6 month feral kitten hiding

katlinette

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Hi everyone!
I adopted a feral kitten a week ago. This is my first time having a feral cat and I know she needs time to adjust. We were keeping her in the mud room at first and long story short she got into the garage.
I put her food, water and litter box in there and she's eating and using the litter box. I put flour around to see where she was hiding and she's hiding up inside one of the cars.
Any advice would be great. I'm not sure what to do at this point. She won't come out if we're in there. This morning she was eating and as soon as I opened up the door she ran back to the car.
 

2Cats4everLoved

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This is what I've always done with every cat we've had since I was a kid.  

First the garage may be a dangerous place, as cats like to climb up into dark places and she could crawl up in the engine wheel etc.

Can you bring her back in the mud room or a quiet corner inside the house?

For now - Get a medium size clean box, lay it on its side and tape the top flap open, but then cut one side of that flap so it hangs down and gives her a place to crawl through but it will be dark and comforting, put a nice soft towel or blanket inside and then drape another old clean towel over leaving a hole for the opening.  Does this make sense...LOL

All my cats claimed this space as their own and rarely left the area.

Hope this helps.
 
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katlinette

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Yeah I have a setup sort of like that. I used the box she came in from the humane society and put the blanket she was sleeping on in the mud room and put some tuna in there. She was eating it this morning when I went in there to check and that's when I scared her back to the car :(
I want to get her out of the garage and put her in my bedroom instead of the mud room this time since it connects to the garage and I don't want her to be able to get back in there
 

2Cats4everLoved

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Only suggestion I have would get a new box and start fresh with hers and your family's odor and not the Humane Society.  This way it will most certainly be a period in her life that is behind her and she can get used to your scents.

Also, the box should be for sleeping, napping and playing only.  Keep food nearby but not in the box.

I hope this helps.
 

shadowsrescue

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You may need to borrow a humane trap to catch her.  She really should not be in the garage and up inside the car is very very dangerous.  Please try to get her out of the garage.  A humane trap would safely catch her and then you can transport her back to the mud room.

You really need to be able to handle her so that you can work on socialization.  Did the shelter give you any information about her?

I hope that you are quickly able to get her out of the garage.  Be most careful when anyone opens the garage or would start a car.  You definitely do not want her getting outside.
 
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katlinette

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Yeah.. my whole goal right now is to get her out of the garage. We didn't put her in there and if I could get her out of the car I would. Nobody is starting the cars or opening the doors. She's okay being held. She doesn't bite or scratch. All they told us is she was born to a feral cat and some man brought the kittens in. Where would I get one of those traps from?
 

shadowsrescue

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Yeah.. my whole goal right now is to get her out of the garage. We didn't put her in there and if I could get her out of the car I would. Nobody is starting the cars or opening the doors. She's okay being held. She doesn't bite or scratch. All they told us is she was born to a feral cat and some man brought the kittens in. Where would I get one of those traps from?
I would call the shelter where she came from and ask if they have one you can borrow.  Or check with friends and see if anyone has one.  They are used for catching wildlife such as squirrels, raccoons, oppossum, etc...  Yet work for cats too.  You place the food in the back of the trap, then line the trap with newspaper or puppy pee pad.  Next you set the trap and wait.  You want to use really stinky food.  It's best that she is hungry.  I used canned tuna or salmon.  You can make a small trail leading to the tuna in the back.  Once the trap slams shut, immediately move her to the mudroom and release her. 
 
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katlinette

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Update if anyone's interested! I got Alice out of the garage 2 days ago and have kept her in my room. Tonight she approached me all on her own and has even begun to walk with her tail up instead of between her legs! She's still hiding sometimes but I think she's made some amazing progress in just a couple of days!
 

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She's very sweet.  That's great news.  Thanks for the update.  I think she'll continue to gain trust.  Don't lose hope. As the saying goes, Hang in there kitty, tomorrow's another day. LOL

Keep us posted...
 

shadowsrescue

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Such great news!!  THanks so much for updating.  She looks so sweet.  Great progress is being made too!!
 
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