Feral momma cats

Hello All,

I am new to this site.  I have been fostering for our local shelter for five years, so I am an experienced cat caregiver.  I usually foster pregnant momma cats and kittens or cats/kittens who need medical care.  Our shelter recently seized a couple of pregnant feral cats who delivered in my home.  They each have their own bedroom.  Door shut and everything they need in the room.  One hidy spot (bed) in each room.  I am feeling a little defeated.  I fear these two feral moms will be my first failures.  

One who has three kittens now, still will not eat in my presence.  She does eat well, use her litter box, and seems quite content when there is no human in the room.  (I have security cameras in each room, so I can watch them without being in the room).  I have tried treats, chicken baby food, roast beef, etc., and she refuses to eat in my presence.  She basically shuts down when I am in the room, so much so that I could pet her.  She is a good momma and is caring for her babies just fine, although they are old enough to wean and I am starting to feed them a little canned.  

The other momma is much more aggressive.  She has actually gone into attack mode twice.  I now use a "shield" (tote container lid) to protect my legs when in her room.  She will eat in my presence and is also using her litter box and caring very well for her babies.  Again, when there is no human in the room, she seems content.  She will care for babes and even play with her toys.  She will stay out of her hidy bed/nest now when I enter the room.  I always call to her to let her know I am about to enter the room before I go in.  Before she would get into her bed when I told her I was coming in.  Now, she does not.  (I am hoping that is a step forward).  However, she hisses and growls as I put her food down (hence, my handy shield as twice she came at my legs swinging).

Luckily, both litters of babies do not seem to be learning their mom's feral ways.  Both litters great me at the door and are becoming very well socialized.  They crawl on my lap and play, etc.  Both mom cats watch us touch/play with babies, so I am hoping that will help.  

I use Feliway spray on bedding in both rooms.  I feed Royal Canin Kitten Development canned and Royal Canin Calm kibble (hoping this would help).

If anyone has any other suggestions, I would sure be happy to hear them!  

I think you are doing a great job. The cats are eating, using their litter boxes and taking care of their kittens and you are socializing the kittens and both cats watch you and allow you to play with the kittens. I view that as success.

How long have you had them?

So I am guessing you want to get the ferals into a home at some point.

The "aggressive" cat first. When and what were the circumstances when she became aggressive? What percent of the interactions were aggressive? You mention it happened twice but how many times have you been in the room? Was it early in the fostering process? It sounds like she is coming around as she is not going into her bed when you enter the room anymore. The hissing and growling is still happening? When you are putting the food down are you bending down on one knee or are you above her bending from the waist to put her food down? Are you looking directly at her eyes? Did she just lash out or did her ears pin back, did her tail move rapidly? Was she backed into a corner when you were putting the food down? Remember cats do take our energy, they can sense or fear and sense our confidence. Anymore info would be helpful.

The other one I would try to spend more time with. I have seen a few ferals with the "possum" way. Use treats or especially warm chicken (if she likes that) and put it by her (making sure it doesn't push her and put her on defensive where she might lash out). Now since she is not eating with you there already this may not work right away or at all. But once she gets used to you she will probably go for it but it will take time. She is in her feral shell. She needs to build trust (and food is great at that) and she just has to realize you are there not to hurt her but you are there. Sometimes in this situation I will wear an old shirt and put it near her food to get my scent and food together so even when I am not there she will eat with my scent there. Does she have anywhere to go up? Now I am not sure with kittens if places to go up (trees, dressers, etc) are wise (I only deal with ferals and not kittens so am not sure the dos and don'ts of having moms and kittens). She needs to build trust. now she trusts you with her kittens so that is huge. But she needs to realize you are good. Talk to her, give her eye kisses, let her be around you without you focusing on her.  

Usually food and time will take care of things. I truly believe they can sense a person cares and loves them and they usually come around.

I am sure others will have even better advice but I think you are doing the right things. It doesn't happen overnight with ferals but it can be done. 

I hoept his helps, please ask anything as I would love all these cats to find great homes.

Thank you so much for helping!  

The aggressive cat.  It seems she lashes out when I am just about to feed her.  I am standing and then kneel down to place her food down.  I try to be a few feet away as I am trying to not appear threatening.  I stand up to back away when she lashes out and, to be honest, chases me back.  Last happened a couple of days ago.  Admittedly, it really startled and scared me the first time, but now I just hold my "shield" and so far so good.  I have had her since Nov 28th with kittens being born the 29th.  She still hisses and growls upon entering the room, but "stays out", meaning not retreating to her bed when I enter the room.  I do try to avoid eye contact and also try to appear "sleepy" when in her room, lots of slow blinks.  Also, I have tried gently tossing Temptations to her, but stopped that as it also seemed to anger/scare her.  I think when she lashes out, its just lashing out...I don't think her ears were pinned and she is not cornered .

I haven't put a shirt in with either of them.  I think that's a great idea and will try it.  Both do have a place to go up.  They are in basement bedrooms with a half wall ledge around the outside walls.  Actually, for the first time I saw the aggressive cat sit on the ledge and look out the window from my camera today.  

I have gone in  "shut down" kitty's room at times and she is on the ledge, but immediately huddles down when I enter the room.  She is not aggressive at all and I had been petting her.  Now I wonder if I shouldn't have been.  Should I stop and wait for her to come to me?

Will try some play time tonight with a fishing pole type toy with the kittens, maybe even have it get a little close to mommas to see how they react?

Oh, "shut down" kitty arrived to my home March 1st and delivered her babies on March 7th.  

Welcome to TCS and THANK YOU for providing a nurturing, safe haven for those very lucky feral moms

I really like your idea of playing with the kittens in order to spike the moms' interests.  I was going to suggest a pull-along floor toy but the fishing pole might even be better.  My ferals are all outdoors and there is one, Stephanie, who has always growled at me and has never trusted me. She is excellent at warning the other cats about me.  Also, I have two adult cats who will try to "drive" me away from the food bowl - I suppose their motto is "the best defense is a good offense". Your shield is a good idea.

I am sure that there will be some good suggestions coming your way.  I hope that we get to see some pics soon!

Take Care,

Susan

Let's start with "shut down" cat as that is easier I think. I don't think it is bad at all that you have pet her and continue to pet her as long as she is not going to lash out and hurt you. I would suggest trying to give her treats when you are next to her. Just give her the eye kisses, talk softly to her, let her realize you are not a threat with her. Playing is always a good idea just see how she responds to it. Sometimes fast movements can cause a cat to retreat again. If possible I would just sit near her, talk to her, give her treats if possible, and just let her know you love her and that you are not going to hurt her. It has only been a month so it is still early. I think she will come around.

The aggressive cat is a bit more challenging. She has been around you long enough to know you are not a threat so there might have been an incident in her past. Now, you mention she lashes out when you stand up and are about to back away. It may be that she perceives that you are over here, the height issue. Cats that do not have confidence tend to not like a person above them as it is perceived as a threat. I would love for her to be up in the window when you put the food down so she can feel safe as she is above you. But we can't control that.

It might be the body language. That she can sense your concern. Do you have a little anxiety when you put the food down? They can sense that. Personally I am not big on a shield BUT I totally understand that you are worried about being scratched and bitten and you must protect yourself above all else. Try to be confident when you are giving the food, I know it is hard but I have found that being confident (but not naive or complacent).

If it was happening when you were backing away it could be a prey thing going on but it sounds like it is happening when you are rising above her. I think she is fearful and lacks confidence. So we have to build confidence. Can you possibly get a cat tree in there? Again, I have no idea if that is a good idea with 5 month old cats in the room. You probably know what can and can't be in a room with kittens or if not others on this site or the vet should know.

Also, maybe playing with her. I wonder how she would react to the stick with the feathers on it at the end. I worry she may view it as a threat though, I am not sure.  I personally have had a lot of success with warm chicken and angry ferals. They get that smell of the chicken and they lock on that rather than me.

Are you feeding and playing with "shut down" cat and her kittens before the aggressive one? She might be smelling the scent of the other cat (s) and feels threatened. Did her hissing and growling and lashing out happen more since the other cat came in the house a month ago? Are there any ferals around your house that she may be seeing out of the window? I don't think this last thing is an issue but thought I would ask. Both mom's are using the litter box and not going outside the box at all? 

She doesn't hiss or growl at any other times just when you put the food down and rise to back away?

I am glad you are not gently tossing treats to her anymore. Sometimes cats can take that as an aggressive movement even though it isn't meant to be. 

It could be as simple as body language or more complex. Would be interested to see the takes of others.

I have a outside feral I feed that hisses at me everytime I put the food down but I put it down right in front of her inches from her body basically saying "whatever". BUT I would not recommend such a cavalier attitude as cats can cause serious bodily harm. But I guess my point is I just show confidence and go about this BUT I also never had her lash out at me so it is different.

Sometimes it just takes time as well. please let us know how things are going if anything is working. The more we know about the situation the more the chance of finding a solution is possible.

Good luck, you are doing great work.

Just have time for a quick update, but wanted to let you know that we had a pretty good day today.  

Aggressive girl only had one little hiss for me each time I went into her room today and tonight she reached out to play with feathers on a stick toy!  Her babies are doing very well.  They have decided that I am an excellent cook and will eagerly eat their canned food.  

Shut down girl is much the same, still no hissing or growling, but I wonder if she may be a bit more relaxed when I am in the room.  Her babies, however, still believe I am a terrible cook and would prefer what momma has to offer.  When I put a little food on their front paws they shook it off, but did end up with a taste when washing.     

Thank you for all your help!

 Hooray for all the successes, big & small - updates such as yours encourage fellow rescuers of ferals everywhere

GrammaCat,

Congratulations, well done.

The play with Aggressive girl is awesome. That is a very nice breakthrough. Play will build confidence. Did you have a chance to give her a treat after the play? Just try to keep up the play. I think as you get more comfortable with her she is going to get more comfortable with you. You'll both feed off each others energy.

So glad the kittens are doing well.

Shut down girl probably is a bit more chill. Tough to know without seeing the interactions. But she must trust you.

Really well done, keep up the progress and good luck. Thanks for the update.