Getting Macduff upstairs

[K & L]

He may never venture up there if he feels secure where he is. We have one feral that basically lives in our computer room. She chose this spot since the litter boxes are there along with food and water. She never ventures far from there. Forcing the issue just might set him back.

[Killearn Kitties]

From your post, it sounds to me like food would be the best way to get him up. How about putting his food a few steps up from the bottom and see what happens. If he is happy to come and eat it, you could start feeding him further and further up the stairs.

My cats were feral when they appeared in the garden and I know all about how long it can take to get them inside, but Macduff obviously trusts you already, so hopefully it will be a bit easier to get him to come upstairs.

[Lizzie]

While Macduff does feel very secure downstairs, and it is his space, he's far less comfortable there than he used to be. His two friends died a few years ago, they were quite a bit older than him. I brought in Taranis as his companion and Los as Ted's companion. Ted objected strongly to Los (she is very objectionable) so I moved her downstairs and Macduff has tolerated her quite well, even letting her snuggle beside him. However, last year I took in an abandoned tom and he's trying to assert his dominance over Macduff now. The dynamics are very different from a few years ago. Tom and Los are great playmates and Macduff is odd man out, and pestered by both of them to boot. It really is in his best interests to move upstairs, I wouldn't bother him at his age if it wasn't.

I've only had the door open when I've been around, so I know he hasn't made it up the stairs. This weekend, I'll set up the bedroom downstairs with litter boxes so that Tom and Los can spend nights in there and the door to upstairs will be open all night. The only problem is that Taranis will wander down there and Tom will react the next day by peeing on wherever she has been. That's what he did last weekend. He's now on Clomacalm. Ah, cat dynamics! Don't they make life interesting.

I'll also try food treats on the stairs during the day (after locking up Taranis who is a piggy).