hope for mom?

I have had a mom-cat in my garage for over 14 weeks now. When she first came she was very very shy, and never came out. However, after the kittens came she seemed to become more comfortable and would come out when we were there and eat. I started to think we might be able to socialize her afterall. However, we removed the kittnes (10 weeks) from her this week for a variety of reasons, and she seems to have reverted to hiding again. I brought her food this morning and she was well hid.
Is she hopeless? I am going to trap her to spay her, but then I need to make a decision as to whether to release her or try to socialize her. Her recent reversion makes me wonder if she is just one of those cats that will never adjust.

So you are fully prepared to take her in and try to socialize? Splendid.

I think/hope it will be easier when she is spayed. Taking away of the kittens cant have helped up her feeling of security and wellness either.

Do you have own friendly homecat? Then I think you shall give this a go. Give her the chance - the chances pretty good I firmly believe.

If you dont have this friendly homecat - it is still possible but more difficult, so you must take the decision yourself... *sad smile*

There are of course those who try to socialize the cat when she is still outside. And of course also this will be easier if she is spayed.
This is a possible compromise.

But taking in is quicker and more sure is my believing.

well, our situation is more busy than may be ideal. I have three adult cats, one younger one (was also a stray that we adopted) that might be good to help. (the other two are ~18 yrs old so I am not sure I want to stress them out). We also have two german shepherds (that do well with our cats) but I am figuring will terrify the momcat. We are also keeping one of her kittens, which may help her adjust? We can keep her away from the dogs inside (as we are doing with the litter now). I am not sure how successful we will be but I want to try.

With a little luck she will NOT be a stress to your old cats. It seems to be a paradox, but shy semiferals usually gets along with homecats fairly easy. Usually much easier then a - say, replaced homecat or buyed homecat.
- Idont say more at that moment, take my word for it as now.

the homecats must of course be fully vaccinated, but I suppose yours are as you adopted one of the kittens?

When you trap her she may be agressive - defensive aggresiveness. Bevare!

The usual is: take her inside to a quarantene room (if you dont have any - a big and clean dog crate should do). Open the trap/transprter box and let her be alone. Let her calm down so she is sure nobody is mean or hostile to her. Two days? She must have some hiding place, a igloo or a cardboard box turned aside with a old blanket in is fine. Of course, water, some food, litter.

(of course somewhere along the line a vet should check her and give her the shots and do deworming.)

After some days, when deworming and deparasiting is done and the shots begin to work - you let her meet your homecats (the one you want to).

there usually arent any fights, they get pals quickly - if the homecat is friendly.

After it the homecat does half the socializing job.

I have heard examples of shy semiferal, afraid to let her be touched by the human but pals with homecats.
At the night she follows the homecats to sleep in the humans bed - although still afraid to be touched let alone petted...

I did wrote much she. It is often she. Often a mommacat or ex mommacat. But shy tomcats may also behave this way, especially after neutering.
(I did asked this about tomcats the chairman of a swedish shelter who do very much of such fosterings. We dont have almost no TNR, so willy nilly it is socialisation and fostering in fostering homes).

thanks for your advice. I had not thought to have the other cats help out with this. I would like to take a shot at helping her... she was such a good mom to the kittens. I am waiting for some tests back and then I willmake the appt to get her spayed. that might be a good time to get her into the quarantine area.

I have never had a feral get into a fight with my home cats. The feral or at least the ones I have dealt with are the submissive ones to the home cats.

we have allowed the kittnes that are left to interact with mom. All week (without kittens) she has been a total ghost, only time I would see her is if I happened to catch her out and then she bolted. As soon as the kittens went back in with her, she started to come out, clean herself, eat etc with me there. Now, she still hisses at me if I come too close too fast, but she always did. I am not sure how this helps or hurts our chances. Two of the kittens are going home next week, but I am keeping one. Can I use him to help? Or would that not be a good idea? He is very social (the first one out of the box to interact with us).

I would definitely use her kitten to help tame her. And do not expect too much of her...give her time to adjust to life inside. Getting her spayed quickly will benefit her a lot.

My last foster Sarabi had trouble giving up her kittens, too. She licked much of her fur off from the stress. Now she is doing well, and her fur has grown back in.

Originally Posted by Twinka

As soon as the kittens went back in with her, she started to come out, clean herself, eat etc with me there.

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I almost suspect she went depressed when she missed her kittens. therefore it seems to been a backslash in her own socialization. As it seems to work well to rejoin her with her kittens, do proceed. She will have company of one, this you do adopt and is social.

I want to believe it will go well now.

another question: about capturing mom.
I caught her prior to giving birth using a have-a-heart trap. Now, in order to get her spayed I need to catch her again. I put the trap out last night with some food and she did not go into it, and today, when I was out with her and the kittens she looked at the trap and hissed at it. I do not think this bodes well for trapping her again. I did not feed her today in hopes that if she is more hungry she may overcome her aversion and I will try it again tonite.
Does anyone have any advice about re-trapping?
thanks

Originally Posted by Twinka

another question: about capturing mom.
I caught her prior to giving birth using a have-a-heart trap. Now, in order to get her spayed I need to catch her again. I put the trap out last night with some food and she did not go into it, and today, when I was out with her and the kittens she looked at the trap and hissed at it. I do not think this bodes well for trapping her again. I did not feed her today in hopes that if she is more hungry she may overcome her aversion and I will try it again tonite.
Does anyone have any advice about re-trapping?
thanks

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Here is a good forum to look at:

http://network.bestfriends.org/Blogs...b13f7e1c31758d

Katie

thanks for the site. it has some options i have not tried yet, so we will try again next week. it is funny, tibers (the kitten we are keeping) was sleeping in the have-a-heart last night. hopefully, that will make it less scary for her.
in other news: she has started to come into the house. at night we leave tibers out to interact with mom and leave the door open. she has come all the way in, eated etc with me in the room! I hope that capturing and spaying her does not ruin what little trust we have gained, but it has to be done. Hopefully we will be able to catch her next week.