Sounds like they are true ferals if they can’t be tamed for food! My new stray wouldn’t come near me at first, but now is very loving - and vocal! Took about 4 months. Now, he’ll come inside, sit on my lap, purr his head off, and be super sweet. Figures - because we decided we’d take care of him if he’d be an outside cat (we already have too many inside). But he turned out to be friendlier than some I’ve raised from kittens!
I’m also hoping our cats will be helpful when/if we move to the cabin and start raising other critters for food. It’s good yours are earning their keep!
They sure are true ferals. We have been feeding them for a year. Mama had four kittens last summer and only two survived. They have gotten so spoiled that they won’t drink cold milk so we have warmed it for them even during the heat of the summer. Despite warm milk, chicken livers, steak from the moose we processed, mackeral fresh caught, hot dogs and all manner of cat food, they remain very nervous, coming when you call, but never approaching food til we return to the inside of the house. Can’t figure!! I just hope we can catch the other two and get them neutered before we have any more kittens.