Feral Siamese cat

Question

I have been adopted by a sweet feral siamese cat,(she is quite & makes no sounds at all) I have been feeding her for over a year & have gained her trust enough for her to let me pet her & pick her up. My friend who is with a resue group suggested I take her in (she seemed so vulnerable, the weakest link outside) she has been w/me for 2 weeks now she eats good & has used the litter box since the first night. My problem is she will not come out of the carrier (she has taken over my bathroom)I talk to her, leave the bathroom door open, etc. How long should it take for her feel safe enough. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question.

Answer
Julie,

You have a kitty that was taken from the world she knew into a world that is different, plus she doesn't have the freedem she had before. Her actions and reactions right now are probably the result of fear and confusion.

Cats that are feral are not like regular domesticated housecats and you cannot expect them to behave in the same way. Feral cats and kittens carry alot of hereditary baggage. Especially instinctively not completely trusting humans. They also take a LONG time to adjust, expecially if they are grown. It takes a LOT of patience with them too. Just let the kitty take things at her own pace. She will get better (hopefully) as she gets more courageous.

She doesn't know what is outside of the bathroom and may not be brave enough to find out. A helpful thing would be to put her and the carrier (with the carrier door closed) in different rooms of the house for short periods of time so she can see her surroundings, but from the safety of her 'safe place'. Start with the room you are in most of the time so she can get used to the noises, movements, people, etc.

You need to give the cat a chance to get acclimated to her new home. When she does come out of the bathroom, let her explore the home gradually, one room at the time. It is too overwhelming to have a whole big house at one time to be in. Always let her have access to her 'safe place' (carrier (?) bathroom (?)) so she can run there if she gets scared. She will also probably try very hard to get back outside to her familiar place.

The ferals are commonly one-person cats. And they usually will never become cuddly cats. They will love to be next to you, and love to be petted, but will not like being held or restrained. I think it flashes back to the wild when being restrained was being trapped.
I have 4 kittens from a true feral mom that are a year old. I've had them since birth. 1 is VERY skittish and will run if she hears ANY noise, 2 will sit on my lap contentedly, and NONE will let me hold them to cuddle them. They immediately squirm away. I just accept that they don't like it and I don't force the issue.

Don't ever stare at them directly in the eyes. That is a threatening gesture to them. Look them in the eye then slowly blink or look away. That tells them them you are a friend and not foe. And if you notice, she will probably do it back if she is relaxed. The cat may stare at you, but it is because they are intently watching everything you do and absorbing it.

When she does progress to coming out, and is relaxed being out, a great ice-breaker would be to get a pet laser light (at PetSmart, etc.). It builds their confidence and the 2 of you can play interactively which is good for bonding. And ferals, having the hunting instinct, LOVE to chase the little 'red bug' on the floors, ceilings, and walls. Ferals commonly play "throw and fetch". A good toy for them is little furry stuffed mice that they can bat around and you can throw for them to "catch".

Another thing that will make you more indearing to her is to give her a raw beef rib periodically for a treat. I have the butcher at the supermarket cut them in half for me. It satisfies the feral's sense of a 'fresh kill', and the fibers in the meat cleans their teeth. Not all cats like them, but most do. And they may growl if you come near their 'catch' to protect it which is cute.

I would get her spayed as soon as possible. That will help settle her down. Also down the line, she may be happier being an indoor/outdoor cat. Because of their breeding and heredity, ferals are usually happiest when they can go outside rather than being locked up all the time.

I hope this helps.

Carol