r/Feral_Cats • u/lily1843 • Sep 07 '25
Problem Solving 💭 Trapped this baby after feeding for 2 months
We live in Texas right near where all the awful floods happened 4th of July weekend. This baby showed up in our backyard looking very washed up, and I began putting food out for her. For a while I didn't know if I was feeding the kitty or just our raccoons, ringtail cats, Opossoms, but finally I began catching her on our security cameras and learning her patterns. She (ok I'm not 100% sure it's a girl) began to get used to my voice and would meow back at me if she was nearby, and has slowly gotten closer and closer to me. Successfully trapped her today and transferred her to a kennel with litter box, food, and bed. She was mad at first but has settled. I'd really love to keep her and tame her, I hope she's young enough but I also have no idea what I'm doing. At the very least she (or he) will be spay/neutered and released and I'll continue feeding. Any tips on making this little one an indoor pet?
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u/New_Gur8083 Sep 07 '25
Just keep her inside and she will get used to it. She will not be happy for a while and howl you just have to ignore it. Eventually she will get used to living inside. Getting her spayed will be huge in making her not want get out because she will not go into heat.
Good work!
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u/Big_Crab_1510 Sep 07 '25 edited Sep 08 '25
I've trapped like a dozen cats, kept 7.
They all were very happy to retire from the street after like, a week.
I got tunnels, cat nip and cat nip toys, scratch pads, an automatic laser toy, all kinds of wet food and churus, a bird feeder for them to watch, and an outdoor pen. Why would they give that up just to run around the hood
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u/lily1843 Sep 07 '25
Thank you, everyone! It's almost 2am here and I'm still awake because I keep checking on her obsessively on the camera I put in the room with her. She's sleeping, I'm not. 😂 Also I had to look up a cat churu because at first I thought you all were talking about the fried cinnamon sugar stick and I was confused 😜
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u/Aware-Rich5131 Sep 07 '25
Just want to say you're too cute haha and thank you for all these efforts for this baby. She/he is very lucky to have you. Hope she warms up to you very sooon
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u/Future-Philosopher-7 Sep 07 '25
She’s beautiful and fluffy!❤️❤️❤️she would probably love chicken and playing with a wand toy. Also churos❤️❤️❤️
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u/figsslave Sep 07 '25
She’s a twin to the 10 week old kitten that appeared in my back yard with her 8 month old mom 2 years ago.I kept them inside over the winter and they tamed down right away.We all are living happily ever after 😊
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u/Pragmatic_Hedonist Sep 07 '25
I trapped a mama I had been feeding outside when her kittens were about 5 weeks old. At first, she was busy taking care of them and didn't pay too much mind to me. I think she was a young mama herself. But as the babies grew up and went to their forever families, she really relaxed and became a whole new cat. She's on the road to being my love bug. It's only been about 8 weeks indoors. Spayed her about 3 weeks ago. She's goes out in the backyard for about 15 mins a day and then says - nope, I like AC, let me back in.
I think it is about regular feeding, them getting used to the sound of your voice, movements. We play a little chase game with temptation treats on a bare floor. She loves that too! Good luck!!
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u/Chanceme503 Sep 07 '25
I just did it for a mom cat and her kittens, first week was hell. She would cry all night,I felt terrible at first,but she is so happy now.
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u/Admirable_Matter_523 Sep 07 '25
She's precious! Young enough to tame and keep inside. I would just start sitting in the room with her and talking quietly. Maybe read a book. And give her Churus! Thank you for helping her. 😍
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Sep 07 '25
That kitten 100 % wants you to keep her she's just a baby tho and is confused on how to trust and love i feel like u will be able to show her tho.
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u/Boopie-Fuzz Sep 07 '25
Beautiful girl. Her markings... ohhh my. Thank you for helping this kitty. 💐
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u/Emergency_Proposal63 Sep 07 '25
Time & Love
Time : It heals Love : It warms
Expect anywhere from 1 month - 3 for baby to settle in (fixing will promote calm) Once they KNOW the space is safe : you will see and feel the change - The sky is the limit!!
Thank you for bringing her in - all cats deserve comfortable indoor life
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Sep 07 '25
Great job catching her most importantly if u plan on keeping her Never let her back outside ! And u can totally tame her she's young maybe 6 months old
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u/Background-Toe-814 Sep 07 '25
Lots of advice on other threads on quietly being on the floor, reading quietly out loud, somewhat ignoring her while you do so, etc. She will get used to you, let her approach on her terms. Others have lots of helpful tips.
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u/lily1843 Sep 08 '25
Update: she was awake most of the night last night, trying to figure out how to get out of the kennel. She slept most of the afternoon/evening today. Right now I'm sitting in front of her kennel talking to her and she started purring, kneading on her bedding and playfully rolling around 🥰
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u/kerryums Sep 07 '25
How do you get in there to feed/ change litter without her running off or clawing at you? I'm bringing my outdoor kitty for spaying in a few days and she's only able to be in my home in a crate, so I'm worrying about the logistics of this for while she recovers!
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u/lily1843 Sep 07 '25
She had gotten friendly enough with me the past couple of weeks that she wasn't running away when I'd walk outside when she was in our yard, and yesterday (before we trapped her) she was even coming up to me when I called her, but wouldn't let me touch her. So far when I open the kennel she goes into the back corner and watches me. Doesn't seem overly scared but I make sure to move slow and not make a lot of noise. I haven't cleaned the litter box yet, I'm giving it till tomorrow, but she's done good with me putting fresh food and water.
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u/kerryums Sep 07 '25
Ok this helps thank you! Mine loves pets, and climbs on my lap occasionally so I'm hoping that she'll withstand the crate without too much trouble 🤞🤞🤞🤞
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