Streetlife

what are you going to do with her once you've had her eye fixed up and had her de-sexed.  If you plan to take responsibility for re-homing her then surely the RSPCA would happily come and help you out on the understanding that you would take her off their hands later?

Or am I just naive!

I think a tiny pile of cat biscuits a few times a day would help win her confidence and bring her closer and closer.  Then you can lure her into the house where she can be corralled. Be careful, though.  Feral cats are very nervous and their claws are sharp and it might be best, as Matthew says, to seek the help from the RSPCA for the final entrapment.  I think they would take care of the vet side of things and then you can adopt her!

I don't want her re-homed. She's a stray, totally undomesticated and probably born in my garden, so my plan is to get her eye sorted out, desexeed then put her back where I found her. 

Thanks for that advice. I like and feel sorry for her so don't want her spirited away by the rspca and put down.

I don't think the RSPCA would put her down - if it's in her best interested then they can afford to fix her up and rehome..

But since that's not what you asked, I'd recommend gardening or oven gloves, and/or holding a towel to wrap round her to get a good grip if you want to keep your skin intact.

If you do get her into your house (and I can't see her letting you catch her out in the wild, unless she's fairly tame) close all your indoor doors so you can get her in the corridor.  If she gets in a room with an open chimneyplace, she'll be straight up it.  Then I recommend a quilt cover over her.  And, like Gail says, sturdy gloves...  If you're wary of the RSPCA (though I don't think you should be), try the Cats Protection League.

Had this same problem some years ago with a stray in our garden.  I contacted the RSPCA who were completely unhelpful and were not able to provide a cage to catch the cat.  I contacted a Cat protection society in Croydon who gave me a cage.  I caught it the same day.... just put a bowl of food inside.... and took the cat to the society where it would be given a full health check and found a good home.

Thick gloves and a thick blanket sound a great idea but you have to be quick and have the cage ready because if you fluff it you won't get another chance.  I think your best bet might be to talk to someone at the Celia Hammond Trust as they have a lot of experience in catching and caring for feral cats.  Generally I think they do it with food in a cage 'trap'.  The cat goes in to eat the food and is caught easily in the cage - safe and relatively un-traumatic for cat and humans!
http://www.celiahammond.org/

Good luck!

I had the same problem and the cats' protection league were really helpful. They provided me with a special cage to 'catch' the cat then took her in and provided health care and a home. They are a great charity and very helpful. Good luck.

Maybe she belongs to someone?Local vet and Battersea Dogs' and Cats' home may be able to advise how to catch her and how to find out who she belongs to.

Thick gloves will do nothing against a feral cat, you need special kevlar wildlife gloves if you don't want a trip to A&E and 3 weeks of antibiotics!

Give Vet Assist a call. They are an animal ambulance charity who also deal with strays and wildlife and are very experienced in catching all sorts of animals. I work with Steve, the founder, a lot though my work and he is lovely. Their number is 07961 952379.

Also be aware that if you try to catch her and fail, you'll probable never see her again.

I had a feral cat in a bad way and borrowed a cat trap from Celia Hammond.  Alternatively, if you have a carrying cage and feed the cat regularly, you could put the cage and the food in a corner and get closer and closer.  It depends on how much the cat trusts you.  The trap is the best bet and, as above, take care not to get bitten or scratched.  I have ended up with a badly infected arm from a stray cat.

The RSPCA have been helpful in the past but they are thin on the ground.

I gave a home to a stray/feral cat. I could not even look at him from my window that he would run away from my garden but I started feeding him in my back garden and moving the food step by step nearer to the house, it took about 3 months to get him in my house. Obviously this is a more urgent matter. Probably the RSPCA would be suitable if you intend to adopt the cat otherwise the possibility of putting her down is quite high. Taking in or re-homing a feral cat is kinder than to leave him as a stray, mine was at least 2 years old when I took him in it was quite a challenge to befriend him but we had the most rewarding 9 years as he is one of the most affectionate cat I have ever owned, he is probably very grateful. My friend took in on two different occasions two very feral cats, they both became fantastic loving pets. The only problem with feral cats is that some have feline HIV, I believe is not a danger to humans but it is to other cats in the household. Maybe searching for a possible present owner is not such a good idea as obviously does not care about the cat.
Hope you will trap the cat with very little stress for either of you. You are a very kind person, good luck!

Thanks everyone. I'm certain there is no owner - she's truly feral and skinny and something terrible is going on with her eye - it's dark grey and bloody where it should be white. I can't imagine her ever being domesticated like yours Rosanna, but I'm willing to try - all of my previous cats over the past 20 years have found me rather the other way around.

thank you very much everyone for suggestions of Celia Hammond, Vet Assist and Cat Protection who probably are less stretched than the rspca. I'll give them a call before trying to catch here and go from there!

... not white, I mean blue. (not thinking straight today)

Sounds like she needs to have that eye out. If her eye is causing her pain then it's likely she's not eating properly too, which would account for her weight loss.

Dear Mungomuffit

Ferrals become friendly the more they see you are not a fret - daily water and  yummy cat food win over hungrey cats...

Also I would call Louise, Cameron or Dane at Streatham vets they are local and they helped me with my little semi ferral chap Marmalade who live in my garden for yonks.

They will advice you and I belive they have cat catching boxes too:)

Lovely I would talk to the experts; they might even pop round and do it for you as they have rspca cats - also they sterlise strays for free. Treatment might be expensive but it is free to strays.

Tel 0208 674 3525

My cats have loved them for 15 years

Failing that call Battersea Dogs home - my two gorgeous cats came from here

Streatham Vets helped me with my semi - ferral who turned out to be owned by a local - however they administered his care free in the beginning

Good luck and best wishes
Let us know how it goes

Best wishes
Liz

Mungomuffit just remember cats are the only animals who choose their own owners and are free to roam at will - so the little darling obviously trusts/likes you

You may talk to the vets and not catch her but administer medicine ie antibiotics in her food - put a shelter out for her and take it from there:)

Thanks Liz. I didn't see her last night or the night before so i hope she's ok :(

Streatham Vets sound wonderful. I've got 2 recent rescue moggies and I haven't decided on a vet for them yet so shall consider them.

will let you know how I get on with my stray. Thanks for your good advice.

Do not hesitate to call Battersea Dogs & Cats Home straight away. They will be able to advise you helpfully and wisely. 
Call: 020 7622 3626
Web: www.battersea.org.uk

- this is the very best thing you can do. Many people have adopted lovely cats from there, and they offer bags of advice and help in the process!

I think that you should contact the RSPCA directly and seek their advice & assitance - they have the people and skills to deal with such matters.

I have got to put my two pennarth in here - every time (three times) I have turned to the RSPCA for assistance/advice - they have been about as helpful as a chocolate tea pot.  The Dog's Trust was no better.  Stick to a vet's practice or the Dog's Home for advice.

if you haven't sorted your little feral yet, it might be worth contacti8ng 'Cat Action Trust 1977'    It's a small charity that deals ONLY with feral cats - I have always found them very good.  with an adult cat, they will treat neuter and return to it's original site. (It will then be up to you to feed and tame her ! ).

Web site is www.catactiontrust1977.co/about-us.php

Good luck !

You could talk to Feline Care. They deal with ferals all the time and have a large colony living on their grounds.
They have a shop in town and contact details for Molly and gang can be found there.
All the best.