I am not able to have an indoor cat due to spousal allergies, so I adopted two semi-feral ladies from our shelter's "barn cat" program. After a period of adjustment in a "habitation crate" they got used to me, to being fed on a regular schedule, and to the sights and sounds of our place. Now that they are out and about and still being fed on a regular schedule, with a place to sleep and all, they are semi=domesticated. Funny thing about them...they will let me pet them (one is quite friendly) around what we call the "Rodent Patrol Substation", where they're fed and where one of them, at least, sleeps. Anywhere else on the property, it's a quick glance and "Who you?" as they take off in another direction.
I clean the stray cat jail at the shelter once a week and get another kitty fix there. That's where the cats are kept for a week or two before they are transferred to a partner shelter or go on to Adoptables or Barn Cats or (sometimes) get reunited with their people. These guys are often in need of lots of loving and attention as well and we give them as much as we have time for along with cleaning their temporary homes. I have a particular fondness for the senior ladies and gentlemen that we get, who often have medical problems and sometimes are unceremoniously dumped by former owners. I wish I could take one home, but I can't, so I take pictures and put them on my Facebook page instead.
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