Expert: Karen Craft - 12/6/2010

Question
My wife and I have two cats, both male and neutered.  One of them is approximately 8 years old and very gentle while the other is about 2 years old.  We've been feeding a feral cat for the past six months.  Our two cats are indoor/outdoor cats and have interacted with no issues with the feral cat while outside.  We decided to capture the cat and to try to tame it.  We did capture the cat, took it to the Vet and had her vaccinated, spayed and ear tipped.  We now have the feral cat inside the covered live trap in the guest bathroom.  We had the cat spayed on Thursday and it is now Sunday.  We provided food, water, and a litter box.  On the first night she ate a table-spoon of can cat food and she used the litter box to urinate.  Since the the first night she has not eaten, drank or used the litter box.  We have placed the food and water inside the cage and she still refuses to eat or drink.  The vet estimated her age at between 6 and 9 months and she weighs 6 pounds.  We've not introduced her to our inside cats yet since she is still traumatized.  We are concerned about her not eating and drinking.  We'd like to keep this cat but are concerned as we are leaving the country in one week for a period of three weeks.  During this time we will have a friend coming by the house to care for our cats.  Would it be better to let the cat back into the outdoors and continue feeding her until we return and make another attempt to capture her or should we leave her in the house until our return and attempt to socialize her then?  Our intent is not to cause undue trauma to her if not absolutely necessary.

We appreciate your help with this.  This is our first feral and we would really like to keep her.  

Answer
Hi Bill,

I'll try to help you the best I can. First off I have a few links for you to read.

http://www.thenatureinus.com/2008/07/make-your-outdoor-cat-indoor-cat.html

http://www.forgottenfelines.com/v4/tame.shtml

http://www.treehouseanimals.org/TNR/FeralFAQ.htm

It sounds like she is definitely traumatized. I would try to move her from the live trap and either move her into a large cat cage or let her have run of the guest bedroom. Giving her the run of the bedroom will give her a sense of security. She will find her own spot to hide in and come out when all is quiet to eat and use the litter box. She will mimic her life on the outside. Just make sure there are no very tiny areas she can get into like vents or such. If it's small enough to get her head in she will get her body in.

You can then follow the above articles suggestions on how to tame her. This is a long term project. Once she is comfortable with you I would then introduce her to the other cats. By that time they will know there is another cat in the house. Hopefully the introduction will go smooth.

Letting her back out right now may be a setback. See how she is in the upcoming week. I think once you let her loose in the room you will see a change for the better in her. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen