A few months ago I TNRd a handsome feral panther boy whose sister (already spayed) I started feeding in March 2020. Their affection for me is ever-progressing, but now mister panther actually peeps into and even enters our house! He's been inside twice before, actually. First the TNR, and then I had to re-trap him cuz he had an ear injury (which seems to be healing. He was so good at the vet. Scared as heck but still good.)
Recently he started to rub up against me, like his sister does. But unlike his sister, he's started to ALMOST tolerate pets!! If he's rubbing up against me I can run my hand along his back and tail, but that's it. He usually realizes it's my hand that's rubbing him and jumps away. But he still comes back.
I think he started coming inside when he realized we had an indoor cat (she was a foster, but she is gone now). He ADORED her and head-butted her several times. I'm pretty sure he's still coming inside solely to look for her. But this morning, for instance, he ate breakfast inside. The front door is always propped open for him to actually want to come in--I can't just stand there keeping it open.
One night I had left the door open and knew he came in, but then I couldn't find him and assumed he'd left, and closed the door. Turns out he was exploring in a dark room and, him being black, I hadn't seen him. He realized the door was closed and immediately started to panic, crying out for help (same sound he makes when in a trap). He went into another room, looking for escape. Finally he saw the door was open again and fled, but didn't go far. He actually came back to the door, just not inside.
So clearly he likes us. He greets us so happily that he practically bounces around. Sometimes he doesn't even want food, he just wants to say hi.
Obviously being feral born he is confused by what a house is. It's just a big trap if it means he can't go outside. We don't have a cat door. But I'm wondering if in time he'll realize the house is NOT a trap and that we're not veterinarians trying to do things to him lol. I figure the more times I feed him inside the home, the faster he'll learn that home=awesome. He's about 2 years old so I don't think it's impossible to domesticate him. He's such a love bug, I know it'll happen eventually, I just want to speed up the process, if I can.
Recently he started to rub up against me, like his sister does. But unlike his sister, he's started to ALMOST tolerate pets!! If he's rubbing up against me I can run my hand along his back and tail, but that's it. He usually realizes it's my hand that's rubbing him and jumps away. But he still comes back.
I think he started coming inside when he realized we had an indoor cat (she was a foster, but she is gone now). He ADORED her and head-butted her several times. I'm pretty sure he's still coming inside solely to look for her. But this morning, for instance, he ate breakfast inside. The front door is always propped open for him to actually want to come in--I can't just stand there keeping it open.
One night I had left the door open and knew he came in, but then I couldn't find him and assumed he'd left, and closed the door. Turns out he was exploring in a dark room and, him being black, I hadn't seen him. He realized the door was closed and immediately started to panic, crying out for help (same sound he makes when in a trap). He went into another room, looking for escape. Finally he saw the door was open again and fled, but didn't go far. He actually came back to the door, just not inside.
So clearly he likes us. He greets us so happily that he practically bounces around. Sometimes he doesn't even want food, he just wants to say hi.
Obviously being feral born he is confused by what a house is. It's just a big trap if it means he can't go outside. We don't have a cat door. But I'm wondering if in time he'll realize the house is NOT a trap and that we're not veterinarians trying to do things to him lol. I figure the more times I feed him inside the home, the faster he'll learn that home=awesome. He's about 2 years old so I don't think it's impossible to domesticate him. He's such a love bug, I know it'll happen eventually, I just want to speed up the process, if I can.