On 8/22/2014 5:46 PM, Mack A. Damia wrote:
On Fri, 22 Aug 2014 17:35:37 -0700, Joy wrote:

On 8/22/2014 4:49 PM, Mack A. Damia wrote:
On Fri, 22 Aug 2014 16:41:37 -0700, Joy wrote:

Hi all,

I'm new here, although I'm a long-time subscriber to rpca. I'm hoping
somebody has some suggestions to help a poor little feral kitty.

Five years ago I adopted two three-year-old littermates, a male and a
female. A few months ago the male got cancer and subsequently had to be
PTS. The female (Pickles) has been very lonely and demanding of attention.

I thought I'd get her a companion, and consulted others about this. The
consensus seemed to be that a young male would be the best fit.

About a month ago I adopted a 4-month-old neutered male from the local
shelter. When the volunteer took him out of the cage so I could pet
him, he struggled and she said, "He's still a little bit feral."

I kept him secluded for about a week. During that time he spent most of
his time hiding. Just as I was about to initiate an introduction
between the two cats, I got the results of a test showing that he had an
infection. For the next ten days I had to dig him out of his hiding
place and give him medication. Naturally, that didn't make him feel any
more comfortable about his situation. I almost never saw him unless I
was medicating him.

A few weeks ago I started spending about half an hour every day in his
room, lying on the bed, reading. and talking and singing to him.

About a week ago he was through with his medication and tested well, so
I opened the door to the room where I'd been keeping him. Once or twice
Pickles would go into that room and they'd exchange what sounded like
insults or threats, but there was never any physical contact.

At some point they apparently reached an agreement, because now Pickles
never goes into that room, and he never comes out of it. Since I opened
the door, I've seen him out from under the bed three times.

I know he's scared to death, and I'd like to let him know he doesn't
need to be scared. I'd also like him and Pickles to become friends.
Does anybody have any suggestions as to how I can accomplish either of
these things.

Four months old seems to be a bit early to classify a cat, "feral".

My friend in San Diego found a two year-old feral cat, and she stayed
under his bed for twenty years, only coming out at night to eat and
use the box. He had another cat, too, but I don't think they bothered
with each other.

Give him time - and the opportunity to come out of hiding. I think it
is still far too early.


Okay, thank you.

Kindly keep us informed of what goes on, but I would give him plenty
of love and the opportunity to get to know the other cat.

Good luck!

Thank you. The only way I know of to give him love is to talk to him.
I can't get close enough to touch him. I've had a total of three
opportunities to pet him.

1) When the volunteer took him out of the cage and he was struggling wildly

2) When I took him to the vet. After the basic exam, the vet and her
assistant left the room while he was still lying on the table. He was
frozen in place and trembling. I did pet him and talk soothingly to
him, but it didn't seem to make any difference.

3) One of the times I gave him his medicine I had to dig him out of a
tight corner. I was afraid of getting scratched, so I threw a towel
over him, wrapped him in it and took him onto the bed to give him the
meds. Afterward I unwrapped him and he just laid there, so I petted him
for a while. He appeared to be too scared to move.

Since he spends all his time (when not eating or using the box) under
the bed, I'd get down on the floor and talk to him. However, I'm 78
years old and I don't think I could get up if I ever got down there.

The door is open, except when I leave the house and at night. I figure
if the door is closed at night he might lie on the bed rather than under
it. I want them to get acquainted, but I want to be around when it
happens, in case of any problems.

Thanks again. I need all the luck I can get.

Joy

--
Joy Unlimited
Colorful Crocheted Critters
Photos at http://www.PictureTrail.com/joy9