Posted on 02/24/2013 4:55:22 PM PST by West Texas Chuck
His foot problem is related to a claw that has been nearly torn off. The vet cleaned it up and gave him a shot of antibiotic. I’m keeping him inside for a couple of days so he can heal a little and get used to people. I hope that is a good idea, he’s going back outside probably tomorrow.
I already have two indoor cats. My mom and her two lived with us for a while last year and there were definite issues between hers and my orange tabby, Rocket. So I doubt we can go that route, but he is free of Feline Leukemia and rabies, I’m going to try to get him to live in the back yard but we’ll see.
I agree with Hetty_Fauxvert, cats live longer indoors, are healthier and I’ve never really had a problem bringing an outside cat inside. You need to give them a chance to get acquainted like keeping the new one in an unused room so the others can smell him and get used to him being there. Then open the door.
Whatever you do, You’ve given this little guy a new lease on life.
Agree with Lx that whatever happens, you’ve certainly helped your kitty friend! So that’s a good thing. Also agree with Lx that the proper way to integrate a new cat is to keep them in a separate room ... really, the longer the better. Even a week is good, if it’s not too much trouble. By the time the week is up, Cat #1 has gotten bored with being indignant, and will probably give the newcomer only the occasional hiss when you allow them to come out. Our cat Samwise (the wonderful Manx we brought in out of the cold) was our third indoor cat, and indeed we had to referee for a couple of weeks until everything settled down. But he was just the most terrific friend ... we still miss him.
Wanted to mention also that if you really want your friend to stick around after you put him outside, you should keep him in an enclosed space outside (like a kennel) for a few days. (This was what the feral cat people told us, and they’ve had a lot of experience.) Feed him there (and of course he’ll need a litter box) and then when you let him out, he kind of sees your yard as his personal property and will stay. (That’s the theory, anyway! :)
You know what is amazing about the little weasel? Come peepee time, he went straight for the litter box, same with #2. I haven’t found anything on the floor.
How do they know?
We recently captured a bunch of feral kittens, tamed them and rehomed them to nice people to become indoor kitties. But one of them in particular *left* his feral mommy's nest and went wandering out into the yard, and he was not even four weeks old! Barely walking, and out to see the world! My sons found him in our yard and brought him in ... and he was a huge pet, purring and wanting to be cuddled and everything, in ONE DAY. He kept that big friendly cuddly personality and he was the first one to be snapped up when it was adoption time. He KNEW he wanted to be a pet and went looking for it! LOL!
So maybe Hobo knows what he wants, too. :o)
(BTW, here's the video we made of the little guy who came to us!)
How’s hobo doing?? Did you end up keeping him as an inside cat?
I kept him in for a few days, all he did was lay around and eat. Then on Friday he started howling and pacing so I let him out on the back porch and the little rascal escaped. I thought I had him barricaded but he wanted out bad and squeezed through a torn part of the screen in the back door, I think.
He was on the porch next morning for breakfast, and again in the evening. He wants to be outdoors, and I can respect that.
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