How to Tame a Feral Cat or Kitten

With a little patience and time, a feral (or wild) cat can be tamed into a loving pet. Younger cats are more apt to adjust quickly: 6-to-8-week-old kittens typically take two to three weeks to adjust to a domestic environment.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Vari-kennels
• Cat Foods
• Litter Boxes

1. Enclose the cat or kitten in a small space at first'a bathroom or bed-room works best.

2. Turn out the light if the cat is terrified; this often has a calming effect.

3. Put a bed, a litter box, food and water in the room. If the cat is very young (6 to 12 weeks), put her in a large carrier with a grated door and small windows.

4. Spend at least 2 to 3 hours a day with the animal. Just sitting quietly in the same room will allow the cat to learn that you are not a threat.

5. Gently compel the cat to let you touch her. Carefully wrap a blanket around her if you have to, hold her on your lap and pet her. Stroke her coat and touch her ears, face and neck as you talk to her in soothing tones. Even if the animal doesn't seem to be enjoying the attention, she is. Hold the cat by the scruff of the neck if she attempts to leave. (The mother cat will do this to carry or train a kitten'it doesn't hurt, and it actually relaxes the animal.)

6. Present special treats such as chicken or tuna, and leave them if the cat will not eat from your hand.

7. Gradually allow the cat to roam about in more rooms.

8. If the cat tries to run away from you repeatedly, enclose her in a smaller space and start again.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't get discouraged early on; young feral cats can become very affectionate pets. Younger cats are more apt to adjust quickly: 6- to 8-week-old kittens typically take two to three weeks to adjust to a domestic environment. An older cat that has been wild for a long time is difficult and sometimes impossible to tame, and may be better left outside. If you catch one, have the animal spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and then turn the cat loose where caught, or contact a professional.
• Handle feral cats with extreme caution. Use gloves and protective clothing as required. Cat bites and scratches can result in serious health problems.

[jillmaria]

on 9/2/2009 I really enjoyed this article. My vet has six office cats that were all feral rescues. They are the friendliest cats (beside my own) and she trained some of them when they were older adults. A poster here mentioned singing to the cat - usually works very well, but we had a boy who, upon hearing one of us start to sing, would let out a yell and flee! We didn't take it personally, just didn't think he was a music lover... 5 stars!!

[thewhisperer]

on 6/6/2009 Some cats simply don't enjoy being handled, even if they were born in a cattery and handled from birth. I've succeeded in socializing many ferals, kittens adults and older cats and the biggest keys to success are patience and plenty of time. It's not unusual for it to take several months for a feral adult to become a social loving companion.

[robains]

on 6/5/2009 Here's one for you. 3 years ago, I adopted/rescued two 3 month old kittens that had been born somewhere on the streets of Philadelphia. They are brother and sister, and are very close. The boy is a total love slug. He just comes up to you, rolls over and lets you do anything you want to him. He can't get enough of us. But his sister, she's another story. I have only held her THREE times! Twice soon after we got her. (I'd wrap her in a T-shirt and pet her) but it soon became to hard to catch her. (We're talking about locking her in a room, having to remove 2 mattresses just to get her out in the open, and then a good 15 minuets of back and forth. I was able to grab her as she was going to the bathroom. I'm guessing I scared the *

[Susang6]

on 8/4/2008 If your procedure works I would say good for you, one less cat on the streets.

[Pterocarpous]

on 5/31/2008 I'm very encouraged by your article. I have a feral kitty I've been taking care of for about a year now - since she showed up in my front yard at about 10 weeks or so of age. Even though she knows me and allows me limited access to petting her, I have to use a trap to capture her for vet visits (spaying, vaccinations, microchip, etc.). She recently was badly injured rendering her left front leg unusable. The vet says there "may" be a possibility of repairing it (at great cost) but amputation may be called for in the end. I can't let her stay outside any longer as she can't defend herself. So, I need to bring her inside. I have her in a very large dog kennel right now as she has to stay pretty much immobilized while she recovers and adjusts to her injuries and I need to be able to administer her pain medication (mixed in her food, of course). I have some mild tranquilizers the vet gave m