Feral Cat suddenly scared

[MoonstoneWolf]

My feral cat Treasure has been tame around me only for 5 years. I've been feeding him on our front porch which he enjoyed sitting at my feet. Recently though my mother passed away and I had/have an overwhelming amount of house repairs to perform here. Mom and I lived together since my father passed 18 years ago til she got sick in April and was eventually put into hospice. Along with this I have an active stalker, although the cat isn't scared of her for some reason (I thought cats are supposed to sense dangerous people) and I took down sick with bronchial infection as well as an allergy to black mold found in the basement by the foundation recovery team. The other night I went outside to feed my male feral cat, he let me pet him and then all of a sudden the black female cat who has been his buddy for ages attacked him. He then ran off and I assumed it was their usual little spats and he left to cool off. BTW all of these cats have been TNRd for 5 or more years.

I decided to wait it out and he stands to the side when I go outside and meows at me but gives me a wide berth. He also walks with the tail up but if I move he bolts. So I'm getting a lot of mixed signals here as I thought tail high in air meant let's be friends or happy to see you. I'm wondering what could be spooking him so bad. He was the closest feral to me for all these years and I feel a bit worried that either he senses something not right or he's sick. Any thoughts?

Editing to add: I noticed one of the other ferals act the same way this morning, and I wasn't even outside. I have cams all over the property which they are all accustomed to after 5 years so I don't think it's the cams.

 

[KittyJ]

I'm so sorry to hear about your mother!

Could be rabies. Has he had his rabies shot? Or could be redirected aggression. Something else could very possibly be bothering him and he's holding it out on you.

Is it possible to get him checked out? Just in case there is something medically wrong with him.

 

[MoonstoneWolf]

I need to find a vet that will look at ferals. I'm wondering if he is just sensing my fear due to the psycho stalking woman and he's acting on that.

 

[SirMeow]

It does sound like the black female spooked him and he's somehow associating her aggression with you. Why, who knows? Cat logic 101.

I can only suggest regaining his trust with food, especially dry food tidbits (not too much of it!) where he sees you offering it to him.

How is that black female towards you?

Yeah, if it's in any way possible to take him to the vet, it's a good idea to have him checked over, not just for this issue, as a feral can easily be harbouring ailments.