Hello and thanks for reading my post.

One week ago today I could not bear to let a feral cat that I had been feeding for the last 3 months to go another day in the cold Michigan weather. (This feral rejected my attempts to make a warm outside shelter for him with an insulated doghouse and electric heater - he would only come for food/water.) Back in October I could not even step out onto my porch without this little guy scurrying away. About 5 minutes after I would put food down and go back into the house he would reappear and practically inhale an entire can of fancy feast. As the weeks went by, he would react the same when I would come out to put food down - BUT would stay more in my view instead of going into hiding. In the last month he started showing up for dinner AND also breakfast. There were times that I think he sat outside in front of my door for hours, waiting for me to wake up and feed him.

So, last week was the week that I could not stand it anymore. With the night temperatures down in the single and low double digits, I found myself not being able to sleep because I was worried about him. My husband bought a live trap and he went right in for food, without much hesitation. We took him to our local vet where he was tested for feline lukemia and HIV, both negative. He was treated for fleas, and was neutered. We brought him home and let him have free reign of our basement. (It is completely furnished, and is a walk-out basement so he also has a window to look out of.) He immediately took safety under a couch and that is where he goes to for safety whenever we come downstairs to "visit". I talk to him in a soft voice and always bring a treat down when I go downstairs to visit with him which is 6-8 times a day. I don't want to just let him have free reign of the entire house because I don't know how he will act with my other cats, and I have to be concerned about my senior kitty who has health issues. He has not hissed at me yet but sometimes has a low growl if I get too close. He has come out from under the couch once while I was in the room to eat, but it was obvious he was very frightened. He is using a litter box, and has never sprayed anywhere. My six year old son has named him NIGEL.

So, I would appreciate any advice from all of you who have had some feral cat experience. Am I going about this wrong? Should I just let him be upstairs with the rest of the family? Will that scare him more? Will he EVER let me pet him or ever enjoy living here? Also I have heard of Feline lukemia/HIV being "dormant" in cats and coming out later. Should I be concerned of that since I have other cats?

I know that this is a long post, and to anyone who took the time to read it thank you in advance. I really want this little guy to be happy and appreciate any advice.

Nicole

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