Kali one week inside

[u/paintingemily]

It's officially been one week since we brought Kali inside. She seems to be getting more comfy inside the room when she's alone -- she particularly enjoys the Ripple Rug, she naps and rolls around on it. Shes using the litter box like a champ every day, and she is eating well but for whatever reason will never eat wet food, even though she got it every morning outside and enjoyed it. Maybe it seems sus still because Churu was used to trap her.

I'm still sus to her though, she still freezes when I am in there, altho maybe a little less terrified. I sat in there a couple hours the other day and she didn't move but she did sleep (or pretend to sleep). Will try to spend more time in there for her to generally get used to me, hopefully can get back to the progress we made outside (eating treats from my lap).

Initially the first few days we blocked access to the rooms door from our cats, but since she seemed so scared, I was hoping letting the cats sniff the door might make her realize it's not so scary, her friends are here (she used to run up to our patio door and rub on it any time she saw the other cats when she was outside). She sniffs at the door sometimes when they aren't there but I don't think she has been on one side of door while one of them was on the other yet. I definitely don't want to rush introductions but wonder if I should move to the visual stage (tall pet gate where they can see but not really touch). It might stress my oldest cat tho (she will take the most convincing that this is a good idea)

[u/trf4121974]

I’m so happy for you and for Kali!!! My former ferals and residents made leaps and bounds once I gave them visual access. You did a wonderful thing for Kali and she might not realize it yet but she will!

[u/paintingemily → u/trf4121974]

Thank you! Yeah I might just move up that step, they aren't strangers anyway like a normal introduction situation.

[u/Sarah_Cenia]

Thanks for the update! It’s nice to see her enjoying herself on the rug. 

[u/yosoyfatass]

This is great! The tall cat gate sounds like a great idea. 😻

[u/this-aint-Lisp]

Why do you do this to stray cat when there are hundreds of perfectly good home cats locked up in shelters who would love nothing more than live inside your house?

[u/paintingemily → u/this-aint-Lisp]

Hey there. I wasn't looking for a fourth cat, but we believe this is better for her in the long run. We had been taking care of Kali and her bonded pair sister for 5 years outside. Her sister died a couple months ago, and she is lonely without her, for months she has made it very clear she wants the companionship of our indoor crew.

As stressful as this is for her, and tbh me as well, we are doing this because we have grown to care a great deal about her, she isn't just "some stray" cat.

[u/whiteorchid1058 → u/paintingemily]

I adopted a semi feral bonded trio who came from a hoarding situation. While it was a lot of work in the beginning, it was totally worth it.

You're doing great and I know that Kali appreciates it 💕

[u/whiteorchid1058 → u/this-aint-Lisp]

Why sour on someone who earned the trust of a cat so that they didn't even need to get into a shelter?

Where do you think a good portion of those shelter cats come from?

[u/Ok_West_2569 → u/this-aint-Lisp]

Surely this was a sarcastic reply.