I have a feral cat that I've been feeding for a few months now. I am trying to catch her so I can bring her to the vet and bring her inside. We will have snow on the ground soon and I can't get her to go into the cage I have outside. I put the food into the cage but after one failed attempt at catching her she won't go back into it. I can't even get near her or she backs up or runs off the deck. Has anyone here attempted this before and how did it work out for you?

[Travelinglady]

I've read that feral cats can never really be tamed, so I'm wondering if, even got the cat inside, it would really work out.

[tecomsin]

build her a little hut with straw so she has a place to keep warm and dry and sleep.

[googley]

Look and see if there is a rescue/shelter in your area that has a trap/neuter/return program. If so they will do that for free and then the kitty can be healthier. If you look online you will find that there are examples of how to make little huts for cats like tecomsin mentioned.

[possum220]

How to build a shelter.

[Purple,Violet,Blue]

Move the food you put out for her a little closer to your back door (or equivalent). Then closer. Then have it just inside your house.

[leejosepho]

"Community cats are generally not socialized, or friendly, to people. That means they are unable to live indoors with people, and are therefore unadoptable..."

All About Community Cats

[Apokolips]

I have personally rehabbed multiple ferals from kittens to senior cats. It’s very possible it just takes a lot of time and effort and most people couldn’t be bothered.

[Perna]

My retirement community (300 acres, much of it natural/woodland -- backs to a State Park) has a/several communities of feral cats. We have a somewhat spreadout living situation and I'm aware there are others feeding the cats so I do not worry feeding the 2 regulars and 3-4 others that wander through here occasionally. I have an indoor cat and know there are places the feral cats can get out of the weather and have finally settled on a good, padded/cloth outdoor chair on my patio that I have put cat self-warming mats in the seat of and which is covered by a heavy canvas chair cover. I watched/noticed months ago that my one/favorite feral would jump up between the cover and the chair seat and nap there comfortably and since my patio is covered somewhat; I'm on the ground floor of an apartment building and my above-neighbor's balcony provides a bit of roof; albeit 12-15 feet up so driving rain/snow get in anyway.

But I learned that these ferals, they had an agency come and capture, neuter/spay and return them a couple years ago so, hopefully, they do that ever few years so I don't have to worry about it. Too, my apartment building is on top of the garage which is open so they can get in out of the weather there and I know there are multiple other people feeding the cats around the campus, I'm thinking each feeding station gets its 2-3 cats that favor it like my "Mocha Mo" does me (a brown tabby -- and I have a gorgeous calico too). I feed them in a bowl under the chair so they have a little shelter/are a bit hidden/more comfortable every morning and I have a large electric water bowl so they have fresh water/it doesn't freeze; my balcony has an outdoor outlet so I could probably put a heated cat house out there https://www.amazon.com/Manufacturing...dp/B004ZJOH06/ but I think the cats are adapted to the environment around here/have their own places to go (were here before I was :-) and I did get the self-warming mats https://www.amazon.com/Pet-Products-...dp/B003ZYF1X4/ so I let it go at that.

A feral cat is just that - wild. And they should stay that way.

But I ask is this merely a stray or actually feral because there is a difference. While hesitant, many strays will eventually respond to food and come to trust the hand that feeds it. Why not talk first to the vet and get his/her suggestions on how best to trap this animal or whether you should even be doing so in the first place.