Cat experts! Help needed (update on abandoned cat)

[nancielle]

I'm hoping some of the cat experts out there can help me. I posted recently in the "Show us your pets" thread of the abandoned cat that's been hanging around my apartment building. A couple of days ago a small, local volunteer TNR program agreed to help get the cat medical care and to get him neutered. Because he's not feral none of us felt comfortable about releasing him back to the street. He returned back to my building today and I have him inside. He hasn't really eaten anything but he's drinking up a storm! And he appears to not know what a litter box is for.

Any idea of how to box train him?

Here's a picture I took of him shortly after he arrived home.

[IMG][/IMG]

He's in a very sunny window (with a breeze today! Yay!!) curled up in the basket, periodically napping and on the lookout for an overly affectionate dog and a much less enthusiastic resident cat.

[jessmarimba]

Try a litterbox with leaves and dirt, to start. Or pine needles and dirt (the pine sort of neutralizes their pee and doesn't smell as bad). Or maybe sand (didn't catch where you're from to guess what he's used to). He would probably rather go there than your carpet! Then you can gradually add litter and take away nature as he gets used to it.

Both of mine were strays/wild at one point. They can be remarkably picky about cat food after living from dumpsters or what not, but he'll eventually be hungry enough to eat. Maybe try putting his food where he won't feel as vulnerable - near a corner, but far enough out so he can sit behind the bowl and watch outward.

Thanks for taking him in! Good luck!

[PamNY]

Nothing to add but good luck and bless you. I took in a similar cat years ago and it all (eventually) worked out beautifully.

[badger]

there's a brand of kitty litter out there infused with feliway (can't remember the brand, but saw it at Petcetera). You may want to try that and just plunk him in there. More often than not cats know where to go when they need to go, unlike dogs who need to be taught.

I've not had any experience with feral cats, aside from leaving food out for them, but by the sounds of it your kitty wasn't feral by birth or you wouldn't be able to touch him. He probably just needs to be able to relax and take a breath and eventually figure out what/where the litter box is.

Good luck, and thank you for helping him - I'm sure it's no coincidence he was hanging around your apartment!

[nancielle]

Thanks for the suggestions.

I believe this cat had been owned by people who lived in the building behind mine. I first spotted him over the winter and he was wearing a collar at that time. It was around the time that some of the people living there moved out (mid-spring) that I noticed he was our yard more and no longer had a collar.
Eventually he took up residence under one of the porches here. When he did start seeking some attention another tenant and I noticed how ridiculously skinny he was...if you look at him from above he just looks like fur stretched over bones. I bought a stash of food that I kept in my car to feed him. When he started sneaking into the building and sleeping outside my door, I decided something needed to be done to help the poor little guy.

I'm thinking now that perhaps the events of the previous 24 hours just wore him out and he needed some down time rather than a meal (crated up, going with rescue volunteer, vet, surgery, back home here). He ate a little bit this morning. He has his own litter box so I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

[alexis_the_tiny]

I think the cat will be fine. If he's been stressed by the last 24 hours (certainly sounds like it), he probably wants a safe space where the resident cat and dog can't get to him. If you have a room to spare, put him in there with food, water and his litter box and close the door. He'll eat when he's ready and cats pretty much understand what a little box is for. You should only worry if he refuses to touch a single scrap of food for more than 48 hours, in which case, take him to the vet. Otherwise, he'll be just fine.

Its so great that you took him in, enjoy your new cat! =D