Advice On Moving And Taking Or Leaving Feral Cat?

Hello, I’m in a conundrum here. We’ve lived in our home about 9 yrs. Years ago a feral cat showed up and started living under our house. I began to set food out for her. Slowly over the past 5-6 years I have gained her trust. She comes to eat twice per day. Sits on our laps and purrs and is basically slowly become a pet. She wants zero to do with anybody but our family.
We have sold our home and havea quick close and I don’t want to leave her. She is not domesticated enough that I can pick her up and put in a crate (probably could but end up scratched) . I know this is the only place she’s ever known and trying to move her might be very stressful but I can’t rely that the new homeowners would feed her.
Does anyone have any experiences with trying to move a feral cat? She is spayed too btw.

I moved last year and brought my 3 feral cats with me. One had been living outside on my deck/property for 7 years. The other two had been there 3-5 years. There was no way I was leaving them. Since my 3 had all been through the TNR process, I felt that using a trap was not going to be possible. They all knew what the trap meant.

I was able to lure them all into medium sized dog crates. I practiced for weeks by feeding them in the crates. I also sprinkled catnip into the crates. I was able to secure all 3.

I decided that with my move they were going to become inside cats. If you move, it is necessary to keep the cats confined for 3-6 weeks until they acclimate to their new environment. Otherwise the cats will try to find their way back to their former territory. I figured it was worth a shot.

I brought my 3 inside 2 months before I moved. I then had a mobile vet come to the house to give vaccines and test for FIV and FELV. It was a difficult process, but they all survived.

It has just been one year since I moved. The cats have acclimated to inside living. I am still working on getting them socialized with my other 3 cats. This is a work in progress!

Please please pleas consider bringing her along. She has relied on you for years. I could never ever leave her behind. If you do decide to then keep her inside, she will need a cat proofed room of her own to acclimate. She may need to reside there for a few months.

How far away are you moving? I moved almost an hour away.

Hi!
It sounds like you're short on time.
Can you entice her into a crate with treats or food when the time comes? Kentucky fried chicken often works, and be sure you somehow are able to be unstressed yourself during this time because, although all cats are very aware of human emotions, a semi feral will be hyper-sensitive and that could complicate things.

Have a shed or walk-in metal enclosure ready at your new place if you aren't bringing it indoors. In other words, you need something like 6-8 weeks for a transplanted feral to acclimatize to the new location to the point that it will stay, and if it is able to wander, it will simply leave your new place.

Also try Musicforcats . com or the app Relax My Cat, or low volume classical harp music, not all the time 24/7, but it will help this cat relax a little.

You could maybe check into calming products, feliway is popular but expensive and doesn't always work, but there are a lot of other items on the market.

This kitty sounds like a keeper! You may not be able to pick her up, but sitting in your lap and being petted... you are far ahead of many people who have brought a semi-feral cat inside with good results!

I finally decided to bring a semi-feral cat inside after feeding her outside through three cold winters. I spent a week or two putting treats inside a carrier with the door off, moving the treats further and further to the back of the carrier. Added the door, propped open, for a few days. Finally closed the door one day and took her to the vets for testing, flea medicine, etc. It was scary, but actually fairly easy! She has been inside for about six months now and is making good progress.

I think you are right in thinking you can't be sure the new home owners will take care of her. No matter what they would promise, they don't have the history with this little kitty that you do. Unless they are family members or responsible, good friends, I wouldn't trust anyone to take over the job. This site has some really expert folks who have done this many times and can offer advice and support. I vote to take her with you and make her an inside pet!

agreed! sounds like it's your kitty!
we will all help you through it!

The benefits of taking your kitty with you, outweigh any problems moving the kitty!
sounds like a pretty tame feral too!

I did exactly what shadowsrescue did and enticed a cat who was much less friendly but dependent on me for food and shelter into a very large dog crate. I fed her in the crate for a couple weeks before that....definitely try to take her as you are her only family and lifeline more than likely.