Hi all - I have been working with a feral cat for the past 6 months. He showed up in our barn last October, and it's been a long process of getting him from hiding under a board in the back corner, to moving into the warm office part of the building, to getting him to eat regularly, use his litter box, play with toys and respond to my voice with meowing. Yesterday, I finally was able to catch him and get him to the vet for a complete checkup. He's a neutered male in good health and he did have a chip registered. I called the owners. They live in a ranch a few miles from our house, and this cat was apparently one of their 'working cats'. They hardly even remembered him, and said that we could keep him. Yea!! They got him as a kitten but thought he was feral and never made any attempt to work with him.
I brought him into the house after his vet appointment. He has a small bathroom to himself, with a nice bed, a cat tree, food, water, and his toys. I fed him last night and he came close. I was able to pet him for the first time, and he seemed so happy... asking for lots of pets, rolling over, letting me pet his whole body, although he did get a bit overstimulated and bit me. Not too bad. He still tries to hide behind his cat tree, however. He will not respond to my husband at all. My question is this: now what? What are some good next steps to keep the socialization going and get him all the way there, if possible? He seems like a good cat who really didn't like being outdoors. When I found him, he was very thin and starving...trying to eat corn kernels out of the dirt. He isn't a hunter, as he's scared to death of small birds. Do you all with experience have some advice for good next steps? Do you think this is on the right track?? Thank you!!
I brought him into the house after his vet appointment. He has a small bathroom to himself, with a nice bed, a cat tree, food, water, and his toys. I fed him last night and he came close. I was able to pet him for the first time, and he seemed so happy... asking for lots of pets, rolling over, letting me pet his whole body, although he did get a bit overstimulated and bit me. Not too bad. He still tries to hide behind his cat tree, however. He will not respond to my husband at all. My question is this: now what? What are some good next steps to keep the socialization going and get him all the way there, if possible? He seems like a good cat who really didn't like being outdoors. When I found him, he was very thin and starving...trying to eat corn kernels out of the dirt. He isn't a hunter, as he's scared to death of small birds. Do you all with experience have some advice for good next steps? Do you think this is on the right track?? Thank you!!
and welcome to TCS!
