Feral/stray Question

tabbytom

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It's a week today since we trapped my little guy. He seems more comfortable.
That's good to hear and that's progress :clapcat:

You can reposition the storage bin and leave a lower cardboard box at the same place where the storage bin was. Since he's hold up there, tis could be his safe place as when the storage bin was before, he could like take cover behind it and observe the room.
So by placing a lower box, he still can stay there and you can see him but you never know, he may just switch position if he finds that he is not secure anymore.

You can hold back the food for a little while and try feeding him with your hand or an extended spoon. If he doesn't take it from you, leave his food on his plate and stay a distance from him, sit down and do some reading and read out softly to him. If after awhile he still does not eat, leave the room and let him eat while observing from the camera.
With the camera, you can learn a lot about him. Also when you are about to enter the room each time, announce you arrival by making a little noise outside the room and by calling his name and enter slowly so that he don't get a sudden shock when you enter the room.

Also they playing with him with the wand or rolling the ball to him and using the wand or move very slow towards him to retrieve the ball. Get him use to play and your movements and let him build up his confidence in you through all these as this is on your part of interaction with him and once he feels cools about it, he'll make the move to interact with you. Give him food after play.

Progress are in very small step, so don't rush through and blow it.
 
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Pjemond

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OMG.......progress today. He moved from his safe spot to a shelf behind a small box (more visible) I took the chance and petted him briefly....he hissed a bit....but when I withdrew he meowed at me....I came home for lunch and ate in his room. He came out from hiding and sat and watched me. If I moved where he couldn't see me he moved....so small but so big...haha. I'm ridiculous about this cat. I'm really not an animal lover per say but he has won me over
 

tabbytom

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OMG.......progress today.
That's wonderful news! :clapcat:

Now that you guys have made contact, the next thing to do is always do the slow blink with him. Don't stare at him but blink and look away as this gives him confidence as it shows that he is in command.

And when you want to pet him, warm up to him first by soft talking to him and with blinky eyes then form your hand into a fist form and gently rub his cheek from front to back a few times and slowly progress to the head.
After a few times doing this, approach him with you fist and slowly open your hand and stroke him with the back of your hand. Repeat many times and eventually he'll let you pet him.

Yes, it's good to hear that he's won you over and that's the most important thing.

Remember, it's love, patience, routine and on his terms rules the day.

Please keep us posted.
 
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Pjemond

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I'm feeling discouraged. I know it is going to be slow progress but I don't know what the cost is going to be to try to tame this guy. He's very smart and determined, he also climbs everything, even jumps on top of my 8 foot high windows. He scratches and bites at my windows to get out each night. Last night I propped a box on the window sill where he is tearing it up but he shredded it to get at the sill. I know this is normal cat behavior but I don't think I can ever let him out of his room. That's too sad.... any input?
 
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tabbytom

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Give him time, he was just neutered and it takes time for the testosterones in him to be fully diminished from his system. Normal period is around 6 - 8 weeks. The call of outside is still very much in him.

Do spend more time with him so that he'll get used to you more. As long as the room has got no danger for him and he can't escape, he'll be pretty safe.

Play some soothing music for him or turn on a classical music channel for him all day long and through the night.

Not to discourage you, some members here took a year or more to socialize the cats they brought in from outside. Some are quicker. So don't give up.
 
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Pjemond

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Update: Things are progressing pretty well. He's calling down. Acting more like a cat instead of trying to escape constantly. He's grooming, playing on the cat tower...I've been hiding treats at night that he finds. I got him a feeder toy hoping that would occupy him, but he ignores it. I'm wondering how long to keep him in his room? He shows himself to me occasionally, but hasn't approached me. I feel like he must be so bored. I spend alot of time in the room and he meows when I leave. Sometimes meows when I'm in there. But he yowls a lot at night. I'm not sure what I should be doing at this point.
 

tabbytom

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That's good to hear! If he ignore things you gave him, it's natural as some stuffs are not attractive to them.

Keep him as long as he wants to stay in the room as it is already a safe place for him and sometimes introducing the rest of the house too soon will also freak him out. Just let him on his own time do his own exploration and keep the roof. for him so that if he's afraid of anything if he ventures out of the room, he knows that he has a safe room to retreat to.

As for the yowling, guess that the testosterones have not fully discharged yet. Give him time. He sure needs your company and that's why he meows at you and getting use to you. So if you can, spend more time with him and each time give him assuring words and slow blinking eyes exchanges.

Scratching the window could be also means he saw some bugs.
 
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