Stray hiding in house, no kittens, no longer pregnant

I need some advice on what to do for this stray that is hiding in my house. We have been taming a feral kitten, now a full-grown and until a few days ago, pregnant cat. She only recently starting coming indoors, would eat at the food dish and want to go out again pretty quickly. Last Thursday afternoon, she wanted to come in and she hasn't wanted to go outside since. After she had been inside for almost a day we looked at her more closely and found she was no longer pregnant. She did not have any kittens in our house, but must have had them outdoors. We think something must have gotten her kittens. We don't know whether it was the stray male cats, a neighborhood dog, or raccoons.

She was very affectionate with me at first, like she was looking for comfort, but for the past day or so, she has been hiding under a bed and not has only come out to use the litter box. We even put food and water under the bed for her. She seems more afraid to go outside than she is of us. I'd say she is somewhat traumatized. I am very concerned about her and am not sure what to do to help her.

I don't think she would be that scared of other cats, so I'm guessing it was a wild animal that possibly killed the kittens or some idiot people/kids who killed them.

I'd keep her inside and take her to the vet if at all possible. I'm guessing any kittens she had are no longer alive. Its sad, but I would not really know where to start - the kittens could have been born anywhere outside and by the time you might find them, it would be too late to save them. Kittens less then a month old and not being fed would die quickly.

I don't know if I can be much help, but when I get strays that are scared, I put their food, water, and a small litter pan just a few feet from where they are hiding, and I usually let life go on around them, however, my house is pretty quiet. They peek out, and I usually talk to them in a very calm, soothing voice, and I lay down on the ground. I never reach into where they are hiding, as I don't want to scare them even more, or get bit. I do make sure they are eating, drinking, and using the litter box, and it depends on the cat, but they realize that this is a safe place. (until the vet visit... )

If you dont have any other pets you can do a couple things...

She should see a vet first off to get tested vaccinated and spayed. At least looked at generally, but all of these things are important.

I would do it asap, get the small trauma of going to a vet and spayed over with before she settles into your home. Then start working to socailize her. If you socailize her first, then do the vetting, she may not trust you again and you will have to go through the whole process all over again.

Are you planning on keeping her or spaying her and returning her to the wild? If she has let you pet her a little bit then she mal not be entirely feral, just scared to death.

Work with her. In the room she is in, keep it dim, play soft music when you aren't around, when you are sit in the room with her and read out loud to her. Let her approach you whenever she is ready.

I would really look into getting her into a vet soon. Mention the loss of babies to the vet and have him check her out and get everything done asap so you can start the socializing.

Good luck. Post pictures if you can, we like that. Keep us updated too please!

I do have 5 other indoor only cats.

We have been taming this cat and her sister for some time. Her sister has been very comfortable coming in our home and staying in for several hours at a time. About two weeks ago, the tamer of the two came in and had her kittens. The shy one has been coming inside recently, but until this week would only stay inside for a few minutes. She seems to trust me fairly well, but I'm not sure I could stuff her in a carrier and take her to the vet at this point. I would like to spay both gals and keep them around outside.

To put a wild kitty into a cat carrier, you should open it, and tip it up so the opening is up on top. Then when you catch her, grip her very firmly, and set her in feet first. As soon as she is in, close the door quickly.

I did this for my avatar boy Will, who was a tame outside cat at the time. He spun quickly like a whirling dervish in the crate, but didn't get out since the only opening was above him. He yowled and growled all the way to the vets office, and when we got there we warned the vet that although he seemed tame at home, since getting in the cage he was acting like a wild thing. I thought he would need to be sedated.

Well, as soon as the carrier door opened, he walked out as calm as you please, and proceeded to rub up against the vet and vet tech, purring! And has traveled well in a carrier ever since!

I hope your girl surprises you by going nicely. If she is too wild to catch, use a trap. Maybe since she is a stray you are taming, the vet will give you a discount. My vet does ferals for $25 each, which is cheaper than an office visit for my pet cats!

I'm sorry for not offering my condolences! I'm very sorry that her kittens were lost. I'm sure that must be quite painful for you, since you have been trying to tame her for a while!

This is why pregnant cats or new kittens need to be inside.. I am so sorry please keep us updated...

Originally Posted by Home4Strays

I do have 5 other indoor only cats.

We have been taming this cat and her sister for some time. Her sister has been very comfortable coming in our home and staying in for several hours at a time. About two weeks ago, the tamer of the two came in and had her kittens. The shy one has been coming inside recently, but until this week would only stay inside for a few minutes. She seems to trust me fairly well, but I'm not sure I could stuff her in a carrier and take her to the vet at this point. I would like to spay both gals and keep them around outside.

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I have slightly different advice....first, given that she is scared...I would treat her like a feral cat. I would borrow a humane trap from a local humane society or vet clinic or animal control and I would set it up inside your home with food. That way, the vet can easily sedate her and you do not risk her biting or scratching you as you try to put her into a carrier.

Katie

True it does make since. You do not want to get bit....

This is gonna sound callous or something, but I really hope it was a wild animal that got her kittens, and not a human... with a wild animal you can at least think it was acting on instinct; but with a human... humans are creative and can be thoroughly cruel and thoroughly evil... so I really really hope it was an animal.

Yeah, that was depressing.

Good luck with your shy kitty... I second the "soft music" idea, also radio or TV... human voices... just sitting in the same room with her, reading out loud... Like Pavlov's dogs, you know? Teach the cat that "Human"="Not Scary". Basic behavioral psychology!

Has your stray got a name?