A cat forum. CatBanter

If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.

Go Back   Home » CatBanter forum » Cat Newsgroups » Cat health & behaviour
Site Map Home Register Authors List Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read Web Partners

Hi All, Need Some Advice [feral cat?]



 
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old June 16th 10, 10:03 PM posted to rec.pets.cats.health+behav
cshenk
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,427
Default Hi All, Need Some Advice [feral cat?]

Hi everyone, the below was emailed accidently by Max who was looking to post
it here I believe

----------------
Just wanted to send some "THANKS" to Phil P and to MaryL and all of
you who responded to this post. I felt both Phils and Mary Ls response
best fit my situation with Tiger.

Just thought I would send an update!

"Tiger" is doing GREAT! Tiger is/was a true feral, being that he, even
now, still hisses in certain situations. It has been a long time but
with lots of encouragement the cat has come around! Tiger now LOVES to
roll around and play with my hands, he now, finally, loves a neck
scratch and being petted. But this success has only been very recent,
as in the last week or so. Before this I could still not even touch
him.

Now, even though he knows my two "alpha" boys from sniffing at them
through the cage... I wonder how best to introduce them? I have, on a
few occasions, been letting Tiger out to wander the house. Each time
it SEEMS to go better. However, I have not noticed him getting along
with Max or Butterball, and I would like to see this go as smoothly as
possible. Tiger needs some extra encouragement, in my opinion. It is
clear to me that at every turn a new obstacle crosses his path, as he
has not experienced any of these issues before.

So, long story short, all your thoughts and ideas are greatly
appreciated and I truly do think about them all as we decide where to
go from here.

And I am very grateful for the good advice I have gotten here in the
past. I have learned a lot.

Thanks,
M
---------------

Hi Max, good job!

My advice would be this. Be careful on how much cage time is used. The cat
can become jealous of the others if he's in it too much. It's ok for
socialization in the livingroom with the rest though for an hour or so.
Cats don't really 'crate train' well but if it's short periods and something
interesting, then he may take well to it. You can tell by how much he
argues about getting in it. If he walks in of his own free will, you are
doing it right.

Rest of the time, loose in a room or section of the house that he can feel
is 'his'. Yes, this will establish a territory but with a feral, there's
little other choice if you have existing cats. Visit often as you can. Rub
your other cats, especially on the face and cheeks and get some of their fur
on your shirt then go in and play with him, same way then back out and play
with your other two. That will help them 'socialize' somewhat.

As you've noted, eventually you do have to open the door and just let them
mingle. Start with short periods (just as you seem to have done). I;m not
sure here what reaction he is having to the other 2. If he's just largely
ignoring them or avoiding them or giving a warning hiss if they get too
close but looking defensive (hunkered down sorta with ears flat) then this
is fairly normal at the start.

It's more likely the existing cats will attack the new one if there is gonna
be a fight. Most of the time there will be one fight (and only one) if it's
done right. Sometimes, I've gotten it so perfect, there was no fight at
all. It's usual though to have the dominant one insist on a single fight to
prove 'I'm the boss'. This doesn't necessarily result in any harm to any of
them (but check carefully for puncture wounds as they may bite and that can
get infected).

One last bit. If you let your cats sleep with you, do not allow the feral
one to do this at the same time they do until all is totally calm for
several weeks. This is for your safety. Last thing you want, is for *you*
to get hurt when battle royal breaks out over who gets what spot in your bed
while you are sound asleep and there are flying claws in your face. Dang
near lost an eye learning that one when I was a teen.


 




Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hi All, Need Some Advice [feral cat?] Max[_2_] Cat health & behaviour 29 March 30th 10 03:47 AM
Advice Regarding "Feral" Cat MoMo via CatKB.com Cat health & behaviour 28 March 19th 07 11:39 AM
Advice needed: feral cat has adopted us [email protected] Cat health & behaviour 1 March 8th 06 01:44 AM
Feral/Stray Kitten Advice: Medical/Socialization, etc... [email protected] Cat health & behaviour 9 February 4th 05 11:36 PM
FERAL CAT ADVICE? DSI Cat health & behaviour 30 June 19th 04 12:10 AM


All times are GMT +1. The time now is 07:40 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.6.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright ©2004-2024 CatBanter.
The comments are property of their posters.