Is This Cat Feral And What Should I Do About Her?

[Kja1991]

I'm new to the site so I'm sorry if this topic has been done a lot. About 2 years ago, a tuxedo cat showed up in our backyard. I'd leave food for her and made sure she had somewhere warm to go (the garage) along with another cat. In January of last year, I got a cat of my own. I would sit outside with him when the weather got nice and the other cat would show up. She used to play with my neighbors cat and was weary of mine but that's changed now. She really loves my cat and he feels the same it seems.

She always waits by the back door waiting for food and my cat Smokey. When he would come out, she'd meow happily and rub against him. She shows him her belly and they like to sit together. Me on the other hand, I can't get too close to her. I can get within 3 or 4 feet of her but if I move she'll run a few feet away. Before that, I couldn't get close to her at all. If I'm putting food out, she'll get close to me. I really want to know what I can do with her. Do you think she's feral? She has a clipped ear so I guess someone got to her in the past. Is it possible for her to be a house cat? I hate it when it gets cold out because she's sitting by the door crying and I wish I could make her a pet. Any advice is appreciated!

 

[KarenKat]

The cat definitely sounds feral, with being weary to humans. I’ve adoptwd a stray, but I don’t have much experience with feral cats. 1CatOverTheLine has a wealth of success stories in turning feral strays into happy and adjusted housecats. I believe the recipe is time, patience and love.

 

[msaimee]

If she sits by the door crying when the weather is cold, let her inside your house. She is already socialized with your resident cat, so allow her inside and see how she likes it. She might end up wanting to remain inside and become domesticated, or she might want to be an indoor/outdoor cat.

It is possible to socialize her, over time, once you take her into your house. She may never become a cuddly lap cat, but as long as you are able to eventually handle her so you can get her to the vet when needed, that is enough. It will help if you pick up an express affection to your resident cat in front of her. Cats learn by observing interaction between humans and other cats. If you let her inside and she decides to remain indoors, even if she never becomes affectionate, she will be a good playmate for your a resident cat, and you will have peace of mind knowing that she is safe indoors.

I've trapped and taken inside my house 3 completely feral cats who were all under 1 year of age at the time and two of them have been completely socialized and are very affectionate. The third does not like to be touched or handled, but she has medical issues and is content to be indoors. Many of us have taken in and socialized feral cats. Although your feral cat is older than a year, which usually makes the process more difficult, you have several factors in your favor. First, you've been caring for her for a few years. Second, she has expressed an interest in coming inside. Third, she has befriended your resident cat. So I say go for it. If she is unhappy inside, she will let you.

We usually recommend that before taking in a feral or stray cat, that the cat be taken to the vet and tested for FIV and Feline Lukemia and kept in a separate room from resident cats until given a clean bill of health and adjustment has been made to endure living.. However, in your situation, if your feral cat has appeared healthy and has already been interacting with your resident cat, the cat's already out of the bag, so to say. I think you could hold off on the trauma of trapping her for a vet visit right now. Let her inside and see what happens.

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

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K Kja1991 - I'm clearly not needed here since you've already gotten the best advice possible. Once inside, Love and patience wins the day even with the most difficult of cases - and this one seems like my most recent cat, Mirò, who - like my Snowshoe - just came in and made herself Queen at home.

The true Feral Queen queen of the ferals, however, is Norachan whose clowder of former ferals numbers twenty-two against my eleven. She's a giver of good advice, as well.

KarenKat is right - there are countless success stories here on TCS, some memorialised here:

Fervour For Ferals.

and many as protracted blow-by-blow expositories:

meet Buggy

Success Stories Taking In Ferals?

I Got My Feral In The House Today!

I'll guarantee one thing: if you decide to do this and start a thread here on TCS, you'll get so much community support that the process will be effortless. Well, okay - it won't be effortless - but it will be a darned sight easier.

Beyond this, it sounds like you have the right sort of Heart, and for you, when the magic happens - that first touch, the first time you hold her, the first time she sleeps with you - it will truly be magic.

Virgil was right, you know; Love really does conquer all. Here's hoping that the magic finds you as well.

Edit: Sorry - no manners here. Welcome to TCS - to you and to your beautiful Family!
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[Norachan]

Hi K Kja1991 Welcome to TCS.



It sounds to me like she is a socialised feral, one that someone used to care for in the past. It's great that she has an ear tip, that means someone has had her spayed. That makes things a lot easier for you.

Yes, if you can care for two cats please let her come inside. She's already good friends with your Smokey, so you don't have to worry about introductions. Having one friendly cat around helps the wilder ones start to trust people. A few of my former ferals couldn't be handled at all for the first couple of months, but they gradually started accepting pets after seeing the other cats enjoying it.

Could you leave a door or window open and start feeding her just outside and then just inside the door? Once she is comfortable you can try closing the door with her in there.

It's best to keep her confined to one room at first. Set up a cat room with beds, cat trees, litter box etc and try letting her in there.

They make a handsome couple.

 

[NY cat man]

The cat definitely sounds feral, with being weary to humans. I’ve adoptwd a stray, but I don’t have much experience with feral cats. 1CatOverTheLine has a wealth of success stories in turning feral strays into happy and adjusted housecats. I believe the recipe is time, patience and love.

Amen to that. Time and patience are the be-all and end-all . In every case so far, at least for me, it took anywhere from 2 to 4 months. You have one advantage I didn't, though. You can use your cat as 'bait',so as to let the cat see there is nothing to fear from you. Just don't rush things.

 

[amethyst]

I agree with others in that you should bring her in if you can. I have a former feral named Tux, who even after almost 4 years does not like to be touched by humans, he is like a normal cat every other way though. I can play with him, he takes treats from my hand, comes when called, follows me around (he is very curious), talks to me, is friendly with the other cats (he is a lover not a fighter), and loves my dogs, he thinks my collie is his . He is loved, happy, and healthy, the trusting me to touch him part is just a work in progress. By the way he loves to look outside, but has never shown any interest in going back outside, not even when the other cats go out.

So what I am getting at is, don't get discouraged if it takes a long time, although some people have had luck in a matter of months, it can take years in some cases.

 

[Kja1991]

Thank you all so much for your help! I forgot to mention this but she has been in a few time. I'll leave the back door open if I'm in the kitchen or if my cat wants to go in and out. If I walk away and come back, she'll be inside. When she sees me, she'll back away or run out. She doesn't run far. She stays right by the door. I really want to see what I can do about her. If I do let her in and close the door, what would happen? If she stays in, do I take her to the vet? I have so many questions!

 

[msaimee]

Let her in and close the door. I think you have an excellent chance of fully domesticating this cat to indoor life. If you close the door behind her, she may or may not cry for a few days. Female cats, more so than males, readily adapt to indoor life. If you can get her into a spare room to have to herself for at least a few days, with frequent visits from your resident cat, that would help her adjust without being overwhelmed. And yes, you should take her to a vet, but you could wait a few weeks to do this since she has already been spayed and has had regular contact with your resident cat. One thing I would suggest you do is dribble some Frontline Plus between her shoulder blades while she's eating her favorite food. If she has fleas, you want to take care of that sooner rather than later.

I can tell you from experience that it is about a hundred times easier and less stressful to care for an indoor cat than an outdoor cat. There will be a period adjustment for her, but a few months from now, when winter hits, and she is laying comfortably on your bed with your other Kitty, you will feel completely wonderful and it will all have been worth it.

 

[maggiedemi]

I tamed my first feral Demi with a long handled duster. My second feral Maggie didn't like to be petted much, so I tamed her with words. I just constantly talked to them and taught them about 20 words. Just making them a part of my everyday life and talking in an excited voice about everything we do really was the key. If I make something sound exciting, they want to do it.

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

Thank you all so much for your help! I forgot to mention this but she has been in a few time. I'll leave the back door open if I'm in the kitchen or if my cat wants to go in and out. If I walk away and come back, she'll be inside. When she sees me, she'll back away or run out. She doesn't run far. She stays right by the door. I really want to see what I can do about her. If I do let her in and close the door, what would happen? If she stays in, do I take her to the vet? I have so many questions!

K Kja1991 - No one can say what will happen when you close the door with the tuxedo kitty safe inside. I've seen reactions anywhere from full-bore panic to utter disinterest.

In your favour, your current kitty likes her, and you might be surprised at how readily one cat can calm another. They do teach one another, and have more ability at communicating with one another than do we.

Absolute panic and havoc is the worst case scenario, but in this case, I doubt that will be the reaction. I'd have some special "treat" ready when she comes in, and very readily available for placement on the floor. A "StinkyFood®" like Fancy Feast Beef and Liver or something similar might be best. Doubtless, other will have thoughts to add here as well.

Yes - eventually she'll have to see your veterinarian - either at the office or - if your vet makes house calls - at her new Forever Home to sort out any possible health issues and do Routine Cat Maintenance.

Don't fret, and ask any and every question that comes to you right here!

Edit: I'd also have whichever topical flea remedy you're currently using on hand as well.
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