Advice about a semi-feral cat maybe pregnant.......?

So she lets you hold her. Great. Even if its just for a little. This is a big step for feral cats. Just wondering is she an indoor cat. Or does she get to come and go. If she is an indoor cat this will be alot easier. Don't feed her breakfast or lunch. When its time for dinner. Look for her and open the can of food in front of her. But don't look at her. Just say something like. "Yum this looks good for dinner and walk away slowly." She will associate the opening of the can with a meal. Place the food in bowl and with a spoon move around the food like your preparing a complex meal. If you hear a meow or see her you will know your getting her attention. Sit on the floor with the food. Keep it very close to you. Continue play with the food. If she gets close. Offer her some with a spoon. At first she may be stubborn. But even a stubborn cat can be persuaded when extremely hungry. You mentioned she tends to run with her food. Try using a pate variety. Instead of her being able to grab a chunk of food from a spoon. It will require her to lick the spoon to get all the food off. Don't be afraid to talk. Get her used to your voice. Even if at first she runs. The worst thing you can do is just leave the bowl for her to eat alone. Cats are fast learners it won't take long for her to know that you are her source of food. Remember if you go about acting like she is going to scratch or hiss at you. She can smell your fear a mile away. Don't creep into a room but confidently walk into it. If at all possible give her a room. This will make thing alot easier when she has the kittens. If you give her access to the whole home, you will find her hiding her kittens everyday in a new place. Kittens learn from there mother. Start early.If they see there mom coming to you for food they will too. Use a feather toy. The stick helps keep distance. But I haven't met a feline that wasn't intrigued by this toy. It will be a long and slow process. But like I said the key is to treat her and her kittens like they are part of the family and not a feral cat you think might jump and claw you all over.

Try a humane trap. Animal control or humane societies usually rent them. Once trapped, maybe you could keep her in your house, a bathroom or bedroom, until the kittens are old enough to find homes for. That way, the kittens won't become feral. Then you could have the mother spayed and release her.

I did this once with a feral cat.

what are you feeding her? I would give her something she cannot run with.

Wet canned food maybe? Just something she can't run with. Nothing that's high value...like chicken or fish.

Break it down into tiny bits and toss it to her. toss it closer and closer day by day, eventually offering it in your hand.

Maybe keep her in one room only.

If she trusts you at all, you should be able to handle her kittens. Most of my ferals have allowed me to handle the kittens. One didn't and I knew it, but the kittens were turning wild, so I took them. Ended up with a scar on my leg from mom cat. =P

She'll let you know if you can or not.

If you brought the feral cat inside to give her a safe place go give birth she could get really stressed out so be careful. You could shut as many doors as possible to prevent her from hiding somewhere and not be able to find her but also for her to get used to the main rooms in the house. she will probably hide for a few hours if not days but let her roam and she will get used to the idea someone cares for her and come around.

She is too young to be having kittens.You need to take her and have her spayed and the pregnancy terminated.You can get a tranquilizer from the vet to put in her food when you take her in the night before surgery so she will be easier to handle.Also,what will you do if she has 6-7 kittens,keep them all? There are millions dying in shelters,so the best option is to have her spayed.