‘Stray cat’ advice

[Whatthechicken]

In inverted commas because she is in really good nick if she is a stray.

We moved into our house about 18 months ago. We have nearly an acre and i’ve seem a cat around the whole time we’ve been here. Cat has been happy to sit at a distance from me but always quite aloof and has never come close or shown any interest - I assumed it was a neighbours cat (about 200/300 metres away).

Last night cat started acting really needy, came to me for the first time, rolling around on the floor and loved a bit of fuss. The cat seemed like it wanted to come in the house (It didn’t) and would not leave. Cat is back again today miaowing and wanting fuss. I called the neighbours because of the sudden change in it’s behaviour and they thought it was ours. Apparently they see it in their field hunting rabbits. No other near neighbours.

I put out a call on the local FB groups with a pic and another person in the village about 1/2 a mile away said it visits them but no one else recognised the cat. It must have a roaming distance of at least 1/2 square mile. I’ve left the garage door open and put a bed in there for shelter but I’m not sure what to do. My worst worry is that it’s pregnant and that’s the reason for it’s change in behaviour...but I know nothing really.

I don’t think I will be able to catch it, it likes cuddles but is quick on it’s feet.

If it is a stray, it’s lasted this long in the wilds of Yorkshire so maybe I shouldn’t interfere?? If I was to call RSPCA I think they’d call me daft as it’s in such good condition. Any advice?

All the time!! It’s really not doing my anxiety much good!! I have even slept on the couch a few times just so I can keep checking!! I’m hoping she is a permanent part of the family by Christmas!

Ha! We’d be the same but it would be dh telling everyone he had to look for my benefit.

Like when he told the ndn he had to go looking for our departed lad at midnight in the car because “she loves that cat”.

She'll see sense eventually. Years ago we did the same thing with a stray female. We gave her a nest under the hedge and initially put her food near the nest, then gradually moved her feeding spot nearer to the house. When we could we left a door open so that she could come into the house if she was curious. We played with her with toys on a string. Eventually she moved in permanently and became my DH's cat. She was about 6 when she adopted us and lived another 12 years. I was always the other woman in her relationship with DH! He still gets emotional when I mention her name.

Bless him, men do care, they just don’t want others to know their as soft as us! I think my husband is warming to the idea...he still thinks I’m bonkers.

Not even thought much about ‘blending’ the family yet and how I’m gonna do it. Dog will go mental at first (although she is getting used to seeing her outside when she’s on a lead; our elderly cat knows something is up because she is currently eating more food than she’s eaten in the last year). At least Bella may be a bit warmer tonight. That’s the other thing...I’m obsessed with the bloody weather app...checking how cold it’s gonna get for her!

Very invested in this story

It is cold tonight.

Just checked, she’s happily in her new bed. It’s not going to be as cold as it has been here tonight -although we are looking at rain around midnight. I have called her and she didn’t come, fast asleep.

Awwww. Sounds like she is indeed a stray. Hope she warms more and more.
Does she have a shelter outside with a roof? An outdoor cat cabin? They are warm and weather proof. Put it closer to the house and food near it.

@Wauden pull up a chair, it might be a slow story, but hopefully a happy one. I’m not going to push her... I’m trying to go at her pace now (but very aware it WILL get colder). But hopefully with trust, speed her pace along a little!

Hi OP

You sound so lovely what a lucky cat. Im sure it wont be long before shes in the house x

@Whatthechicken. Yay! I have pulled up a comfy chair, got the cushions and popcorn. I think its wise to go at her pace, if it's slow.

Maybe she can smell another cat, the indoor cat, and wants to be careful in another territory.

I have a little update: Bella has not moved from our garden in days and loves her little straw bed outside. However, yesterday we got so much rain...it was awful, even the chickens were drenched and I was worried about everyone. So, when she came for her cuddle. I scooped her up and took her inside the extension away from the other cat and the dog. I stayed in there for most of the night, she just hid under the DVD cabinet, but she did let me reach in to give her a tickle. This morning she’d moved under a table and we had another cuddle. I was in two minds whether to try to put her into a box and whip her off to vets or to let her out and hope she come back tonight for the warmth. Given that she was a little scared and unsure last night, I let her out again (but she didn’t bolt)...I am going to go slowly with her and build more trust and then we will get her to the vets.

Sounds like excellent progress . I think you were right not to push things by taking her to the vet, as that may have damaged the trust she seems to have.

OP that's almost exactly what we did with our cat all those years ago. It took a hard winter to tame her and she soon realised that being an indoor cat was much better.

How is Bella?.

Invite her in because......kittens

Is there any news?.

Hi all, Bella is still stubbornly refusing to come in! She’s driving me mad! Still feeding her and she’s still using her straw box. It got to -2 the other night and I was really worried about her. I think it’s going to stay very cold this week so I may have to stage another intervention...I have tried a few times but she wriggles away...she does feel like my cat though now.

She’s so used to it she doesn’t know better. I’d be in bits worrying too, -2 is seriously cold.

Is it cold enough yet for Bella the Besom to come in?. Or is she still outside insisting she’s fine?.

I really hope she's decided to move in, it's so cold!

No, she’s not moved in yet! . She is giving me sleepless nights now.

I had to dig out the chicken run yesterday and replace the floor covering...she was with me all morning enjoying the sun on her face.

I told her off yesterday for the first time (and she knew). I told her off because she was walking on the frozen pond. I hops I’m not making her lose her survival instincts.

I will keep trying to get her in. The wind is cold here today...but a lot of the ice has melted.

Well if anyone can survive it’s a tortoiseshell.

It seems like you are making good progress. I too don't understand why a cat would be slow to move indoors in this weather, but perhaps she had a bad elsewhere.

Catnapped!!

Our garden is under an inch of water, temp is currently 1 degree, but through the night will fall to -3. And this silly arse was out in the rain getting wet. I have the scratches to show for my trouble...but she is in, safe and I have bought her a new bed (yet to convince her to use it though...she’s been hiding since I caught her).