Anyone know anything about feral cat behavior?

Question

I feed this feral cat at my apt complex. When she sees me she is constantly rubbing herself against my legs even when I'm walking. When I walk faster she will hiss at me and scratch at my pants.. anyone know why she does this?
She also has a patch of hair missing and her skin looks infected there..her mouth does not hang open but her tounge sticks out very slightly. Could this mean she has rabies?

Answer 1

Your kitty sounds like a stray rather than a feral. Meaning that at some point she had a home and was fed by people but was abandoned or lost. Feral cat's always run when you come near them and won't eat the food until you leave again. I would suggest contacting a local Trap Neuter Release program. They'll be able to better tell if your cat has is a stray or not. If it is it's quite possible that the cat can be cleaned up, medically treated, and re socialized. They should help you with trapping and will determine if the cat is healthy or if it should be humanely euthanized. They will then pay to have the cat spayed and vaccinated if it's healthy and either have you release it to the same area or will socialize it and place it with a family. http://www.alleycat.org/ is a good place to start looking. Otherwise use google or contact your local vet or shelter and ask if there are any feral cat programs in your area. It's really wonderful of you to take on this responsibility.

Another note on feeding feral colonies. I am personally of the belief that it is not only the most humane thing to do but also the most practical. By sustaining a sterile colony you not only control the unwanted habits of feral cats (Yowling due to mating, spraying on houses, aggressive behavior, spreading disease to house cats etc etc) you also keep other, less safe cats from moving into the neighborhood. Most importantly you help a wild creature, whose station in life is directly a result of our actions as humans, live out their lives in dignity.

Responsibly taking care of a colony is a rather large undertaking at first. It involves setting up a feeding schedule, catching and sterilizing each cat, and building a simple shelter. Groups like alley cats allow you to have them sterilized and vaccinated free of cost, and often times you can even find shelters or pet stores willing to donate surplus or unsaleable food. Once all that is established it takes less than 10 minutes out of your daily life. Also you will often be shocked how willing your neighborhood will be to help if you knock on doors and explain what you're doing.

That's enough from me, but good luck with your kitty and thanks so much for caring!

Answer 2

No, NOT rabies!

Infected skin is likely from a cat fight. The tongue sticking out slightly might be just her habit, or it can mean poor teeth alignment.

She rubs against you to be fed. She attacks you when you refuse to feed her because she is desperately hungry. You can make her life MUCH easier by trapping her and spaying her. You can learn how here (online or in real life):

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/events

You should NEVER feed a cat you have not trapped and spayed. The size of the litters is determined by the food source, so for each cat you feed now, you will need to feed seven cats in three months, 14 in six months, and 249 in nine months!!!!!

The population always swells to exceed the food source, so do not MULTIPLY THE MISERY!! Trap, Neuter, Return!

Answer 3

poor kitty
you shouldnt feed feral cats it doesnt help them in the long run - honestly the best thing is to catch her and take her to the SPCA or other shelter in your area...(or have your local by-law department catch her)
some SPCA's fix up feral cats and adopt them out to farm homes.. others euthanize - which as bad as it sounds is better for the cat than suffering a long extended death which most ferals do and they breed adding to the problem..
she might not be feral at all - she might have an owner who reported her missing and is looking for her (SPCA would know) a really feral cat WOULDNT rub against you at all...

I seriously doubt rabies... probably an infection from a bite/fight... her tongue hanging out could be sign of brain injury...

best thing is to catch her and get her help

Answer 4

She would come around. It took me 9 months in simple terms to coax/catch/catch Shortie (psycho feral cat) interior the domicile after which greater advantageous than 8 greater months to get him to enable me touch him. quickly forward a 300 and sixty 5 days and he replaced into snoozing interior the mattress curled up below my chin each and each night in simple terms like a teddy bear. He replaced right into a snuggle bunnie for 10 years! heavily, I never, EVER concept that would happen. He swiped at my pantyhose coated legs for over a 300 and sixty 5 days till now he desperate human beings have been "ok" - I have no concept what number pairs of stockings he ruined over that 3 hundred and sixty 5 days! to assert no longer something with reference to the everlasting scars on my legs...

Answer 5

She is probably hissing and swatting because she is over-stimulated. This is normal cat behavior. Try to walk at one "normal" pace to prevent it.

Missing hair could be an infection, could be from a fight, fleas, injury, etc. Tongue sticking out could be due to gum disease, having only a few teeth, or simply a quirk.