My Cat Has Gone Feral; Don't Know What To Do. Please Help

calucie

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Hi all. I really need some advice.
About 2 and a half years ago I adopted a tabby kitten from the Humane Society and named her Juno. She has been a great cat, beautiful, friendly, adventurous, with a loud purr and an even louder meow. We have another cat named Maxie, 9 year old female domestic shorthair, who is pretty timid and skittish but very loving. The two have gotten along but never became close, they'd rarely play together or cuddle.
We let our cats go out pretty much whenever they want, we live in a very secluded area and have done this with our 3 past cats and never had a problem with the cat getting lost/running away.
But this past November, I went on a trip with my family for the long weekend and Juno got out when a friend came to feed the cats. Days after we returned, she hadn't come home so we reached out to neighbors and posted on Nextdoor. Some neighbors living about a mile away who feed feral cats had been feeding her.
We got Juno home, but it was impossible to keep her in as she was too used to roaming and would fight with Maxie and yowl as loud as she could for hours until we were forced to let her out. On multiple occasions she disappeared for a week or more and we had to go to the neighbor's house with a crate and pick her up.
She started staying around more regularly until a couple months ago when she started disappearing for weeks on end. She'd show up on our deck every couple of weeks, come in for food and pets, and then soon return to yowling and fighting.
Tonight she returned home for the first time in maybe a month..
She has been yowling, fighting with Maxie like crazy, hissing and growling. They are now in separate rooms but Juno will barely let me approach or pet her and is acting completely different.
I don't know how to help Juno at this point. I want to keep her in more that anything, but my family is fed up with the yowling and fighting and wants to just let her out. What do I do, is this situation beyond repair?

(sorry if this seems rushed or incoherent, I'm pretty frantically trying to get this out)
 

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British Girls

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Is it possible that because of the stress of you leaving, the cats took to fighting with each other and are now enemies? is Juno spayed? Sometimes, the extra hormones will make an unspayed female quite aggressive. Are you sure it is not a health problem? She is very beautiful! I hope she returns to normal soon, I know how stressful it is to have fighting cats! Good luck! :goodluck:
 

rubysmama

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Hello and welcome to TCS. Sorry for the circumstances that brought you here. :(

Are you able to take Juno to the vet for a checkup? Having been gone for almost a month, anything could have happened to her, and she may be unwell, or in pain. And, yes, I'll ask too. Is Juno spayed?
 

di and bob

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Two females rarely get along. They are too protective of their domain, and more often then not, refuse to share with another diva. Your little girl is not 'feral' she has decided to be an outside cat. We just buried a cat like that, no matter how hard we tried to keep him in, he rebelled and was terribly unghappy. We take comfort in knowing he died exactly how he wanted so badly, outside and free. I remember him racing across the grass, tail held high and eyes full of excitement. The outside is always full of danger. If you decide to keep her in, you have to do it permanently. No exceptions, and put up with a unhappy cat for a while. Eventually she woudl adjust, but you are talking many months, perhaps years. If you decide to give in to her, make her life as comfortable as you can. Give her a nice shelter with escape routes and a heated cat pad. Feed her at regular times so she knows when to show up, and most of all just love her and let her know it.....
 

Kflowers

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With respect Di, my group of cats always included several females and they got along quite well. I think it is more a matter of individuals than gender. Of course all of mine were spayed.

We also had a have to go outside, attacked us to get outside. He hated all the other cats so was kept separate from them. He would spend his evenings and nights inviting other cats into his territory to fight.

But Di is completely right. If you're going to turn her into a indoor cat there can be no exceptions, no run outside for a few minutes. with this one it's got to be all or nothing.
 

di and bob

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I have only had one little female, (my present one) that 'played well' with other females out of at least ten. There are exceptions, and since almost all of mine are out of the same gene pool (lots of interbreeding before I got them all spayed/neutered) that may explain it. Females around here are the peace keepers, the manners teachers. They watch over the boys and keep them in line like a hawk. When others invade their space, watch out, even the huge feral toms give them a wide berth!
 

war&wisdom

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I have only had one little female, (my present one) that 'played well' with other females out of at least ten. There are exceptions, and since almost all of mine are out of the same gene pool (lots of interbreeding before I got them all spayed/neutered) that may explain it. Females around here are the peace keepers, the manners teachers. They watch over the boys and keep them in line like a hawk. When others invade their space, watch out, even the huge feral toms give them a wide berth!
I've never witnessed problems between cats specifically because they were female. I'd understand if there were problems because they weren't spayed, but if they are spayed, there shouldn't be any issues.
 

FeebysOwner

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Is it possible to entertain building or buying a catio - one that has a cat flap entryway from a door or window? It would allow Juno to go outdoors, but unable to roam anywhere other than in the confines of the catio.

If nothing is physically wrong with her and she is spayed, then perhaps as long as she has a way to spend sometime outside she would be more content - and it could possibly stop the howling and her fighting with Maxie.
 

thefiresidecat

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Hi all. I really need some advice.
About 2 and a half years ago I adopted a tabby kitten from the Humane Society and named her Juno. She has been a great cat, beautiful, friendly, adventurous, with a loud purr and an even louder meow. We have another cat named Maxie, 9 year old female domestic shorthair, who is pretty timid and skittish but very loving. The two have gotten along but never became close, they'd rarely play together or cuddle.
We let our cats go out pretty much whenever they want, we live in a very secluded area and have done this with our 3 past cats and never had a problem with the cat getting lost/running away.
But this past November, I went on a trip with my family for the long weekend and Juno got out when a friend came to feed the cats. Days after we returned, she hadn't come home so we reached out to neighbors and posted on Nextdoor. Some neighbors living about a mile away who feed feral cats had been feeding her.
We got Juno home, but it was impossible to keep her in as she was too used to roaming and would fight with Maxie and yowl as loud as she could for hours until we were forced to let her out. On multiple occasions she disappeared for a week or more and we had to go to the neighbor's house with a crate and pick her up.
She started staying around more regularly until a couple months ago when she started disappearing for weeks on end. She'd show up on our deck every couple of weeks, come in for food and pets, and then soon return to yowling and fighting.
Tonight she returned home for the first time in maybe a month..
She has been yowling, fighting with Maxie like crazy, hissing and growling. They are now in separate rooms but Juno will barely let me approach or pet her and is acting completely different.
I don't know how to help Juno at this point. I want to keep her in more that anything, but my family is fed up with the yowling and fighting and wants to just let her out. What do I do, is this situation beyond repair?

(sorry if this seems rushed or incoherent, I'm pretty frantically trying to get this out)

is she spayed? if not check and see if her nipples look swollen and her belly a little distended. if she's had kittens that would change things and make it worse than normal and her kittens do need her if that's the case, get her to the vet like others have said. if she's spayed put up with the yowls and make her an indoor cat only. she will adjust. maybe net in an area on the patio for them. they live longer and are happier not let out.
 

British Girls

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I have actually never had problems between my females whether they were spayed or unspayed...
Perhaps she has an ailment you're not aware of? Would it be possible to consult with a vet/take her in for an examination to rule out the possibility of any disease. If she isn't spayed, is it possible she had kittens somewhere?
If she is not spayed, this is very likely.
 

British Girls

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She has been yowling, fighting with Maxie like crazy, hissing and growling. They are now in separate rooms but Juno will barely let me approach or pet her and is acting completely different.
About the yowling... maybe she in heat? Sometimes, females can be very aggressive with other cats when in heat...
 

tarasgirl06

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Hi all. I really need some advice.
About 2 and a half years ago I adopted a tabby kitten from the Humane Society and named her Juno. She has been a great cat, beautiful, friendly, adventurous, with a loud purr and an even louder meow. We have another cat named Maxie, 9 year old female domestic shorthair, who is pretty timid and skittish but very loving. The two have gotten along but never became close, they'd rarely play together or cuddle.
We let our cats go out pretty much whenever they want, we live in a very secluded area and have done this with our 3 past cats and never had a problem with the cat getting lost/running away.
But this past November, I went on a trip with my family for the long weekend and Juno got out when a friend came to feed the cats. Days after we returned, she hadn't come home so we reached out to neighbors and posted on Nextdoor. Some neighbors living about a mile away who feed feral cats had been feeding her.
We got Juno home, but it was impossible to keep her in as she was too used to roaming and would fight with Maxie and yowl as loud as she could for hours until we were forced to let her out. On multiple occasions she disappeared for a week or more and we had to go to the neighbor's house with a crate and pick her up.
She started staying around more regularly until a couple months ago when she started disappearing for weeks on end. She'd show up on our deck every couple of weeks, come in for food and pets, and then soon return to yowling and fighting.
Tonight she returned home for the first time in maybe a month..
She has been yowling, fighting with Maxie like crazy, hissing and growling. They are now in separate rooms but Juno will barely let me approach or pet her and is acting completely different.
I don't know how to help Juno at this point. I want to keep her in more that anything, but my family is fed up with the yowling and fighting and wants to just let her out. What do I do, is this situation beyond repair?

(sorry if this seems rushed or incoherent, I'm pretty frantically trying to get this out)
Hello C calucie and family, and welcome to TCS! From what you say it sounds like a classic case of an unspayed female being in heat. Cats need to be spayed/neutered, preferably by the time they weigh over 2 pounds, and definitely by 4 months old, which is when females can first become pregnant. Definitely cats need to be kept indoors only, too, for their own safety. You can build a catio (look this up to see what it is and many examples) or a modular (portable) space where they can be outdoors but safe. Or you can acclimate her to a cat-specific (figure-8) harness and leash, and walk her on it. Responsible and caring cat guardians do not let their cats out unsupervised.
 

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Since she came from the Humane Society and no mention has been made of 20-something kittens in the past, I'll assume she's already spayed.

In order to tame her down again, you have to keep her inside for at least a month, no matter how much she complains. If your family is absolutely not willing to do this, can you build an outdoor enclosure for her? She might come back in the winter even if you leave her alone, but I wouldn't count on it.

Sometimes cats do this and nobody really knows why. Cats are weird.
 
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calucie

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Thank you everyone for your advice -- all really helpful and I'm working with my family on a solution now.

Yes, Juno is spayed as she is from the Humane Society, so she hasn't had kittens/isn't in heat.
I just want her to be healthy and happy and I feel horrible that it's gotten to this extent.

Hopefully this will be resolved soon.

Thanks again, all.
 
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FflurCadwgawn

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My cat Heidi got out (escaped because somebody left the back door open) in 2014 and was gone for a week. I honestly thought the resident foxes had gotten her.

When she came back, she was completely feral. She knew me, and knew what food was, but other than that she was not about to let me touch her. I spent an hour in a mosquito infested swamp at night trying to lure her back to the house with stinky canned food.

Hannah Shaw, widely known as the Kitten Lady on YouTube, has a video up on how to deal with a feral kitten. Her tried and true method is keep the cat in a confined space and the only time it gets food is from your hands and your lap. I've used a large dog kennel (Great Dane sized) when we have to housebreak a cat. They live in the kennel until they realize you are the source of food.

I am still trying to get through to Heidi (she was born feral and it took her a good six months to get used to us when we first got her. When she absconded for a week, it was like a switch had flipped. Outside she was completely feral but once inside she turned right back to a house cat, and promptly slept for three days straight!). She has FINALLY, after 10 years, decided she really likes laps and being a chest cuddler, but ONLY in the living room. When I first started taming her, she had a security chair and that chair was the only place she would snuggle with me. Then we graduated to the love seat, then this month we finally graduated to the futon (but only if there is a fluffy blanket involved. That cat does love her fluffy blankets). Now I'm trying to get her interested in my bedroom, as that was always Jax's territory (Jax died in March this year). She's showing good signs; she will get fussy and ask for snuggles in the bathroom but as soon as she gets into my room she starts making her R2D2 frustrated/scared noises and escapes the first minute she can (but not without a good headscratch first!).

That being said, I would keep Juno in an area where the other cats can't get to her (probably the bathroom might be best), and hand feed her until the feral switch flips back to house cat. Hopefully something works for Juno!
 
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meowpassion

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A few years ago a sister of my friend adopted a kitten, and then she relocated with her cat to the parents after graduating. A cat liked a new place fast, and became a member of a bigger family. That lasted about 2 years. Then one day she disappeared for 3 days, but came back. Few months later, the cat went away for about a week, but she returned. And a few months later she went again and never came back. A mum of my friend and other people have seen her in different places, and know that she is alive, but nobody knows why he cat has never come back.
I agree with a previous poster, that catio might be one of solutions.
 

calicosrspecial

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I would keep them separated and do a re-introduction. Using food to build positive associations and slowly starting with them being introduced via scent (scent swapping, then by the door while eating). An then moving forward.

In the meantime I would work on building each cats confidence using Play, Food, Height and Love. So make sure each cats area has a cat tree or a place to go high, comfy bedding, scratching posts. Things they can "own" by getting their scent on and to feel safe and comfy. Also, starting to play with them, good play sessions. Hunting the toy, then killing, then repeat. And then feed treats or a meal after a good play session. Finally, just make sure they are loved. Sit with them, if you can safely get them to purr that is good. Anything to just get them feeling loved, being happy and feeling safe.

Also, our emotions really are important in helping cats feel secure. So being as calm and confident as possible around the cats is very important as cats take on our emotions. In situations like this the humans can get stressed which makes the cats more stressed and therefore more incidents happen.

Being out can be very traumatic for cats especially when they aren't used to fending for themselves and worrying about their safety with other predators out there etc. Life in the wild tends to shorten lives greatly so if there is anyway to keep her indoors I think would be helpful for her longevity.

Also, if possible, I would get her to the vet as soon as possible in order to makes sure she is de-wormed etc.

Please feel free to ask for any clarification etc. The goal really is to make the indoors really attractive to Juno again with great food, fun things (play), safety, feeling loved. It will take some effort but I think a return to the prior more stable way of life is definitely possible. I take in older ferals and have achieved success adapting them to an indoor life and these older ferals tend to be more "hardened" in feral life so given Juno's past of living indoors I believe we can find success for her once again.

Here may be some helpful links. I am happy to help you through the process and answer any questions. There are a lot of great posters on this thread so between us all I am confident we can help you get through this.

How To Fix An Unsuccessful Cat Introduction

http://www.thecatsite.com/a/the-ultimate-yet-simplified-guide-to-introducing-cats

A Simple Little Trick to Use During New Cat Introductions

Cat Care

http://jacksongalaxy.com/2010/10/01/cat-to-cat-introductions/

The Five Golden Rules To Bringing An Outdoor Cat Inside

Here is one more thing that I think is very helpful

New here. Socializing a feral and introducing to indoor cat. How to mitigate hostilities.

From a post from ForNana

In cases of inter-cat conflict, for example, a reintroduction protocol could be used.The protocol is divided into three phases: olfactory habituation, visual habituation and direct contact habituation. The duration of each part is variable, depending on the severity of the conflict, the cats’ response and the owner disposition. In the olfactory habituation phase, each cat is confined to a different part of the household and all important resources (including food, water, litter box and scratching post) are provided in both areas. Each cat is then moved to the other area so that both animals are exposed to the other cat’s odour. Additionally, using a piece of cloth, the secretion of the facial gland of each cat can be applied to the cheeks of the other cat. The visual habituation phase can start when both cats are relaxed during territory exchanges. In the visual habituation phase, visual contact between cats through a mesh door, for instance, is provided when cats are engaged in a pleasant activity. Cats are otherwise kept separated and the duration of the visual contact sessions is gradually increased. Finally, in the last phase of the reintroduction protocol (direct contact habituation), the wire mesh is removed".
 
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betsygee

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Consider talking to your vet about calming medication, like Prozac, for Juno. It could help her settle down until she gets used to being inside again.
 

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In my opinion, food might be your strongest attraction to keeping Juno home. If you can afford to, get a healthy supply of canned fish (tuna, salmon, mackerel...) and keep it on hand. When Juno is home, give her some. Every time she comes home, give her some. She will, probably, decide that she's bound to get the best food at your house.... and make it a point to be around if there's even a remote chance of her getting some.

I could bore you with a lot of stories about my cats would come back, or stay, if they knew, or even thought, they were getting canned fish to eat. But, it is worth a try, if you can afford it. (It doesn't have to be every meal, but, maybe, breakfast and, sporadically, other meals -- so Juno knows she's getting the one, and sticks around to, hopefully, get more. But, definitely, to start, give her fish every time she's home for a meal.)

Certainly has worked for me. :)
 
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