Need some advice

My husband brought home a stray cat that had been hanging out around where he works. She was very scared and would hide all the time. We took her to the vet and got her vaccinated and the whole shooting match. She obviously had belonged to someone at some point because she had been spayed. After about 2 months of finding her hiding place in the closet or under the bed and bringing her out to pet and love, she finally got to the point where I could just go in and call her and she would come out to eat and get some love. Fast forward to the 3 month mark, she always acted like she wanted out so, I figured...why not? So I took her outside. No sooner than her feet touched the ground, she took off like a bat out of hell, and I didn't see her for a week. I put food out for her and we looked for her everyday. Finally she showed up on the front porch to eat. Now though, she won't let me or my husband near her and she runs when she sees us. She has been hiding somewhere outside, God knows where, for a week now and only comes out to eat. How do I get her to trust me? And why would she, after all that time in the house with me, think that I would hurt her? What do I need to do to get her back? Any help would be appreciated.

You would think after three months inside with love and food she would stick around.  Some cats just prefer to be outside and hate the confinement of a home.  Go figure.  Anyway, since she is spayed she has probably set up housekeeping within a five house radius of you.  She is establishing her new outdoor territory by venturing a little further each day to see where she may run into other cat territories.  If you want her back you are probably going to need to set up a trap.  Don't take this personally because she sees all humans as dangerous even though you have cared for her.

I just had a full time outdoor cat leave after eight months...she's been missing for about a week.  I am in the process of setting out food in different areas with a trail camera to see if I can locate her.  She has not returned for  food but she is an excellent hunter.  If you need trapping advice just let us know.  But please don't take it as an insult.  She's just being a cat the only way she knows how.

I would get a humane trap, trap her and bring her back inside. That is the only way you know she will be safe. If you think she needs to be outside, build her a catio. She can get fresh air but not be able to run away.

Please do not take her fear personally - you have No idea what other humans have put her through. She may never get over that. Four of our rescue cats are jumpy and fearful, in spite of the fact that they've lived inside for 7 and 8 years. Our lives are dull and routine. Yet if they hear a package being delivered, they run under the bed. I try not to think about what they must have suffered.

You can only provide her with love and gentleness and hope someday she will come to realize you aren't so bad. Thank you for helping her!

I'm having the exact same problem with 'mommy', the mother of two ferals born in my shed. I've fed, loved, cared for her babies, protected and given the run of my house with the door wide open, and she still runs if I get close. It's very frustrating, however, I have not had time to give her 'the treatment' I have used to tame the other ferals I have encountered. The treatment is to wear a shirt tight at the waist and tuck the cat down in the front of your shirt. Simply proceed with your housework and after a half an hour, bend down to offer their escape onto the furniture. Usually, they've now decided to stay comfortable with you!!

However, as far as your problem of her being outside, it's good for her to know that she can still be free as well as come to you for food. This is the first step. The process of gaining trust is a slow one but totally probable and so rewarding. To get her back in the house, stay outside and around her when she eats. After she's used to that, offer tuna fish, and be there, next to her when she eats it. Next day, take a tupperware container, with the lid in hand, and put the tuna in the container.

Good luck!!!!!!

Also, about the 'shirt treatment', this must be done at least three times a week, and it really does work!!!

Borrow or rent a humane trap (the Humane Society has them, and Tractor and Supply sells them for about 20 dollars). This is the best way to get her back into your house since she won't let you get near enough to grab her, and if you try to grab her and don't succeed, it will be a setback. It will be easy for you, because she'll be in the trap for literally a minute or less since you won't need to take her to the vet--just open the trap inside your home and she'll fly out of it.

Once she's back inside your home, you have two options. Either have her be an indoor only cat and make sure you're careful when you're opening and closing your doors to leave (and microchip her), or train her to go out on a lead and harness with you. This is what I do with one of my five cats who used to an outdoor cat. I can give you more info on how to do this once you're ready to cross that bridge.

All of my cats are skittish, except one (the cat who loves to go outdoors on a lead loves everyone). Even my one cat whom I raised since he was a kitten (he's now 16) is fearful and hides from people, even from me sometimes. Many cats are just shy, don't take it personally. It helps to accept each cat on its own terms. I personally have never used any method of socialization that involves wrapping the cat in a blanket or shirt and holding them so they can't run away. The last feral cat I took in 5 months ago was at least 5 months old, wild, and not socialized to any person. Only now is she allowing me to pet her tail and quickly run my hand over her back, and she's laying on my lap while I'm in bed. I suspect that within a few more months I'll be able to pet her more. But it's on her terms and on her time table. People who foster feral cats in order to adopt them out have to use more drastic measures including caging them and wrapping them like a burrito in a blanket, but for those of us who plan to give our adopted cat a forever home, these methods, which are very stressful to most cats, aren't necessary IMO. There is much more satisfaction in allowing a cat to come to trust us on their own terms.  However, each cat is different, and each caregiver has their own style and method of socializing  and you need to figure out what works for you and your kitty. 

Good luck, and it's wonderful that you're helping this kitty!