Need LOTS of advice on 3 new Ferals

Hi. About 3 weeks ago I trapped 4 ferals (I thought there was only one and they kept showing up!). I had them all spayed by Forgotten Cats. They said they were too feral to be adopted out, so I keept them.

My internet research told me to put them in one room until they acclimated and the only room that would work was my bedroom so I have been sleeping on the sofa since then.

About a week and a half ago, one of them scratched through the screen on one of the windows and escaped.

Now, there is a mother cat out there that I was not able to trap and possibly other cats.

Q#1. I have been leaving some dry food and water out for the outdoor cats. I cannot afford to get any other cats spayed but the thought of them eating out of garbage cans breaks my heart. I don't know what else to do though.

Q#2. When can I start sleeping in my bed again without traumatizing the three remaining cats? One of them, we think the girl cat, does come out all them time and doesn't hide unless I get too close. The 2nd one will come out if I am in the bathroom and he's hungry and he doesn't know I am there but if he sees me, he will hide. The other one, I never see.

I hear them running around at night so I don't want to make them feel that they can't come out from under the bed.

Any help would be appreciated.

first, thank you so much for helping them.

#1: are there any rescue organisations around that help with the costs of spay/neutering? What did they say at Forgotten Cats?

TNR is the best thing that can happen to a cat. I would try to trap the mother really hard. You got a trap, right? I would just leave it open, so that it can't be triggered, and put a can of food in there, just to get the cat used to eating inside. If you notice it doesn't get eaten, move the food right to the end and then every day a bit farther in.

#2: hey, it's YOUR bed! I would sleep there no matter what. They have to get used to you anyway, and probably already associate you with food. Just ignore them and use the bed.

#3: if possible, canned food is better for cats than dry (but dry is better than none).

I would start using your home in the normal way. They are going to be part of it, so they may as well start now. Don't make any sudden moves and speak to them in a normal voice. We have a couple of former feral cats who have lived inside for eight years and who still barely let us touch them. These kitties may never be lap cats but because you care, they are going to have a very nice life.

About the others, the one who escaped will also have a better life. Forgotten Cats is such a great organization - maybe they can help with a reduced price for the others?