Hi all, I need some advice! Last fall a cat that I had seen in my yard a couple of times ended up bringing her babies to hang out in my backyard. Prior to the babies being there, she would come maybe within a foot of me and take treats and eat. She never let me pet her nor would she take treats directly from my hand, but I assume she is only semi feral since she would approach me? Anyway I contacted a TNR group and she and all her babies were fixed but after her recovery it seemed too cold out to release her. She seemed pretty content in her cat room she was always lounging in her bed in the window so I kept her inside for the winter with the intention of releasing her in the spring.
As time went on, she seemed increasingly interested in my other cats going to sit at the door any time she heard them playing. She also seemed to be getting more comfortable with me. I still can't pet her but I was able to stay in her room and go about my business without her getting spooked and hiding. I recently took her to the vet to complete her vaccinations and make sure she was healthy so I could try to introduce her to my other cats. I would love to give her a home but I am not sure if I am doing the right thing? Sometimes it seems like we're making progress and sometimes I feel like we go 10 steps backwards. She definitely seems more afraid of me now after the vet visit. I know it was hard for her they had to sedate her since they couldn't handle her at all. I am doing my best to get her acclimated to me, I sit with her while she eats, I play with her when she is in the mood to play, I give her Rescue Remedy in her food and use the Feliway spray. Sometimes she is interested in me, she'll come right over to me if I shake the treat bag, she'll come and eat directly next to me, but other times she just hides. As far as the other cats, I swap their scents with different things and I let them see each other for brief periods through a baby gate that I reinforced with chicken wire so no one gets hurt. Any advice on what to do moving forward would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.
As time went on, she seemed increasingly interested in my other cats going to sit at the door any time she heard them playing. She also seemed to be getting more comfortable with me. I still can't pet her but I was able to stay in her room and go about my business without her getting spooked and hiding. I recently took her to the vet to complete her vaccinations and make sure she was healthy so I could try to introduce her to my other cats. I would love to give her a home but I am not sure if I am doing the right thing? Sometimes it seems like we're making progress and sometimes I feel like we go 10 steps backwards. She definitely seems more afraid of me now after the vet visit. I know it was hard for her they had to sedate her since they couldn't handle her at all. I am doing my best to get her acclimated to me, I sit with her while she eats, I play with her when she is in the mood to play, I give her Rescue Remedy in her food and use the Feliway spray. Sometimes she is interested in me, she'll come right over to me if I shake the treat bag, she'll come and eat directly next to me, but other times she just hides. As far as the other cats, I swap their scents with different things and I let them see each other for brief periods through a baby gate that I reinforced with chicken wire so no one gets hurt. Any advice on what to do moving forward would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance.