The Ghost

All right, to start off with our house has six cats; Momma, Princess, Ra, Spot, Asia, and Slipper. Lately there's been a few other cats coming into the yard to play with our cats, an orange tabby, a calico with the same markings as Princess but long fur like Slipper, and a pure white one. None of the three like humans, so I don't know their genders. My problem is that while the orange tabby (not to be confused with Ra and Spot who are also  orange tabbies) and the calico don't seem to be out in inclement weather (leading me to believe they have homes) , but I've seen the white one, who I call ghost, pressed against the sliding glass door for heat. (It runs when I try to let it in.) I've also seen it shelter in the dog house (which I've lined with pine straw to help it stay warm), so I don't think it has a home. Is there anything I can do to endear myself to this cat so it comes in when nothing living should be without shelter?

You are 100% correct about getting her some shelter.  She at least has that in the doghouse.  If you are unable to trap her right away, please give her food and water.  That will also help her begin to trust you.

You may need to trap the cat and take it from there.  If Ghost isn't feral (unsocialized to humans), she may have been on her own long enough to distrust humans, which is why she's running.

In any case, you could trap her and isolate her in a room, away from your tribe.  Until she's vet checked, you shouldn't try introductions.  The vet can scan for a chip, test for disease and spay or neuter as needed.  Once that's done, you will need to isolate her to help you determine her personality (and degree of distrust) and begin working with her.

Thank you so much for helping her!

Okay, just found out Ghost isn't  eating the cat food--the ravens are. Ghost is terrified  of humans, and the only thing with human scent on it that it tolerates are my cats, and it spooks if it even sees a human sillouhette. Is there anything I can do?

If she isn't eating any of it, she is either sick or getting food somewhere else. Can you ask your neighbor's if any of them is leaving food? You won't have much success if you can't bribe her with food.

Our neighborhood isn't exactly close, but I'll see if I can ask around. And, the cat's not losing weight (it looks well fed), so it must be getting food from somewhere.

Okay, I canvassed the neighborhood--and no one admits to feeding the cat. Everyone's seen it (that cat really gets around!), but no one admits to feeding it. However, this one family down the street feeds the feral cat population at their house, and they don't keep track of all the cats that come around, so it's (maybe) eating there?

Tallyollyopia said:

Okay, I canvassed the neighborhood--and no one admits to feeding the cat. Everyone's seen it (that cat really gets around!), but no one admits to feeding it. However, this one family down the street feeds the feral cat population at their house, and they don't keep track of all the cats that come around, so it's (maybe) eating there?

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Sounds reasonable. You might want to tempt her with better food, so you can get her trapped and vetted/fixed.

I would try that just to be sure she is fixed. Otherwise, you're going to have little white kittens!

You can, if the weather gets terribly cold, fill a small bag with rice, heat it in the microwave, and slip it UNDER the bedding in the dog house.  It will burn if there is direct contact, but under the bedding will keep the cat warm for several hours, and will not become a heat-sucker like a hot-water bottle would.

Okay; interesting new development. Spot and Slipper have been trying to herd Ghost into the house. I don't know why, I don't know how they think they can accomplish this--should I be concerned about this?

If they aren't being obviously mean, then maybe they want a new friend?  I would watch their body language (all three) and decide.  Maybe she's ready.

From what I can see, Ghost doesn't want in. When the other cats try to herd the cat in, it hisses, its fur stands on end, and it growls (not all at the same time). However, when our cats stop  trying to herd Ghost in, they seem to get along fine. Any ideas on what's going on?

She may be being put off by the pressure.  If they get along OK usually, then this may be an excellent time to trap her and have the vetting done.  Once that's done, you can better access whether she is ready and or suitable for indoor life.

Okay--something new. I hadn't seen Ghost for a while so I thought that maybe it had found a home, moved on, or had fallen prey to the million and one things that can happen to stray cat. No, tonight I discovered something interesting: Ghost is living in the doghouse in the backyard, and our cats are taking food to it (from their dishes). ???? 

Ah, that's wonderful. Sounds like the Ghost has found his home!

In our yard?!

Well, Ghost seems to have chosen to stay close and the other cats seem to have welcomed her.  If I recall correctly, you were considering taking her to the vet in preparation for taking her in? She seems to agree with that possibility.

I know you said she's very frightened of humans but I would still try to trap her, fix her if needed and make sure she's healthy.  If she does not want to live inside, she can still be a happy, healthy yard cat, as long as you provide food and shelter for her.

All right, another update on Ghost. I hadn't seen the cat in a few months, until the other night. Now previously, when Ghost came into the yard, our kitties welcomed it and would actually take food to it. Last night, as I was on my way to work, I saw them drive it off.   What? Why? What's going on? Is it because Slipper died? (That doesn't make much sense; she was one of the ones feeding Ghost, but she was just one.)