First foster cat

[annabradley]

I'm fostering a big black and white stray. He's been here a little over a month. He's back to good health and eating well. He stays in my spare room, and is socialized to me. He loves to be scratched, held and played with. Here's the thing. He will not come out of the room. I tried the procedure in the cat introductions post, where you switch places - put the resident cat in the room, and the new cat in the other rooms. He went nuts, crying, trying to get away from me, and trying to hide. My cat, Honey, wasn't even there (I had put her in the spare room). Is there another intermediate step I can take? Should I leave him in the spare room for a while longer? Any recommendations?
Thanks,
Anna B.

[Traci]

Refresh my memory, has he been tested for FELV/FIV?

Have you tried simply leaving the door open so he can investigate at his own leisure?

[annabradley]

Yes, he's been tested and is negative. He's due to be neutered the first week in December, and he'll get the rest of his vaccines then. Yes, I leave the door open, but he won't come out.
Anna B.

[Traci]

What has his reaction to Honey been like?

Is there something else in the home that he seems to be afraid of? (reaching here, but for example, the furnace is noisy next to his room, things of that nature)

Have you literally taken him out by holding him, and walking through the house with him in your arms?

Try taking a can of cat food, a can opener, opening the can, letting him smell it, then encouraging him to follow you down the hall, etc....or use treats, or drag a string from the room down the hall, etc. Try at least once or twice a day for a few days. If you've named him, talk to him on a constant basis, using his name frequently in your "conversation", and then try calling his name from around the corner to see if he'll be curious enough to come out.

[annabradley]

He's afraid of her. I've taken him out in my arms, and when he sees her she hisses, and he freaks out, trying to jump down then run away. That was when I tried the thing mentioned in the introductions post, where you put the resident cat in the room, and take the new cat out into the other rooms. He still freaked out and tried to hide, then run back to "his" room. I will try luring him out a little at a time. I'm hoping to get him through this part of it before he gets neutered next week, but it is obviously going to take a lot more time than I thought.
Anna B.

[Traci]

Well, just take it slow and try to encourage him each day to follow you out of the room, or at least show a response to you when you call his name from around the corner.

Perhaps you might also try getting Honey and he in the same room together, and just supervise. Don't intervene unless there is a physical attack. Otherwise, let them adjust to one another at their own leisure. Hissing, spitting and growling are all normal during initial introductions, it is only physical fights and attacks you want to avoid and intervene as necessary.

[annabradley]

I've been putting them on separate couches in the living room and letting them hiss and growl and fuss all they want. He's getting less freaked out, but I still have to hold him there. They don't approach each other, and it seems to be easing up a bit. I'll just have to keep trying.
Thanks,
Anna B.

[annabradley]

Well, good news. He came out of the room about 4 feet down the hall tonight. He laid down there and just waited for a while. I didn't want to scare him, so I just acted like it was normal. After about 15 min. he went back into "his" room. Sounds like nothing, but it was the first time out of the room without me forcing him. He's just a slow learner, I guess.
Anna B.

[Traci]

Is he healing well from his head and eye injuries? Or does he still seem to be painful? It could be he associates the injuries and may be more fearful of another cat nearby. If he is truly feral (no prior socialization or handling from human interaction), it could take some time for him to warm up to both you and Honey. It sounds like he is very receptive of you, but it may take him longer to adjust to Honey. Be patient and continue to calmly encourage him. His coming out of his room last night was a big step!!

[annabradley]

Yes, he is fully recovered. He goes in next week to be neutered. I hope that will not be a big setback. Yes, he was completely feral. They only caught him because he was severely injured and it was infected. He is good with people now, but you are right. He is not so good with other cats. It's funny, because he outweighs Honey, 13 pounds to 6, but he is afraid of her. Might be the memories of fights in the past. Anyway, he seems to be getting better little by little. Thanks for your help,
Anna B.