Spayed feral cat disappears

Babypaws

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I had several kittens born in our yard a few months ago (second litter for mother cat). I had taken in her first litter of three and now have them socialize with my indoor cats but she had five kittens in the second litter which I could take care of (which I could but I already have 12 indoor cats now).
I called animal rescue and they came out and trapped the kittens and mother. They put the kittens in foster homes and I had asked if they could return the mother cat to me after she was spayed. They did and she’s been back for two weeks now. I’ve been feeding her everyday (3times a day to keep her hanging around and to put some weight on her) but today I haven’t seen her at all. I call but nothing. The last time I saw her was yesterday afternoon. I’m wondering would a spayed female cat still wonder off for a few days even though she’s spayed? I thought once spayed or neutered they would stay around. I’m hoping nothing has happened to her. I’ve been trying to get her use to me enough that I could bring her in on our porch during the winter. But now she’s disappeared.

thanks
 

fionasmom

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You are doing a lot for all these cats who have come your way, so first of all give yourself credit for that. Evidently you have connected with a rescue who is willing to help with the kittens which is also a big accomplishment.

The mom may be a wild card who is out of your control. I have had ferals who were released from the trap upon returning from the vet and never appeared again...as if my property was off limits now as it was one big trap or something. Not returning after two weeks is more suspicious, but it is not unlike a cat. I was sure I had lost a very wild feral only to see her sitting comfortably on a neighbor's front lawn months later. Because of the markings, I was sure it was her. She either found someone else to feed her, or she sneaks secretly around my property when she has determined that there is no sign of human activity and eats.
 

shadowsrescue

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She may have found another food source or even did some hunting. When I cared for outside feral cats, they would often disappear for 24-48 hours even though they had all been neutered and rarely left my yard. I worried and worried about them. They always came back.

Please keep us updated.
 
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Babypaws

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Not long after I posted my question I went outside again and called for her, she actually appeared....hurray. I put her food out where I had been putting it (near our back door) but she was acting weird...wouldn’t come to it so I moved it closer to where she was. She came to it, smelled it and kept looking over her shoulder and walked away, hid under our car and wouldn’t come out. I moved the dish near the car and went inside, watched her but she didn’t eat very much. I left the dish out until it was dark and then brought it in. I don’t like leaving food out at night because I don’t want to attract other animals. She was acting like she was frightened of me.
A few days ago I had started leaving the porch door open and putting her food just inside a little and she came in and ate. I’ve been trying to get her friendly enough so she would feel comfortable staying on the porch at night, especially this winter. This morning when I called to her, she was close by and came to the door where I put her food (outside) I left her alone and when I checked on her later I saw she had eaten 1/2 of it and then left.
I don’t know if something/someone had scared her during the time she had disappeared. I’ll see how today goes.
 

MoonstoneWolf

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Just a bit of encouragement but my spayed feral disappeared 5 months ago and just showed back up 2 nights ago. Healthy and well fed. There may be other colonies around that the cats like sampling the food. So don't give up. I was about to many times and glad I didn't.
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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I had several kittens born in out yard a few months ago (second litter for mother cat). I had taken in her first litter of three and now have them socialize with my indoor cats but she had five kittens in the second litter which I could take care of (which I could but I already have 12 indoor cats now).
I called animal rescue and they came out and trapped the kittens and mother. They put the kittens in foster homes and I had asked if they could return the mother cat to me after she was spayed. They did and she’s been back for two weeks now. I’ve been feeding her everyday (3times a day to keep her hanging around and to put some weight on her) but today I haven’t seen her at all. I call but nothing. The last time I saw her was yesterday afternoon. I’m wondering would a spayed female cat still wonder off for a few days even though she’s spayed? I thought once spayed or neutered they would stay around. I’m hoping nothing has happened to her. I’ve been trying to get her use to me enough that I could bring her in on our porch during the winter. But now she’s disappeared.

thanks
Although tnred cats don't wander as much as unaltered cats, they still do explore. I just had a female kitty get sick at the same time another cat in my colony did. She has a sensitive GI tract that flares up at times. She wandered away from me and because she ate so poorly at that time, I thought she was in serious trouble and was very upset about it while tending to the other sick kitty. As I got the other cat back to eating, she showed up and ate with her crew as if nothing was wrong. In fact, it has been 4 weekend days in a row she showed up. This weekend it was on a Friday, she looked fine and ate well. It is obvious that she is being feed elsewhere. The other sick kitty took a turn for the worst, eluded the traps laid out for it, and when I had him in my yard and made sure there was no escape, his buddies busted him out. Even, in his final days he was wandering. He was last seen going into a restricted semi-forested area by the RR. This is where the kitties go to die.😢 RIP.

Some cats have a higher drive to explore and wander off than others, even after being tnred. I have had cats who stayed close to their home base and never wandered off. I think it has to do with the individual personality/nature of the cat. Some cats are very hardwired to hunt or they are just adventurous explorers and will wander off, doesn't matter that they are tnred. I read somewhere that feral cats can roam over 1300 acres. Tnred or not, cats go where they want. I found one kitty 15 blocks way from his base, and he was tnred. He also found his way home. Sometimes they don't. I also like to say that cats do get chased out of colonies. It happen more for mating reasons, but it can also happened in tnred colonies as well. Well, I hope this helped. Have a nice day.
 

MoonstoneWolf

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Although tnred cats don't wander as much as unaltered cats, they still do explore. I just had a female kitty get sick at the same time another cat in my colony did. She has a sensitive GI tract that flares up at times. She wandered away from me and because she ate so poorly at that time, I thought she was in serious trouble and was very upset about it while tending to the other sick kitty. As I got the other cat back to eating, she showed up and ate with her crew as if nothing was wrong. In fact, it has been 4 weekend days in a row she showed up. This weekend it was on a Friday, she looked fine and ate well. It is obvious that she is being feed elsewhere. The other sick kitty took a turn for the worst, eluded the traps laid out for it, and when I had him in my yard and made sure there was no escape, his buddies busted him out. Even, in his final days he was wandering. He was last seen going into a restricted semi-forested area by the RR. This is where the kitties go to die.😢 RIP.

Some cats have a higher drive to explore and wander off than others, even after being tnred. I have had cats who stayed close to their home base and never wandered off. I think it has to do with the individual personality/nature of the cat. Some cats are very hardwired to hunt or they are just adventurous explorers and will wander off, doesn't matter that they are tnred. I read somewhere that feral cats can roam over 1300 acres. Tnred or not, cats go where they want. I found one kitty 15 blocks way from his base, and he was tnred. He also found his way home. Sometimes they don't. I also like to say that cats do get chased out of colonies. It happen more for mating reasons, but it can also happened in tnred colonies as well. Well, I hope this helped. Have a nice day.
Yes my girl Shaman got run off by her brother/littermate. She was the first one here but in a 16 block radius there are at the least 10 colonies resulting from a hoarding situation of 80 plus cats. I think Treasure runs them off because he's afraid there won't be enough food and he laid claim. All are TNRd.
 

Whenallhellbreakslose

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Yes my girl Shaman got run off by her brother/littermate. She was the first one here but in a 16 block radius there are at the least 10 colonies resulting from a hoarding situation of 80 plus cats. I think Treasure runs them off because he's afraid there won't be enough food and he laid claim. All are TNRd.
I have a backyard kitty who is constantly bullying my front stoop kitties. I have to constantly scolded him for picking on them. He has a territorial/ jealous streak and has chased a number of other kitties out of my backyard over the years. Outside of this behavior, he is an absolute sweet heart who allows me to pick him up and he even lies on my lap making biscuits.😻 I would love to take him in, but he would bully the heck out of my female kitty who is a timid gal. I wish he wasn't a bully, also he is very food greedy.

I believe the other feeder on my block is hoarding, so I know how it goes. Do your best to help who you can, that is really all you can do. An intervention, may have to be staged for that kitty hoarder by calling rescue groups in. The problems with hoarders is they don't see a problem, if you try to reasonably address the issue--you are the problem in their eyes. I just had a fallen out with one last week, she is an expert at turning others against me when I was the one worried about the welfare of the kitties. So thread carefully, if you have to deal with the hoarder in your area. Best of luck with your kitties.
 
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