- Joined
- Nov 7, 2017
- Messages
- 7
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- 8
hi everyone,
i was hoping i could get some advice.
I have a stray living in my backyard. I started feeding her 2 months ago and she soon was sitting outside my window waiting for me whenever i looked. My dad and i used a humane trap to capture her and bring her inside. i was keeping her in my bathroom because i wasn't sure if she was feral or a stray and i was a little nervous to get too close. We left the door open so she could come out whenever she wanted and she did explore my apartment at night and early morning. She didn't eat at all and seemed very depressed. She showed no signs of aggression at all, she just seemed scared. She just laid next to my toilet and did not move when we came in and out of the bathroom. my fathers friend, who has some knowledge about these things, sat next to her and started petting her.. she didn't even flinch and he even said she was purring. He said she is a stray because a feral would never let him get that close especially because she has never met him before. He told me to start spending time with her in the bathroom and to pet her. she let me pet her and i got the impression she was enjoying it because she turned away from me to let me reach more parts of her chin/neck. my dad left the window in the bathroom cracked so she could get air, but she somehow managed to get out.
She was only in my house for 2 days. When i came home she was waiting outside my window.
I went outside and put food and water about a foot in front of me and she came over to eat.
At first she would take about 10-15 minutes to come over but now she comes over almost as soon as i sit down.
My dad built some stairs to the window and a ledge that fits inside the window so i could start feeding her up there.
She has come up a few times to eat but she doesn't seem to like it. She just sits underneath my ladder and stares at me as if she wants me to come down. Every day I go outside and sit with her while she eats. I know she knows I won't hurt her, she turns her back to me all the time and blinks slowly at me. But if i get too close she runs away. She has come up to me a few times and smelt my hand but she just walked away after.
The past couple of weeks I've noticed her getting fatter and she seems to have morning sickness. I've read up on it a lot and I'm positive she's pregnant, I'm just not too sure how far along she is.
Its starting to get cold and I really wish she would just come inside.
My question is should i try to trap her again or should i wait until she comes in herself?
I don't want to lose her trust and I don't want her to be stressed.. I'm also afraid she won't eat if i bring her inside again.
I would like to adopt her and I've already been looking for homes for her kittens.
What should I do?
i was hoping i could get some advice.
I have a stray living in my backyard. I started feeding her 2 months ago and she soon was sitting outside my window waiting for me whenever i looked. My dad and i used a humane trap to capture her and bring her inside. i was keeping her in my bathroom because i wasn't sure if she was feral or a stray and i was a little nervous to get too close. We left the door open so she could come out whenever she wanted and she did explore my apartment at night and early morning. She didn't eat at all and seemed very depressed. She showed no signs of aggression at all, she just seemed scared. She just laid next to my toilet and did not move when we came in and out of the bathroom. my fathers friend, who has some knowledge about these things, sat next to her and started petting her.. she didn't even flinch and he even said she was purring. He said she is a stray because a feral would never let him get that close especially because she has never met him before. He told me to start spending time with her in the bathroom and to pet her. she let me pet her and i got the impression she was enjoying it because she turned away from me to let me reach more parts of her chin/neck. my dad left the window in the bathroom cracked so she could get air, but she somehow managed to get out.
She was only in my house for 2 days. When i came home she was waiting outside my window.
I went outside and put food and water about a foot in front of me and she came over to eat.
At first she would take about 10-15 minutes to come over but now she comes over almost as soon as i sit down.
My dad built some stairs to the window and a ledge that fits inside the window so i could start feeding her up there.
She has come up a few times to eat but she doesn't seem to like it. She just sits underneath my ladder and stares at me as if she wants me to come down. Every day I go outside and sit with her while she eats. I know she knows I won't hurt her, she turns her back to me all the time and blinks slowly at me. But if i get too close she runs away. She has come up to me a few times and smelt my hand but she just walked away after.
The past couple of weeks I've noticed her getting fatter and she seems to have morning sickness. I've read up on it a lot and I'm positive she's pregnant, I'm just not too sure how far along she is.
Its starting to get cold and I really wish she would just come inside.
My question is should i try to trap her again or should i wait until she comes in herself?
I don't want to lose her trust and I don't want her to be stressed.. I'm also afraid she won't eat if i bring her inside again.
I would like to adopt her and I've already been looking for homes for her kittens.
What should I do?
. I would trap her and let her out where you want her to be, preferably a small room at first with hiding places and all she needs. They can panic if the door is shut behind them and try to crash through windows and hide in dangerous spots. With a trap you are more in control. It may take her a while to go into another trap, you might try a carrier and see if she will go in it for tuna or something stinky and simply shut the door. She isn't going to trust you for a while, but with plenty of quiet times sitting with her and offering treats frequently, she will come around. Leave food out for her at night, that is when a scared cat will most likely eat once she is captured. She will come around, it will be a while, but it will happen. You are already developing a bond and she will accept and love you in time. Keep us posted!
Welcome to TCS!
Sorry about the trapping fiasco. At least you gave it your best shot. I agree with SArthur2 - make the best of the situation. I would put her on a high quality kitten food and add canned food, so she doesnt develop nutritional deficiencies. I would keep trying to trap her - see if you can get her to start eating the canned food inside the trap (use a pipe or stout stick to hold the trapdoor open) for awhile before trying to trap. It might help to cover the trap with a towel or some brush; also, put newspaper on the floor and put the food on that. At first, put the food near the trapdoor entrance as well as some nearby, gradually working your way to the back. On trapping day, cover the floor (and trip plate) with a single layer of newspaper. Thank you for the update 
