Taming Feral Cats - Adult and Kittens

Taming an adult and feral kittens can be achieved provided the trainer has time, patience and a thorough understanding of feral cat behavior.  The trainer should have both skill and experience in handling feral cats as they are not like domesticated cats. 

  

I take time to gradually tame the feral cat.  I respect the cat and allow them to bond with me when they are ready.   Normally it is 30 to 60 days for a weaned kitten, and 1 to 2 years for a adult feral cat to be fully tamed.  I am someone who has the time to allow the feral cat to trust me . Of course this method is not for everyone, but for those who have time to wait it is well worth the effort.  

I tame  feral cats by confining them to a small room, with a window, an open crate with soft cuddle bed.  The crate is covered with a blanket and is the feral cats safe room.  There is food and water and a litter box.  I do not allow the cats free feeding, instead they eat twice a day.  I take the bowl away when they are finished. I train them to acknowledge me and to need me for their food.


Feral cats are terrified of humans and will spit, hiss and show their claws.  They do this in defense.  I take no offense to the cat when they show there outward aggressive nature.  I go about my business of reading a book or looking at a magazine.  I let the cat be for a week to get accustomed to being indoors, and being in the company of a human. The cats will hide, come out to eat and hiss then go back to hide.  Within 7 to 10 days the feral cat is curious and will come out of hiding cautiously.  The cats think of me as a predator, but in time they learn that I am not going to hurt him.

When you decide to adopt a feral kitten contact your veterinarian and let them know your plans.  Find out if they accept feral or untamed cats. Some veterinarians do not care for feral cats, if this is the case you would then contact your local cat network to inquire about a veterinarian in your area that will exam, treat and spay or neuter a feral cat.

I believe in using cat crates only to provide the cats with a safe place.  The door of the crate is always opened and the cat is free to come and go.  However the training room’s door is always closed during the taming of feral cat.  I set the crate up with a soft bed.  The bed is warm and provides the cat with a place to hide.  There is food and water in the crate; and the litter box is in the crate for a few days.  When it is time to clean the box I will remove it from the crate, clean and leave it 3 feet from the crate.  I move the box to draw the cat out of the crate. The feral cat will need to walk close to me  and exposure to human is good.

The feral cat safe room is off limits to other family members and pets.  The cat trainer is the only person to enter the room until the bonding process is completed.

Dress appropriately when you enter the feral cat’s room.  I wear long sleeve shirt, loose fitted pants, shoes and socks.  I have never worn gloves…but I recommend them to others.

Keep a safe distance from the cat.  Many people do not make eye contact with the cat.  I do not make eye contact of the first couple of days but by the end of the week I will make eye contact with the cat and I do speak to the cat with a soft voice. I move very slowly in the cat room as I do not want to startle the cat or frighten.  The feral cat will hide and that is fine. The cat can smell me and they can hear me.

Don’t expect the feral cat to reach certain goals.  If the cat wants to hide  for longer than a week, let the cat be.  Just sit in the room every day for a few hours, do your work or read a book.  Socializing a feral cat takes time, patience and love.

Respect the feral cat.  Do not approach the cat; do not attempt to pet the cat.  Allow the cat time to bond with you.  

When taming a feral cat I will use products to put the cat at ease; I will spray the cats training room and their bed with Feliway ORMD-D Behavior Modifier.  This modifier emits a synthetic cop of your cat’s natural facial pheromone.  Feliway comfort zone is effective in preventing the cat from marking their territory and it helps to prevent the cat from feeling anxious.   


It is okay for the feral cat to hide, the cat is terrified of you so let the cat be.  Allow the cat to rest.  I always spend time with the cat on their first day.  I will sit in the room and read a book.  I do not interact with the feral cats by approaching the cat.  I just sit on a chair with the back against a wall and read a book.


Here are some photographs of feral cats that I have trapped, tamed and adopted into forever homes.

Socializing a Traumatized Feral Kitten

Socializing a feral kitten that was traumatized at a young age is not easy because feral cats are terrified of humans.  If the trauma was due to human actions then the feral kitten will be hard to handle and socializing them may be impossible.  Even with these tough obstacles I took on the challenge to tame a traumatized feral kitten.

About The Feral Kitten "Charlie"

Charlie the feral kitten came into my life when his mother brought him to my old shed. The queen cat had been injured and I trapped for medical care.  Charlie was trapped for medical care and bottle feedings.  Charlie was traumatized when we took him away from his mother, the trauma escalated when we took him to the veterinarian for the flesh wound on his paw.

Charlie was admitted to the animal clinic for the wound to his paw.  He needed urgent care and was treated at the clinic for 21 days.   The feral kitten survived his flesh wound and infection however he was a traumatized and was all wound up from the medication, anxiety and pain that he had endured. .

Trapped Charlie is anxious and afraid

The attending veterinarian suggested that I turn him loose and watch him at the cat colony, but I thought it was not wise since he would always have problems with his foot. 

A cat that limps would not do well living outdoors.  I was determined to socialize this kitten.  Of course it would be difficult and I would have to stop my life to work with him for several hours every day, but I thought it was well worth the effort.  Since Charlie was handicapped.

 My husband said he would help and my one neighbor said she would feed the colony cats and so I started the socialization program with Charlie the traumatized kitten.  

Week One

  

This week I am concentrating on bonding with Charlie and to achieve this goal I am spending 8 hours a day with him.  Charlie is in the new cat room and I have a chair in there, a light and a book.  

As expected there is not much interaction going on.  Charlie is staring at me from the cat cube and when I get three feet from the house he hisses and spits at me, so I backed off because it is clear that Charlie is terrified of me. 

Week one was uneventful as the time was used for Charlie to get accustomed to my scent and to grow dependent upon me for food and water.

Week two

Charlie stared at me for a good week and then on the 14th day of his socialization we had a break through. I was read a book in the morning, ate my lunch in the cat room and gave Charlie some food too. After lunch I sat in the chair next to the  cat window seat and closed my eyes.  

I fell asleep and I suppose Charlie took a leap of faith because when I awoke Charlie was sitting on my chest staring at me.   When the feral kitten realized I was awake he turned quickly, leaped from the chair and ran to hide in his cat cube. 

This is a huge accomplishment because it indicates that Charlie wants to learn more about me.  He is letting down his guard and is taking steps to becoming a socialized feral kitten.  

 Presently Charlie has no stress.  He can learn about me and bond with me at his own speed.  I am taking baby steps with this traumatized feral kitten.

Tips: 

• To help calm Charlie so that he did not feel anxious or excess stress I sprayed his bed with feliway behavior modifier.