Not sure I made the right choice
I posted about a month ago when I first took in these two cats. They were rescues from a huge feral colony that got way out of control And they were given to me to be outside barn cats. But I decided it would be better for all of us that they be inside cats. So I made the mega cage inside and I put them in the dining room which is a high traffic area of our house to try to get them accustomed to us.
Every night I go to give treats and try to get them used to us and the girl is coming along nicely. She will take treats from my hand and almost get close enough to pet her, I can see it in the future with her. I'm very pleased with how she's come along in a month.
But the boy has not moved one iota. He still hisses when I get near. He has never taken a treat from me. Neither of them will play with any toys. The boy does occasionally eat in my presence but not often.
I started taking away the hiding caves + only providing boxes that are open to the front with the hopes that increased exposure might help the boy to get friendly, but what happens is the two pile on top of each other and because the girl doesn't mind as us as much she's always in the front and she's kind of the door and blocker so he doesn't have to be around us. And in fact she's always trying to get the treats so I can't get it to him.
I'm thinking about pretty soon. Maybe removing her from the cage and letting just him stay in the cage. Several people have come in my house and said it seems cruel and unusual to make them stay in the cage all winter and not get any exercise, but if I put them in a spare room I know we won't think to go in there very much. I don't know. Is this the right thing?? I might be able to still put them out for the winter in the barn and make them barn cats.
But the truth is when I said I would take two ferals I thought I was going to get old cats and not young cats. I don't know that I'm prepared to take on outside cats that might live 20 years. I don't know that I'm going to be here 20 years. Picture of mega cage attached.
Any advice? Or have you had a cat that you spent now 5 weeks around who hasn't made any move towards friendliness that eventually got friendly? I don't need a lap cat but if he's going to be indoors I want him to have some kind of quality of life and not live hiding under the bed all the time.