Looking after semi feral cats, update and questions

[FlaviaAlbiaWantsLangClegBack]

A semi feral cat and her kittens have adopted us and our next door neighbour. I had a thread a while ago asking for advice and my neighbour borrowed traps from cats protection and got them spayed so we've got that sorted now.

They come to us for breakfast and go to her for dinner and are usually on the doorstep as soon as they see us downstairs in the mornings. They're getting more used to us but won't let us much closer than sitting beside their bowls when we fill them and startle at sudden movement. But they wouldn't even approach the bowls if we were in the garden a month ago so that's progress.

I'm wondering if I can get them more used to us with bribery of toys and food? I know pretty much zero about cats. I saw flea drops when I was buying cat food and I was wondering if my new overlords could be induced to use a litter tray instead of a patch of grass they seem to have picked. I'm also going to get them a kennel but how big would it need to be for 3 cats?

Also, I was thinking of asking teenage neighbour to put out cat food in the morning when we're away for a few days, how much do you reckon I should pay him?

Here's a kitty pic, they like to sit on the wall and have a look in our windows in the evenings. Its like their version of TV...

Sorry! I realise that's a giant list of questions but googling has been surprisingly little use...

I know nothing about cats, new cat owner! But I love the set up. Outdoor cats, less trouble, and sharing with a neighbour, how sweet! Why do you want a litter tray and kennel?
A teenage neighbour is doing food and litter twice a day for a few days for us. I am paying him £5 a day.

They'll become more friendly and sociable as time goes by. They'll start to trust you more each day. A little house for them is a good idea. I've got this one for my strays www.zooplus.com/shop/cats/cat_beds_baskets/cat_houses/outdoor/313841 . I've packed it out with warm bedding & put a blanket over the front to cover the entrance. I've got it in a very sheltered area close to the house, so it doesn't get wet or too windswept. You might prefer to get one that's more weather-proof, www.amazon.co.uk/Pawhut-Garden-Outdoor-Waterproof-Shelter/dp/B07B3RSGKY/ref=sr_1_31?hvlocphy=92&hvnetw=s&keywords=weatherproof+cat+house&hvadid=80470615522359&hvbmt=be&qid=1628760086&dchild=1&hvdev=m&hvqmt=e&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&hvtargid=kwd-80470735848280%3Aloc-92&adgrpid=1287528468723305&sr=8-31, or find someone who can make one.

I wouldn't go near supermarket flea treatments. You won't get close enough to treat them at the moment, and even if you managed to catch them, they'd do a fair bit of damage to your poor arms 🤕. If you could trap them and get them back to the vet for treatments, vaccinations, that'd be best for the moment.

Could your neighbour, who feeds them in the evening, do the morning feed as well, whilst you're away?

So glad you're helping this little family

& yes, treats and safe toys will definitely help your cause.

Nothing helpful to suggest, but thank you for doing this

Oh, those are good want2bme! I think she could feed them tbf, I just didn't want to put more on her when she did the trapping and transportation as I'm mad allergic to furry things in confined spaces...

Well, they didn't turn up as much for food in the crazy rain and I don't want them to get too cold in the winter notdoingthis. They're using the grass as a litter tray at the moment and I'd rather they didn't because then the kids can't play on that bit of the garden so I thought a litter tray would be a cleaner solution.

They're regular as clockwork when they come for breakfast when it's not raining and not impressed if we have a lie in

I would get a couple of shelters. And that second one that want2beme linked is quite a good one - but you will need to take the flap off to start with, until they get used to it. In fact you may need to leave the flap off permanently.

If you want them to start coming into the house then will also need a cat flap, and you will have to start by leaving the flap off, so it's basically just a hole, and put the food at the other side. Then eventually you will be able to put the flap on and they'll get the idea, but that's probably something for next year.

As for the shitting problem. Outdoor litter trays aren't easy, unless you have somewhere open and properly undercover. Your best bet would be to remove the grass from a couple of square meters of the garden and dig the earth so it's nice and soft. They will then use this and will leave the rest of the garden and the grass alone.

We were adopted by 3 feral cats 7 years ago, we are now at the stage where they will all roll on their backs and let us rub their tummies, lots of head butts too. It took a loooooong time, but we wore them down eventually, I've put a wooden cat house in the garden with self heating beds inside, they make full use of them. I do just use Spot On flea and worming treatments, they'll let me put the drops on if I distract them with wet food (a rare treat)

Thanks for all the info

That's good to know Fuckingfuckssake the kids are thrilled with their unofficial pets since they can't have official furry ones because of me.

I don't want them coming into the house because I'm allergic to them so if they're happy outside then that's good.

I was thinking of trying to make a shelter with a litter tray but I wasn't sure if they'd use it to make it worth the effort. I could sacrifice some of the bottom bit of the garden..

Toys on a string or wand/fishing rod toys are great for even the most wary of cats. Even a cork or crumpled piece of foil tied on to a long piece of string will work. It's a good toy if your allergic as you don't have to have direct contact with the cat.

I used to run around the garden with our semi-feral chasing the bejaysus out of the toy. Occasionally she'd remember what she was doing and stop playing but over time she was more interested in playing than the fact that it was a human making her play.



Sounds fun thelongrider

I have one of these, even the neighbours ancient grumpy cat goes mad to play with it!

https://www.amazon.co.uk/PurrSuit-Feather-Spinning-Cat-UKmade/dp/B01H463R2U/ref=mpsa114?dchild=1&keywords=da+bird+cat+toys&qid=1628801122&sprefix=da+bird&sr=8-14

And these catnip ones. Ancient grumpy cat broke into mine, lifted it in his mouth and marched off with it. Neighbour was very confused why he was carrying a banana in his mouth

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Yeowww-Banana-Singles-Cat-Toy/dp/B000AUJFHE/ref=mpsa18?dchild=1&keywords=yeoooow+catnip&qid=1628801232&sprefix=yeoo&sr=8-8

Ha, brilliant! thanks!