A few months ago - in winter - I realized that a cat was living in my backyard and sleeping on my patio furniture. The cat was very shy and always runs when I move. I started feeding her/him? and built her a shelter on one of my patio chairs with woolen sweaters and a tarp to protect it from rain and wind (it rains very seldom here , I live in the Mojave desert). Now we are in July and I am still feeding an extremely shy cat. Actually at the beginning she let me touch her and then I accidentally locked her in the house. It was a huge disaster. She tried to get out of a bay window completely destroying the blinds and the flower pots on the window sill. I opened all the doors and windows but it took a long time before she found her way out and she seemed completely frightened. Since then I still feed her and she still runs. But now we have temperatures of 110 degree plus and I really would like to get the cat to come inside. She looks extremely uncomfortable and is panting miserably in the hot hours. I got her to come inside the house, but she only comes inside to eat and the moment I move she runs. I also have to keep the patio door open and I cannot afford the aircondition the outside. Is there anybody who can give me some advice how I can help this cat to keep cool.
I talked with some cat owners here and they said I should feed her only moist food in summer and that is what I am doing. I tried to put ice in her feeding bowl, hoping she would lick it, but no such luck. She avoids the ice it like hell. But I keep the catfood cans in the refrigerator and she seems to like the cold food. I am hosing down my patio often to keep it cooler, but she hates water and the moment she sees the hose she runs and by the time she comes back the water has dried and the cooling affect is gone.

Please, it has been eight months now and she seems to trust me less not more. Can somebody give me some advice. I had cats before, but they all liked me. The only reliable thing is that she shows up for feeding nearly like clockwork.

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