For about 2 or 3 weeks, a cat has been coming by my apartment and I have been thinking of adopting him. He has an ear tip so I know he has been part of a TNR program but he seems like an abandoned or stray cat to me rather than a feral. He started off nervous and would run if I opened the door, but within about a week he has become comfortable rubbing on my legs, receiving pets on his back and cheek, and also comes up to the screen door to rub his body against where my 2 indoor cats stand. We also feed him every day.
One issue that I have been having with him is he tends to reach at my hand with claws out and often breaks the skin - it isn't aggressive, it just seems like he doesn't understand that hands aren't supposed to be played with with claws. He will go from receiving a cheek scratch to clawing at me. Does anyone have tips on how to break this habit? I am not sure how to handle it because on one hand I want him to trust me, but I don't want him to hurt us if we invite him inside.
The other issue is how I should bring him inside. We are planning a move within the next few months but I want to make sure he would be comfortable inside before bringing him with us. I am thinking of inviting him inside for a bit and seeing how it goes. My other 2 cats seem to like him and always sit by the screen door if he is around, my concern is mostly about house habits and litterbox training. Anyone have any tips?
One issue that I have been having with him is he tends to reach at my hand with claws out and often breaks the skin - it isn't aggressive, it just seems like he doesn't understand that hands aren't supposed to be played with with claws. He will go from receiving a cheek scratch to clawing at me. Does anyone have tips on how to break this habit? I am not sure how to handle it because on one hand I want him to trust me, but I don't want him to hurt us if we invite him inside.
The other issue is how I should bring him inside. We are planning a move within the next few months but I want to make sure he would be comfortable inside before bringing him with us. I am thinking of inviting him inside for a bit and seeing how it goes. My other 2 cats seem to like him and always sit by the screen door if he is around, my concern is mostly about house habits and litterbox training. Anyone have any tips?