[mybabychum]

I live in a park where there are a lot of stray cats... One has been staying under my home and I've been feeding it, and I noticed it looks very pregnant... I don't think this cat is much more than a kitten itself, maybe a yr... I have 4 cats already, they're inside cats, and all four of my cats will be standing on the inside of my screen door, while this stray sometimes will be on the outside of the screen... they're all fine, but anytime the stray sees me she runs... I would feel terrible if that cat had to have her babies under my house, or anywhere outside at that... When I go to give her food and milk, she runs, not too far, but will return as soon as I'm away enough (which could be 10 feet) and she'll eat, mostly looking up at me, to make sure I don't approach her... I try to call her and kiss to her to get her to come by me, for about 2 weeks now,especially since I've noticed the pregnancy, but she just stares widely eyed, but never comes by me... she doesn't run unless I approach closer to her... I did put a bin,with a small blanket and small pillow under my home aroundabouts where she stays, in hope she would have her kittens there... Theres a spongy two-pillowsized, mattress pad that she sleeps on, under there already... How can I get this cat to get comfortable with me before she has her kittens?? Can I?? I would take her and her kittens in if she would let me... and I know I probably shouldn't touch the kittens... and I also know there are plenty of other strays around the entire area I live in, will they effect her or her kittens?? And if there's rain, which is predicted, it could flood under my home and I wouldn't want them to drown... and Is there any other information I need to know about these circumstances... Please Help me and her and her kittens

[CakeLady]

She's most likely a feral cat that has never been socialized. In short, cats are only pregnant for 58-65 days, so unless you are able to basically spend 12 hours a day acclimating the cat to your presence, she probably won't get "used" to you before then.

One thing you could try (sooner rather than later) is to take a chair or pillow out there so you'll be comfy and place the food about 2-3 feet from you and sit there until she comes. Don't move or blink while she's eating it. Do that for about 3 days then move the dish slowly closer to you over time, all the while sitting stone-still and being non-threatening while she eats. The object herein is to make yourself a "non-threat associated with food" in her eyes. If you do that long enough, most likely about 7-10 days in a row, she will begin to accept your presence with food, which is usually endearing in a cat.

Only AFTER she allows you to be in her presence while eating and you've been silent, then you'll have to get to the place where you can whisper softly while she's eating, etc... but not moving closer to her... you get the picture. Silent, non-threatening, associated with food, then a baby step to whispering softly while with food, then perhaps holding out a hand while associated with food, etc...

It's unlikely that if that does not work she will accept you around her kittens as well. Your last resort might be to have her trapped and have her babies in captivity where they can be socialized... but then you have a new set of problems and a lot of spays/neuters on your hands!

Either way, providing her food and shelter without spaying/neutering her babies is only propagating the further problem. I work with the Humane Society, so I know the ins & outs of all of it.

Good luck!

--Cake Lady--

[turtlegirl16]

I would go to the vet and ask for some traquelizing pills. Put it in her food and watch her. Before giving her the food, scare her out of the spot and fence it off. Then give her the food. Or you could listen to Ckae Lady and have more to spay/neuter.

[turtlegirl16]

try to catch her is what I am saying ^