Sorry, this will be bit long, history useful
I live up a mountain in wilderness,only a few of us 8 miles from a power line or street.
Cats could never survive the trip up there. But 4 weeks ago, one did. A tiny 5 month old,at a guess.Still with kitten coat.
My feline companion of many years had died, and I had just taken in 2 half feral 9 month old males, not socialized till 6 months of age, when she showed up.
We bonded at a distance, and she came closer. Then one of the males began to chase her away and patrol the yard so she could not come in.She hung out in my neighbor's yard and came over for food when the 2 boys were locked in the house.
This week she let me pet her and I confirmed that she was pregnant.
Luckily the assertive cat's foster family was missing him so back he went this morning, leaving his much more passive brother.
And just now I brought her into the house into a room I prepared for her.
She is settling well, within 20 minutes, she ate, explored and climbed into my lap for the first time.
Then the passive cat came into the house, and he has to pass the door of the room where she is to get in or out.
On the other side of the door, she started to yowl and hiss, and he was scared to walk by the door. I got him in, petted him and when he left again, there was no reaction. He is very sensitive and shy, has only been here for a few weeks and is just getting settled himself and now another cat has come in to the house he is just getting used to calling his own.
I felt I had to move her in now, the temps drop into the teens at night, my neighbors need her out of their yard and we are surrounded by coyotes and other wildfolk. As she gets heavier, she cannot scale the 8 foot fences to come over to see me and has to walk through unfenced property to come. I was losing sleep worrying for her safety. And wanted to get her into a good place for the birthing
How can I help Kriya, the male, to feel safe and okay with this situation?
My idea is to keep her sequestered until after the kittens are born. No idea when that will be, but could be within a couple of weeks, by her bulk. Could also be longer, I only saw her starting to show at the end of last week.
I thought that the cats could get used to each other through the closed door.
Is this a viable plan? Is there a better one?
How will I know that they are ready to meet in person?
Once the kittens are old enough for her to leave them for short periods, I figured that would be a good time for her to be out and about in the house and outside, since their presence will bring her back.
How can I deflea her so that neither he nor I nor the house have to deal with her fleas?
No neurotoxins please, does anyone know of a safe and effective product that I can either put in her food or on her body that will not harm her or the kittens, as she is bound to ingest some of it.
I will be reading posts about the birthing process, since I am as new to it as she is, and will probably post questions in that section.
Thank you for your advice. I am grateful to have help understanding the feral behaviors and mindsets.
Satya
I live up a mountain in wilderness,only a few of us 8 miles from a power line or street.
Cats could never survive the trip up there. But 4 weeks ago, one did. A tiny 5 month old,at a guess.Still with kitten coat.
My feline companion of many years had died, and I had just taken in 2 half feral 9 month old males, not socialized till 6 months of age, when she showed up.
We bonded at a distance, and she came closer. Then one of the males began to chase her away and patrol the yard so she could not come in.She hung out in my neighbor's yard and came over for food when the 2 boys were locked in the house.
This week she let me pet her and I confirmed that she was pregnant.
Luckily the assertive cat's foster family was missing him so back he went this morning, leaving his much more passive brother.
And just now I brought her into the house into a room I prepared for her.
She is settling well, within 20 minutes, she ate, explored and climbed into my lap for the first time.
Then the passive cat came into the house, and he has to pass the door of the room where she is to get in or out.
On the other side of the door, she started to yowl and hiss, and he was scared to walk by the door. I got him in, petted him and when he left again, there was no reaction. He is very sensitive and shy, has only been here for a few weeks and is just getting settled himself and now another cat has come in to the house he is just getting used to calling his own.
I felt I had to move her in now, the temps drop into the teens at night, my neighbors need her out of their yard and we are surrounded by coyotes and other wildfolk. As she gets heavier, she cannot scale the 8 foot fences to come over to see me and has to walk through unfenced property to come. I was losing sleep worrying for her safety. And wanted to get her into a good place for the birthing
How can I help Kriya, the male, to feel safe and okay with this situation?
My idea is to keep her sequestered until after the kittens are born. No idea when that will be, but could be within a couple of weeks, by her bulk. Could also be longer, I only saw her starting to show at the end of last week.
I thought that the cats could get used to each other through the closed door.
Is this a viable plan? Is there a better one?
How will I know that they are ready to meet in person?
Once the kittens are old enough for her to leave them for short periods, I figured that would be a good time for her to be out and about in the house and outside, since their presence will bring her back.
How can I deflea her so that neither he nor I nor the house have to deal with her fleas?
No neurotoxins please, does anyone know of a safe and effective product that I can either put in her food or on her body that will not harm her or the kittens, as she is bound to ingest some of it.
I will be reading posts about the birthing process, since I am as new to it as she is, and will probably post questions in that section.
Thank you for your advice. I am grateful to have help understanding the feral behaviors and mindsets.
Satya