I live out in the middle of the country and we get a lot of wild animals that come and go. Normally we get 2-5 raccoons every night and a few other animals like squirrels and what not. But lately we have had this adorable black cat come around; she usually comes onto our deck and eats out of our feeders (where we put all our scrap food for the wild animals to eat). Anyways, this cat has been showing up a few times everyday eating out of our feeder and just hanging out around our yard (3 acres). Unfortunately every time me or any of my family members goes anywhere near the cat, it runs away in a frantic. I really wanted to tame this cat and take him into our care, because he’s so cute, and I don’t want him to die or get hurt out in the wild.
I have this old doghouse kind of shelter on the side of my house, which is a perfect spot for a stray animal to sleep and stay warm and safe at night. So when I went to put a bunch of blankets and pillows and food and milk in the little house, and to my amazement I found a litter of baby kittens! Right before I peaked into the house, the momma cat took of running trying to make us notice her and not her kittens, so when I put the blankets and food in there, I found her kittens.
Anyways, I brought out a broom and cleaned up a little bit in the house (got the leaves and acorns out) and put the blankets down and the food and left it at that, hoping that the momma cat would appreciate what we did and come around more and let us help her.
We came back the next day, and the momma cat unfortunately moved her kittens to a new spot (don’t know where). We really wanted to take in the mom and the kittens and help them, because the kittens are barely 5 weeks old at that. And they really need food and help.
Anyways, the mom cat still comes around and eats out of our feeder, but still when we try to go near her she takes of running towards the woods (where I think she hid her kittens).
What can I do to get her to come around MORE and for her to like us and want to be around us, so we can take care of her and her kittens? Is there anything I can do to help her understand that we are here to help her and her babies, and not hurt them?