Scavenger is pretty pissed at me.

[Sophiegirl]

He has spent most of the last week tucked away in a nook in the laundry room. Only comes out for food and a potty moment.

My other kitties are very interested in him, but he is VERY UNHAPPY. He growls at them, but so far, no major issues.

He came out tonight onto my screened porch for the first time in several days and tried desperately to push his way through the outside door. To no avail. He has been fussing and growling the whole time. He has finally settled down.

I keep talking to him but he is inconsolable. Well, I guess that is too bad. He's not going to be an outdoor kitty any longer. He can fuss all he wants. Ain't gonna happen.

I was thinking about moving his food and water bowl a little bit outside the laundry room to try and draw him out a bit more.

Thoughts?

I'm not going to rush things. This big guy (12.6 lbs) has had to fend for himself for months and is clearly defensive. He is okay with me, but occasionally lashes out. Good thing I am faster than him....most times. I learned that lesson early on. Antibiotic cream is a good thing.

And just now, he gave up and stood by the sliding glass door, asking to go back inside. I let him in. I suspect he's going back to his safe place.

This, clearly, is going to take some time.

[Curmudgeoness]

1. It may seem like an eternity for him to hide out,

but a week is not that long for a cat who is in a new environment, and that is someone else's territory already. At some point, the cats will have to work out the hierarchy in the home, and it may involve some hissing. I would start to leave the door to the laundry room open so that the cats can start to see each other. It may never work out though. I had one cat who never left one room, and fought every other kitty who ventured in there. Forever. But hopefully this will work out better. Just keep trying---often, a cat who has not been handled much or for a long time will take a long time to give in and decide that they are lonely.

Good luck. You are doing a wonderful thing.

[IrishAyes]

2. Yes, I agree... a wonderful thing.

[KC]

3. The cat

that adopted us was an outdoor cat. Not
by choice. His owner must not have cared
as he always left him outside, in all kinds
of weather. Then his owner moved and left
him behind. We had just lost our 17 year
old cat and this one followed my son
home one night. He would come in and play, eat and sleep then he'd ask to go out.
I wasn't really wanting another one so soon so we let him out when he wanted. This went on for a month or so. I already cared about him by then and twice he almost got
run over. So that was that. If I was going to take care of him, he was going to be an indoor kitty. Whew. lol It was not easy an easy thing to do. We have a little screened
in patio and at times he would climb the screen looking for a way to get out! Thank goodness there is lattice all around the bottom. We were doing pretty
good but then he'd dart out the front door. He'd be gone for awhile then come on the
patio( left the door propped open) and we'd
start over again. Eventually he settled down and accepted the fact that his roaming days were over. He happy and content now. We've had him now for 5 years. He's darted out twice but now he's terrified to be outside. He immediately goes to the patio door to come inside.lol
It's going to take awhile so be prepared. It
gets easier. Mine didn't have other kitties to get used to so that's bound to make a difference.
Good luck!

[TorchTheWitch]

4. it might take quite awhile

I remember my family's two cats hid from the new dog for a good month at first. They never ended up liking each other (the two cats though brother and sister from the same litter didn't really like each other either), but they did learn to at least tolerate each other and respectfully keep some distance between them. The only time they ever grudgingly decided to get close together was in the winter when all three were hogging the space right in front of the kerosene heater though they very respectfully maintained a half inch of space between each other so they never had to actually touch.

Scavenger will eventually settle down though you might have to just wait for awhile on that. The cats will figure out if they want to be friends or just tolerate each other, and though it may take awhile eventually it will all work out.

It's so great that you decided to take this poor baby into your family. He'll live a lot longer and not have to face any of the hardships of outdoor ownerless life. You'll see. Not to long from now Scavenger will be a contented and well cared for and well loved kitty curled up in your lap demanding pets and purring away like a lawn mower.

I really love the name Scavenger that you chose for him. It's so perfect.

[narnian60]

5. I am going through the same thing thing with

a momma & 2 kittens. There are some cat & dog natural calming products on the market that are useful at times when you need an animal to be calmer. I give it to the momma at night when she wants out of the house to roam like she is used to doing. She settles down a lot! I use one particular brand that really works for me but don't think I can mention it here.

[ginnyinWI]

6. Like I was saying,

it took mine four months to work it all out. Good luck. I helped break the ice by having a feather toy that they all wanted, so that they at least came closer to each other at times.

[Sophiegirl]

7. He wandered out this morning

Sofie and Jessica were asleep. He's still getting familiar with everything. Then, Sofie came down and hissed at him. He retreated back to his hiding place and hasn't been back out. Jessie is curious but she really doesn't seem to give a damn that there is a new kitty in the house. She's about the most mellow cat I have ever seen or had. At least he's starting to make the occasional appearance.

There has only been some general fussing, so I know that everything will work out eventually.

BTW, even though Sof and Jess grew up together, Sofie hisses at Jessie. Sometimes I think she is instigating playtime. They will run around the house chasing each other. Other times, she's just being bitchy. When Jess has had enough of that, she just gives it right back as if to say, "I'm tired of your crap! Now leave me alone!!" Which ends Sofie's antics. They still curl up on the bed together for daytime naps. Kinda, no harm, no foul. All is forgotten. Until the next time.

[Sophiegirl]

8. OMG!!

He just came out onto the screened porch. Sofie is out here. She was so interested in the birds she didn't notice. He went up to her to check her put and some mild growling began.

But nothing for me to interfere in. She went back to checking out the birds. He's gone back in now, but was an interesting five minutes.

I hope I am not boring you with these updates.

Ooohhhhh! He's back!! And, now strolled back into the house with Sofie following him. More growling from him and Sofie is meowing at him. He doesn't like that so much. Maybe she is trying to make friends.

[Curmudgeoness]

9. You just keep telling us

all about this transition from lone outdoor cat to indoor cat with companions. If it bores anyone, they will just not read it. But I find it interesting to hear about how this is working.

And yippee for the interaction, as brief as it was and even if it was not all hugs and kisses. Not that I would have expected that so soon, if ever.

[ginnyinWI]

10. keep telling this interesting account

Cat crazy people lovd it!

[TorchTheWitch]

11. Actually I'm finding it interesting

Though as a kid my family had two cats I don't really remember much of anything specific about them, so I don't really have much experience around cats especially since I became allergic to them around my early 20's along with a host of other allergies and can only really observe them once in awhile from a distance. Your description of Sophie though reminds me very much of how our one female cat was. Her and the male kitty though they were brother and sister never really warmed up to each other, but they did learn to tolerate each other so there was harmony in the house.

I can certainly understand your excitement in the cats figuring each other out... it's your house, so of course it matters to you how all the pets get along. Truth be told your excitement has rubbed off a bit on me, too, so I'm a bit on the edge of my seat wanting to know how it's going and feeling like I want to pump a fist in the air right along with you... "yeah! kitties are checking each other out! milestone No. X reached!"


It's pretty cool really.