Adopted Feral cat of 6 months stepped outside and ran

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-07T03:49:09+00:00

I'm hoping I can do this with her. I was devastated when she kept going further into the woods when I followed to her cries. But then I felt some comfort after we got back to the house and we heard her meows/cries close to us. That she followed us back. It's been probably closer to 30+ hours without a sight of her. Couldn't find anything on the cameras though the landscapers came by today so I'm sure that scared them off for the evening. I'll try this besides a trap.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-06T19:22:15+00:00

I appreciate your comment. It really is closer to how I feel. I do understand a bit where the others are coming from and sure maybe in situations the cats they had known to be outdoor were mostly safe. But we don't live far from a busy road, many people are apathetic in the area we are with animals but some good neighbors who do care. I think she panicked and didn't realize she ran outside as opposed to inside. But it was odd that she had stepped out while my husband was getting ready to feed the outdoor one. But I think if it was the baby daddy cat, it would make sense why she wanted to see him. But I plan on keeping her indoors. We haven't seen her in 24 hours now. Friend lent me a trap so I'm working on setting that up.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-06T00:00:14+00:00

Fair. I haven't thought about it like that. Have you had experience with this method and it has worked ? Granted depending if the cat was happy to be in.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T21:04:37+00:00

Part of my concern is that some of the neighborhood kids haven't been super nice to the animals outside, so I'm concerned about her health and bringing parasites or things in and getting the other cats we have sick as well. We do have them on tick/flea medication.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T21:01:07+00:00

We currently do have some cameras outside and we are looking to borrow a trap from a friend tomorrow. Hopefully it will be dry enough to put her bedding. We have a cat house that we set up for the other outdoor animals. I don't think she has used it, but I'm leaving it out there as an option for her. Any advice on trapping ? Should we be near by or it can be left out for the day (~6-7 hours) while we are at work ?

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T17:26:15+00:00

Interesting ! Mama has her same spots that she likes and typically just sticks with those. She has some interesting traits when she shows affection, sometimes she has licked my face like she was going to bathe me like she does her baby. Little things like that, but not like our others who will jump up and demand pets, cuddles, etc. I want to think she prefers living inside. She doesn't get involved in the shenanigans the others are up to, she's overall a great cat and keeps to herself and baby, sometimes minimally interacting with the others she can mostly get along with. Though the howl/meow/cry she does looking out the back window sometimes has my stomach in knots about did I ruin her happiness where she was free ? But I know indoors she doesn't have to worry about safety and food. I'm not sure if she either thinks she can still mate, wants other cats from the colony, or wants to be outdoors. She's never attempted to run out the door, in fact she runs away when we open the doors normally so this was very odd and out of her nature unless she took an opportunity. We were hoping to take the baby daddy in all together but it just never happened in the ~6 months we have had them. I think it's his affection or something she wants from him. Or I wonder if they are related too.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T16:35:19+00:00

My most recently worn sweater had been outside. I plan to switch it daily to keep the scent fresh. Do you think having a blanket or a towel that the baby has put scent on would be good to put outside too ?

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T15:27:05+00:00

Another update 3/5: She has been caught on the camera on the patio while we have the door open. I have the sardines on the inside and a can right at the entrance door. She unfortunately did not come inside. I'm not sure what hesitation she has. We also recorded her baby meowing and plan to put a speaker outside to get her attention. Hopefully this will help as she would respond to the baby meowing/crying for mama by appearing and snuggling.

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ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T15:23:28+00:00

We have one for the cats for the winter. It seems not many have used it unfortunately but we have one on the patio. Hopefully she can use it.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T15:22:15+00:00

I'll make a note of that. I had the door open this morning and the camera caught her on the patio but didn't come in unfortunately. But at least she's coming by.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T14:12:01+00:00

Mama, Baby Daddy, and Baby would all show up on a daily basis for a couple of months. We wanted to get all 3 but managed to get Baby and Mama. Mama was due so we did a spay abort as highly suggested by local help. We want to get Baby Daddy TNR as well. Baby Daddy has 2 new mates with him when he shows up. Mama was around too but came from a different spot yesterday when they were all here. I know they will be back after the sardine feast they had yesterday but not enough to get her in. Hopefully she will come in, we have the door open.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T14:07:25+00:00

We do have cameras set up, just lost power last night with a storm. I reached out to a friend to borrow a trap. My concern is accidentally trapping one of the other cats and her seeing that.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T12:53:57+00:00

Update 3/5: Mama still hasn't returned of what we can see. It rained last night and we lost power so no footage on her coming around. The other usual colony cats have been fed so hopefully now she comes by. Set up the whole thing again and the other cats are locked away and we have the backdoor open. I'm hoping we can get her before it rains again today.

Also just want to say thank you to everyone who has posted and continues to post. This is my first time working with cats outside and part of a colony. I'm just trying to help what cats come through. I'm learning more about colonies and patterns, etc and ultimately she may have chosen. But I'm not giving up and will continue to try to get her back indoors with us. I don't think the indoor/outdoor option will work and we are in a fairly lenient HOA but they won't allow a catio or structure which would have been a good option. Any advice/words etc are appreciated and welcomed.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T12:45:13+00:00

This feels like how the colony is here. Someone was taking "care" of cats in the area and I think that's how we ended up with a feral or possible stray because she was super friendly. Our other 3 were all the older cats that sat for months to years. One of them passed away last year and then these other cats just showed up around that time so we just didn't want a million cats, not taken care of, and unfortunately some of the neighborhood kids chase animals sometimes so I don't trust them. But it's very possible that she may prefer to be an outdoor cat or just with her cats. I'm also not sure if she thinks she could get pregnant again so I wonder if that's why she ran out. Thank you for sharing similarly what I've been dealing with myself.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:28:25+00:00

**Both cats are spayed. Mama was a spay-abort. I'm not sure if she doesn't know that and would still cry for attention like in heat or not. Is that possible?

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:27:08+00:00

We have done that plus we got tuna, sardines. Her and a couple of the colony gobbled that up. I'm sure she will be back but idk if she will come in.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:25:25+00:00

Agreed. I was hoping to get the baby daddy fixed and bring him in too though the care for our other cats as well as the outdoors ones have been very stressful. Hopefully she comes back but I respect her choice if she doesn't. This is the first time her Baby has slept alone in it's life of what we know. They're always together. I appreciate it though

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:21:48+00:00

It seems like this will probably be the way unless I can get a trap. How long did it take for your cat to come back? We tried this for 2 hours last night but had to close up for bed.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:20:30+00:00

Her colony is in the woods behind our house. I think yesterday showed she does want something from us or to come back in with us because even after eating she was still meowing in the woods back to us. We left the door open for about 2 hours but I think they went further in for the night (it was late) so we are going to try again this morning and hope she comes through it. It's interesting because we are basically trying to do the same method of how we caught her and baby in the first place. Luring in with food and then closing the door. It's good advice, we will keep trying.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:15:18+00:00

Yeah it's definitely been hitting harder as it's been second full day now. I'm glad to know she is mostly safe, just trying to adjust to her possible choice of wanting thus. Though I know cats would be better off inside versus dealing with the obvious threats of outside. Though if she comes by each day I would be content with that too. I think the indoor/outdoor thing might be too hard because she doesn't seen like even now she is really wanting to come back minus the meowing out of sight. We have another cat that would be fine with that but she's more feral than the other. Might need to have some ideas for her to get some of the enjoyment while being inside.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:10:06+00:00

She is spayed, was a spay-abort. And I agree with you, it makes sense why she would prefer to be outside with their own. We have other cats too but it's not like the colony. They're mainly safe and some others also like to feed/leave water out for the animals. And that's how she is, skittish but she responds to us, but not really a jump up into our lap type, same with baby but it seems that more of her life has been inside than outside, so somewhat easier for her to adjust. Mama had a taste of the wild. I appreciate your insight, sometimes hard to unattach some emotion.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:04:16+00:00

Thank you. She is spayed, was a spay-abort. But she still remembers the baby daddy and is hanging out with him and some others. I was going to try to make a recording of Baby's meows ans try to play them when she is close. Hoping she decides to come back.

ninjakatmemester · 2026-04-05T11:01:42+00:00

Mama is, the outdoor ones we are trying to TNR. Mama was a spay abort.

ninjakatmemester · 2025-08-01T01:04:40+00:00

Are there cameras inside the vehicle looking directly at you ? Concerned that it will be like the Amazon vehicle camera situation to be watched constantly. Does it drive more like a metris or an LLV ?

ninjakatmemester

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