Stray? Semi-feral?

I am socializing a cat... she's about a year-old. According to the organization, she is not feral, they caught her in a trap and got her all fixed, and they are hoping that with some love she'll learn to accept humans again and be adoptable.

She did not eat for the first day, then I spoon-fed her the second day and she started eating and today's the third and she manages to eat some from the bowl... and all this is happening in her safe-hiding place under my side table. Unfortunately, I do not have an open space to myself, hence I can only work with her in my room... She comes out from her hiding and uses the litter box when I'm sleeping at night. She also lets me gently touch the top of her head when she's eating... (in her hiding place).

So would you guys say she's a stray or semi-feral? And any suggestions to help with the lack of an open space?

Thank you~~~

Thank you for taking on this cat.

I think she was previously owned; were she feral, she wouldn't let you pet her.  She has had her whole world turned upset down; that she lets you pet her head after three days is really good.  I do think with love she'll learn to accept humans again and be adoptable.

I don't think a lack of open space is much of a problem.  After about a week, if she is still hiding, I would try to block off the hiding spaces.  For example, if she hides under the bed, put the mattress on the floor.  Fed her at the regular times (no free feeding) so she will equate you with food.  Play soft music while you're gone.

Is she strictly confined to your one room?  If so, can you arrange your furniture so that she can jump from the top of one piece of furniture to another, without touching the floor.  This may make her feel safer; cats like to look down.

To me, a stray and semi-feral cat can have the same amount 'issues'.  To me, a stray is a cat who has been previously owned but has been abandoned/lost/dumped.  A semi-feral is perhaps a cat who was abandoned/dumped at an early age, had some limited but kind exposure to humans (perhaps fed by kind neighbors), and was rescued at a fairly young age:  this is Ritz.  Although I can't pick her up or hug her, she loves to have her belly rubbed and cuddles with me.

Thank you for replying~ My own cat is a feral kitty, but I got him when he was only 2 months old, so he was pretty much tamed right away. He now stays at my parents place and is quite spoiled and happy.

Yes, she is confined to just my bedroom... so she hides under my side tables or under the bed. I will try to see if I can block under the bed with something after a week or so like what you said... (mattress is super heavy). I don't have a lot of tall furniture, asides my wardrobe and built-in book shelves on the wall, so not sure how she's going to jump all the way up there on her own though. She did try to make it up at night, but both nights she did not succeed.

I am feeding her every 10-12 hours, since she wouldn't know to eat from the bowl/plate until I lightly swab some food on her mouth or nose. And she will eat in my presence and lick off my finger. Also, she is not drinking water on her own... and I try to mix some water into her wet food, but that would be her only water intake.

*fingers crossed*

A feliway diffuser would be helpful too.  You can plug it into your bedroom and it will help to calm her.  I have also used Spirit essences from Jackson Galaxy along with Rescue Remedy.  THey really help to calm the cat.  Also making frequent visits where you sit and talk calmly allowing the cat to come to you.  Playing soft music helps as well.  The cat will need a place to hide and feel safe.  Under the bed is hard since you cannot get to her if necessary, but hiding under tables or making a small box for her will be necessary.  I have also used Composure feline treats.  They worked really well at night when the stray I brought inside had issues at night.  He used to meow/cry for hours.  I would give him 2-3 treats at bedtime and they really helped him. 
 

Im a little abashed she eats only if you give her with spoon or on fingers...

Ferales simply dont do so, unless practically dying and seeking help in pure desperation.

Im almost wondering if she is in pains of some sort.

Ie her initial not eating, and her hiding, while entirely normal for the shy ones,, is not because she is a shy semiferale / stray who become shy, but - has pain and has become defensive and hiding because of this...

Otherwise, I do agree with the advices you already got.  They are useful either she is "just" a little shy, or if she needs extra recovery by medical reasons.

Good you are thinking on giving her extra water with the wet food.  Dehydration is nothing you want.

Good luck!

Edit.  typo on dehydration.

I am still thinking of a way to block her from going under the bed... maybe I'll get cardboard boxes and put books in them or something.

Update on kitty: she's eating on her own from the bowl today! Yay! Big step~ now she knows that it's food... I think she probably doesn't know it's food and needs me to swab it onto her nose/mouth before with a spoon or with my finger.

So, no worries, she is definitely not in pain or anywhere near dying. Since she loves under the bed so much, I've put out a couple bowls of water under my bed and she's been drinking from them today!

She also came out from her hiding place twice to peek at me work at my computer. Yay! Soft music really really helps! Thanks ShadowsRescue~~~