Help: a feral cat was around but is now missing - might she still be around?

feralsrule

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During February a cute duo of black feral sisters came to my house for a week. It took me a lot of time to tame one of them by tempting her with treats and wet food but she proved to be a real snugglebug, letting me scratch her and pick her up from day two. She also stayed by the door all night, waiting to greet me in the morning (for her morning treat of course
). I didn't let her in the house yet as I wanted to spay and deflea/deworm her first and then adopt her.

Anyway a week later I was forced to leave for about 20 days and let my sister at home with instructions to feed her. Apparently, three days after I left she wouldn't show up any more. Now after 20 days I'm back and the kitty is nowhere to be found. During the last three days I've been putting out wet food multiple times per day to entice her but a huge male is coming around and eating it. I go around the yard calling "psst psst psst" a few times a day (since she had responded to that immediately at that time) but so far no luck


Those of you who have dealt with ferals in the past, could you advise me? Is there any chance she might come back if I keep putting out food and calling? I live in a very small town if that matters in some way.
 

shadowsrescue

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She sounds more like a stray or an owned cat to me.  She's way too friendly.  Feral cats will keep their distance and usually only appear at dawn and dusk.

Most likely she has moved on and found someone else to feed it.  It is also possible that she is an owned cat that was out and about.  Many friendly cats will always be intrigued by food and rarely pass it up.

I would ask around your neighborhood and see if anyone has seen them.  Maybe someone decided to take them inside.

The biggest concern is if she is spayed.  If not kittens will be on the horizon.  If she does come back it would be great if you could trap her or get her into a carrier for a vet trip. 
 
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feralsrule

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Definitely not a stray, people here tend to view cats more as pest control (and sometimes, even pests themselves) rather than pets. Maybe she was handled by a kid when she was young or someone fed her and that's why she became so friendly. None of my acquaintances here owns a cat as a pet and it's not a big town. It's also quite unlikely someone took her inside since keeping a cat indoors here is quite unheard of (unfortunately). Anyway, I asked around but apparently nobody has noticed, people don't often pay attention to cats.

If she comes around I'll check if she might have kittens and then take her to a vet to get her spayed and vaccinated. She is a really wonderful kitty and I'd love to keep her. I wouldn't mind adopting some of her kittens either


In your experience, is there a chance she might come back if she's still around town? I'm hoping the wet food smell and her memories of my yard being a nice place with lots of food and cuddles will get her back
 

shadowsrescue

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It's really hard to tell if she will come back.  If she found a nice place with food and had kittens she will stay put.  You just never know.

Also unfortunately since she is living outside, there are lots of dangers.

If you are leaving food outside, it is best not to leave it out over night.  You will attract other wildlife that you will not want around.  Once the wildlife finds the food it is quite difficult to get them to leave.
 
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feralsrule

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Thanks for the tip about not leaving food out at night, though the big male tends not to leave it around for long. Since my lovely kitty hasn't come around yet I'm slowly building trust with him as well in order to capture and have him neutered. Poor fellow is missing an eye, probably lost in a catfight somewhere and could use some vetinary attention.

I'll keep leaving food outside for the time being and hope my kitty comes back and the male begins to trust me enough to be captured
 

shadowsrescue

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Thanks for the tip about not leaving food out at night, though the big male tends not to leave it around for long. Since my lovely kitty hasn't come around yet I'm slowly building trust with him as well in order to capture and have him neutered. Poor fellow is missing an eye, probably lost in a catfight somewhere and could use some vetinary attention.

I'll keep leaving food outside for the time being and hope my kitty comes back and the male begins to trust me enough to be captured
If the male is not neutered you can trap him right away, no need to wait for trust.  Just borrow or buy a humane trap and get him to the vet for neuter.  His hormones will have him wander far and wide in search of a mate.  Also if he was with the female and she is not spayed, she is certainly pregnant.

You are doing all the right things, but just remember there is no need to wait for trust to capture them.  You can start by feeding the cats in the unset trap so they get used to it .  THen on trapping day, you set the trap and take the cat right to the vet.  It's much quicker and easier than waiting to gain trust.  Also you don't want the male out impregnanting lots of females.
 
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feralsrule

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He's new, first time I spotted him was three days ago when I started putting out wet food. He's one Massive cat, as big a male as I've seen.

I'll buy a trap and go for it. Hopefully now that he's used to eating around my yard I'll have no problems trapping him.

I'd still like to see my sweet kitty though. Hope she's still wandering around and may pass by and be lured by the wet food.
 

shadowsrescue

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He's new, first time I spotted him was three days ago when I started putting out wet food. He's one Massive cat, as big a male as I've seen.

I'll buy a trap and go for it. Hopefully now that he's used to eating around my yard I'll have no problems trapping him.

I'd still like to see my sweet kitty though. Hope she's still wandering around and may pass by and be lured by the wet food.
Thank you for helping him.  He is so big most likely since he's not neutered.  Here is a great video put out by Alley Cat Allies on trapping.

https://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=555
 
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feralsrule

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I've got horrible news. Apparently, a fox or a skunk invaded several chicken coops in the area while I was away and some inhuman MONSTER put out poisoned traps to kill it and ended up eradicating a large number of stray cats and dogs


RIP little fellow, I'll always remember how kind you were
 

If I find out who the monster is I'll call the authorities... That inhuman monster...
 

misterwhiskers

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I've got horrible news. Apparently, a fox or a skunk invaded several chicken coops in the area while I was away and some inhuman MONSTER put out poisoned traps to kill it and ended up eradicating a large number of stray cats and dogs :bawling: :bawling: :bawling:

RIP little fellow, I'll always remember how kind you were :bawling:  

If I find out who the monster is I'll call the authorities... That inhuman monster...
Oh no, that is devestating to hear! [emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji][emoji]128549[/emoji] I'm so sorry.
 

shadowsrescue

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I am so very sorry.  That is just horrible and very inhumane.  I hope you can find this person and report them to the authorities. 
 
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