We're looking to expand our cat family by bringing in 3 new colony cats and have some significant challenges that I could use some advice on:
Julius - male TNR'ed in 2012, bonded with Morgan
Morgan - female 1-2 years old, bonded with Julius
Bobbie - female, >1 year old, tailless
Challenge 1: Containment
Our cat family are volunteers who made themselves at home last year and as such we were able to give them free access to the outdoors. Initially we didn't know if they were someone else's pets seeking shelter from the cold or something else. While stressful not knowing if they'd return or not, we allowed them to come and go as they pleased. They all stayed and their roaming gradually decreased to the point where they would not be more than 100m from home. Recently we've had construction going on and have had to keep them locked up inside. While they've tolerated it reasonably well, having become house cats for the most part, we have noticed a decline in their activity levels and weight gain. Once it's safe for them to go outside again we want to give them that ability - but this raises the question of what about the potential new family members. Do we go to the expense/emotional attachment process only to have them go back to their old ways?
Challenge 2: Personalities
As you can see from the above, Mama (right) is rather dominant and has always made sure Julius knows he's the one in charge. While there are dominance displays and some very interesting vocalizations, they would never come to blows as Julius would be very respectful and submit. It raises a couple questions though, such as is it fair to put Mama (an older cat) through that anxiety/stress? Will they eventually work it out and be able to live in the same territory? Julius stayed with us without issue for several days last year during a particularly bad cold snap. Unfortunately, he left at the first opportunity, only to hang out at the opposite end of the building. Mama and Scotty would go and visit/hang with them on an almost daily basis so I'm not sure what to make of their relationships.
Challenge 3: Bobbie
I really want to get her off the street, her tailless genetics have left her with hip issues and you can tell it's painful for her to be walking around hunting for food. I've been able to get close to her (she'll sniff my hand) but she had a very bad reaction to Julius when I was feeding her (ears flat, hissing, flattening out and backing up into a tire). Julius was a complete gentleman, gave her distance and allowed her to eat without issue despite it being nummy wet food he would have downed easily. It makes me think that she might have issues with other cats due to the lack of ability to communicate with her tail. If it comes down to it I'd find her a no cat family if I can tame her semi-feral ways but there's no guarantee of that. Should I ensure I have a home for her first before I try to bring her in (very difficult)?
Challenge 4: Neighbours
One of our neighbours has been feeding Morgan + Julius for some time, possibly years. They've never brought them inside though and the cats have been living in an active construction zone for the past several months. Is there a nice way to say "You've done a nice thing by feeding them but it's time they had safe home"?
Any thoughts/advice are welcome.
Julius - male TNR'ed in 2012, bonded with Morgan
Morgan - female 1-2 years old, bonded with Julius
Bobbie - female, >1 year old, tailless
Challenge 1: Containment
Our cat family are volunteers who made themselves at home last year and as such we were able to give them free access to the outdoors. Initially we didn't know if they were someone else's pets seeking shelter from the cold or something else. While stressful not knowing if they'd return or not, we allowed them to come and go as they pleased. They all stayed and their roaming gradually decreased to the point where they would not be more than 100m from home. Recently we've had construction going on and have had to keep them locked up inside. While they've tolerated it reasonably well, having become house cats for the most part, we have noticed a decline in their activity levels and weight gain. Once it's safe for them to go outside again we want to give them that ability - but this raises the question of what about the potential new family members. Do we go to the expense/emotional attachment process only to have them go back to their old ways?
Challenge 2: Personalities
As you can see from the above, Mama (right) is rather dominant and has always made sure Julius knows he's the one in charge. While there are dominance displays and some very interesting vocalizations, they would never come to blows as Julius would be very respectful and submit. It raises a couple questions though, such as is it fair to put Mama (an older cat) through that anxiety/stress? Will they eventually work it out and be able to live in the same territory? Julius stayed with us without issue for several days last year during a particularly bad cold snap. Unfortunately, he left at the first opportunity, only to hang out at the opposite end of the building. Mama and Scotty would go and visit/hang with them on an almost daily basis so I'm not sure what to make of their relationships.
Challenge 3: Bobbie
I really want to get her off the street, her tailless genetics have left her with hip issues and you can tell it's painful for her to be walking around hunting for food. I've been able to get close to her (she'll sniff my hand) but she had a very bad reaction to Julius when I was feeding her (ears flat, hissing, flattening out and backing up into a tire). Julius was a complete gentleman, gave her distance and allowed her to eat without issue despite it being nummy wet food he would have downed easily. It makes me think that she might have issues with other cats due to the lack of ability to communicate with her tail. If it comes down to it I'd find her a no cat family if I can tame her semi-feral ways but there's no guarantee of that. Should I ensure I have a home for her first before I try to bring her in (very difficult)?
Challenge 4: Neighbours
One of our neighbours has been feeding Morgan + Julius for some time, possibly years. They've never brought them inside though and the cats have been living in an active construction zone for the past several months. Is there a nice way to say "You've done a nice thing by feeding them but it's time they had safe home"?
Any thoughts/advice are welcome.
