I've been told that a stray female cat I took off of the street acts
terrified of people because she was abused/brutalized/tortured. I'm
wondering if maybe a feral cat, a cat that has never had human
contact, also might act paranoid? She seems to be afraid of artificial
light.

She should be spayed, but I can't even get close without causing
extreme tension, manifest/shown by hissing and spitting. She's made
little progress in the two months she's been inside, but the progress
is extremely slow and subtle.

She likes other cats, or at least can tolerate tomcats playfully
jumping around her, observed when she was outside. Yesterday I pulled
a reasonably friendly tomcat off of the street, of course diligently
keeping them separated until he is castrated. I'm wondering castration
will do for their eventual relationship. Will see. My last stray male
was castrated before being taken in and he was about the best pet a
person can have, very playful/friendly/attentive. Unfortunately, my
female hated him.

Hopefully, eventually, she can display some sort of reasonable/active
life in captivity.

Thank you.