Every day for the past four months I have a cat that magically appears on my deck. I have been feeding her since the first day that I saw her but she is very scared of people. The first time that I went out to feed her she immediately ran from me. In the past month or so she has gotten to where she will stay within about three feet of me as long as she thinks she is hidden. She has had one litter of kittens in our yard under the wheelbarrow but she moved them before I could take them in. My question is, do they ever get over their fear of people? She is such a beautiful cat and I feel sorry for her. I also need to know if there is any agency that can help me get her spayed. The animal shelter here is overrun with strays and I don't want her to be put down. She seems very healthy since I've been feeding her but I definitely don't want her to continue having kittens in the yard. Any ideas on how to help her?
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Replies (11)
>>Every day for the past four months I have a cat that magically appears on my deck. I have been feeding her since the first day that I saw her but she is very scared of people. The first time that I went out to feed her she immediately ran from me. In the past month or so she has gotten to where she will stay within about three feet of me as long as she thinks she is hidden. She has had one litter of kittens in our yard under the wheelbarrow but she moved them before I could take them in. My question is, do they ever get over their fear of people? She is such a beautiful cat and I feel sorry for her. I also need to know if there is any agency that can help me get her spayed. The animal shelter here is overrun with strays and I don't want her to be put down. She seems very healthy since I've been feeding her but I definitely don't want her to continue having kittens in the yard. Any ideas on how to help her?
I hope you are using your computer at the moment. RIGHT NOW on this website there is a chat on ferals. I am sure there will be a lot of people who can help you. I know, for instance, that there are 'traps' designed to catch those kitties. If you are able to catch her and keep her inside for a while, she may overcome her fear (You are doing great so far since she is already eating in your presence).
Now, you may want to do a search on the web for the alley cats allies webpage. They have tons of info. In the meantime, I am posting here a link with low cost spay/neuter programs. I hope this helps for the moment.
low cost spay and neuter programs
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Everyone has given good advice. I have trapped, spayed/neutered 2 ferals who have both turned out to be cuddly, sweet--and grateful house kitties!
I would advise you to borrow a humane trap from the shelter, a vet, a rescue group, put tuna or something equally yummy in it, and trap her ASAP BEFORE she has the babies.
You then have 2 choices: 1) take her to be spayed (and aborted at the same time--many rescue people and vets think that if babies haven't been born, they shouldn't be born because of the terrible overpopulation of cats) or
2) let her have the kittens indoors, tame them and find them homes. The second is the most difficult and expensive. It costs more in the long to raise kittens than to spay their mother. Do go to the low-cost spay/neuter site you've been given; also, call local vets and find out if they would give you any kind of 'deal' for spaying a feral kitty that you are trying to help.
Now, she NEEDS to be indoors. Can you keep her in one room, away from your 5-yr. old and other people, where only you visit? Or, can you get (borrow?) a cat playpen to keep her in while you work to tame her? Maybe the pen could even be in the garage if you don't have a place in the house where the kitty is 'safe' from too much goings-on. With my ferals, I trapped, neutered, vaccinated, etc. and then brought them home to a pen in the room where my computer is located. That way they would get used to people in the room with them while still feeling safe in their enclosure. I also talked to them, and the first one I even read aloud to. Eventually they came around--a couple of months in both cases. Both of mine were 2-3 years old when I trapped them.
The most important thing is to get her BEFORE her babies are born if at all possible. If she keeps having babies somewhere they, too, become feral. And on it goes...
You are to be commended for wanting to help this cat. THANK YOU so much!! And best of luck to you and the kitty.
Norma
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The 9 Wiscats: Every life should have 9 cats!
Monsieur Gervais le Blanc (married to the divine Shelby) 
Gentilhomme Beau (meowrried to Meadow, da luff ob hims life)
Andre-Guillaume (luffs Maria Noblecat) 
Henri le Chanceux (haff begun dating Miss Bayli Minnesnowta)
Frere Simba (married to the beautiful Sassy) 
Madame Minette (Nortee's beluffed, mama of Poucette))
Annie-Claire (TEEN daughter of Poucette and Rexy)
Poucette-Noelle (luffing wife of Rexy, mama to Annie and Antares)
The Excellent Lady Sophie-Marie (widow of Spunky StLouie)
As one who lives with 19 cats most of which are former ferals, I can honestly say that yes, they do tame. Most of them anyway and some become very loving. It takes a long time and you are doing things right. There is no easy way to catch her, except for a trap. Put some really yummy smelly food in it and she should come in. As for helping getting her spayed. Check for a low cost Vet near you or ask your humane society and they may know. Thank you for taking care of this furry one.
Tessa
Yes they do get over the fear at least a lot of them do and this little girl soundls like she has made a lot of progress in a short period of time
It takes a lot of patience and love but I had one that was about 2 years old when I first met him. And he would do the same thing hide till he thought I was far enough away from his dish before he came to eat
It took awhile and a lot of patience and I would sing to him though I cannot sing LOL I think he felt sorry for me being off key and thought I was dying LOL
Anyway to make a long story short I managed to trap him in a humane trap and get him neutered then I spent a long time convincing him to be a house cat LOL
He just went to The Bridge this year at 20 but he was the love of my life and such a sweetie once he overcame his fear of me though he never did like other humans LOL '
But what a cuddler he turned out to be
I wish you luck with this little girl and if you need any help along the way you can E Mail me or visit our Feral Cat chat on Wednesdays at 8 on Cat Cebtral or the Rescue chat on Saturdays at 9 EST
Good luck and hang in there she will come around
When you do trap them and have them spayed, do they become traumatized? I am kind of afraid that she will run and not come back. I can't really take her into the house right now because I have a 5 year old daughter that I don't think the kitty will adjust to very well. I don't want her to disappear. We live at the intersection of two very busy roads and I'm afraid to scare her into running too far. I think that she may have kittens somewhere also. When she came to eat tonight I got a look at her belly and she looks like she's full of milk. I tried to watch where she went when she was done but no such luck. She has become used to my voice and actually seems to be paying attention to me sometimes when I talk to her but she runs from everyone else in the family if they go out to feed her. I really hate the thought that there may be babies out in my yard somewhere and I can't find them. Do the mother cat's usually keep the babies close? Thanks for all the help. At least now I know that I'm making some progress with her!!
When you do trap them and have them spayed, do they become traumatized? I am kind of afraid that she will run and not come back.
I don't think she will go far or for long as she knows there is food provided daily. She might not show up for a day or so but I think she will come back.
I can't really take her into the house right now because I have a 5 year old daughter that I don't think the kitty will adjust to very well. I don't want her to disappear. We live at the intersection of two very busy roads and I'm afraid to scare her into running too far.
Could you possibly get ahold of a large dog crate and keep her in your bedroom with the door shut so your daughter can't go in without supervision?
I think that she may have kittens somewhere also. When she came to eat tonight I got a look at her belly and she looks like she's full of milk. I tried to watch where she went when she was done but no such luck. She has become used to my voice and actually seems to be paying attention to me sometimes when I talk to her but she runs from everyone else in the family if they go out to feed her. I really hate the thought that there may be babies out in my yard somewhere and I can't find them. Do the mother cat's usually keep the babies close? Thanks for all the help. At least now I know that I'm making some progress with her!!
Ok, if you think she has babies, now is not the right time to trap her as the babies may not be old enough to be without mama's milk. Mama will have the kits fairly close but still hidden to where it will be hard to find them. I don't think she will take the chance of being away from them too long for fear of something finding and killing them so she will have them in the near area. Just take your time in following mama to see where she has them hidden. Be careful and not get too close if she acts like she will protect them as a mama cat can (and will) defend them ferociously. Maybe you can move the kittens into a large crate when mama isn't around and then when she comes back you can close the crate door and bring the whole family inside but where your daughter can't be around them.
It took me two years to get one feral (Carmen) to trust me and be able to handle her but she is a very loving lapcat now and more than worth the time spent on her.
ps: all of our cats are either rescues or reformed ferals
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Topaz an Da Idyho Clan
I can understand your reluctance to take her in roght now! Hopefully she will trust you enough to bring the kittens up to your porch when they are big enough to eat on their own! Then you can put put a safe trap and trap the mpm and any kittens you can before anything happens to them. Dpon't worry about bringing mommycat in with your daughter. Just out the cat in a secure room with food, water and a litterbox. Sometime they like soft music from a radio. A test was done that showed that felines are soothed by country music so you might put that on if you have it in your area. Gradually introduce your daughter and the cat as things calm down and the cat is less fearful! Before you know it you will be petting her! The kittens, once they are spayed and neutered can go to a rescue group or to goos indoor homes! Good Luck!
Well, word must have gotten out in the cat community here because I looked out the door tonight and there was a new cat that I haven't seen before. This one seems to be a juvenile female and she also ran from me when I opened the door. She didn't run as far as I thought she would for the first time seeing her but she definitely wasn't thrilled to see me. I had no idea that there were so many cats that had no homes. You hear about it but I never realized what a problem it is. I will never understand how some people can be so cruel as to let these animals have to fend for themselves. I checked with all of the no kill animal shelters here and they are filled to capacity with long waiting lists. I guess that I am just going to have to be patient and get these girls to trust me. Now that I know that they are out there I can't imagine not helping them. Thanks for all of the advice. It's nice to know that there is somewhere that I can turn to with questions. Honestly, I never really considered myself to be a "cat person" but some kind of instinct is definitely kicking in. In just a matter of months this one pretty kitty has changed my whole way of thinking and now I can't imagine not having a cat around. Kinda crazy, huh?!!
>>now I can't imagine not having a cat around. Kinda crazy, huh?!!
Not at all! Sorry I didn't see this thread sooner. Pat yourself on the back for trying to help this cat and her kittens...and any other cat that comes your way. The others all gave you good advice. Keep feeding her, talking to her gently in soft tones and offer her some special treats like turkey or chicken or some tuna, and gradually she will come closer and closer and learn to trust you. It took me several months to get some of the feral cats to trust me. Good luck to you and keep us posted. Wish there were more caring people like you in the world.
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Dottie
>>Well, word must have gotten out in the cat community here because I looked out the door tonight and there was a new cat that I haven't seen before.
Well, as Ninga (who has 17 kitties right now) would say: "Every second a sucker is born, and all the stray cats know where we live"
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They are finding me very quickly!! Two more showed up yesterday. I'm wondering if they are related to mama kitty because they all kind of look like her. The thing that has me puzzled is that they all are very clean and don't seem to be too skinny. I'm wondering if they do belong to someone that just doesn't pay any attention to them because they are terrified of people. I guess the local vet is going to get to know me pretty well because I'm eventually going to have to round them all up and get them fixed. I love 'em but they are practically multiplying before my very eyes!! I'm just afraid that by the time I can coax them into traps I'll have 50 million cats in my yard!
