The situation: Currently my wife and I have one dog (Lab) and two cats. There is a 12(?) year old cat who lives at my work's loading dock. Petrucci is fed by our staff, is friendly with some of us. There will be major construction in March, so Petruccci HAS to move. My thinking is that she's getting old and winter is unhappy time for her (central CA, no snow but wet, windy, (relative) cold = unhappy elderly cat). A few years ago she was captured, neutered and released. The plan is to put her in a carrier next Wed. and move her to my house (gives me 4 day weekend at home to focus on transition.) She will be closed into a room for a week(?). Thereafter, we will put up a kiddie door (which the dog respects) so that the cats can jump over, it if they want, but the dog will stay out. Our concerns include: 1) Will she learn to use a litter box? 2) Are there disease and pest issues? No fleas apparent on Petrucci. Local vet will be consulted in the next few days. 3) How will Jill (our current dominant cat) react? (I don't want a cat fight in my room.) 4) Dog (Bodhi) is not a worry. He will be curious and if he bothers Petrucci (likely) she won't swipe at him, she'll go full claw and he will learn quickly. 5) Plan is to feed her separately (same time, different location) from Jack and Jill, forever. Jack and Jill are brother and sister and feed together well, but a third kitty? Not going to even try to let her near their food. What are we missing? Any tips? Thanks.
Hi Mike - I added a semi-feral cat to my household. You are correct, your first concern has to be having her check for communicable diseases so your other pets are safe. When I brought "Baby Kitty" indoors it was because she was sick so this will be a little different with your situation. Baby Kitty had no problem with the litter box and she eventually ate with the other cats. She got along with the other cats. She let us talk to her and walk past her. Sometimes, she'd even smell an outreached hand. She never became tame enough to pet but she did sleep on the foot of my bed against my feet. There's a thread here in the Pet section about her and the other ferals I've cared for. http://www.hipforums.com/forum/topic/433624-caring-for-abandoned-and-feral-cats/
1) Cats do well at litter box potty training, but some cats, especially feral cats, like to rebel.... 2) Yes.. you should definitely get her checked at the vet before she's in contact with your pets. Like, Tyrson said, feline leukemia, very serious kitty condition... She could also have worms. 3) Sniff, hiss, good possibility of attack.... I've taken in ferals before, and honestly, if they're not a kitten, it's going to be difficult... If I were in this situation, I'd get her checked at the vet and then keep her outdoors at my place. She won't be happy inside.
Vet check is schedule for 2pm Wed. (capture planned at noon) rainydaze, Eventualy, if she want to live outside, that's cool, but I'm going to keep her inside until she learns where her new food is.
Update and recommendation. Petrucci is doing fine (ish). Found and started using the litter box immediately, not problems there. Still hiding under the bed. Hides from me and my wife slower than she used to. She's exploring her room. Sitting in the window sill. She's feeling a bit more confident. Jack has come into her room a few times for supervised visits. One visit he was sniffing around the edge of the bed and she growled when he got close to her hiding corner. (End of that visit) On another visit, she growled when he was sniffing under the edge across the bed. (End of another). I take this as a good sign. She recognizes the space as hers and the area that she is claiming is increasing. I think this is good. for now. Its going to take some time. RECOMMENDATION: If one is adopting a feral cat, Unless one has existing pets, do not take them to the vet between capture and their new home. Petrucci was caught in the morning and by noon was calmed down, in the cage, recognized her human friends and was OK. The drive to the vet's was OK, she seemed to listen to my talking. But the trauma of the vets just freaked her out. And she was in a very very very unhappy state when she got to her new home. If it weren't for the risk to Jack & Jill, I would count the vet stop a mistake. But, because of J&J, it was necessary. If I were asked, unless there were existing pets, I'd recommend skipping the vet stop. (I'm thinking of getting Petrucci a fish bowl for X-mas (with fish). Either that or finding out if she is a cat-nip cat.)
Are you planning on keeping her? Considering her age it would be nice if she had a furever home. Maybe you should get her one of those chia cat grass planters. If she is used to being outside all the time it might be something she misses. I have never had one so I can't say if it is really a good thing or not.
