Talkative Tabby in my Garage?

About a year a go a pretty vocal tabby(looks about 1, 2 years) somehow got into our garage, after a few days we got her to leave, and thought nothing of it.
Now this winter, turned to every couple of weeks, turned into every couple of days we get visits from her again. I can't blame her because I leave food and water for her each time, I don't mind. And it gets pretty cold where we live, so we didn't mind providing her with warm shelter.
But about a week or 2 ago, when I called to her like I unusually would, she came right over to my door! She was even trying to paw her way into our room, using her head as well. But we can't let her in because we already have 2 cats, and she might be aggressive, or have a disease she could pass to them.

Eitherway, I was hesitant with her because she was a stray, but she got extremely friendly with us. She kept rubbing by the doorway, rubbing on my boyfriends shoes, kneading all over our welcome mat until she fell asleep, and waking up to roll around.
All friendly signs, so we went out to interact with her. She would follow us around, and jump up so that she could nuzzle her head against our hands.

But then she would randomly hiss? She even gave me a warning bite when I was petting her as I previously was.
I don't go out to interact with her anymore, but the moment she hears my voice she'll call back for a while, then run right to the door. Yesterday I even watched her purr and fall right asleep by the door, I had the door wide open. It seems that she feels safe, so why does she randomly hiss?
She's giving us conflicting signals, and I don't really understand her. My boyfriend is starting to get tired of her hot & cold behavior.
Any insight/advice towards this situation would be VERY appreciated, because I'm lost with this cat. I want to help her, but I don't want my other cats, or for anyone else to get hurt.

She also basically walks around kneading, I've never seen a cat do that before.

She may be smelling your other cats when she hisses. True ferals usually don't "meow" - that's human talk, so they don't need it unless they hang out with us. She sounds more like a stray. At the very least, I'd trap her and have her checked at the vet, spayed, shots, etc. Maybe your friend can come over and introduce her/himself and see how the cat reacts.

That's true, she does meow... almost the way a house cat would beg.

But the smell of our cats would upset her? I really didn't know that at all. But I guess it could make sense, I mean it's a strange enough enviroment in it of itself.

What you have is a good idea, but what if she attacks the vet? That's what I kept thinking. I mean her claws are pretty sharp, and I doubt she used to being handled.

Cats are all about smell, so I wouldn't be surprised if that was it. Like you said, its a strange environment for her and then to smell these new cats - whoa!

Give the vet a heads-up about her being a stray. He/she should know how to handle strays/ferals.

And - if she gets worse, she may be ill and she'll need to have attention one way or the other. You don't want to be feeding her and have her attack a neighbor.

Your commitment has started, so you need to follow through.

Originally Posted by Ondine

Cats are all about smell, so I wouldn't be surprised

And - if she gets worse, she may be ill and she'll need to have attention one way or the other. You don't want to be feeding her and have her attack a neighbor.

Your commitment has started, so you need to follow through.

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Very true. I didn't even really think of that actually, but it could happen. I guess we'll see how things go for now, and then make judgement from there. I want to stay committed, but I'm hesitant to go near her now actually.

Her hissing really got to me, I mean I don't want to bother her. But at the same time why was she sending out all these friendly signals? And coming over when I call her?

Eitherway thank you very much.

I read somewhere that before a Queen delivers she rubs on things, is very lovey - then after she delivers - it's time to defend her kittens - the hissing might be she has kittens and doesn't want you to go near them?
If she does have kittens - then they will die without her.

Oh, I'm pretty sure she didn't have babies. She was too thin to be pregnant when she first arrived, and when given the option to leave she doesn't want to. Not that I can blame her.

But yea, she loves my boyfriends shoes. She keeps rubbing her head all over them or falling asleep next to them I'll post some pictures of her up later.

Originally Posted by m_onster

Oh, I'm pretty sure she didn't have babies. She was too thin to be pregnant when she first arrived, and when given the option to leave she doesn't want to. Not that I can blame her.

But yea, she loves my boyfriends shoes. She keeps rubbing her head all over them or falling asleep next to them I'll post some pictures of her up later.

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oh, good - I can take off my worry hat now.

Are you sure she's not pregnant now? She sounds either pregnant or in heat. Cats get awfully friendly and rubbing all over everything when they are in heat. She may be pregnant and so thin you can't tell. She needs a vet visit. How do her nipples look?

Originally Posted by MNJULZ

Are you sure she's not pregnant now? She sounds either pregnant or in heat. Cats get awfully friendly and rubbing all over everything when they are in heat. She may be pregnant and so thin you can't tell. She needs a vet visit. How do her nipples look?

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She shows me her stomach often, so I'd say they're not large or anything, not even noticeable.
Don't cats yowl a lot when they're in heat? I'm not exactly knowledgeable on the subject, I never had a female cat before, so thank you all for giving me a heads up.

Are there any other signs I should look out for if she might be in heat?

here's a picture of her on her stomach btw, maybe you guys might notice something i didn't.

My other cats are both males by the way, but they're both fixed. Could it be she's in heat and their smell is what makes her want to come into the room?

Well, now - she looks like she's asking for a tummy rub

The feral cat - I just got spayed - no yowling from her - one of my first clues that she was in heat was the male (not neutered) "homeless" cat that I've been feeding was hanging around her a lot more.

In her previous pregnancy, I didn't think she was pregnant - then, surprise!! one day I saw two kittens with her!

I don't know what your circumstances are, but, if it were me, I'd haul her off to the vet to have her checked out.
She may already be spayed ???, if not, and she's pregnant - prepare for some kittens especially if she's also an outside cat at this point, and in "season".

If she's in heat, there may be no other signs for now - but the vet would know. Another thing - the "season" probably lasts only about 7 days - from what I've read, and observed from the female feral that I just got spayed. Her "season" was just like a faucet - on one day, and then off. I figure that she became pregnant - maybe that's why her season lasted only 7 days???
But, I'm new to this, that's why, as for me, the vet visit is the next step if you're concerned.

She's not as "skinny" as I pictured from what you said - that belly looks good and round.

If she's pregnant, they will still spay her - that's what they did with the female feral that I just had spayed - I was almost sure she was pregnant because of what I observed - it seems to be a "normal" surgery.

If she's just enjoying your husbands shoes, that's really normal, too - he's walking in something that she likes.

We'll have to take her to the vet then, as soon as we can afford it that is. Currently one of our cats is having breathing problems, he keeps wheezing. So we need to take care of that first.

But anyway, thank you for all the great information! I'm really hoping that she's not pregnant, because that will really complicate things. Meanwhile my boyfriend is hoping that she is, because he's just thinking about playing with kittens.

Something random though,.. Today when Kiwi (the garage cat) was behind the door, with the door closed. Our usually completely docile male hissed at the door, I've never seen him hiss ever. He's been around dogs before too, never hissed. And the other male got agitated at the door, and turned his anger to the other cat.

Is this normal? Or should I worry about this..

Originally Posted by m_onster

We'll have to take her to the vet then, as soon as we can afford it that is. Currently one of our cats is having breathing problems, he keeps wheezing. So we need to take care of that first.

But anyway, thank you for all the great information! I'm really hoping that she's not pregnant, because that will really complicate things. Meanwhile my boyfriend is hoping that she is, because he's just thinking about playing with kittens.

Something random though,.. Today when Kiwi (the garage cat) was behind the door, with the door closed. Our usually completely docile male hissed at the door, I've never seen him hiss ever. He's been around dogs before too, never hissed. And the other male got agitated at the door, and turned his anger to the other cat.

Is this normal? Or should I worry about this..

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First of all, she's adorable. That's not feral behavior at all. Showing belly is a sign of trust. She's a stray most likely. And she likes you guys. Your cats smelled a "stranger" on the other side of the door... likely why they hissed and got into it.

Originally Posted by m_onster

We'll have to take her to the vet then, as soon as we can afford it that is. Currently one of our cats is having breathing problems, he keeps wheezing. So we need to take care of that first.

But anyway, thank you for all the great information! I'm really hoping that she's not pregnant, because that will really complicate things. Meanwhile my boyfriend is hoping that she is, because he's just thinking about playing with kittens.

Something random though,.. Today when Kiwi (the garage cat) was behind the door, with the door closed. Our usually completely docile male hissed at the door, I've never seen him hiss ever. He's been around dogs before too, never hissed. And the other male got agitated at the door, and turned his anger to the other cat.

Is this normal? Or should I worry about this..

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Cat breathing problems: Do you have your litter in a covered litter pan? The dust from the litter is something people don't think of - and - if the dust can't escape, guess where it goes when the cat breathes while covering his/her litter. I discovered a white powder all over my black cat one day when he exited the covered litter pan. The clay claims it was 97% dust free, sure! I now am trying to get them accustomed to the corn litter - but it's still a little dusty. So, I don't use a covered litter pan any more.

But, for your peace of mind - a visit to the vet to rule out things would be a good idea.
Is there a vet clinic nearby where the costs wouldn't burn a hole in your pocket?

Hissing is normal. Most of the time hissing seems to be just a temporary event. It's a warning. My female Feral cat would hiss at me when I was near her kittens, but all I had to do was continue walking in their direction and she would run - I suppose trying to get me to follow her instead of going to her babies. Hissing should still be respected - cats sure respect a hiss.

On another note: re: meowing
another member said something about the cat only meows to people - I think I remember that post correctly.
I don't find this in my experience. My cats talk to each other. And, when the mother feral was communicating with her kittens she meowed to them to call them to come out of hiding. So ??? I believe that they do meow with each other. Mine also "purr talk" - which I find delightful - especially my black and white cat has a melodic meow which is a sweet sounding meow.

I think female cats' personalities are definitely different than males, at least that's been my observation.

You're really doing a good thing taking this cat in - you'll be rewarded.

If you adopt her, I dont think she will fight with your residents.

She is doing now everything she can to "buy her entrance". She will surely do it also with your residents...
I realised this when I wrote a forumist having dogs telling this....

The only exception may be territorial non-shy uncut males. These may beat up the residents. But this is not the the case here!

About your fear she may contagion them with something unpleasant. She IS already rubbing all over in your entrance, no?
If you arent meticoulous with perfect hygiene, the deed is already done....

Of course, if you adopt her, do make a vet check up, etc.

But there shouldnt be great dangers here. Not in behavior with you or the vet, nor sickedness.

Good luck and much pleasure with your new pet!