In any case, he was outside eating when Dh went outside two mornings ago. There are now 3 food bowls out on the outside kitchen, and there was a cat in each bowl. The new cat wasn't 4' from Dh when he went out, and he decided to keep eating, and not run when the door opened, and someone walked out.
Then, this evening, Dh went out and there was the new cat. He acted like he was going to run away, but Dh decided to sit out there and eat his sandwich with them. Again, there was one cat in each bowl.
The new cat decided to stay and eat. That he eats with the other two cats (I could feed them in here, but it's still warm, and it's good for the new cat to eat with the others.) is a good sign. They got into a tussle this morning, but apparently all has been forgiven. You have to let the old and new cats work things out...within' reason.
Since I don't think that he's an actual feral cat, born in the wilds, he must have been in terrible stress over being left by his people, because really, there's no other way for him to get here, almost. And, that's an old MO of people who are in an area like mine - abandon cats into the wilderness. I don't know what people are thinking sometimes.
Anyway, left by his people, having to catch his own food - probably for the first time in his life, having wild animals around him - some not friendly to cats, not to mention strange cats and dogs around him from my place and the houses on both sides of me, having to sleep outside - again, probably for the first time, and having to find water. In a drought, at this time of year, it's not as easy to find as it is at other times of year.
I think that seeing the same cats (mine) day after day now, having food and water put out for him every day, seeing friendly people each day, etc. is helping him to unwind, though. He now suns up here in the mornings, and looks more relaxed than he ever has.
I'm not saying that he'll be curled up by the hearth tomorrow, but there's already been a change for the better.
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