Smokey the feral.

Hello,

I have an old feral cat living under my carport. No matter how long I have been feeding her I cannot get closer than 3 - 4 feet. Lately I noticed her losing hair or hair thinning. She had been spayed before and now she is scared to death of cages. I think of flees and shots. I do not know what to do. I have two indoor cats. One was a feral kitten now 11 months old. The other is an older cat that was stray and easier to approach. Any suggestions?

I don't have any suggestions,   My cat was a neighborhood stray the first time I saw him.  I called to him but he ran away.   I went to work and I mostly forgot about that cat.,  A neighbor started feeding him.  She said that it took a lot of time to persuade him to settle down and stay on her property and accept her food.   (Her husband wouldn't allow the cat inside.)   I know that a stray is different than a feral.  My cat was a stray but he had had contact with humans when he was a kitten.  I wish you luck because I can tell that you want to help this elderly cat.

Hopefully someone who works with ferals will chime in soon, but I do have one suggestion. Can you get a trap and move the food closer to it every day until it's in the trap?

It's so good of you to be watching out for this dear old girl. [emoji]128149[/emoji]

It does appear she might need some medical attention.  You could get a humane trap and begin feeding her just outside of the unset trap.  Every few days move the food further and further inside the trap until she is eating out of the very back of the trap.  At this point the trap is zip tied open so it will not accidently close.  You can line the bottom of the trap with newspapers, puppy pee pads or even a light towel.  When you are ready to trap her, place a small amount of food in the back of the trap and this time set the trap.  Once she is safely inside, cover the trap with a light sheet or towel.  She is now ready for the vet.

If you decide to keep her inside, she will need a room or space of her own separate from your resident kitties.  The room will need to be cat proofed.  This means if you are using a bedroom, the bed needs to be up off the floor or flat on the floor.  The fist place a cat will run to hide is under the bed.  You do not want this.  Also be sure that there is not other large furniture she can squeeze behind.  Cats can squeeze themselves into very small spaces.  I like to get on the floor and see things from the cats eyes. 

Bringing a feral cat inside does take lots of work and patience, but it can be done.  Many of us here have succeeded.  We are happy to assist along the way if this is the path you choose.

Thank you for caring for Smokey.

I will not give up on the old gal. She cannot be touched. Still in her own way she is a very good cat. She blinks with me and talks (meow) with me. I got her a real warm bed in an old bin under the carport she gets into on cold nights. As soon as she hears me get close to the bin she will run out. I try not to bother it. She even has her own litter box.

One look at a cage and she runs away. Her favorite place to sleep is on top of a huge garbage can I have. I glued a mat on it to make it warmer on cool days and cooler on hot days.

Swamplady said:

 
One look at a cage and she runs away. Her favorite place to sleep is on top of a huge garbage can I have. I glued a mat on it to make it warmer on cool days and cooler on hot days.

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What about feeding her in a carrier?  You can get one that is larger than normal and start feeding her in it.  If you think she might have fleas, you can get products that kill the fleas on her.  Capstar for cats will kill fleas, but not prevent them.  This product can be put in her food.  Also her bedding will need to be treated.  You can wash it all and use Diatomaceous Earth (food grade only) to sprinkle on the clean bedding and around where she eats/sleeps.

I would really look to try and treat her for fleas and if you do not notice a difference, she really may need some vet care. 

Thank you for caring for her!

She runs from the carrier. The flea stuff in food sounds GREAT. I will try that. This black and gray cat looks like she has been through heck and back. The day she was taken for being fixed she howled almost like a dog. She was like nuts. Even when she came back she was wild. She stayed away from me for quite some time. It was hunger and shade from sun that got her back under the carport.

You can also order Program oral flea control that is given monthly in her food.  I order mine from www.bestflea.com  The taste does not bother my feral cats at all. 

Cool. Thank you.

Well I have been trying to catch Smokey to get her to a vet. Tried the food trick and all. She sees a cage or what she thinks is a cage she hits the sidewalk running.

There is hope though. I saw a tiny sign tonight. When I went to feed her she did something NEW. Usually she stands a few feet away and waits till I leave. Tonight she got in back of me as I was putting food in her dish. SHE RUBBED up against the back of my leg. I gently looked in back of me not moving my feet. She took off and moved about 10 - 15 feet away. She sat there. I gently lowered my self some and gave her slow blinks. SHE DID IT BACK !!! I sat on a stool not far from the food. She inched her way to the food, took a few bites, + then got away about 10 feet. I sat awhile and she stayed in place. I got up to come in then she came and ate her food.

The only other trick is to try a drop trap.  You can do a youtube search and find lots of info and how to use them.  They are expensive though.  If you are handy or know someone handy, they can be made.  The hard part is getting the cat out of the drop trap and then into a humane trap or carrier without the cat escaping.  It does require multiple people.

What awesome news that she rubbed up against you and offered slow blinks.

Have you treated her for fleas yet?

@ShadowsRescue

Last year in June she was captured. She is fixed, shots, wormed, and treated for fleas. However after that experience she turned even wilder. Before that I was able to stick my finger low and under her head. She would touch my finger with her nose. I was never able to touch her. I cannot get close to her to treat her for fleas now. I am using Advantage spray for bedding to try to fight them off.

Oh I forgot to say when I took Tiger to the vet I got a worm pill to put in her food. The vet said for me to wait till I bring Tiger in for post op Thursday coming up + I can get med to put in her food for fleas. He did not want to mix the meds since I cannot get close to her and we do not know if she is sick.

Swamplady said:

 
@ShadowsRescue

Last year in June she was captured. She is fixed, shots, wormed, and treated for fleas. However after that experience she turned even wilder. Before that I was able to stick my finger low and under her head. She would touch my finger with her nose. I was never able to touch her. I cannot get close to her to treat her for fleas now. I am using Advantage spray for bedding to try to fight them off.

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I had mentioned previously to you about using a product for fleas that you mix into her food.  It is very easy to use.  Also if you are certain she has fleas, then you can get some Capstar to administer immediately to kill the fleas.  It too can go into her food.

Are you trying to get her to the vet because of the hair loss?  Since you do not believe you can catch her, you need to try to treat her.  Have you looked into Diamaetrous Earth?

Maybe you could get a camera and zoom in close on the areas you are worried about and show them to your vet?  It might be a place to start.

So glad you can get some flea meds soon.

That is a good idea. I know where I can borrow a wildlife camera. Her hair is getting a little better but she still has one spot I do not like.

Actually if you can get close enough ( even 10-15 ft. away) and have a camera with a zoom, it might work better than the wildlife camera.  The vet might want to see a close up as well as one from a bit further back.

Swamplady said:

 
Got her !!! My trapping cage got stolen from the side mini covered patio. I had my carrier still not put up because I need to take Tiger in Thurs for post opt. I was outside picking things up + cleaning to work off anger over my trap stolen when Smokey came up and rubbed the back leg like the other day. Since I was bending over already I hurried and grabbed her on the back of the neck. She is one HEAVY cat. I put her in the carrier. Called vet right away + he said he was still at the hospital and bring her in. I BEGGED my neighbor to please bring to the Westbank Animal Hospital. That is where she is. I get her back this afternoon. He is not charging me overnight stay because he knows I cannot afford it + he knows I look after strays. @ShadowsRescue

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What fantastic news!!!!!  You were very brave, but did a great thing.  Be sure when you bring her home that she is allowed a cozy spot.  She may be upset with you, but give her something yummy and special to eat.  Also I find it best to remain calm and not act differently than normal.  This will cause her stress as you are different. 

Please update when you can.  I hope Smokey is ok.