2YO former stray. He waddles when he walks but otherwise is fully mobile and able to run, jump, and climb stairs. His GP was a bit shocked when we took the xray but mostly had 0 concerns given he has a generally high QOL and is healthy.
How long do you give integrations before giving up? Toast is a stray I neutered and brought inside. He has been in my house for 6 months now but has made 0 progress integrating with my 5 resident cats. I have tried to do everything by the books: scent and site swapping, feeding at a closed door, treats and play at a gate. Unfortunately, we haven't progressed past the baby gate. Toast is fine as long as there's a treat involved but as soon as the food goes away he gets aggressive and tries to push through the gate to attack. 4 of my 5 residents are cool with him through the gate (until he gets aggressive) but my 5th cat still growls and hisses at him incessantly.
We also had an incident back in February where he accidentally got access to my girl cat and brutally attacked her. She needed stitches and a drain and had a bruised pelvis, it was horrible. That was a mistake completely on me because he wasn't supposed to have access to her, but all that to say, I don't feel comfortable graduating past the gate until he stops showing aggression because I know he can do real damage.
I love Toast and want to keep him but feel bad that he's been living separately in his own room for 6 months now (he gets 1-2 hours at night where everyone else gets put away and he can walk the house freely and receives plenty of attention, but still).
Is 6 months long enough that I should accept that he just can't live with other cats and try to find a new situation for him or is this normal pace for a former stray Tom?