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Anonymous
dear /an/

I have a question for you all regarding kitties.
There's a cat (about 1 year old now) who lives outside; he first lived three houses down, but his owner didn't want him and he was living feral - our next door neighbours took him in out of sympathy, but now that he's outgrown the 'cute' stage and they have a kid with asthma, he lives outside permanently, even in the rain and during storms, and is only let in for meals; though I don't think he even gets them half the time, because he's skinny as a rake.

I'm a total soft touch over cats, and I always give him a fuss when I see him - I've set up a dry den with blankets for him in the shed when it's raining. He's started coming inside- I don't mind, though we don't feed him- and even when we don't notice we often find him sleeping upstairs on the bed. He's friendly, lovely, has no fleas and has been neutered and everything.

However, I also have a cat who's 14 years old and now refuses to go outside because of her age and health - she's never gotten on with other cats, and when she comes face to face with this new kitty she starts getting defensive, and he hisses back at her and often chases her about, because he's younger and more aggressive.

However, she's obviously letting him get past where she sleeps downstairs to let him get upstairs... We're tempted to take him in as a permanent resident because he's got nowhere else to go, but our cat has a problem with nerves and has always started pulling out her fur and losing weight whenever we try to take in new pets.

Any suggestions? Our older cat comes first, but we can't keep overlooking such a young cat being left to fend for himself all the time. What should we do?

Photo of him posted.
>> Anonymous
Keep the new cat as an outdoor cat, but feed it unlike your shitty neighbors.
>> Anonymous
territory thing, the older cat wont accept your new kittycat so... when you let him in keep your oldie in a room where he cant see him. just get them both their own corner and pet them both a lot..releases stress for them and you:)
>> Anonymous
>>98025

If we take him in, we want to take him in fully- half the reason we want to do something about it is because he's so small and, living in England, it's bloody freezing and stormy here at the moment.

>>98029

Permanently? We don't really want to have to keep them locked in rooms all the time; the new kitty generally tends to only sleep in one room anyway, but we don't want to have to keep worrying about letting him wander.
>> Anonymous
Put 1 of the cats inside one of your rooms and shut the door, leave the other one outside of the door, this way they can kind of get to know eachother, and get used to one another and not get into fights, they might hiss and everything but atleast they're not clawing eachothers eyes out. It might take a few days, do it for atleast an hour a day for the next few days and see what happens.
>> Bitter Anon !!WJLRQ1cwCyZ
Thank you for not killing the cat because he stepped into your yard. And for being a generally good person.

Honestly, I'm not sure what I'd do in your situation. Perhaps take said cat to a cat rescue-place (NOT 'the pound'), where a fixed, healthy, friendly and outgoing cat should get adopted quick (well, after the adorable kittens). Maybe keep him outside only, or on the first floor with limited access to other rooms? Or keep the old lady upstairs? I have a 16 year old cat that beats up on snailkitten(lulz teenage pregnancy), she really used to try and KILL her when we got snailkitten. I know your situation is reversed, I'm just giving an example. Anyway, they have kind of figured out who is the boss, and hardly ever tussle now. Maybe you could just.. wait it out? Or give extra special affection to them whenever they are nice? Ie, sit on the couch and dish out treats to both, pet them both, whatever?
>> copycat
This is amazing. Our "stories" are almost exactly alike! Not only that, our kitties look the same. If this thread still exists in the next day or two, I will post a pic of our own feral friend and some more advice. I am just too exhausted right now. Though I think your old kitty may be too set in her ways to accept a virile (in a way), young stranger.
Keep them in separate rooms and introduce them slowly by allowing them to sniff each other under the door or through a slightly opened door crack. If you can keep them separate like this for a few days, they will both calm down enough (probably) to slowly let them together. Use different toilets and food/drink bowls. Good luck!
>> copycat
>>98032
Geez. Where did you get this advice from? Great minds think alike?
>> Anonymous
>>98033
I'm a sucker for cats- I couldn't just leave him after all the crap he's been through.

Reason we haven't taken him to an adoption center is that he's really, really happy here- there are the Bearcats that both live on the other side of our house, and they're really good friends - we don't have the heart to split them up, 'cause they look so cute sleeping in a kitty pile XD He's really happy here- that's half the reason no one's taken him away yet.

The rewards thing is a good idea- we might give it a shot =) He's sleeping on my bed at the moment, and old lady's downstairs, so soon as she wanders up I'll give it a shot. Thanks!
>> Anonymous
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>>98036

What does your other kitty look like? This is our old lady :)
Sorry about the large size- too lazy to fix XD
>> copycat
>>98039
Our feral cat looks exactly like your feral friend. If you are still interested, I will probably post his image here within 48 hours.
>> Anonymous
>>98042

I'll keep an eye out - I'm a sucker for black and white kitties ;D Ours also has a little ginger patch behind his right ear, but he won't hold still long enough for me to take a photo of it XD
>> Anonymous
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Here's him sleeping right now :)
>> copycat
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>>98049
I decided to dig out his photo out after all, but don't expect any more coherent thoughts from me. I live in Australia and it is after midnight.
Having said that, our cat "stories" really are alike! Thanks for posting, it was interesting to see.
>> Anonymous
>>98055

He's so adorable!
You're right- they do look alike :)

Thanks for the help - I'll keep everyone updated on how it goes!