Hello.

I've recently moved house with my 2 cats, and the new place has lots of out-buildings. In one of them resides a feral cat; it seems quite sweet - it keeps about 10ft away at all times and if you approach it it scarpers quick sharp, but a few times when I've been outside with one of mine the feral watches me playing with my cat and mews at us! It hangs about in my garden and fields and lounges on the roof when it's sunny.

One of my cats avoids the little feral (she's a coward), the other gives chase now and then (he thinks he's the boss!) but they all seem to co-exist ok with no notable injuries or unhapiness between them.

Couple of questions...am I ok feeding the feral? I occasionally leave it some biscuits or scraps which it wolfs down. Also is there any way that I can 'tame' the feral? Only to the extent it isn't scared of me anymore. I feel so sorry for it when it watches my two lounging on the rug and it has to sit out in the cold.

Thanks in advance.

Feed the cat if you but only if you take on board the problems that may come with it. Fleas are just a starter and if your own cats are going to mix this will mean to protect all the cats the best thing is to get the feral cat to the vet and avoid little feral cats from other cats in your area. I would be wrong if I did not admit that in my case I would prefare to bring the feral cat into my own cat family where I could make the health of all three cats my own concern. You may never get the feral cat to behave the same as your present cats but hey! stranger things have happened, I say go for it and save a cat from being alone and if the cat moves on at least you gave it a chance that may never come again. Please keep in touch as this sort of story is what makes cat owners (owners?) lovers a bit crazy but then who wants to be perfect.

Bear in mind, it seems, the feral cat has been existing there so will be used to the cold. It is also in your outbuildings, so you and your new cats are newcomers.

Firstly I take it your cats are up to date with jabs, worming, fleaing etc?
Secondly, it sounds like the right things are going on for the feral cat to accept you as it's new staff. Seriously, it will take time for mutual acceptance, and if you want to take it in it will need to go to the vets to be checked over and have the right treatment.

My other question is what makes you think it is feral and not just abandoned?

It depends if this is a genuinely feral cat, or an abandoned pet. If it is an adult feral which has had no contact with humans, it is very unlikely you will ever be able to tame it and it will be perfectly happy living in the shelter of your outhouse and eating local wildlife. If it's an abandoned pet then depending on how well socialised it was, the cat could well become friendly in time. Time will tell which of those applies.

However presumably it is not neutered, so if its female it will produce kittens regularly, and if its male it will be very territorial and may in future beat up your cats. So if you want to live in harmony with your pet cats you would need to trap and neuter it (although if it is an abandoned pet it could be neutered). There is also the possible issue of disease, hopefully your cats are vaccinated against cat flu but there is the possibility of FIV which would be a concern if it did fight with your cats, so I would want it checked out at the vets if possible.

Is there anyone local who would know the history of the cat?