Gaining trust

So, for a few months now a stray cat (At least I think it "belongs" to no human, because it hobbles) is coming to our house. There's a big paved area in front of it and a roofed parking place. She's sleeping there, laying in the sun or eating the food our neighbor gives to her. I've never come close to her before, because she's obviously frightened by me. One step to close and she's gone. But now I've decided I want to gain her trust, bring her to a vet and maybe even let her be in the house (If that's what she want's). I would be glad to hear some advice, how I can gain her trust. I now it will probably take months, but that's okay.

An hour ago I saw her lying in front of the house again, so I've decided to make my first move. I brought some tuna, backed up and waited. She sticked her head into the bowl and meowed. (what could that mean? I've never heard her making any noise at all before) I decided to come a little bit closer to watch her eating, but she didn't like that. Still, she stayed and watched me closely. We both didn't move for 15 minutes, so I decided to take the bowl and get closer again. I was surprised how close I actually could get to her, I could almost pet her. (Is that a good sign?) But as I tried to put down the bowl she backed up a little again. It was getting pretty dark, so I decided to take the bowl with me and try it again tomorrow. 

So that's my history with the little tiger. I hope you have some advice for me how to proceed.

If she was willing to eat with you there, I think that is fantastic.  Some ferals won't eat with a person near so I think you should be able to win her trust.  I think if you continue to put food down every day at about the same time, she will come to expect it and be waiting for you.  Don't make any sudden moves but work on getting closer and closer.  I think some people have used a technique of starting to touch the cat with a feather or something before trying the hand.  If you use your hand, approach with a fist because an open hand can look like a claw and be a bit frightening.  Good luck!

The fact that she meowed tells me she was socialized at some point.  Ferals seldom meow - they have no need to "talk" to humans.

When you say the cat hobbles, are you saying it is hurt?  If so, can you buy or borrow a humane trap and get her to the vet's?  Don't worry about trapping her - if she's hurt, she needs attention.  Once she gets the attention she needs, and she comes home with you, you can work on gaining her trust.

But if she isn't hurt, then you can take a slower approach now.  Like Dahlia says, feeding her every day at the same place and time is the best approach.  She sounds like she may have come up against some hard times and isn't very trusting of humans.  Thank you for helping her!

I don't know if she feels pain, but she's walking like her hind leg is injured. Does it help if I take her to the vet where she will be going absolutely nuts? Does he numb her?

Feeding her at a specific time is a little bit difficult too. Sometimes she's there from the morning to the evening. For 3 days now she only showed up in the late evening. If I miss my chance there she could be gone for another couple of days. 

If you put out food more or less at the same time, she'll quickly learn to come at that time.

How long has she been walking like her hind leg is injured? Is she putting weight on all four paws?  Only three paws?   For soft tissue injuries like a sprain, it can take several weeks at least for the injury to heal, longer if she keeps on reinjuring it.  There is little that a vet can do about that.  You can try mixing Glucosamine in her wet food.  Any brand is okay (sometimes you can buy one get one free).

That said I would try to trap her, if for no other reason than to get her spayed.  (Are you sure she is a she?  I'm surprised she isn't pregnant yet.)

I don't know her gender, but my mother language is german where the word cat is female. So I'm just used to that.

She's walking like that for a 2-3 months now. Putting weight on all four paws and quickly raising the hind leg back up again. 

Even in English, most of the time, we refer to cats as "she" if we don't know the gender.

I would probably try to trap her as soon as possible.  Mostly for spaying/neutering but she will also need worming, something for fleas and possible treatment for the hurt leg.

Trapping itself will only upset her temporarily.  In the long run, she will be way better off being fixed.  So will you.  (No surprise kittens, cats howling/ spraying/mating/fighting).

You can feed her in the trap for a few days and get her used to the idea.  The fact that she only comes every so often tells me she has another place to eat (another neighbor, a dumpster, etc.).  So it may take a little more time for her to get used to the steady supply of food at your house.

You are wise to take the food up when she doesn't eat it.  No sense in attracting other critters to your house.

She ate the whole bowl of tuna while I was sitting a few meters away from her. Should I do anything else right now besides signalize "I bring you food and mean no harm" or leave it at that? 

E: By the way, she's scratching herself with the "injured" leg. Does that mean she feels no pain?

It may be an old injury, one that keeps her limping but hasn't hindered her use of it (other than the limp).

If you are feeding her tuna canned for humans, please don't give her a lot.  It has way more mercury in it than is good for cats.  Some decent wet cat food will have the nutrients she needs.  Wet is best - she'll get all the fluids she needs too.

Sounds like things are progressing.  Keep sitting near her while she eats and talk softly to her.  As Dahlia pointed out, if she approaches you, put out your fist.  It will look like a head-bump.  She'll understand that as a sign of friendship.  No open hands - those are scary.

Also, do not look her in the eye.  That is a sign of aggression to cats.  Look at one of her ears or her forehead.  You can also try blinking slowly at her.  That's a sign of friendship, too.  She may not respond with her own blinking but if she does, she's spent some time with feral cats.  They use that a lot.

Ondine said:

Sounds like things are progressing.  Keep sitting near her while she eats and talk softly to her.  As Dahlia pointed out, if she approaches you, put out your fist.  It will look like a head-bump.  She'll understand that as a sign of friendship.  No open hands - those are scary.

Also, do not look her in the eye.  That is a sign of aggression to cats.  Look at one of her ears or her forehead.  You can also try blinking slowly at her.  That's a sign of friendship, too.  She may not respond with her own blinking but if she does, she's spent some time with feral cats.  They use that a lot.

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You can also yawn some.  Yawning and streching out isnt not being sleepy or lazy, it is being friendly!

Earlier you wrote she gets food by your neigbour.  Swell and well, but if you want to be the caretaker, YOU shall come with the food...  Food being an important trick.

But good you know this neighbour is a friend of the cats.  You will surely  cooperate with him at some time.

Good luck!