Tough Time Dealing With Chotu The Stray

[msaimee]

Just to clarify, I never suggested that you just let him go outside,. I was suggesting that when he's adjusted to his new home, taking him out on a lead and harness is an option. I also suggested earlier that you get him microchipped, because if he were to get outside when you open the door (and it can happen no matter how careful we are), or if he were outside with you and somehow got free of the harness, all his info would be in that microchip. Many vet clinics and Humane Society shelters microchip for under 25 dollars. This is something for future consideration. The other advantage of taking him out on a harness is that if he ever were to get outside, he would know his way around. My cat Sonny has quickly gotten past me at the door and run outside, but he never leaves my property, and he knows his way to my front and back doors.

Again, I am not suggesting that should occur any time soon, and each cat is different. Four of my 6 rescued cats have no desire to go outside. One is an indoor/outdoor cat, she's been outside her entire life and never leaves our block. Sonny was an outdoor cat who is indoors, but loves little trips outside where he eats the grass and sniffs around for a half hour and then is happy to return inside. If Chotus ends up being content to be indoors only, then that would be ideal.

I hope this helps clarify things

 

[Psybug]

For the most part...yes he is happy if i am in the room. However... if left alone there is a propensity for boredom and he doesnt play with his toys except for the wand...and that too only if i play with him...i feel terrible if i need to leave him alone for a while...but theres no choice as i have to do chores etc...so i keep checking on him.
He is microchipped but thats an indian government formality and so theres no address etc...so will re-explore this at the vet in canada.
He doesnt meow and is far less vocal than when he was in india and on the plane. I suspect he strained his vocal chords?
He jumps up on the window ledge every night to try and get out... and then i dose him with calmex to keep him from panicking and going crazy.

msaimee i completely agree that he should know his way around incase he ever get out...but that will have to wait for the time being as i know he wants to go out right now...and once he is outside he will never be content indoors...i experienced this on Delhi...so we will need to be patient for the time being.
Jcatbird where are you these days and how are you and your darlings doing?

 

[maggiedemi]

He is microchipped but thats an indian government formality and so theres no address etc...so will re-explore this at the vet in canada.

It should be easy to switch the microchip address to your new one in Canada.
Did you try the Yeowww catnip banana? Most cats love to play with that one. Walmart has some catnip toys, but they don't last as long as that one.

 

[shadowsrescue]

My cats all love hte Yeowww catnip toys. They go crazy!

 

[Jcatbird]

Hi Psybug and Chotu! Here I am! All you have to do to make me appear is to tag my name.
I see things are moving along pretty well. I know Chotu is still adjusting but that is expected. Playing with the wand is great. I have an old feral, BJ, that I celebrated just yesterday. He learned how to play, finally! Yay! I have offered him many toys but all wee rejected. He looked at me like, what am I supposed to do with that? He did roll around in some loose catnip. Last night he grabbed my glasses and decided they would make a great toy. I was so happy to see him play that I allowed it but I’ll try to get him to switch to something else. Cats do everything at their own pace.
We are all well. I have been very busy stripping out wood and walls. Carpenter Ants were inside it and destroying it. Since I can’t really get help, having to do the work. At my age, it takes longer. Lol I have the new subfloor in at last! I will still be working on the rest. I’ll be checking back on you though. If you want or need me before then, just tag my name. I check in every day.
I hope you and Chotu are settling in to a very happy new life!

 

[Psybug]

It should be easy to switch the microchip address to your new one in Canada.
Did you try the Yeowww catnip banana? Most cats love to play with that one. Walmart has some catnip toys, but they don't last as long as that one.

There is no indian address info on it so i would need to get another one inserted

 

[maggiedemi]

There is no indian address info on it so i would need to get another one inserted

I would talk to the company. That seems like a big hassle to get a new one.

 

[Psybug]

Hi Psybug and Chotu! Here I am! All you have to do to make me appear is to tag my name.
I see things are moving along pretty well. I know Chotu is still adjusting but that is expected. Playing with the wand is great. I have an old feral, BJ, that I celebrated just yesterday. He learned how to play, finally! Yay! I have offered him many toys but all wee rejected. He looked at me like, what am I supposed to do with that? He did roll around in some loose catnip. Last night he grabbed my glasses and decided they would make a great toy. I was so happy to see him play that I allowed it but I’ll try to get him to switch to something else. Cats do everything at their own pace.
We are all well. I have been very busy stripping out wood and walls. Carpenter Ants were inside it and destroying it. Since I can’t really get help, having to do the work. At my age, it takes longer. Lol I have the new subfloor in at last! I will still be working on the rest. I’ll be checking back on you though. If you want or need me before then, just tag my name. I check in every day.
I hope you and Chotu are settling in to a very happy new life!

 

[kittychick]

SOOO glad to hear that you and Chotu made it to Canada (albeit with lots of "plane fun"! And it sounds like he's settling in FAR faster than most of us would have ever thought - - -he obviously loves you very much, and feels very comfortable with you. Aren't you glad he's there with you? You must feel wonderful that he's bonded so completely to you, and realized SO quickly that he's safe with you, and safe in his new environment. He really does sound like he's settling in VERY quickly (I know - - - we all wish they'd settle in to a new environment in one day - - wouldn't that be helpful? ).

Had to weigh in on the yellow banana toy - -- ours ALL (indoor AND feral outside!) love this carrot toy we have. And yes, we give the ferals who've made our place their home toys too - - bc we're nuts . But all go CRAZY over a toy similar to the banana (could be the same company?) - - it's a carrot with a green feather for the "carrot top" and it's filled with catnip. And our cats "accept no imitations" - - we've tried other catnip carrots and this is the only one ours will actually "tussle" over! Even my sister's cat - a state away - loves his carrot the best of all his toys. It's on Amazon (but many pet stores - at least in the states - carry it) - it's made by "OurPets" (all one word) and it's called "Cosmic Catnip Filled 24 Carrot" cat toy. Ours dig in the toy box to find one - -and will play with it on and off for hours!!!

Again - - so glad to hear - for you AND Chotu - it's working out so well.

 

[Jcatbird]

Still checking on you! Hope all is calm.

 

[Psybug]

Yes...we are doing the dog socialisation with treats... this will take time. Chotu did urinate on the bed on day 2 or 3 of being here which i mentioned earlier...post which we have been putting a plastic sheet on the bed...today i didnt put the plastic sheet since i am not doing house work as i want to spend the day with him. I did have a question about allowing him to see out the window...would that be more tempting for him to go out or better to keep him occupied? Let me know your thoughts?

 

[Psybug]

Hi Psybug and Chotu! Here I am! All you have to do to make me appear is to tag my name.
I see things are moving along pretty well. I know Chotu is still adjusting but that is expected. Playing with the wand is great. I have an old feral, BJ, that I celebrated just yesterday. He learned how to play, finally! Yay! I have offered him many toys but all wee rejected. He looked at me like, what am I supposed to do with that? He did roll around in some loose catnip. Last night he grabbed my glasses and decided they would make a great toy. I was so happy to see him play that I allowed it but I’ll try to get him to switch to something else. Cats do everything at their own pace.
We are all well. I have been very busy stripping out wood and walls. Carpenter Ants were inside it and destroying it. Since I can’t really get help, having to do the work. At my age, it takes longer. Lol I have the new subfloor in at last! I will still be working on the rest. I’ll be checking back on you though. If you want or need me before then, just tag my name. I check in every day.
I hope you and Chotu are settling in to a very happy new life!

Jcatbird my response seemed to disappear. Am sorry to hear about the carpenter ants but the excellent news of course is the progress BJ has made which seems phenominal and heart rendering . My heart goes out to you and all the animal lovers in the universe who put so much effort into looking after these voiceless creatures...

 

[Jcatbird]

Awwww. Great picture! Urinating on the bed is probably just nervousness. As for looking out the window, that is debatable given his history of crying. It may be a little early. He is developing a feeling of security and if it isn’t settled, he may be nervous at the exposure. He looks pretty happy playing in the photo. If he is getting lots of time with you, I would wait a little longer. You want him completely bonded to you before any new changes. If you feel he is secure in his room then try a quick look out the window and see how he reacts. If he lays down there and seems content and calm it could work. If he seems jumpy, close it back and wait or only show him while you are there to comfort. Small doses until he is settled.

 

[Jcatbird]

I did see your response. Sometimes there are blinks in the Internet. Thank you about the ants! Still working.
I love the doggies. Is that a Husky or Malamute? I don’t know the other breed but they both look like sweet dogs. Maybe Chotu will grow to love and snuggle them.

 

[Psybug]

I did see your response. Sometimes there are blinks in the Internet. Thank you about the ants! Still working.
I love the doggies. Is that a Husky or Malamute? I don’t know the other breed but they both look like sweet dogs. Maybe Chotu will grow to love and snuggle them.

Yes...blind husky and very cute beagle....eexceptionally well trained and with the help of treats trying to get them accustomed to each other...
One can only hope they will snuggle in the future since they are at odds at the moment...

 

[Jcatbird]

It’s all very new to everyone. The Husky is going on scent alone. The Beagle is probably protective of the Husky. They will all realize that there are new family members in time. They are darling dogs. I’ve blended all kinds of animals before. Birds, cats, dogs, pony, iguana, lol a menagerie. They learned to trust. You’re doing great. Just keep working on it. You’ve made a lot of progress already.

 

[Psybug]

Thanks but... now that we have the baby gate up..chotu tends to hiss and snap at the dogs...beasleys very frightened of chotu now but luna being blind is immune to it. So aside from giving treats to them all. What can i do to stop chotu from hissing etc at them. I need to get his claws trimmed as they are razor sharp and i dont want the dogs getting hurt.

 

[Jcatbird]

You can’t really stop him from being wary of the dogs. You have to give him time to learn that he is safe behind the gate. I would not put them physically able to touch each other yet. If Chotu can’t go over the gate, he really can’t hurt them. Keep them physically apart until Chotu feels safer. Having the gate there is fine but don’t let Chotu go over it yet. If you have to stack another over that one, do it. A screen door is something some people use. If Chotu gets out of that room you need to be right with him. From the photo, he looks curious. Not terribly scared. That’s good. Give him all the time he needs to be calm. He looks great! Good job!

 

[Psybug]

yes very true, but is there a way i can make this easier on him?
is there a way i can stop him from jumping up on the window sills? he hangs off them for a few seconds and then drops back down...but its leaving marks in the wood which is not good. he has a scratching post but likes to use the carpet and furniture also - is there a way to dissuade him from it? i give him a treat when he uses the scratching post.
what can i do to keep him off the kitchen counter and dining table?
other than this he is exploring the house at the moment...and i am so happy to see his tail up in the air more often than down.

the blind husky - luna refuses to leave the front of the door/baby gate that he is behind...and only when she gets excited or stands - it tends to prompt chotu to hiss and be a little freaked out.

 

[shadowsrescue]

It will get easier with time. He needs to feel comfortable and that may take awhile with 2 dogs and, a new home and first time living inside.

To discourage him from the window sills, I would purchase him a cat tree that you put near a window. He can then have his own space to not only look outside, but also to get up and away from the dogs.

You may need multiple scratching posts. You cannot expect him to remember to go and scratch on the one scratcher he has. I have them in every room. You can just get cheap cardboard scratchers and replace as needed.

Since he lived outside and was used to climbing, keeping him off the counters may be hard. I know some people use double sided tape to place on counters and also on furniture. In my house, I do use double sided tape on my furniture and it works well, but nothing keeps 2 of my cats off the counters. I just put them down each time.

Try to focus on one thing at a time. He's not going to be perfect and cats love to climb. If possible he really will need something he can climb on. You can purchase a cat tree or even make something of your own. We did a cat super highway for my cats and they just love it.

Here is a picture