Feral Cat Advice Needed

[JT4]

Hi everyone
Three days ago we rescued a feral cat from a colony. He's around 7 months old so a bit older than the recommended age for domesticating a feral cat. From what I've read it's recommended to remove them when they are younger. We took him to the vet who said that he couldn't treat him without sedating him and his advice was to take him home, socialise him and then bring him back for treatment. We then went to our local pet store and two amazing ladies offered to treat him. They managed to give him flea and worm treatment and even stroke him but had a few scratches to show for it! We bought Feliway to plug in to hopefully help keep him calm. We've set him up in the bathroom with everything he needs. Day two he ate some food and has been to the toilet. He is hiding between the sink cupboard and the bath tub but has obviously roamed the room when we haven't been in sight. We have three female cats of our own and one was meowing outside the bathroom which seemed to start him off. He's been meowing a fair bit since, on and off this morning. He hasn't hissed or growled at us but the meow is like an owwwww owwwww sound. Just wondering if anyone has been in the same situation? I'd really appreciate any support? How much time should we spend in the room? We are just being present not trying to touch him but the meowing is becoming more frequent even without our cats outside the room and not sure if he will become stressed if we are in the room with him when he's meowing so much. Any tips on helping to settle him would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

 

[shadowsrescue]

Thank you for rescuing this sweet one. It may take some time and lots of patience, but it can be done. For now, please keep your other kitties away from the door. It may be making him very uneasy. The Feliway is great! YOu might also try playing a radio for him. I like to use a soft rock or other music station that also has a bit of talk. This way he can continue to get used to human voices.

The crying/yowling could be because he is scared and wants outside. Also he most likely needs to be neutered.
He needs to get to the vet before he has any contact with your other cats. He will need a neuter, vaccines and also to check for FIV/FELV. If it were me, I would find another vet. Look for one that is willing to work with feral/stray cats. Sedating sometimes is necessary. Yet at this point, vet care is very important.

Here are some articles on working with shy/scared cats. Remember it will take lots of time and lots of patience. You may move one step forward only to move 2 steps back. Don't be discouraged. Spend as much as time as you can with him. Lots of short frequent visits. Bring something yummy with you each time you come inside the room. For now, I would up the ante and bring extra special treats such as plain cooked chicken or small bits of tuna. YOu want him to associate you with something good.

Socializing Cats: How to Socialize a Very Shy or Fearful Cat

 

[Freedom]

When I volunteered w/ the TNR program, we kept kittens in a large kennel / crate. This way, they were always accessible to us, and not hiding out of reach. This helped with socializing them.

We put a sheet / blanket over the kennel so it was like a nice den. Inside was food and water, a soft bed, a toy or 2. And an empty Cool whip containers works fine as a litter box, for small kittens. I was trained to spend 15 minutes multiple times a day with the kitten, and not just with him in the kennel. Wiggle fingers, get him to come out to me, play, then sit with him in my lap, stroking him. Always talking softly to get him used to voice sounds. And some canned salmon as a treat before I left! So he always knew something extra yummy was coming his way.

I agree with shadowrescue, find another vet, one who works with strays. You may have to have the kitten in a have a heart trap -- I know the vets with the TNR program would often give shots right through the bars. (That was for adults.) And at 7 months, he is old enough to make a female pregnant, so he needs neutering. Finally, as you have other cats, you must have him tested for FIV / FeLV, the sooner the better for that test.

 

[di and bob]

Our vet can sedate them right in a carrier through a chamber. I would definitely get him neutered ASAP, it would help tremendously with taming him down and making him calmer. They can give him vaccinations while he is out, too. Go to the 'Cat Behavior' forum and look at old threads on how to get him used to your other cats, but right now he would be a little too aggressive for them I'm guessing. Three days is not long at all in a cats world, he sounds like he is doing well. You might let him explore a little more of the house to get used to smells, but make sure your resident cats are locked up the first few times. Bless you for helping him!

 

[orange&white]

Does your city humane society or county shelter offer a TNR service?

 

[JT4]

Thank you all for your guidance. He seems to have settled a bit. We've had him seven days today. The meowing is still happening and can be quite loud at times but certainly less than the first few nights. He has started to hiss as we put food down though which concerns me. He started doing this yesterday. Not sure if this is a step backward??? He also yowls a lot when we use the shower so I'm guessing he doesn't like us in there. We haven't had any further physical contact. He's not ready to approach us and we aren't keen to overstep the boundaries. Perhaps in another week's time things will have improved a bit more. I'm trying Cat Remedy drops and trying some Feline Tranquil Formula tablets today...has anyone had any success using these? Thanks all x

 

[shadowsrescue]

The meowing/yowling may not stop until you get him neutered. The hissing is most likely because he is frightened and is giving you a warning to not get too close.
Do you have a Feliway plug in? They really do help to calm cats. I use Composure liquid Max mixed into wet food. It has really helped some of my stressed kitties.

Are you making any progress on getting him to the vet. I really recommend the sooner the better. Waiting until you have him socialized should not be an option as the hormones coursing through his body may make socializing very difficult. If you vet will not cooperate then please try to find another vet. For my feral cats, I usually use a low cost spay/neuter clinic. They will sedate the cat, do the neuter and can also administer vaccines and do a SNAP FIV/FELV test. Many low cost spay/neuter clinics do not require an appointment if you have the cat in a humane trap.