New backyard stray

Ms. Freya

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So one of the stray/feral cats in our area has taken to frequenting our porch for meals. Greycat is very skittish - won't come out while we're around at all. I've been putting food out for him and he comes by regularly for breakfast and dinner, but doesn't see any more willing to come around while we're outside. So my question is: how long can it take before Greycat realizes we're trying to help? If we can catch him/her (we have no idea which it is although we're leaning towards him because of the size of his head) we'll bring him in, do the spay/neuter and vet and try to integrate, but I'm worried about how long it can take because we're considering moving. The last two backyard cats came in fairly willingly, so I reall yhave no idea how long it can take to tame a stray.
 

ritz

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It can take a day or a year before a cat recognizes you're trying to help them, in large part, it depends on the cat.  I've been feeding two cats from the same litter for over a year.  One I can pet while he's eating, the other runs when I approach him.

Do you have any idea how old Greycat is?

I would keep on feeding him at regular times, and if you have time, sit outside while he is eating.  Sit far enough away so he doesn't spook (keep on backing up if you have to).  As he becomes more comfortable eating in front of him, move closer.

I would try to trap him as soon as possible; it gets cold in Canada!  Neutering will calm him down, and he might become less skittish. 

Good luck, and thanks for taking care of Greycoat.
 
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Ms. Freya

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Ah...I wondered. Freya just walked into the house on her own and Sybil made friends with the neighbours, who picked her up and handed her to us. Greycat's been hanging around for a couple of weeks.

Best guess: Greycat is less than a year. He seems to either be really skinny or in that lanky teenage stage kittens go through. I'd wager he weighs 6-8 lbs. He's smaller than any of my guys currently. Just guessing it's a male, if it's a female, it has one heck of a big head. The closest he'll come is to keep eating if he sees us through a window. We go out, call him and put the food down, then 5-20 minutes later he sneaks up onto the porch and devours it then sneaks away. If he's having what we call a comfortable day, he'll devour the food, sit down in the middle of the porch and groom, then wander off. The odd time we've walked out while he's there, he stares for a second, then runs. if there's food out, though he comes back pretty quick. If we're outside, even far away and doing nothing menacing, he's nowhere to be seen until we return to the house.

Sounds like he might take a bit of work.
 

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Yep, you never know how long it may take.  Each one of my 4 stray/ferals took months before I could go outside to set the food down and they didn't run.  What worked best for me was to sit on the deck, talk quietly and have a yummy treat.  I used plain cooked chicken.  Also don't make eye contact.  This is very threatening to them.  I would sit and throw small pieces of chicken.  Eventually the cat would get closer and closer.  I have also used stage 1 baby food that is chicken or turkey and water.  Cats love it.  I would offer it off a spoon and they would approach and eat it all off.  Feral cat rehab flower essences from Spirit essences really helped too.  A few drops into the wet food a few times a day.  Rescue remedy is also helpful.

I hope you can get the cat trapped soon so it is spayed/neutered before winter.  If you do bring the cat inside, you will need a room where it can be by it self for awhile.  Only time will tell if the cat has ever been inside a home or had human contact before.  If you spay/neuter the cat, the vet should be able to give you an approximate age too.
 

ondine

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I second getting him neutered ASAP.  It will calm him down and quite possibly help speed up the process of socialization.  Remember, though, he may be past becoming a house cat.  Neutering him now will help you determine that.
 

StefanZ

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To sum up what is said, and say it in plain swenglish: dont wait till he is tame and eats from your hand or himself walks in.

Take him in a human trap as soon as you can manage it.  He doesnt need to be more than halfways tame for it, you can do it now too.

This way, you dont risk something happens him during the waiting time.

Its an extra horrible feeling when something happens them when you had decided to help them, but were just waiting for better times.

There after the neutering; and after it you may look see if he can be fostered, or it is better to just return him to his revire / having him as your outside cat.

Good luck!
 
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Ms. Freya

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Well he definitely associates us with food...we were away overnight and ended up startling him because he was on his way uo to check his bowl and almost walked into us. He csme back maybe an hour later to eat. DH has a friend who works in pest control so he's going to ask if we can borrow a humane trap. (DHs friend specializes in catching and relocating) We also seem to have 2 backyard strays...Greycat and ScragglyTabby...hopefully we can get them both in. ScragglyTabby is much less people shy so I'm guessing he's a left-behind from the apartment a block over (drives me nuts how many people leave cats behind when they move), unfortunately he also looks like he's less effective as an outside cat than Greycat...very skinny and matted. Wish me luck that they're both trappable.
 

ondine

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Vibes you catch them both.  Sounds like they need a little help.  The worst that can happen is they don't adjust to inside life.  If they are fixed, though, you will be able to continue to feed and shelter them, even if they opt to stay outside.
 
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Ms. Freya

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Any vibes would really be appreciated. DH tried unsuccessfully to catch ScragglyTabby today...ended up scaring the heck out of him and he ran off. We haven't seen him for dinner yet and DH is heartbroken (convinced he'll never come back). So if we could get some vibes that ScragglyTabby didn't go far an comes back for food, that would be great...
 

shadowsrescue

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Try putting his food in the humane trap. 
Yep, put the food in the trap for a few days with the trap not set.  This will get them used to it.  Some cats are very trap savy and others just a piece of cake.  It does take patience.  Allie Cat Allies has some really great videos on trapping cats.  I learned alot by watching them.
 
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Ms. Freya

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Whew...ScragglyTabby is back in the yard tonight and all of his fishy food was gone from this morning. (ScragglyTabby likes fish, Greycat likes chicken) DH sees the friend with the trap tomorrow so hopefully he can borrow it and we can get these guys inside safely.
 
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Ms. Freya

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We have Greycat! He walked into the trap about 10 minutes after we set it. Hes not destructive so far, but he's pretty shy. He's got a cave behind my crochet basket. Seeing him up close, I' peg his age at well under a year - maybe 6-8 months. Just starting to get into that gangly/lanky stage. Now hopefully we can get Scragglytabby.
 
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Ms. Freya

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I can't tell...he (and I haven't even been able to confirm that) came out of the trapand bolted behind my basket and the shelf. He's so scared right now that I can't bring myself to disturb him. I'm hoping he'll settle in overnight and at least eat and use his litter. One way or another he'll be seeing a vet in the next few days.
 
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Ms. Freya

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I wish there was a way to help him calm down...he's so afraid. I gave him fresh food and water and a bit of catnip, although I haven't laid eyes on him this morning. He hadn't eaten last night, but had played in the litter box, didn't use it, just scratched around in it.
 

shadowsrescue

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Play quiet music for him.  Classical is best.  You can use Rescue remedy to help calm him.  You can place it on his fur or directly into his wet food.  You also can get composure feline treats or liquid.  Both can be purchased at a pet store.  They work very well.  It will take him a while to calm down.  Just give him space and time.  Sit quietly and talk with him or read aloud a book or magazine.  Make sure he has places to hide and feel safe.

It takes time, patience and love to get the cat adjusted.  You have done a wonderful thing for Greycat.  I hope the vet visit goes well.
 
 
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