Just brought a new cat in. He's in a cage. What now?

Question

I could let him out of the cage but he'd just take off and hide somewhere else like he's already done. He's hiding/sleeping in a box, in a cage. He has food and a little box. I don't know what to do with him or how to introduce him to my other 3.
How long do I leave him in the cage until hes more comfortable? He's been living outside for a year but he's friendly, he's not mean right now he's just scared and skittish. How long does this take.. Any suggestions?

I feel kind of bad though. He used to love it outside until the tom cats claimed the terrotory and chased him off into hiding. He even had street smarts (main road and highway ramps) Now he's stuck in a house and can look out windows of the acres and miles of land he used to roam on. But he's so little and not a fighter..he's going to get killed out there:(

He's been checked by a vet he's just not neutured yet. Not sure if that will be a problem with my boys who are fixed.

He's 1 1/5 but he's not "feral". He was dumped by some guy because he was "spraying".He's friendly, social and will go to anyone who seems nice but he's now skittish because he's been bullied and in catfights. The tom cats have been picking on him so he flinches a lot and has scabs from fights.

I don't have a spare room I could let him loose in but the cage is in a room by itself. He's been hiding in his box since and hasn't touched his food.

I can't let him back outside, it's like sending him to his death sentence. He comes around every few weeks after he gets and skinny and is desperate for food. He was lying in my driveway waiting for me to feed him which is how I caught him today.

Thanks all for the suggestions. I want to do this right.

hmm you guys were right. He came around after a day in the cage hiding in his cardboard box. He waited untill nightime to come out and eat and use the litter box. Then the next day he started coming around and I let him out by himself in a room but he still has to stay in the cage most of the time. He hasn't been to the vet yet so no cat meetings.

Answer 1

Has he been Felv/Fiv tested, neutered, vaccinated dewormed? Just checking before you let him loose with yours! Let the others come up to his cage and sniff. There will be a bunch of unhappy cats at first...quite normal when introducing. Could take weeks for them to adjust. Keep him in a separate room for several weeks until they get used to his presence and smell. If he is kind of feral or just not used to being inside, he could always remain skittish. Time will tell.

Answer 2

Is the cat older than a year? If so, it's possibly the cat has been living outdoors longer than one year, and it's possible that it's feral, despite being friendly to you.
While outside, was the cat friendly to every person, or only you? It's not unusual for a feral to become attached to one person, but often those cats still will never be happy living inside. You eventually might have to put this cat back outside, and feed it there.

But for now, I'd put the cat in a room by itself, and let it out of the cage. Put it's food, water and litter box in there, and go in and spend time with him each day for a few days. It will take a few days just for him to adjust to being indoors, and he doesn't need the stress of the other cats right now.

After a few days, take items the other cats have been around (so their scent is on it) and put it in the room with the new cat. Then in another day or so, let the cats smell each other under the door. After a couple more days, allow the cats to be together (maybe just two at a time) while you supervise.
There will likely be a fight or two, and they may not be friendly at all for while, but if this new cat isn't a feral, he will adjust. Even tame cats might not get along with a newcomer for months.

Please give this new cat time to adjust without meeting the other cats, since this cat has been outside for so long. If the new cat isn't friendly even to you inside, then that's a good sign it's feral, and needs to go back outside.

Good luck.

P.S. Since you don't have a spare room for the new cat, would you be able to keep your cats in the bedroom for a few days? It really would be better if it's possible. And if he's been fighting with other strays, I'd definitely get him tested for leukemia before putting him in with your cats.
Thanks for trying to help him.

Answer 3

I saw a tv program on this. Its quite interesting. You need to keep him in a kennel for a few days with the door closed. This give them all time to smell each other out and the newbie time to observe the natural order of the other cats. It also gives him a place he is comfortable and knows he is safe. Then you unlock the door but only open it a smidge, he can come out if he wants...after a few days and playing with it a bit he will come out. Then you start leaving the door open all the way, he can go back in when he wants too, the other cats can check it out while he is out checking out the house...before you know it he won't be going back in the kennel and the other cats won't care that he is there. It probably takes a week or two total.

Answer 4

Put him in a room by himself with food, water and a litter box. Let the other cats have a couple of days to smell him under the door and get used to his presence in "their" house. You can rub him with a towel, especially around the face and then rub the towel on the others to get them used to his scent, and do the same with them. After a few days you can let him out with you present to supervise-it's OK if he hides, he'll come out eventually. Once several such supervised interaction times have gone smoothly you can let him roam freely. It generally takes about a week for all involved to become comfortable. Even then there may be some hissing and confrontation but they usually work it out amongst themselves with no real harm done. Good luck to you and your kitties.

Answer 5

I would let him adjust to the surroundings of your home and take in new smells and sights and allow him to socialize with the other cats from inside the cage. And then when he seems more suited, open the cage and allow him to explore your house, but don't bring him outside because he may try to escape. Don't force the cats to meet eachother, they are living in the same house and they will eventually con into contact with eachother and sniff, etc. It may take a while getting used to, of they could be best friends in no time!

Answer 6

It's going to take a while, especially if you have three other cats who have already staked our their territorial claims. Best thing to do for now is to leave him in the cage, but leave the door open so he can come in and out when he's ready. If he runs and hides, that's a natural reaction. He will come back to get food.

Answer 7

It's absolutely GREAT that you're keeping him inside. Even if you think it's torture for him, in the long run he'll be plenty thankful. Bring him out when you are home and introduce him to the others. Dangle string in front of all of them. Take him out for short periods of time, each time gradually getting longer. Get him neutered ASAP because your cats might have issues with that. Cats can take up to a few weeks to get acclamated to each other.

Good luck!

Answer 8

You should just leave the cage door open until he believes it is the time for him to come out and explore. I guarantee that it will most likely be when everyone is asleep so nobody scares him and so he can get used to the house and your other 3 cats. He will be the one to determine when it is time for him to come out of the cage.

Answer 9

I think you should put the cage near your other cats and let them meet. I have no clue on how to get him use to the new surrondings.

Answer 10

give him a little time to get to know people and his surroundings
thats how i got my cat to like my place.