Felix-Do I Keep Him or Adopt Him Out?

Good morning SMFM! I vote to keep the little guy. Your adult cats are just defending what they feel is there territory. I suggest you get some feliway working thru the house to calm them down. Introduce Felix slowly, an hour or two at a time.

Once the adults see he is no threat, they will come around. I have found that the kitties that are rescued off the street are the ones who will show you everyday how grateful they are.

I know that whatever you decide to do, Felix is very lucky for your intervention at this point in his life. You saved him and he knows it.

I think the “not wanting to go through kitten crazies” would weigh more heavily than Sylvester and Mia growling at him. I honestly think (from my experience) that there is no good way to introduce an new animal on a “trial basis”….just to see how it will go because (again, in my experience) it always looks like it is going to be a disaster. If either of my two additions had been a “let’s see how it goes, maybe we’ll keep them” we wouldn’t have kept them….the hissing and growling were awful. But now they are friends and most likely your three would learn to be too, especially once they started spending unbarracaded time together. With enough supervised visits you could gage when you felt safe leaving Felix alone with them.

If you decide to find a home for him, I bet you could find a great one. Maybe the other foster moms here would have good ideas for finding a home for him. I know Craig’s list has worked for some. Also, I wonder if you could work with the Humane Society or something and take him to one of their adoption events.

I forgot to add….I remember how time consuming it is to have one in isolation and to have to take the time to spend with them. That is so rough. Sorry it’s interfering with getting to work on time.

The worst thing for me when I got Milo was that he had to live in quarantine in the bathroom for two weeks because he was sick. He required extra attention, reasurrance and special foods and meds. And then there was Bobby who needed attention, reassurance and love, too. I was exhausted and felt like I wasn’t being fair to either cat since I didn’t have enough time to spend with them. So I understand how you feel now, but understand that sooner or later, Felix can come out of the bathroom and that’ll make things so much easier! As for his safety, what I did with Milo (even after they started getting along) was to leave him in the bathroom while I was away, for another few weeks. I then gradually started leaving them both out while I ran a short errand, etc. and didn’t leave them together until I felt I could trust them both.

As for the kitten crazies – Bobby was a terror! Milo was not. You know why? Because he had Bob to play with. Felix would have both Sylvester and Mia to play with and to tire him out. Honestly, I don’t even remember Milo having the crazies at all.

Have tou tried putting Felix in a closed carrier and brought him put to Sylvester and Mia so they can get a bit more up close with him? If you do, maybe introduce him to one of them at a time so it’s less frightening for him.

And I would suggest you don’t wait too long to introduce them in the same roo

The smaller and seemingly harmless Felix looks to them, the easier I believe it’ll be.

And last but not least: keep him!!!!!

How old do you think Felix is now? Unless you find someone you are completely comfortable will continue babying him for a while, I would wait until he is at least 12-13 weeks old to make a decision. He should stay with his mama, human or feline, until that age anyway. You may find out that Mia and Sylvester have calmed down by then. You may also find that having a kitten in the house brings out the playfulness in your older two.

When you are home in the evening do you put Mia and Sylvester in the bathroom for a while and let Felix roam? That will help acclimate them to each other. Feeding the older cats outside the little one’s door helps too, as it lets them know that the new one isn’t going to cut into their food supply.

A new addition always causes some trouble in the hierarchy. As Felix is a kitten he will acclimate better into your crew than an adult cat,you will need to shower Sebastian and Mia with attention which I’m sure you do anyway. If you’re unsure and you want to check the waters to see if there’s a home for him maybe you could put his picture at your vet. I would stay away from CL,they want free kittens and in my experience resent any implications that they should need further care much less neuter/spay. Maybe try posting in petfinder and see but I doubt you’re going to find anyone near your(all of our) standards to raise Felix. I may be wrong. Just my 2 cents.

IMO Felix has found his home and picked his wonderful person already. 🙂

Sounds like a good plan, Karin!

By the way, my two still growl at eachother every now and then when they get annoyed with eachother.

All these are great suggestions! I agree keeping the boy till he is at least 10-12 weeks is the way to go. You may find that your cats would miss the little guy if he left!

Keeo up the Feliway, keep mixing scents. I found a dab of vanilla on each cat’s back of the neck area made them all smell the same and be happy.

Also, have you tried introducing a treat whenever you bring out Feliz? Toy, catnip, or food. Maybe they will come to associate him with good things!

Karin, hugs I see this is weighing on ya. I remember when i brought mystie home. max was aggressive in yowls, growls and evening hissing. Remember you came and saw my baby when she was so tiny. I had her in the playpen. Maybe a playpen or sorts will help you let them interact while keeping felix totally safe as well as visible to the other two to get acquainted better. Maybe the behind doors then brought in is causing the issues. if he’s healthy and ready to go I’d try the playpen. it’s big enough to put litter food and water and a place to lay. Also this will help you out if it goe sin your room. Because then no one is getting ousted concenring litter boxes and the such. Just an idea.

Also I’ve had max 3 years now and mystie 2. Only this summer have they started runnign aorund almsot 24/7 without one getitng detained in the room adn the other in the house. With our scheduels we have been able to relax enough to leave tem unattended for 2 to 3 hours with out worrying over it, because one of us is home and able to step in when needed.

Also, Max tends to become very play aggressive and sometimes he’s pissy and take sit out my tormenting Mystie. She boxes him and hisses and growls and does the hole posturing and he’s too dominant some days and then they get seperated. Also Mytie has some hidey holes she tends to hide in when she notices max is on the war path.

I hope concenring Felix you can come up with something to relieve your mind and help you adjust to what ever you choose.