I brought in a stray, had him neutered etc. with the local TNR group, he is 3.5 years old and is not feral. date was 12/28/15 today is 1/1 so it is day 4 or 5.
I feel bad for him because I ruined his life in a sense. Now he is in the basement all alone, and I think bored to death, although he is not jumping at the windows. I have 4 other cats who are curious and I have been leaving the basement door open in the kitchen with a gate to separate, and I have been putting the strays food on the top landing so the cats can see each other. My cats are curious, the stray hisses, then my cats run. I do go down a few times a day, scoop and feed, and sit with him, pet him, and have him on my lap. but total might be an hour a day. It is a little chilly down there, but not too cold for him, and he has a great shelter to go into.
Any advice on how to better incorporate this guy? The last two times I brought cats home, it was no problem at all. They all immediately became friends. The fact that this guy has been living on the street for 3.5 years I am sure is a factor, and I am ill equipped to figure this out. Should I not let them see each other? At night I close the door so no one slips down. I do think this cat will kick some serious butt with my cats, and I don't want that to happen.
Thanks for the advice!
Gail
I feel bad for him because I ruined his life in a sense. Now he is in the basement all alone, and I think bored to death, although he is not jumping at the windows. I have 4 other cats who are curious and I have been leaving the basement door open in the kitchen with a gate to separate, and I have been putting the strays food on the top landing so the cats can see each other. My cats are curious, the stray hisses, then my cats run. I do go down a few times a day, scoop and feed, and sit with him, pet him, and have him on my lap. but total might be an hour a day. It is a little chilly down there, but not too cold for him, and he has a great shelter to go into.
Any advice on how to better incorporate this guy? The last two times I brought cats home, it was no problem at all. They all immediately became friends. The fact that this guy has been living on the street for 3.5 years I am sure is a factor, and I am ill equipped to figure this out. Should I not let them see each other? At night I close the door so no one slips down. I do think this cat will kick some serious butt with my cats, and I don't want that to happen.
Thanks for the advice!
Gail