introducing a stray/semi-feral to a indoor cats household

crazeaboutcats

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Here is an update on Romeo, our shrub dwelling kitty, again any suggestions or warnings are greatly appreciated.

Romeo has been in his room for a little of a month. I took your suggestion and put the chair up on the bed. In a few days I stuffed the bottom with bubble wrap so there was no void and it now is back in place.

His hidey hole where he feels safe is in the tube of a cat scratch post. He is funny, most the time when he is open, he faces out, but when hiding or stressed he faces the wall with his butt showing through the back of the tub.

I know he figures if he can't see us then we can't see him.

He is super fine with me and we have a routine where I sit with him on the floor or the chair and he sits next to me on a foot stool, and he is venturing on the bed from time to time. He loves to be pet and rubbed and we play. He uses the kitty litter boxes without issues and waits eager at the door for breakfast, snacks and dinner. Several times I have cracked the door and our youngest, friendliest cat and him share snacks and peeks without animosity.

Several times I have locked the other cats out and opened up his door to let him explore but invariably when I come back or if I stay in another room he is in is tube facing the wall.

Originally I thought that I would only introduce him to the others when he felt comfortable enough to leave his room and venture out, do you agree?

He also has regressed a lot with my husband, who out on the screened porch was able to feed him treats and occasionally pet him. Now if he comes into the room Romeo hides. We have sat together on the floor giving treats but he still goes and hides. I have thought of having him feed him, what do you think?

A couple of observations, he prefers to eat when I sit with him and pet him and if I leave the room he will leave his food.

Also, his movements are still very furtive and hurried, like living in the wild he is very reactionary to sounds having to react by scuttling away. Even with me, he scurries from point a to point b, not a stroll but a sprint. I image that will go away in time.

He seems to be sensitive to the weather, his moods changing with it. He has good days and then a bad one...but all in all seems okay. Not that interested in playing though....

Please tell me if I am doing something wrong or too soon. We aren't in a hurry, but I don't want to do anything that is creating a bad habit or a phobia with him.

Thanks again for all your advice and kind words!
 

shadowsrescue

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It really sounds like things are going well.  He so reminds me of my Marvin.  You will always move a step or two forward and then backwards for a bit.  Each new challenge or change will cause him to go backwards first.

My Marvin had a hard time with my husband too.  I think it's the way they walk and their deep voice.  Having your husband sit and try to feed him is a good idea, but you don't want to stress Romeo too much.  You could have you husband come in alone for play time and then a yummy delicious snack.  My husband used to go in and  visit Marvin before bed.  They played a game of string and then my husband gave him so plain cooked chicken.  It was a great bonding routine.

As far as sitting with him while he eats:  I would try to break that habit.  He does need to learn to eat on his own.  You might try to sit with him at the start and then leave instead of just cold turkey leaving him.  He feels very safe and secure in your presence. 

It's great he is beginning to meet one of your cats.  It's always best to start with a cat you know is very docile. 

I waited two full months before doing introductions.  I wanted to be sure he was settled in our home and comfortable with humans before bombarding him with our resident cat and dog.  I started very very slowly and all seemed to be going so well.  Of course I rushed ahead and it back fired big time for me.  I had to start all over which set us back for months.  I so wanted the cats to just be out and about together and for the process to be done.  I certainly learned my mistake.

His movements are very typical for a cat that has lived outside.  Marvin still does this today when he is frightened.  We had people over during the holidays and he would get low to the ground, wide eyed and run.  He does the same each week with the vacuum.  It may be a behavior he never lets go of when frightened.  Yet he will get over some of his fears as he settles into your home.

As far as his moods that too can be based on all of his challenges.  He will have good days and bad days.  When you are asking more of him, he will have moments that he is very withdrawn.  This is normal.  I remember letting Marvin out for the first time to explore our home while my other animals were put away.  He was so curious, but so afraid at the same time.  When we tried the activity a few days later, he came out of his room and then just hid behind a couch. 

You are doing so well with him.  Just remember there will be good days and bad days and some steps will cause him to move backwards for a bit.  Just give him some time and lots and lots of reassurance that he is loved and safe.
 

crazeaboutcats

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Thanks for the advice, that Marvin is a lucky boy, having adopted you and your husband! So it's okay to to try to let him out of his room now? Or do you think it is too soon? He really isn't that curious, but I don't want him to think that room is all there is, just a special safe place that he knows he can always go to be safe.When you say you pushed too much to introduce him to your other critters, was it two months or was it longer? I will work on the food thing. Does Marvin venture all around the house or does he stay close to where you confined him?

Thanks again for your input!
 

shadowsrescue

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 So it's okay to to try to let him out of his room now? Or do you think it is too soon? He really isn't that curious, but I don't want him to think that room is all there is, just a special safe place that he knows he can always go to be safe.
I let Marvin out to explore at the 2 month mark.  I had to be sure that I could pick him up if I had troubles getting him back to his room.  I could pick him up, but I had to hold him far away from my body or he freaked out.  Usually I could get him back to his room with a food bribe and him following me. 

Marvin was really scared when he first came out of his room.  He only ventured a few feet from the door.  Yet, curiosity one out after about the 3rd try.  He would walk low to the ground in a very crouched position, but he kept moving and sniffing.  He used his safe room for one solid year.  Yet he was out during the day time by around the 6-7 month mark.  We still used the safe room for when no one was home and at night.  Marvin loved his safe room and wanted to go to bed each night by 9 pm.  He would cry and cry if we were late.  It was as though he had been through enough during the day and he wanted the safety of his room.
 
.When you say you pushed too much to introduce him to your other critters, was it two months or was it longer? I will work on the food thing.
I started intros at 2 months after Marvin had been in the house.  It was then we did the scent swapping and the site swapping.  By the 3rd month the cats were doing really well together or so I thought.  I was allowing Marvin more and more time out and he took advantage of it.  He chased and attacked my resident cat.  I had moved too quickly and ignored some of the hissing, growling, chasing and posturing.  So it was back to square one.  I started slowly and things were improving.  Then we went away for 2 days for Thanksgiving.  Marvin had to stay in his safe room the entire time.  I had my niece coming over to feed.  One the second day, Marvin got out of the room.  She thought he was in our den on the 1st floor.  So I had her put our resident cat in my sons room and close the door.  When we returned that day, we went to find Marvin.  We couldn't find him anywhere.  We then went to check on our resident cat.  He would not come out of my sons room.  We found him under my sons bed huddled in a corner.  Marvin was in the other corner.  Ugh.  So the cats were shut in together for over 12 hours.  It was not a good scene.  So another set back. Next Christmas came and we were gone again for 2 days.  This time I just used an automatic food timer for Marvin so no one had to enter his room.  He was upset, but all cats were safe.  Once we got through the holidays, the things did improve.  We still had ups and downs.  I had to learn very hard to control my emotions.  I would get myself so upset when there was a confrontation.  The cats picked up on it and things got worse.  Once I settled down, they too settled down. 

I used lots of Feliway diffusers.  They helped so much.  I also bought Comfort Zone spray for areas that were hot spots ( my stairs) that did not have an outlet.  Marvin was quite aggressive.  He wanted me all to himself.  I used composure liquid max with him 2x a day.  It was the one thing that calmed him down.  He learned to control himself when the composure was in his system.  Composure is a non sedating calming supplement.  My vet recommended it, but I found it cheapest online.  I just mixed it into his wet food 2x a day.  I also gave some to my resident cat for awhile when he was freaked out. 
 
 Does Marvin venture all around the house or does he stay close to where you confined him?
Marvin now ventures everywhere.  Yet it took him forever to feel comfortable in the entire house.  He used to follow me like a little shadow everywhere I went.  At the one year mark he decided he didn't want to be in his safe room any more at night.  We had been leaving the cats out and about together during the day, but night time he still wanted his room.  Then we just allowed him to stay out and he adapted very well.  He now sleeps in our bed and is the sweetest cat ever.  He will always be scared of other people and loud noises.  My DH still scares him when he walks or talks too loudly.  Who knows what Marvin's life was like before he found me.  He was approximately 3 when I took him in.  He had been coming to my property and eating with my other feral cats for a few months.  I did TNR on him in March of 2013.  He started being very aggressive with one of my timid ferals.  I had thought once he was neutered he would settle down.  He did not.  I contacted my rescue groups and called all the shelters.  It was then May of 2013 and everywhere was full with kittens.  The Humane Society said he was not adoptable and would be euthanized.  I decided then to give him a chance and bring him inside.  I never really thought it through, I just did it.  Many months later I kept wondering what in the world had I done.  My peaceful house was a war zone and I was a mess trying to keep the cats safe.  Then Marvin started to soften.  He just kept softening and coming into a new sweet kitty.  He is now the sweetest most loving cat.  So he was definitely worth all of my hard work. 

It took Marvin over a year once out to really be comfortable in all areas of our house.  I don't think he went down the basement for a full year after he was out.  He now does not follow me all of the time.  He sits on my lap or right next to be and sleeps cuddled up with me all night.  He and my resident cat (Jake) are now great buds.  They play, groom each other and hang out together.  It was a win win for all.

I hope that Romeo does great in your home with you and your family and other cats.  Just take it all slowly and realize there will be bumps along the way.  They may seem enormous and they may even seem that there is no answer, but realize in most cases it is temporary and can be worked through.  It just takes time, patience, effort and lots of love.
 

crazeaboutcats

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Thank you so much for sharing yours and Marvins journey! And taking the time and thought! I will respond to you in the am!
 

crazeaboutcats

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Thanks again for sharing! I feel better, and Romeo had a great day today. After the terrible beginning of trying to get him into the carrier to get him to the Vet he must have wanted to come in, he is just so gentle and sweet!

So I am going to follow your lead and give him a few more weeks of solitaire and then maybe a month of segregating into some of the other rooms and then the screen and treats and playing and intro's to the other cats!

Again, thank you for taking the time to share Marvin's journey! 
 

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You sound like an amazing human.  I have now taken four cats to be spayed or neutered; two of which had a litter together (I do not know where the kittens went as I have never seen them; I was in KY when they came around).  Anyway I feed those two at the front door.  I have a problem now as a black cat has begun to come inside the fence to my side garage door.  I don't mind this as far as feeding and loving on her and I took her to the vet to have blood work, rabies, boosters, etc and have given her one round of Revolution BUT my inside cat who goes out in the backyard at times (as she loves it and goes crazy if she can't) has seen her twice and it didn't go well.  My DoraMae does not have front claws (not my doing but the ignorant neighbors who let her out and moved) then she became mine which is great. I LOVE HER. I wish I knew someone who could take the little one (2 years) in as she is very sweet and loving to me; not that much to others but that's because she has gotten used to me.  I wish DoraMae and BJ could coexist just on the times they would meet up out back but I'm nore seeing how I can make this happen.  They are both females as well.
 

crazeaboutcats

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Update on Romeo...Dora May, just give them time....they will sort it out......maybe not the way you wished but you are providing them options, more so then most folks.

Romeo has been in the house officially 8 months! And he has grown leaps and bounds (literally...he has a round belly)! He is completely his own cat now.....before we had good days and then bad days of regression, but now he is truly part of the household. He no longer runs and hides when the trash truck comes by, clearly now understanding that what happens in his old outside has no influence upon him inside. He has his daily patterns, wakes with us in the morning (and even has tried to help us make the bed as only cats can do). He accepts snacks from my Hubby in the morning and has breakfast with his Buddy Ronzoni. He watches birds and squirrels from the window and watches me get ready in the morning.

He moves with confidence now, no more scurrying to escape, he lets me pick him up to put him on a chair, has become more of a middle ground cat by jumping up on things where as before as an outdoor shrub dweller he would only stay on the ground or under things. (not to say that he doesn't get startled by unexpected sounds or actions and going fleeing to his room)

He goes mid-morning to his perch and tube (cat scratch post) in "his room" and stays there snoozing until late afternoon. Then he comes out for evening festivities, shares a piece of cheese, has dinner, uses the community litter box with no problem and then often will hop up on the sofa to watch TV with us!

All the cats accept him accept one, Ziti who is territorial and part siamese so they have their moments, but Romeo now stands his ground and won't back down, so Ziti has to. Though we often intercede, those interactions are less frequent and interestingly enough, Ronzoni his pal and closest to his own age had been know to intercede and actually chase Ziti from pursuing Romeo. There is a lot of play now, churring and racing around.

The rewards have been endless, the only sad thing is there are hundreds and thousands of cats that were in his situation that I can't take in!

My husband insists that I am a special person to go all out and spend the time and effort to work with him and bring him in and I am not. I just had the time and inclination to try and Romeo did all the rest! He made the decision, he tries everyday and is just a special little kitty! I NEVER imagined he would be so sweet and work out like this. I can't imagine how he will be in another year and for that matter, what would he have been like if he had not been feral and had been in a normal household as a kitten!
 

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@Crazeaboutcats   Thank you so much for the update.  Romeo  has turned out to be a wonderful addition to your clan. 

I feel the same way about there being so many cats and so little help.  I wish to help them all too.
 

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I have a similar situation with a twist.I trapped my stray cat Spooky at work and brought him home to stay on our catio we had just built for our 3 indoor kitties.He4 was TSPed about 2 years ago by a coworker and very friendly with some of us, would headbut me,let me pick him up to be petted in my lap.I brought him home because he had been disappearing for weeks and looked mistreated. He has been living on the catio for over 2 months and is very tame with me, plays sits in my lap for petting etc and when my daughter was visiting he eventually got used to her.He will go in the letterbox out there. The problem is he will not relax around my husband who feeds him during the day and sits out on the catio with him.He will not come down from his perch, has come down a few time when I'm in there also but still acts very wary of my husband. I'm very attached to Spooky and would like to integrate him into our household of hubby and 3 cats but not sure how to do this.I've let 2 of the cats back onto the catio for a few minutes each,Spooky seemed very interested but they were pretty hissy. I'd like to take him to the vet but not sure I can get him back in the cat carrier,I know he had rabies shots when he was neutered but not sure about other vaccines .We have a spare bedroom I could put him in for the gradual acclimation but he does seem pretty happy on the catio. Could I start by letting the other cats 1 at a time out on the catio to see if they could get used to each other? There is also a cat door from the catio to our bed room I could eventually open.
 

crazeaboutcats

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Hi there, I am by no means an expert ands really relied on the other members, but here is my two cents worth. When I brought Romeo in, he knew the outside and gradually over months would come into our screened porch. When I eventually caught him and took him to the vet, it was at that moment his life would never be the same. By taking him in he would have to have a brand new start. Starting with his own bedroom, kitty litter box and cat scratch post. Separated from the other cats. Then over time, a long time of me going to visit him and petting him and him welcoming me. After he and I had some inside trust level then it was playing and cracking the door, and feeding everyone treats and short visits with the other cats and then finally locking up the other cats so he could start exploring, always know that his room was his safety zone.

Long story short now, he is out most of the day but still retreats to his room for his daily naps. He sleeps with us and tolerates my husband who gives him lots of treats. The key for him is through his stomach, he is very motivated for food so I make sure my Hubby is the good guy feeding him. But regarding the Catio or Sunscreened porch, that is off limits to him. He now looks out through the door instead of in and once when I assumed he was in his room so I let the other cats out, he dashed out into the room and in an instant regressed to his former self. So, we took a step backward on that one. I think he will be able to go out there with everyone else some day, but not for a while to come.

So my thought is your kitty sounds amazing and pretty stable but you might be confusing him by thinking he can still accept his former lifestyle while forging a new one.  I think most cats are kind of all or none!
 

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In May of 2015 I found a young cat lurking around my house. I fed her all Summer into the Fall. In October when it started getting cold I trapped her in a humane cage and took her to the vet for shots and to be generally checked out. She had a no owner addressed chip and was spayed. At this point I could never get any closer to her than 7 feet. I named her Glenda.

In my house I had 4 house cats that were able to go outside through an animal door in my sun room to a 6ft x 6ft x 6ft walk in cage on a cement base. It sounds like my Glenda was far more feral than your kitty. I let her loose in my clean warm basement. At the top of the basement stairs there was a door that opened into my kitchen. At this point the 4 upstairs kitties knew that Glenda was in the basement and Glenda knew that the 4 kitties were upstairs also. Eventually all 5 kitties meat at closed kitchen door and started sniffing each other under the door.

This is when I went to the hardware store and purchased an inexpensive wooden screen door. I replaced the kitchen door with this screen door. I installed a simple hook and eye latch to keep the screen door firmly closed. Now, the 5 kitties were able to get to know each other both by scent and site. Eventually, in about 2 weeks, the spitting and growling stopped. At this point I unlatched the screen door. Eventually Glenda was inquisitive enough to push the door open and enter the kitchen. She did it at a time when "the coast was clear" so to speak...no other kitties were around. I rigged the screen door to stay open about 3 inches for her quick retreat to the basement. Sure enough she made it all of the way to the second floor when she came upon one of the resident kitties. Down the stairs she came like a flash retreating to the open screen door and disappearing into the basement to her familiar space.

Slowly the other kitties tip toed down the stairs into Glenda's territory. Glenda had many safe hiding spaces in the basement that she had established. After two days I left the screen door open. Now every kitty had safe places int their spaces. Now and then I would hear a skirmish but the socialization had been successfully completed. Glenda even eventually joined the other kitties in the outdoor cage.

It is now two and a half years later. I moved from my house in Illinois to a smaller home in Michigan. Of course I took all kitties with me...Glenda included. All the kitties are buddies but Glenda is still leary of me. She has progressed to letting me get two feet away from her but I still have not been able to touch her. She has come a long way from her original 7 feet rule. I am optimistic that she will eventually let  me touch her.

Every day as I see her enjoying her good health, warmth and security. I am so glad I made the effort to save her. I look at her and know that if I had not taken her in that cold October day she would be dead now. It was well worth the effort. My best to you good woman! I hope this has helped you know not to be fearful of this process.
 

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Hi, just joined CatSite; I too have been feeding a semi-feral cat on my patio for a couple of years.  Sometimes I get quite close to him, he comes up to me for food and meows, other times very skittish; I have not been able to pet him.  Right now he is sleeping outside in a small cat carrier I put there as we have been having a lot of rain!  I desperately want to bring him inside and give him a good home; the only cat safe room I have is a small bathroom.  I realize it takes time; I've never tried this before, and I already have a 4 year old indoor kittly.  I worry constantly as the cat crosses a busy road daily.  I would appreciate your feedback asap.

Thank you
 

ondine

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Hi, just joined CatSite; I too have been feeding a semi-feral cat on my patio for a couple of years.  Sometimes I get quite close to him, he comes up to me for food and meows, other times very skittish; I have not been able to pet him.  Right now he is sleeping outside in a small cat carrier I put there as we have been having a lot of rain!  I desperately want to bring him inside and give him a good home; the only cat safe room I have is a small bathroom.  I realize it takes time; I've never tried this before, and I already have a 4 year old indoor kittly.  I worry constantly as the cat crosses a busy road daily.  I would appreciate your feedback asap.

Thank you
It might help you get responses if you post your own thread.

In the meantime, a bathroom is an excellent room to isolate him until he's vet checked.  You do not want to introduce him to your resident cat until that -and even after - let him get used to inside life before any intros.  Set everything up that he needs - a litter box, food dish, water and a bed.  A cardboard box or carrier is good to give him a place to to feel safe.  Sprinkle some dirt or dried leaves on the litter until he realizes that's what litter is for (he's used to using dirt).

Spend some time with him every day - and keep in mind he will be shy and probably hide for at least the first couple of days.  Just sitting in there reading out loud to him will get him used to your voice and presence.

thank you for helping him!
 

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I adopted a semi-feral cat two days ago.  He is about 6-7 months old.  Night times are a breeze with him sleeping right next to me and often waking up and throwing himself around next to me allowing me to pet him and rub his tummy.  Then morning time comes and he is back to his feral nervous ways.  He came into the previous owners house with one of her cats so it wasn't a trapped situation but due to having two cats of her own she put him up for adoption.  I am finding it very hard to get my head around the changes between night and day - is this normal behaviour for what I am calling a semi-feral cat?  He is very gentle - plays with no claws out (during the night), loves his toys and plays when he is awake but just wont let us near him during the day.
 

ondine

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I adopted a semi-feral cat two days ago.  He is about 6-7 months old.  Night times are a breeze with him sleeping right next to me and often waking up and throwing himself around next to me allowing me to pet him and rub his tummy.  Then morning time comes and he is back to his feral nervous ways.  He came into the previous owners house with one of her cats so it wasn't a trapped situation but due to having two cats of her own she put him up for adoption.  I am finding it very hard to get my head around the changes between night and day - is this normal behaviour for what I am calling a semi-feral cat?  He is very gentle - plays with no claws out (during the night), loves his toys and plays when he is awake but just wont let us near him during the day.
He may just be a nervous cat.  At night, you are also asleep, and therefore not as much of a threat, in his mind.  It is a good sign he sleeps with you, although that might be a guarding behavior on his behalf.

Two days is way too short a time to judge his personality and for him to get comfortable in his new environs.  I'd give him at least a month.   Routine, routine, routine is the key.  He needs to feel comfortable and be able to trust you and the new territory.  Have you considered giving him his own room for a bit?  Get him used to the new place a room at a time.

Thank you for helping him!
 

1CatOverTheLine

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I adopted a semi-feral cat two days ago.  He is about 6-7 months old.  Night times are a breeze with him sleeping right next to me and often waking up and throwing himself around next to me allowing me to pet him and rub his tummy.  Then morning time comes and he is back to his feral nervous ways.  He came into the previous owners house with one of her cats so it wasn't a trapped situation but due to having two cats of her own she put him up for adoption.  I am finding it very hard to get my head around the changes between night and day - is this normal behaviour for what I am calling a semi-feral cat?  He is very gentle - plays with no claws out (during the night), loves his toys and plays when he is awake but just wont let us near him during the day.
He'll be fine; cats adapt pretty quickly, though not instantaneously, and Ondine's advice is exactly right.  Be patient, and give him a bit of space when he needs it.

.Welcome to TCS !
 

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Have just realised I have never updated my previous status - so here goes.  I brought home a semi-feral kitten about six weeks ago to try to help the heartache caused by the loss of a cat that was my friend and companion for 13 years (people say cats do not belong to anyone - wrong wrong wrong!! I always said if he could crawl under my skin he would have) and was incredibly worried that he would never be mine.  Charlie is still a different kind of cat but he is mine most definitely - he will never be my lap cat but when night time comes I know that we have a bond.  We have rooms in the house where he will behave like a regular cat and is loving and rooms in the house where he wont let me near him but when I call him in from outside he comes which is all that counts.  He torments my Holly because all he wants to do is play and being a gentle soul she wont show him who is boss yet - I am hoping she will come in to her own soon and give him a good smack to make him realise he is not boss - I watch this and stop his play when she cannot take anymore but I am very lucky that there has been no fur flying.  So to anyone who is willing to put in the work taking on a semi-feral kitten is not a bad thing ... patience is the key to success and yes they can be as loving as any other cat.
 

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I just want to thank you all SO much. I've been searching Google for guidance on exactly this topic, and you guys have provided such a wealth of knowledge and experience ...and inspired me to join this wonderful community! I'm a first time cat owner of almost one year; when, on rather short notice, I adopted my sweetie Leo (~6 yo male tabby) from friends who could no longer take care of him. I had just moved to a cat-friendly building, so timing was perfect. It's been an amazing little adventure with my Leo Love, and I can't imagine my day-to-day without him.. and this is coming from someone who had never considered herself a "cat person." :)

In the last couple weeks, I've gotten to befriend one of our neighborhood stray cats from down the street. He mostly stays in the same parking lot, and everyone knows and loves him as Tommy. He was a bit hesitant the first few times I saw him, but he eventually let me pet him as he nuzzled around my ankles. I've now been stopping by twice a day to see him at the lot, and we've even progressed to belly rubs! He's such a sweet cat and I really want to take care of him. The lovely girl who feeds the neighborhood strays/ferals had been trying to place him for awhile now; especially as he's so comfortable around humans and has already been TNRed. Our tentative plan if/when I decide to adopt is that she'd bring him into her carrier (as he especially trusts her) and we'd take him to the local vet. She'd then keep Tommy in her spare room while we waited for the results; then, if everything looked good, I'd take him home.

My hesitancy/challenge is mostly with the logistics of introducing him to Leo... I live in a railroad-style apartment, meaning that all of the rooms are in a row, from front to back. From the entrance in the kitchen and living room, to the narrow hallway, to the small "middle room" (aka my catch all closet/library/gym), to my large bedroom with another entrance. The only setup I can think of would be to have Tommy in my bedroom while Leo and I slept in the living room. Putting Tommy in the "middle room" would be difficult, as Leo would need to pass through to the rest of the apartment for his litter box and food. Unfortunately my bathroom is TINY, so it also wouldn't be an option. So, off to the couch for me and Leo, as he'd completely freak out if I were to lock him out of my room and stay with Tommy. The thing is, I'm not sure how long I'd stay sane with this setup. A couple weeks would be fine, but I know that you can't force these things with cats; trying to rush it might actually prolong it. My only A/C unit is in the bedroom and it's hard for me to fall asleep when it's too hot... and, at the top floor of a 3rd floor walkup in NYC, it gets really hot in the summer. Also, I just confirmed this morning that Tommy has fleas. I would definitely need to take care of it beforehand, especially with keeping Tommy in my bedroom and then introducing him to Leo. I really don't know the best plan of attack overall, though. Start with flea treatments for a couple weeks before adopting him? Remove my bed and other furniture from the closed-off bedroom until we're 100% sure that the fleas + eggs are gone? This part is definitely new territory for me...

Anyway, I go back and forth with thinking that I'm crazy for considering another cat with all of these extra challenges, and also with bringing him home to my needy little Leo. But... whenever I stop by and see Tommy, I'm absolutely in love... I feel selfish for all of my complaints above, and want nothing more than to give him a loving home.

Well, my "thank you" to the thread turned into my whole story! I saw the comments above saying that I'd have more visibility in a new thread, so I'll probably copy and paste this. Thank you so much for reading :)
 
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