Long story, but advice and tips would be greatly appreciated!

pugsanonymous

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About 6 weeks ago we noticed a Calico coming in our yard (we almost never see loose cats around here). I have no idea where she came from. She's smaller than our 10-month old. I'm just guessing she's maybe 8 months to a year old? I started putting food out immediately and she began showing up several times a day. I put a little cat bed out there and would see her sleeping in it in the middle of the night. I called my vet to ask if I was somehow able to catch her could I bring her in right away and they connected me to the vet tech. who is also a rescuer. She lent me a safety trap and a transfer cage. Of course the cat was scared to death and hissing/flailing around when she was trapped. I covered her immediately and was able to get her in the transfer cage. I felt bad about the whole thing and wondered if I was doing the right thing. When I brought her to the vet a few hours later she was much to freaked out to examine, but he was able to give her vaccinations and gave me antibiotic pills to put in her food for some smalls scratches and a little blood around a couple of her claws ( they said it probably happened because she was so upset in the trap). Arrangements were made to have her spayed the following week and while she was sedated for the spaying they drew blood, checked for fleas, mites and worms. All negative (yippee!) except for hookworms and roundworms. I have given her two doses of Nemex 10 days apart and I'm having her stool checked tomorrow hoping she's all cleared up.

On the advice of the rescuer we have been keeping her in a large pet cage/crate for the past month because we have two other cats, a busy household and literally no separate room or even bathroom to keep her in. I don't know if this was really the right thing to do or not. She spent the first week in the crate in the basement and then we transferred her up upstairs. There was an incident while she was in the basement where I stupidly thought I could pick her up and put her in the transfer cage to go for the spaying, but she got very scared and escaped into the basement. I borrowed the trap again and caught her the following evening. There were some rough moments along the way, but she has now adapted very well and become very comfortable. She has a litter pan, bedding area, toys and bowls that attach to the side of the cage. She does spend a lot of time sleeping in the litter pan, but my vet said that's because she feel safe in there right now and hopefully that will stop once she's out of the cage. I keep the litter pan meticulously clean and she never stays in it if she's gone to the bathroom.

She took to me almost immediately and by the second day I could brush her with a brush I taped to a long handle. A couple of days later she let me pet her head and would lick whipped cream off my fingers (I figured that was a good way to show her my hands weren't something to be feared). She would let me sit on the floor near the back of the cage (where she pretty much stayed) and just visit with her. I named her Monks (after my favorite stuffed animal as a kid). Now she lets me rub her whole body, belly, paws and tail included, lets me groom her with a comb & brush, even wipe her down with special cat wipes (since I can't bathe her). She'll rub her cheeks on my hands and pulls my hand back with her paw sometimes when I stop petting her. She loves to play with her toys and very much enjoys me just sitting near her cage and reading. I play classical or flute music for her and have done everything I can think of to make her feel safe, happy and loved. Our 10-month old kitten/cat named Lester (silly name I know) has become like a buddy to her and they paw each other (gently) through the cage, go nose-to-nose and seem to really like each other. My older cat named Kid (another silly one) will sniff around a little and even hangs out in a cat bed in the same room sometimes, but will growl at Monks when she goes up to the cage. I kind of expected this though because the Kid is this way with every person and every cat she meets unfortunately. She is incredibly loving to me though and I adore her. I understand this is just her personality. She is like a big, furry black bear instead of a cat. Anyway.....

The only real problem we're having with Monks is she seem deathly afraid of faces and hair! If my mother (older lady) puts her face or head too close to the cage she'll hiss and sometimes even swipe at her with her paw. She has no problem being petted by my mom or when she puts food in her crate and cleans the litter pan. No problems or fear there. I have enough sense now not to put my face too close and even if I get too close for comfort she'll hiss at me, but doesn't try to strike me. Do you think this fear will subside once she's out of the cage?? Will we always have to be afraid of putting our faces/head to close to her? What exactly scares her about out faces and hair? I've just never experienced this before with any cat, so I have no idea why this is happening. I have tried to show her the other cats feel safe being right next to my face by hugging them and kissing them on the head, etc.

Assuming the worms are gone I'd like to start the uncaging process tomorrow afternoon. She has put both paws outside the cage a few times and shown an interest in possibly coming out. I have no idea the right way to go about it and would really appreciate advice. Should I just leave the door open, pet her and she if she starts to venture out? Should I immediately move her litter pan and food to the floor or should I leave them in there and set up extra new ones on the floor? How will I know when to dismantle the cage completely? As soon as she comes out or should I leave it up and open for a few days or even weeks? What do I do if she hides under a bed or something and doesn't want to come out?

I've done my best so far to try and do everything the right way, so I don't want to mess this up or cause her any extra stress. Please help me understand the proper way to go about it and also about her fear of faces/hair.

Thank you in advance!

Laurie
 

diggerled

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Sounds to me like you have done everything correctly. And you probably got her fixed in a nick of time. 

I can only advise on things that are within my realm of experience. 

About the faces close up: Looking directly at a cat is a natural sign of aggression/confrontation to them. She fears you and your mother when you're up close and she cannot retreat. So she lashes out. Not so close and don't look directly at her eyes.

My cats were both feral so this behavior was strong with them.

I keep three litter boxes for two cats. I was told three cats could use four. Per advice I got here on this site.

I think leaving the cage open and set up for a while so she has her familiar space to retreat to.is probably a good idea. See how it goes. 

Others here will certainly offer advice too.
 
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pugsanonymous

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Ok. Thank you. Perhaps once she's out of the cage and can retreat and go where ever she wants she'll become less afraid of faces. I will avoid looking her straight in the eye and tell my mom the same thing.

We currently have a litter box for each cat and Monks will her her own too. I think I'll leave the one in the cage for now and also show her a new one I'll set up for her on the floor.

Thank you!
 
 
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pugsanonymous

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Stool sample was clear this morning, so I'm going to open the door on the cage/crate this afternoon. I hope this goes smoothly for her and she transitions well. Any other advice or ideas would really be appreciated. Thank you!
 
 

diggerled

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Keep us apprised of developments. Since you did not have the luxury of providing Monks with her own room it will be interesting to see how this "other than standard" integration works out.
 

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Interesting reading.

I guess the introductions will go fairly easy, as all the cats seems to be friendly to each other.  Some hissing and perhaps some swap with soft paws is normal, nothing to worry about.

You had done very well, and got adequate advices by all.

One comment, this with caged cats laying in a (clean) litter is quite commen. Cats at exhibitions do also do so frequently.

Thinking about it, it must be something.  Perhaps the uneven texture feels extra pleasant to them when they are a little nervous.

Please, keep reporting!

Good luck!
 
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pugsanonymous

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So far, so good. Monks came out for a few minutes, stayed behind the cage and then went back in. I put some food just outside the cage and she came back out to eat, but went right back in afterwards. I'm keeping the door wide open. My male 10 month-old Lester almost immediately went in the cage and they started licking each other! Then Lester starting biting Monks (gently) on the head and neck. I read that could be affection or Lester trying to show dominance. Not sure? I've been keeping a close eye on them though. Monks is now sleeping in the cage in her litter box and Lester is sleeping next to her on a blanket. Amazingly, Lester seems much less afraid of my face/hair since coming out. I was able to move things around very freely and get quite close to her. She was purring and very snuggly when I was petting her inside the cage before. Of course my older female did the growling thing I expected, but she *did* eat very close to Monks and there have been no real problems so far. Keeping fingers crossed. Will also keep the door leading to the rest of the house closed for a few days so she gets used to these two rooms before venturing into the rest of the house. I will update as things progress.
 
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pugsanonymous

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Any ideas on how to help her start coming out more. She will step out about a foot to eat something good, but quickly hustles back in to snuggle in her litter box. :( I'm probably being very impatient because I only opened the door yesterday, but it almost seems like she'll be happy to stay in there forever. *Should* I be doing things like removing her litter box from the cage? Any other ideas?
 

diggerled

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Be patient.

I would guess that Monks will come out more and retreat less over time. How much time depends mostly on her and not what you do to prod her. Her nervousness will abate on her schedule.
 
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pugsanonymous

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Monks ventured out of the cage completely last night. I kept a door closed that restricted her to my bedroom and another little room off of that (where she has been caged and the other two cats spend a lot of time). I woke up around 2am with her walking on my bed! My other cat Kid sleeps next to me and I heard her growling (as usual). Monks hopped off the bed when she saw that I woke up. I got up and checked the two rooms and saw that she had used two of the other cats litter pans (could tell because she pushed the rugs all up underneath them and the other two never do that). I think that's great because she's learning where they're located. When I got up this morning I found Monks under my bed and then she moved over under a small sofa. She has let me pet her under there, took treats from my hand and is grooming/playing with Lester under there, but won't come out. I assume this is normal? I put a small litter pan right next to the sofa in case she wants to come out and use it.

1) Should I dismantle her cage in the other room now or keep it open and operational for her?

2) Should I be concerned if she doesn't come out after a couple of days?

3) Should I put some under there?

She seems fine and quite relaxed.

Thanks again for any ideas or suggestions!
 

feralvr

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You are doing a GREAT job with Monks :clap::clap::clap: Definitely this kitty was handled by humans at one point and was abandoned or lost! Sounds to me like all is going very, very well. Since she is using the litter boxes, jumping on your bed at night and now has chosen under your bed or under the sofa as her safety zones, then I would dismantle the crate. I highly doubt she will use it now. She is past that point :nod: Just let her be if she wants to hide under your bed or the sofa. At least she has two spots to hide and she will go from place to place, whichever suits her. :lol3: She will come out when she is feeling more safe and secure. Monks is making great strides and day by day she will become more comfortable and happy in her new home. You could set up a placemat near the bed or sofa or just under one or the other for food/water. This would only be temporary until she fully acclimates to everyone in the household and learns the routine of how things will be. Best of luck with Monks!!! :rub: :vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes::vibes:
 

StefanZ

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If the cage is no big deal for you, you can leave it be a couple of days, till you see for sure Monks dont returns / dont cares about her old safety place any longer..

But if you need to take it down already now, you can surely do it.

Her using the two toilets of your residents is not only her learning where they are, but also the literally "pissing in ones corner"   :)    Of course a good sign, whatever the exact reason is.

Leaving non buried poo is a still stronger ritual - usually used by dominant cats.

Do you have cat igloos or similiar (perhaps sideturned cardboard box), so the cats - Monks, can be somewhere sheltered if she wants.  Many cats likes it so.

As alternative to being under the sofas.  :)

Good luck!
 
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pugsanonymous

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That's a great idea. I have a soft cube, cat bed stored away. I'll bring that out for her. It is small just like she is, so she'll probably feel very safe and snuggly in there. Thanks!
 
 
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pugsanonymous

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Thank you. I'm trying. :)

I thought the same thing even when I first saw her outside. Aside from food she seemed to want human companionship and she took to my hands so easily that I figured she must have had a home at some point. It makes me very sad to think that someone might have just abandoned her. Horrible.

I read somewhere you can tell by how hard/calloused their paw pads are if they've been outdoors for a while. Hers are rough and feel like a calloused foot. She must have been on the streets for a while I think. :(

I did dismantle the crate yesterday and she couldn't seem to care less. Just like you said she had moved on from that! Now she actually knows where her little feeding station is and which litter box is primarily hers (because of course they all swap around anyway). She is actually coming out from under the couch to play today! She's staying out longer and longer. Of course she still scoot back under if she's at all frightened, but it continues to amaze me how much progress she's making.

Everything is surprisingly smooth with the other two cats too. Lester is her absolute buddy and hangs out under the couch with her and even my "angry" cat seems very nonchalant about her. Can't ask for more than that!
 
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