My adult female cat had two litters in a year. I took her in to get sterilized and update shots, and was instructed to keep her calm and away from males for at least 2 days. When I took her home she was so distressed and she darted out of the carrier... not to be seen again for weeks! When my husband spotted her again, about 3 weeks later in the middle of the field, she was an entirely different cat. She hissed at him so much but he managed to get her to come to the house to feed and drink--but never touched her. She hissed and swatted at the other cats (there are many now-all hers). She acted like a rabid animal, but we knew she'd had her rabies shots regularly. Again, we did not see her for a number of days. She has come up to the porch and feeds or drinks, but she still hisses and swats at the cats and acts like a rabid animal. She does recognize me and when no other cats are around I actually make a little progress with her, almost touched her last night. I have coaxed her into the house, she goes to kitchen to drink and darts out of the house. I shutter to think what may've happened to her. She was a sweet, loving, responsible, mature lady and has turned into a "Delta Dawn" on rabies. I am baffled and have not yet caught her to take her into the vet's office. It is beginning to get frosty and cold and I am very worried about her being outdoors and so detached. Any ideas? She was subjected to: sterilization, feline leukemia shots and regular shots.

Sounds like she has gone feral, but I don't see how that is possible with her previously being a domestic cat. Had she been a barn cat before you got her ?

Maybe the handling and surgery at the vets turned against people. Only thing I can think of.

Tick

Well, she is acting feral. She may have been born in a feral environment. A neighbor's dog brought her over and he left and she stayed. She was young. It took a good while to socialize her. She came around very well, though, but she has always been very "street smart" and defensive.
I think you're on to something, and it may be a combination of the two. This morning she was a little calmer... til she sees the other cats. She's worse around the other cats. Boy do they cower to her, too. She's lioness scary.
I think we will slowly win her back. Thank you so much.

Since you're worried about the weather turning; try setting up a shelter outside for her to go into when it gets cold. Put blankets or straw in it and change it regularly so it doesn't start to mold or smell.