Need Help with Feral (or Stray) Cat!

Last Friday night we discovered a cat with kittens on our patio underneath the shelf of the BBQ grill. The incident was very traumatic for all of us. We don't use the patio a lot, but were out there with our 3-year-old granddaughter playing with a bubble blower and a stack of old foam letter tiles that were stacked right on that shelf. Even our little dog was in and out for a period of at least 20-30 minutes. Suddenly there was a scuffle and a loud, horrible noise from the corner under the BBQ grill, and a small animal was "pushed" out. When we looked, we saw it was a kitten (it looked like it's eyes were closed)and that there was a mama cat cowering underneath. I got everybody indoors, went back out there and kind of pushed the kitten (using a piece of the foam tile) so she was within reach of the mama. Then (keep in mind I am absolutely clueless about cats), I went out and tried to put a dish of water near her--too near her as she reached out and knocked the bowl out of may hands up into my face. I spoke with some rescue people who told me to put food and water out for her. So I went and bought dry and wet cat food. By this time it was dark, so I turned on the patio light, opened the door with my "stuff" and set it down. No sooner did I set the stuff down, but the cat came FLYING out from under the grill and leapt at me as I went flying back into the house and shut the door. The door to the patio is a regular (not sliding) door that is almost all window. The mama cat hit the door, and then flung herselt at it a couple more times. The next morning, I looked out at her, and she actually sat at the door, rather nicely and looked at me. But later, my son-in-law looked out at her (I think he met her gaze too long and too directly?) and she went nuts attacking the door again. Its been a week now. I haven't seen or heard those kittens since that first night. II am managing to get food and water to her, but the one time my husband tried to lean over the patio wall to set food on the floor for her, she attacked him and left puncture wounds on his shoulder (they are fine, did not fester or swell--we treated them right away with Neosporin). So now, we pretty much just pour kitten food over the wall, and we put water ON the ledge. She jumped up on the ledge one morning in attack mode but I got away. THIS morning, however, after my husband poured food over (and she attacked the bag in the process), he tried to put water on the ledge, and she jumped OVER the ledge to the ground and jumped at him. He had on long pants and he pushed her away with his foot, sort of kicked her I'm afraid, but not hard. At that point she backed off, and sat down, then jumped back on the patio.  But she had already knocked over all the water dishes. My husband actually snuck BACK OUT and slid a bowl of water on the OTHER side of the ledge, so she has some water. However, he wasn't able to get ice in it I don't think and it's going to get reall hot out there. I've been in contact with the feral cat group, which is large and very well organized her in Las Vegas, and they are saying I should continue to feed and water her for another 4-5 weeks, at which point they will trap, neuter, and return, trying to get her AND her (possible) kittens. I don't have a YARD, all I have is a small patio attached to a small condo. I don't mind loaning it her, but I'm not going to give it to her forever. Also, I am SCARED TO DEATH OF HER. On the other hand, I also feel some kind of irrational affection for her, and I feel responsible, totally, for her well-being. Frankly, I'm the kind of person who gets extremely emotional about this type of thing. I'm worried sick (literally) about this cat and her kittens and whether they are alive someplace on the patio hidden, or someplace else hidden, or just dead out there or  someplace. Also, now that she has actually come OVER the patio wall, I'm concerned about liability. There is an internal sidewalk inside the condo complex, that goes RIGHT PAST that wall, albeit about 4 feet away. People walk past there all the time. I also keep thinking about how my little granddaughter could have been hurt--she was right out there, inches away from that cat, playing with those foam letter tiles. ALSO (I know I'm going on and on...sorry), we're having a heat warning here, and it's forecast to get up to 111 degrees today. That's why I wanted to MAKE SURE she has water. Anybody here have any thoughts as to whether or not those kittens might be alive someplace? If they're NOT, I could have the TNR people out now. Also, I'm told different things by different people as to whether this type of aggression is within the normal range. I would expect her to hiss, and may reach out to claw, but actually JUMPING at us in attack mode--is that at all normal? I know her discovery was traumatic for her. She probably thought she had found a safe place, and all of a sudden....well---NOT.

Wow, what a adventure for you folks!   You do have my deepest admire.  Most would probably make the process short here...  But you not only do endure, but alse care for her and her kittens, doing your outmost to give her food and water, even at personal danger...  Respect. Deep respect.

Common behavior from the mom? Nay, such behavior is well from the average.  Moms ARE supposed to be protective, even high strung.  If you were a tom cat she would react exactly so.  But it is unusual they are SO high strung towards people, and especielly towards people whom try to be nice to her, who brings food. In whoms patio she does takes shelter...

I suppose she is highly stressed, and thus dont take in the calming vibes, the defensive mode on.

There IS perhaps some other enemy around there, whom she is watchful against...

Yes, if you are willing to continue to help her, this is probably the only way to go...

Especielly, as no foster is probably willing,  to take in such a aggressive mom.

Very few fosters works with such ones.

A more normal docile mom isnt difficult to have inside, even if she is aggressive in the first moments.

But this here is several niveus above...

Perhaps one idea: exactly just because of it, it would be good to take the kittens as early as feasible. To foster them while they are still young kittens, well before the 8 weeks mark. Preferably before they are 6 in this case.  For the mom, it is of course only TNR which comes in question.

Lets hope others will fill in.

Good luck!

     Welcome to our Forums!

I think I would contact the TNR organization and see if they can come out now. If they need to, they can find foster homes for the kittens. As Stefan says, with the way mommy cat is acting, it would be better to get them early, before she teaches them to be as afraid of humans as she is.

That being said, her behavior is way over the top, even if she's scared. I am hoping she isn't sick. Either way, the TNR organization should be able to offer more guidance.

Thanks for trying to help her.

Thank you! I have spoken to one of the volunteers, but I left another message today asking for the man who runs it to call me. I mean I understand that "there are kittens all over the place" right now, but I think my situation is unique. On the other hand, I think I saw the kittens under there today! This feels like good news, but again, it complicates things. I, myself, can't foster these babies. I have a very high strung rescue dog that does NOT like cats (or most dogs for that matter...I'm working with her).
When mama kitty is snoozing on the patio, she looks so sweet.
I'm going to keep trying to take peeks under to see if the kittens are there. It makes a big difference to me. I'll see if the organization calls back, I hope they have help to offer...

Also, I think I have figured out where the kittens are being kept--she has,,I think, kind of made a house for them with a lightweight fleece blanket on,the patio, that actually butts right up,to,her place under the grill. I think they,are under there. I swear I saw a black and white kitty under the grill with her a bit ago. I saw that color kittie the first night. Mama is a gray tiger (with beautiful green eyes). It's really hard for me to see under there cause I can't get close...I could have just seen her belly, but I don't think so, I'm thinking we just need to be much more careful about how and when we feed and water her. The two times she really came OUT and attacked she was really already riled. This morning she was riled by the sound of the food being poured over, so we should have waited to put out water.
Man oh man, it's hard to be nice to some creatures. :/
I hope I can vent on here because well, I need emotional support.

Oh, and the cat coalition just called. They basically said its kitten season and we are on the list. I'd better quit bugging them, and just be careful. She said my other option is to call animal control. Can't do it.

She is probably not feral, as a true feral would not repeatedly attack like that---they prefer to avoid human contact and confrontation, and would only attack as far as they needed to to protect their kittens. Not actually come at you! So I suspect she was a pet at one point, but not in a very nice home . You may be able to befriend her after a while. but not while her mama hormones are running so high. After she's spayed she may settle down.

Wow GAOinLV, just read this thread - that is an intense situation you have!  My one bit of advice is feed her only canned food - that way she gets lots of water into her through the canned food.  Indoor cats eating canned only drink very little if any water from the bowl.   It seems like putting the water out there is a bit tricky as well as pouring dry food.   But you can prepare a plate of canned food indoors (a hungry outdoor cat can easily eat a whole 5.5 oz can in a sitting) and quickly go out set it down run back in.    The only downside would be that you'd need to take it up when she's done because the leftover crumbs are very smelly and would attract insects/pests.

Holy cow!  I give you so much credit for wanting to help this mother cat.  It is just wonderful of you.  Wet food is definitely your friend.  Cats love it and she will begin to associate you with something good.  I would definitely not try to make eye contact with her.  Keep your gaze down and maybe don't even speak to her.  Just put the food/water down and leave.  I would give her as much food as she can eat.  She needs lots of nourishment to support her babies. 

I hope the attacks on you stop.  It would scare me to death. 

Keep us posted and I will send good thoughts your way.
 

Thanks. I'd love to give her canned food, but its not really safe to get the food ON the patio and we certainly can't take up the cans. Actually, pouring the food over wasn't good, but if we fill a paper plate with dry food and just quickly drop it over, it's ok. We put about three days worth at a time. We are putting the water on the ground a few feet away she seems to be finding it at night. I have to be careful, can't have empty cans, etc around. There are a LOT of huge bugs around here at night for one. Also, I don't want the hoa to get wind of this. There are a couple of empty water containers that she pushed over that I'm trying to get the nerve to retrieve for that reason. I think the one small bowl of water against the wall near the patio should get passed the hoa nazis...
Frankly, I'll be glad when this is over, even though, in spite of myself, I'm developing a fondness for the little tiger mom....

Well, she's gone. And now I'm sad because I'm worried about her. She took her kittens and I guess moved them into the brush area near our condo complex. I hope she's safe. I'm wondering if I should put food and water out for her at the edge of the property line in hopes she will find it--even though I don't know exactly where she went?

I realize that she was existing for a long time before I "found" her 10 days ago on my patio...but I feel connected to her now. I guess that's silly. I still want to **try** to help in some way. Poor thing. I'm also going to still talk to the TNR people when they finally get  back to me. Maybe they can just set traps in the general vicinity? I just hate to think of her going on and on having kittens every few months...

Thank you so much for caring.  I know what you mean about being attached to the cat and kittens.

Yes, the TNR people can just set traps in the general vicinity; they may not trap your mother cat/kittens, but they will probably trap some, especially in a condominium.  Where I lived, people moved out and left their cats behind.  The TNR people can approach your HOA for permission if you think that's necessary.  (A cat I fostered and adopted out to a Furever Home escaped from his home.  I went over to try to trap that cat.  Never did trap it (it returned home on its own), but trapped six others...)

How far away is your place from the brush area?  I would leave food out by the brush area at the property line.  Not much the HOA can do about that.  Cats generally hide during the day, are most active sunrise and sunset.  You could avoid those times and set out food--wet if at all possible.  Leave out kitten food; it has more calories and the cats/kittens need the calories.

UPDATE: I decided to put a small dish of food (dry kitten chow--still afraid of the CRAZY bugs we get around here) and a bowl of water out near our patio last night. My reasoning was that I thought she might come back there looking for food during the night. This morning very early (before 6 a.m.) my husband was walking past there with our little dog and he saw that half of the food and water was gone. As he continued he looked, and there she WAS on top of the A/C unit, lounging in the newly risen sun. He was, due to our past experiences with her, alarmed....but she just looked up at him calmly and continued to lounge. Apparently all her crazy behavior was to protect her babies, and now that she has them hidden elsewhere, she can be calm? Does this make sense? She laid there for about 10 more minutes before she moved on. I think I'm going to continue to put food and water out for her in the evening and pick it up at night. I'll try some wet food tonight and see how bad the bugs are. Somebody told me that if you put the food on a plate of water, the bugs won't get into it? There was one dead bug (a big ole' waterbug) in the water dish this morning.

I'm hoping to be able to offer her food this way until the TNR group can hopefully get out and trap her and her babies, wherever they are. We are leaving the state on July 9th and will be gone for at least a month. Is it wrong to get her dependent on our food? I figure it gives her a "break" from having to find nourishment while she's nursing her babies? But maybe I'm doing more harm that good? Opinions, please? I'm in such unfamiliar territory here....

Your analysis and your plans sounds good. 

She was on her own before, so she should manage after you left too.  Although it is surely being big help to her you gave her food, water, protection from others less tolerant...

Is it possible you can talk over some neighbour to continue and leave food for her?  It is not dangerous now any more. Not at all like when YOU did it.

Leaving food is always OK as long as there IS a TNR action planned and coming.

Her moving the nest isnt peculiar. It was surely becoming smelly, as they had it so long. So she moved, they usually do now and then. The smell attracts predators, and isnt loving to them clean animals.

Good luck!

I just want to add my 2 cents....

First of all, you are an amazing person to do what you are doing for those cats!  There aren't many who would care about and nourish them - most people would probably just do whatever it took to scare the mom away so they wouldn't have to "deal" with the situation.  Whether she's a strange/sick cat or just a way overprotective mom, finding you guys is probably the best thing that''s happened to her and is definitely the best for her babies.

Two of my "babies" were born under my deck.  I fed the mom and watched her teach her tiny ones to climb trees, drink from a bowl, even the right way to play with a toy I'd left out for them!  It was amazing!  Luckily, she was fairly friendly and when I was able, I cought the 3 of them in "have a heart" traps.  A  friend took the mom, who quickly became queen of her world, and I kept the kittens - a boy and a girl my dad named Bonnie and Clyde.  Anyway, that was 17 years ago and the mom died about 4 years ago and my Bonnie died in Oct. 2011.  Clyde, however, is still with me and is one of the lights of my life.  I do, though, wish I'd known back then to bring them in sooner.  I didn't catch them until the kittens were 4 months old, and to this day Clyde still hides whenever most people come to the door.

I think you are doing the right thing by continuing to feed her near your patio.  That's what she obviously became comfortable with - in spite of her behavior!  If she didn't like you (in her own way) or if she saw you as a threat, she definitely would not be "lounging" anywhere near your patio.  It almost seems (to me anyway) that by moving her kittens, but continuing to come back to you by herself she's trying to get to know you and to intoduce herself "properly"!  And even though you can't adopt any of them, your kindness may help her become a bit less frantic around people and may be opening a crack in her armor so that eventually any medical issues could be addressed and, just maybe, she might be able to find a safe place to call home!

And, thanks to you, I have no doubt the kittens are being well-nourished and they, too, will find a "forever" home.

Thank you so much for caring about the too-often overlooked and discarded - both feline and canine!

I appreciate all your help and advice, and also your sentiments about my "kindness."  Frankly, it would never occur to me to NOT try to help this sweet (OK, maybe not so sweet...but I like her anyway) creature who is just doing everything in her power to take care of her babies. I, myself, can't even comprehend that a person would just scare her away. My main concern is that in my attempts to HELP, I don't end of doing the wrong thing.

It sounds like most people who actually know a thing or two about stray and feral cats agree with my current plan of action, and that makes me feel more confident. If she is actually (and I have my doubts) trying to "get to know" us I would be thrilled to death. I really am very fond of her at this point. She definitely doesn't seem dangerous anymore and she's not terrified of us, which is definitely a good thing. I think the whole thing was just so traumatic to her, being discovered the way she was and then us coming in and out of her space in our attempts to "help." Once she got those babies off in a safe and SECRET spot, she seemed to relax. It was nice to see her laying in the sun, with her eyes half closed....just relaxing. She deserves it! Thanks again for all your help and suggestions. I'll keep you posted. I sure hope the story has a happy ending!

Well, I'm still feeding Mama. I see her almost every night--she comes right after dark and eats her food. Sometimes she eats half and comes back early a.m to finish. I think it's her coming back anyway. I mostly see her at around 8 p.m. eating. She's so sweet. We haven't tried to approach her in any way, but she always just looks at us calmly and continues eating. Sometimes we see her either after dark or just at sun-up) lying next to the food or nearby on the air conditioner, just lounging. We never see the kittens, but I sure hope they are still OK.

I'm thinking of slowly moving the food until it's back behind my unit--closer to the brush area where I think she has her kittens--rather than in front. I'm leaving town for 4 weeks on July 9th. Then, while I'm gone, I've found somebody that will fill up her food and water dishes every 2-3 days. I'll get big dishes that will hold plenty of food. That's the best I could find. Although, I worry that doing it this way, other animals will get into the food.

I realize she's not "my" cat, but again, I just feel responsible for her. Especially now that I've started feeding her.

I haven't heard back from the TNR group since their last "you're on the list--quit calling us" communication. I'm worried Mama will get pregnant again.

I'm thinking that if I slowly move the feeding spot until it's up in the brush, that this way she will be able to more safely lead her kittens to it when they are old enough. Or do you think I can just MOVE the food all at once and she'll find it? I was thinking of moving it several feet closer to the brush area each day to make it easier for her to find. The kittens would be at least 3 weeks old now. Also if I'm feeding her up in the brush, I'm thinking  that will be an easier area for the TNR people to trap her. I hate to think of her getting pregnant again (and again....).

Thoughts?

They say that if you have to move food, to do it in increments. So a few feet a day until it is where you want it. Sounds like you're making progress.

THINGS HAVE CHANGED. I'm so upset right now. I was a little late in putting our her food tonight. Well, quite late, I guess. I usually put it out at about 6, and I didn't remember until 7:30. Not dark yet. I took the bowl out to where the water is--between 2 bushes (I had been moving it slowly). She was laying there by the water. I set the bowl down a few feet away from her, as she hasn't been acting threatening anymore, and turned to walk away. My door is around the corner from where I have been putting the food. Just as I got almost to my front door, she came tearing around the corner and leapt at me. Twice or more. Making a horrible hissing type noise--I have huge scratches all down my legs. I was scared to DEATH--afraid to even open the door--she acted like she would chase me into the house and my little dog was sure to be right at the door. I just had shorts and flip-flops on, so I couldn't kick her away. I screamed for my husband and he came out and acted threatening to her--yelling and stuff. She didn't really retreat right away even then, but she eventually did.

I feel so bad that I misjudged this situation so horribly. But once I take that food up, I'm not putting any down for her anymore. Or water. It's just too dangerous to have her around my condo. Now, frankly, I'm going to be scared to even go out at night to walk my dog. Geez...she's such a pretty little thing. I think I might have to have these scratches checked out. There are two puncture wounds on my other leg, and I'm wondering if that would be a bite? ****, I'm scared to death now....

First, take care of those scratches and bite.  Wash thoroughly with antibacterial soap (I literally apply soap first without water), and apply some neosporin.  Watch the areas carefully for infection.  If they get pussy, or the surrounding area start to bruise, see a physician asap.

Second, call the TNR group and tell them about the attack to emphasize the importance of getting this poor gal the help she needs.  Try to be firm and insistent without sounding hysterical.

Lastly, I'm guessing that she just freaked out because you ventured too close to her comfort zone.  Try not to hold it against her.  If you are still inclined, leave food and water out when she is not in proximity.  It's understandable if you don't want to leave food out, but she will not survive our summer temps without water.  Give it some thought.