recent feral cat adoption question?

Question

i moved into my new home which I ran into some feral cats. Long story short, mother who i felt sorry for, started to feed everyday, had a litter of kittens, and i quickly was feeding 4 cats/kittens. Soon they grew up and i got scared I was harboring a large catery performed TNR(Trap Nueter Release) on the group.One of the cats, the runt of the litter, really pulled on my heart strings and I decided to keep inside, which i fell she is very grateful (she sleeps with me and my other two cats everynight on my bed and seems content My question is, every once in a while my recent adoption(its been 8 weeks) will look outside and see her mother and the rest of her litter mates eating the food i provide them and start meowing.ive felt really bad like she misses them and have even open the door for her, but she prefers to stay indoors. Did i make the wrong decision by adopting a feral cat and keeping her inside with me? Or should i slightly push her outside with her old family? prefer not to

Please know that "shayla" the cat at question has been spayed and has had her shots , took her back to the vet after TNR(other outside cats have also been spayed, hence TNR and have have some vaccinations with TNR)

Answer 1

If she wanted out with her family she would have gone when you opened the door for her. She seems to have adopted you as well. She doesn't behave like a feral cat, she seems to have adjusted to being an inside cat quite well. One of mine likes to sit in the window and meow at the birds, but she wouldn't know what to do with one!!!
I don't believe you've made a mistake, I think you two were meant to be together.

Answer 2

Congratulations! You've done just great with this little kitten. NO! Do NOT allow her to go outside with the rest of the group. Keep her as an INDOOR only cat, and she will have a longer, healthier, happier life. And, it only "appears" that she may be longing for her mother and siblings, when--in all reality, after a kitten is weaned from the mother and placed in a home (such as you have done), she really has no idea that this was her mother and other litter mates. She's only semi-interested in them because they are other cats in the neighborhood. You're doing a GREAT job by keeping her indoors, and she will also be a much more loving kitty. Now, I DO hope (if she's old enough) that you have had her spayed. If not, please do do--for your own sake as well as hers asap. Otherwise, when she comes into her first heat, you are going to be in for 10 - 12 totally sleepless days and nights when all the loud meowing and hollering starts. Spare yourself and the kitty all this stress and, as Larry The Cable Guy would put it: "Git-R-Done!"

Answer 3

Now that she has been inside for quite a while, she has adjusted to her new atmosphere. Would you consider allowing any of the other cats to live inside with you? I volunteer in TNR/rescue and have a feral cat I am fostering, as well. I know it can be a handful but, these cats sound very friendly. If I were you I would allow one of her siblings to come live inside with her so she has a litter mate, two of my rescues are brother and sister and I don't think I've seen healthier cats, ever before in my life, they're constantly wrestling, chasing, and bathing one another.
If you feel guilty and would like to help more, consider housing the cat family in your own makeshift shelter so they can remain together. Or if they are all very friendly, consider speaking with rescue groups to help find homes for the mom and kittens. There are tons of ideas, as you can see. I hope this helps.

By the way, the person who said cats don't have feelings like we do is very wrong, they are complex, intelligent, loving creatures. If they are mistreated they will reflect that, hence they are also very sensitive.
Also, don't bother with a shelter! They will put the mom down if she is not friendly, rely on rescue groups to help find homes if need be. I'm so glad they were TNRd :) Thank you for taking care of the kitties!

Answer 4

NO! You shouldn't give it back to mom

For one thing mom's a feral cat. When she is done weening them, they are on there own. Then you have more feral cats and it goes on and on and on. When does it stop?

You did the right thing by excepting one of the kittens into your home. Now do the next best thing. Call the shelter and have them picked up and taken back to the shelter to be adopted out to family's that are looking for a kitten.

As long as you keep feeding mom she'll hang around until she weens her kittens and doesn't need your your help anymore at least until she comes back again with another litter of kittens.

You chosen perfect little kitty is not feral. Mom's the feral. However, if you give "your" kitten back to mom (obviously your kitty doesn't really want that) she to will become feral and I don't think you want that to happen and you shouldn't let it happen.

I have faith in you that you will do the right thing, because that's what you want to do.

Don't feed anymore feral cats please.

Answer 5

I agree with everyone, keep her inside. She is now an inside cat, and thank God for TNR and for you caring for them now with food. She would not be excepted back into the group now at this point, they would not remember each other at all, they are not like humans (even though some of mine seem almost human sometimes, lol). Enjoy her, I have a little runt that was found by my stepdaughter with a bigger brother, no mommy around, and I know what you mean about them pullling at your heartstrings, she was only 1/2 lb when I took them to vet. I can't keep them though, they will be listed for adoption once they are old enough and I am sure they are healthy.

Answer 6

talk with the vet to make sure she doesn't have any urinary illness. If she was using the box at the shelter, find out what brand/type they were using and try it in her box at home. Make sure the box is in an area she feels secure in. Don't let the 5 yr old bother her while the cat is trying to use the box. Any poop you find, pick it up with a tissue and place it in the box to cue her where poop (and pee) is to go. You could even try setting a urine soaked tissue in the box to cue her for urine. Consider if you have a closed box and she is used to an open litter tray... try to recreate what she was using before you got her. If all else fails,,, try simple dirt in the pan. Make sure the box is big enough for her, and maybe have an extra box somewhere else in the house. You can try confining her to a small room with the superclean litter tray, her food/water set away from the litter and some bedding for her. Preferably on a floor with tile or linoleum for easy cleaning. Do this for a solid week of confinement and keep that box scooped at least 2-3 times a day if she uses it but for 1 bit of poop. Praise the stuffings outta her if she does it right.

Answer 7

She probably doesnt even remember that this is her family since it has been 8 weeks...

Also she is more than likely very happy where she is at now...and the reason why she meows at them is because she doesnt like to see other cats on her turf!

It is also better to keep her indoors and she will have no problem with it..Cats can be very happy indoors and out...But the reason why its better is because there are many dangerous things for a cat outside..Such as teenagers who like to abuse them..traffick...poision and poisinous grass or weeds...and Feline luekimiea (sp) and other cat diseases..You also said you leave the door open for her to go out and she doesnt...well that is proof that she would rather stay inside the home with you!

So just be happy you have such a cute kitty...She obviously loves you and just make sure you can provide for her..like vet bills and etc...

Answer 8

If you pushed her outside now she'd be very confused and stressed. The rest of the litter would probably no longer accept her. And her life expectancy would drop by about 15 years. I think it's wonderful that you and she have a good bond. It's hard for ferals to bond to humans usually. Also she probably isn't missing them as much as you think. She's probably more concerned about that food going to waste with those other kitties than she is about companionship.

Answer 9

You absolutely did the right thing. She may not even know those other cats anymore, and is just making noise b/c she sees other cats outside. My cats do the same thing when they see other animals outside. Letting them out usually winds up in a fight. Your cat is much safer inside with you. It's very good of you to look after those cats. Wouldn't it be nice if more people did the same?
Good luck to you,
Jen

Answer 10

Indoors, that's my vote too. We've got two former strays we took in and they all are fine with indoors. She may miss her mother a bit, but she's got the company of other cats, you, and the perpetual supply of food in the bowl you have there.