O/T Feral Cat

[dfchelbay]

Hi everyone, I'm looking for a little advice on a kitty that has been hanging out in my backyard for a couple months. I think it's a female, and on the small side. I think she's still young. It's getting rather cold here (20-30), and me, the "sucker", feels bad for this cat being outside all day and all night.

She comes when I call for her. She's usually hiding in the shrubs in my yard, or next door. If I do yard work, she watches and follows me if I go to the side or front yard. I've been feeding her, so I know she's not going hungry. My question is shelter for her. She'll let me get within about 10-12 feet of her. I've never pet her or touched her. DH and I went and bought a couple plastic storage bins and a roll of insulation. I read online to put one storage bin within the other, and place insulation between both bins. Is this really enough warmth for a cat? It seems like it would be nearly the same temperature as being outside completely. It will keep her dry, which is good.

Anyone have any ideas, advise, or suggestions. Do you think she would go inside it. Should I buy a heating pad or bed for inside it?

Any ideas?????

 

[MinnieVanMom]

We had a feral cat that kept having kittens. She ate on the front porch with my cat but ran when she saw us.

I got a humane trap and trapped her, then got a huge dog kennel and put her in the kennel with her kittens. I kept the kennel covered with blanket and we played with the kittens daily. Once the kittens were 8 weeks old they were social and we gave them to the shelter that doesn't kill. We took mommy cat to the vet and had her spade. She never was domesticated but she did calm down a lot! And now she can just be a cat without tons of kittens.

You are very kind to want to care for this cat. Hopefully you can domesticate her and have a pet.

 

[mom2mizmous]

I don't have a lot of advice (except maybe contact a no kill center near you like protectors of animals- they might have add'l ideas to help). But as "mommy' to 4 rescued cats obtained from that organization- 1 stray found wandering city streets , and the "twins- born to a feral mommy cat -I just wanted to say how wonderful you are for caring for that helpless babe. One of our twins only has one eye and it breaks my heart when I think what could have become of him and his tortie sis if no one had cared enough (like you) to help them . PS just in case anyone is wondering kitty number 4 is a 17 lb doublepawed bundle of love that was abandoned at the vets office.

 

[pixiewings71]

Do you have any old towels or blankets you can put out there? If so put them in the bins as a liner, that way she can burrow if she gets too cold. It's very sweet of you to do this, the bonus for using something from your home is that kitty might get used to your smell faster and be more willing to come to you and let you touch her. Good luck! Thank You for taking care of Miss Kitty!

 

[Cadiewampus]

Just make sure to put is somewhere it would be out of the wind. Then I would go to Walmart to the pet department and get some cedar or pine shavings to go in it. This is what we have in our dogs houses and it seems to alway be toasty warm inside them.

 

[sl_underwood]

We have adopted 2 cats that were initially feral. One of those cats is nownearly 4 years old and the sweetest cat you would ever know. He loves everyone, loves to be held, etc. The other, still wary of strangers but very sweet. Both came from a shelter but my dd who works for a vet said that they have several clients who have tamed feral strays by feeding them, allowing the cat to get used to them, and then bringing the cat into their home. If you cant bring her in out of the cold, I second getting a cat trap and taking her to a no kill shelter where she will have a warm winter and hopefully find a family.

 

[chrisw127]

No advice, just wanted to thank you for taking care of this kitty.

 

[amyren]

One of my "fur babies" was feral. We found her in our crawl space when she was a kitten. Lucky for us she was pretty tiny and easy enough to tame. The only advice I have is to contact an organization that does free spay neuter. We had our Chloe spayed though an orginization called the "sterile feral". Even if you don't plan to keep the kitty as an official pet I would encourage you to have it um.. "fixed". Chloe was sort of a demon at first but now she is the sweetest kitty! We've had her over 7 years.

 

[samshane]

Good for you for helping her... I agree with the others with trying to catch her and have her spayed. Especially if she is actually a she... cats can reproduce by around 5 months. One of our cats we got from a rescue - she was 10 months old and have been found hiding under a trailer in a trailer park at 5 months old - she had just had a litter of kittens! She was so young and small herself - one of her kittens ended up passing away. But the rescue managed to catch her and she was spayed - and now she is a fat, happy housecat. I admit though - she is a bit quirky - she loves to lick us - LOL! And my 7yr old son calls her his "BFF". She isn't an over-affectionate lap cat, but she is friendly in her own way.

I know our rescue had traps they used to catch feral/loose cats - I would contact a local rescue and explain your situation - I bet they'd be willing to loan you a trap. This rescue also offered free spay and neuter clinics as well (they spayed out kitty before we adopted her). Best of luck to you!

 

[kpgriswold]

Please do this kitty a big favor and either find a way to really adopt her and bring her inside, or call your local rescue organization and let them trap her and find her a family. Feral cats tend to lead very short, unhappy lives and to die in terrible ways of disease or injuries. She deserves better.

And thank you for caring for her! I think every little act of kindness makes the world a nicer place.

 

[dfchelbay]

OP here everyone...first of all, thanks for all the advice and kind words. I built the shelter and placed it outside yesterday and the cat wanted nothing to do with it. Last evening I put some chicken in a small bowl and placed it just inside the door of the shelter. Well, this morning all the chicken had been eaten, but I don't think she ever went inside. When I got home today around 5:30, I went out to make sure there was enough food and water just outside the shelter until morning. Guess what I saw...little dirty paw prints all the way inside the shelter. I was so happy. I put a little more chicken out there and went inside. Well, I just went out to the patio with my flashlight and guess whose glowing eyes I saw from inside the shelter. She's laying in there right now. I'm so happy she has a warmer place to go. I really stuffed those bins nice and full with a ton of insulation. After she gets used to the shelter I will have to put some kind of flap type door on it...but in due time.

Thanks again and I'll keep you all posted with her progress.

 

[dyna]

We have 2 cats that were feral 1 the female came from SiL's house where the cats an kittens was always fed well an had a box under carport up against the house to keep warm an the box had a couple of blankets but all the cats an kittens ran if anyone went outside or near them. My DD was told she could have a kitten if she could catch it

She did not have to catch it this kitten came to her an she is the Queen so dainty an picky with her fur I can not imagine her ever living outside. She rode home in car foe an hour in an open box came in looked things over an has been a wonderful house cat no clawing furniture no climbing curtains. She was about 6 months old when we brought her home. She still does not like strangers.

The other feral was born under my pool barn about the time we discovered momma an the kittens an started feeding them the momma moved them. That was the last I saw of her or the kittens for a couple months then 1 morning I got up an my DD's told me the kittens was back an was on the downstairs patio. I went to front door upstairs on deck looked down to see the solid black one I wanted knocking on my door.

He came in made himself at home!! Once again no climbing curtains no scratchin up furniture etc. He requires more attention than the female......typical male thing I think. The male demands attention head butting your hand if ya don't pet him.

Yes I am sure the male had been feral the whole time he was away from my house I still see his litermates sometimes they are feral.....

These are the 1st cats we have ever had I honestly believe some cats are born to be indoor cats as the case with mine an others are meant to be outdoor cats some of those being ppl friendly an others not. Feed the ferals give them what shelter you can an hope for the best maybe in time the feral come around if not you know you have done your best.

Nietherof our cats has any desire to go back outside

 

[DisneyNutMic]

We have rescued 4 feral cats (and I am not a cat person or at least I wasn't). Keep doing what you are doing. Hopefully soon she will come to you and allow you to pet her. I have a feeling she already thinks of you as her human (can't say master or owner about a cat).

 

[pixiewings71]

YAY OP!!! That's a GREAT update!!! I'm glad she's using her new home, and I'm sure she's loving the chicken!

 

[Shleedogg]

Contact your local volunteer animal organization. My grandma is constantly attracting strays some feral, some not. My mom bought an "igloo" specifically for cats outside. Then the volunteers for animals brought over a big wood feral cat shelter.

I would ask your local shelter if they have any barns available. Most shelters will put down a feral cat because they are un-adoptable. Our shelter is a no-kill, meaning they will keep all adoptable pets until they are adopted. If they are FIV positive, or are feral, they get put down.

My 2 youngest cats were feral, we found them after a really bad blizzard. We took their mom to the shelter because she was friendly, but kept the 2 baby boys to tame them. Their sister adapted more quickly and was adopted by DH's bff and his wife. If she's young enough, you might be able to tame her. If you get a humane trap, taker her to the vet and then put her in a spare room. Feed her, give her treats, take it slowly, but you may be able to make her a house cat. At that point you could either keep her, or take her in for adoption.

Thank you for helping this kitty!!

 

[Shleedogg]

Just read your update, glad she's using the shelter!

They do tell you to use straw, not old blankets for the cat to burrow in. The blankets can get wet, then they never dry and kitty is sleeping in damp, cold towels. They straw dries quickly.

Thanks again for helping kitty!!

 

[dfchelbay]

I put a heating pad in the shelter this morning. When I got home this evening her food was a bit frozen, as was her water. Warmed up the food, put a fresh scoop of dry out (and a bit of chicken) and went inside.

My trusty flashlight just showed me the glow of her eyes inside the shelter right now. It's nice and warm in there with the heating pad. I put it inside an old fleece dog bed duvet I made that my dogs would never lay on. Hopefully, it will keep her warm enough.

 

[Kat77]

subbing