw food towards him once or twice he always comes in the end. When he is scared it helps if I blink slowly or look away. He tends to leave after finishing his food but some days he'll come around more than once.
Behaviour
I've been slowly introducing him to petting while he eats. Initially the very movement of my hand anywhere close to him would provoke a sudden hissing and he'd depart but despite some "one-step-forward-two-steps-back" days we've had (to be expected), the overall situation is greatly improving. He has been eating less than a foot (30cm) away from me for more than a week now and most of the times I can pet him more and more while he eats. Today he has been a real lovebug letting me pet him continiously for over 10 minutes while he finished his can of wet food. When he's had his fill he even sits on his bottom a couple of feet (60cm or so) away from me, with his back turned and his tail relaxed. IMHO it's a clear sign that he trusts me since I assume no feral cat would turn their back on something they aren't confident isn't a predator. However I've noticed he doesn't purr at all which I find weird and he also only meowed once these past two weeks which I assume is normal for a feral. No rubbing on me so far.
Health
His eye still looks bad with discharge. I've taken a video so if anyone would like me to upload it please let me know and I'll link you. Today he ate a lot too, almost twice as much as the days before, a whole 400g (14oz) can of wet foot. I'm feeding him as much as he will eat hoping this will help boost his immune system. I can't trap him as I cannot afford a humane trap (they cost upwards of 130€ here and thats on the low end...) and nobody I know can lend me one so until I'm able to trap him in a transport box he can't get any vetinary treatment
Now onwards to the questions
1) Should I be happy/worried/unconcerned that he ate more today?
2) Is there anything at all I can do to help his poor eye? I'm sure he won't sit around for me to put eyedrops in it so maybe some sort of over-the-counter drug I can crush into his food to help him?
3) I have to leave for one last time for approximately 20 days. Now, of couse I've made arrangements and my sister will keep putting food out twice a day but that means I won't be able to keep an eye on him and keep socializing him for that long. Is there anything I can do to prevent his progress from being lost?
4) Should I be worried over his lack of purring?
5) Any other suggestions that may help?
Frequency
He now visits me every day
Behaviour
I've been slowly introducing him to petting while he eats. Initially the very movement of my hand anywhere close to him would provoke a sudden hissing and he'd depart but despite some "one-step-forward-two-steps-back" days we've had (to be expected), the overall situation is greatly improving. He has been eating less than a foot (30cm) away from me for more than a week now and most of the times I can pet him more and more while he eats. Today he has been a real lovebug letting me pet him continiously for over 10 minutes while he finished his can of wet food. When he's had his fill he even sits on his bottom a couple of feet (60cm or so) away from me, with his back turned and his tail relaxed. IMHO it's a clear sign that he trusts me since I assume no feral cat would turn their back on something they aren't confident isn't a predator. However I've noticed he doesn't purr at all which I find weird and he also only meowed once these past two weeks which I assume is normal for a feral. No rubbing on me so far.
Health
His eye still looks bad with discharge. I've taken a video so if anyone would like me to upload it please let me know and I'll link you. Today he ate a lot too, almost twice as much as the days before, a whole 400g (14oz) can of wet foot. I'm feeding him as much as he will eat hoping this will help boost his immune system. I can't trap him as I cannot afford a humane trap (they cost upwards of 130€ here and thats on the low end...) and nobody I know can lend me one so until I'm able to trap him in a transport box he can't get any vetinary treatment
Now onwards to the questions
1) Should I be happy/worried/unconcerned that he ate more today?
2) Is there anything at all I can do to help his poor eye? I'm sure he won't sit around for me to put eyedrops in it so maybe some sort of over-the-counter drug I can crush into his food to help him?
3) I have to leave for one last time for approximately 20 days. Now, of couse I've made arrangements and my sister will keep putting food out twice a day but that means I won't be able to keep an eye on him and keep socializing him for that long. Is there anything I can do to prevent his progress from being lost?
4) Should I be worried over his lack of purring?
5) Any other suggestions that may help?