Lucas meows and talks to him all the time (so much for the claim that cats only meow to humans), he calls him when I’m dishing out the snack he just asked me for. The next how to tame a feral cat is approaching your cat little by little, don’t rush! I inherited a feral colony June 2015. Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, shares a little secret about felines. Because of this, when you embark on your adventure with your semi-feral cat, remember to be patient and to respect their space. Once you have welcomed your new semi-feral kitty into your home, there is still work to be done. He may come around – but it always has to be on their time…, Excellent post, Shadow! The first three were barely 8 weeks old when I caught them in my driveway on Thanksgiving weekend. Taming feral cats; Feral cat terminology; The feral and human bond; Feral cats and birds; Steps to trapping and altering feral cats; Care for former ferals ; Total Feral Cat Socialization. I love him so much, and I just want to be able to pet him. These 6 steps will help you turn that frightened neighborhood kitty into a new furry friend! Commonly referred to as a social cat by some animal rescue experts, a semi-feral is a cat or kitten who has had some experience with humans in the past. It’s so rewarding! Not all sounds are a bad idea, though. , I think may people can identify with your situation. Finally, the most important thing when adopting a feral cat is patience. When trying to socialize a semi-feral cat who quite obviously enjoys hiding from you, this might seem counterintuitive. He was fine. Ignoring an animal that you are trying to socialize may seem like silly advice, but according to Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies, snubbing a semi-feral kitty will pique its curiosity and force it to make the first move. When we all play with the wormy or birdie on a wire toy, Max gets annoyed because Lucas throws himself into it, while Max likes to wait/strategize. However, they were likely born into a domestic environment and then abandoned or lost having to live as a feral cat. While it may not always be possible, here are techniques you might be able to use to coax domestication. Thanks for taking care of them ❤️, © Copyright 2012 - 2020 | The Catnip Times, Inc | All Rights Reserved, Shadow the PR Cat is the Goodwill Ambassador at, . The woman I got him from didn’t know if he had been abused, but she didn’t think so. Lucas is a very thoughtful little boy. My GF inquired to the neighbors thery said they allow it with thier cats in the house occasionally. Sometimes, this can take anywhere from 2-6 weeks, or even more if they’re skittish. Many people have feral/wild kittens and cats in their garden and want advice on taming them. “If they are used to people, then they want that attention.”. We don’t domesticate them. I would say 99% of music is not a good thing. While some semi-feral cats can be tamed in a matter of weeks, it usually takes several months or even an entire year before they completely come around. Taming Adventures: the 5-month feral kitten Today I trapped a kitten, the last from a litter of four that I have been socializing for several months. The kitten which acts the most ferocious is just the most scared, but it is capable of giving you a nasty scratch or bite and will probably try to escape if given the chance. Most times, semi-feral cats can be domesticated and live happy and healthy lives with their humans. Becky Robinson also estimates that an unfortunate 14% of cats simply cannot be tamed. However, my primary caretaker still leaves behind a lot of catnip in my favorite spaces for the opposite reason now. While some semi-feral cats can be tamed in a matter of weeks, it usually takes several months or even an entire year before they completely come around. How to tame a feral cat. The process of taming kittens can take from two to six weeks (longer for some exceptionally skittish kittens), depending on their age and state of wildness. I resent her prolonged absence, and catnip is always a great distraction! Now I fear he may only equate my touch to capturing him and putting him in a carrier, and driving him in the car, all of which he hates. I am so happy as this week we have made progress with taming our feral cat, Fermi. Robinson advises confining the animal to a small room with food, water and a litterbox. While Lucas was on the table getting his exam, and shots. And I love the time when they start sitting and staring at me, it means that fence they are sitting on is leaning my way. It takes several days, and a few efforts for the feral cat can follow your rule. As licensed veterinary technician and volunteer, Mike Phillips, says in his video Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens, “Cats domesticate themselves. The feral cat you want to take in has probably been roaming around outside for months, mixing with other cats, raccoons, and sleeping ...Wash and Isolate Your Feral Cat With a Litter Box. Be patient and when things don’t go the way you want take a nap. By ignoring a cat, you are forcing them to make the first move. And it mostly happens on their terms, not yours. While environmentally conscious people might think that capturing and taming feral cats would be a good way to reduce the impact of cat colonies on the ecosystem, TNR programs allow for more widespread results without the need to permanently remove feral cats from the wild. The goal is getting him used to your hand and comfortable with being touched. Kittens are cute and cuddly, but they can get into a lot of trouble. According to Robinson, almost all cats can be tamed, just remember to be patient, stick to a schedule, respect her natural needs, interact with her every day, and provide lots of treats! Remember that to the kitten you may be a predator; the kitten may think it is fighting for its life.All bites are serious. Semi-feral cats or stray cats are similar to feral cats because they've lived in the wild for a good part of their lives. Put Together a Dedicated Room. For cat lovers living near a feral cat colony, the experience can be heart wrenching. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to tame semi-feral and feral cats after 4 – 6 months of age, but it is not impossible. Once he permits touch with your finger, you can scratch his head. “Cats are animals that seek pleasure and attention,” she says. Touching/Physical Interaction. Alex, the managing director and my primary caretaker, rectified this by reading aloud in the office, so I would get used to her voice. I would suggest you start having training sessions with Lucas when Max is sleeping, or put Max in a separate room. Understand that socializing a semi-feral is a process, and it won’t happen overnight. There are about 100 different types of catnip, and not all cats are susceptible. A feral cat is a domesticated cat that has reverted to wild and is not socialized to humans. He is very tolerant of her but sometimes will ignore her for his BFF , Duke. Understand that socializing a semi-feral is a process, and it won’t happen overnight. You need so much patience with these babies. I moved twice since I’ve had him, and it was hell. He was so scared. “Most times, semi-feral cats can be domesticated and live happy and healthy lives with their humans. Taming a feral cat is a new experience for me. So Max gets mad and leaves the room. They are usually terrified of humans. Be the first to hear about cat-related news and offers! Any other human is off limits. Sometimes one will roll around and show their belly but not for long. Good luck and thank you for saving this sweet little guy. Although it is a slow, difficult process, taming a semi-feral cat is possible. It’s also important to ensure your cat has room to hide, and flee, if it comes down to it. Some of them do like music, in fact, I have one that loves Cher. It’s widely understood that wild cats became domesticated in the first place because they became content with the idea of having access to regular meals, so if you’re thinking about taming a feral cat in your neighborhood, you’ll want to begin by establishing some sort of routine around food. He would drool like crazy, I thought he was sick, but, he was never touched before, so apparently he was relaxed. The trick is to proceed slowly. For example, be sure to offer some cat food to the cat at the same time and in the same place every day, … If you sit on the floor near him, and reward him with a treat when he permits touch, you can work up to touching his head with your finger. I love watching them and figuring out their behaviours. Taming a feral cat is no small task, but it's doable. So, How Do I Tame a Feral Cat? His job includes tweeting, purring, taking selfies, rolling in catnip, and advocating for animal rights. Prepare a small and quiet room, such as a bathroom, that is away from people and other pets. i feel sorry for her but I’m sure she’ll work it out. Becky Robinson also estimates that an unfortunate 14% of cats simply cannot be tamed. When my 17 year old cat died in May, it was interesting to see some of the dynamics change in the house. My favorite day in the whole world is December 13, 2016. Over my years, I’ve had at least 20 feral/semi feral cats to care for me. You’re teaching that you’re mamma cat, so Lucas can now depend on you for food and affection and safety. Semi-feral cats take a lot of coaxing and letting them approach you will build trust. Taming a feral cat takes time, knowledge and patience coupled with extreme caution. =^.^=. They are more likely to respond to human love and affection. Max LOVES me. But if your little guy likes it, you’re in luck. Taming a feral cat is not as simple as picking one up from the streets. Waiting for the cat to reach out to you, then providing a positive interaction, will show it you can be trusted. Tips on taming a semi feral cat kitten? If you absolutely must get a hold of the cat, you will need to coax him out. Feral cats have never lived with humans and are afraid of us. ...Isolate the Cat for a While. so I cannot even see him (too dark+black colored cat) and always hides away when he is out and a person is pesent. The progress is slow but celebrated greatly. You and Lucas can enjoy games together with toys, and he doesn’t have to cow-tow to Max. Feral cats have had little to no contact with humans and are often thought of as wild animals. It breaks my heart. And you can ensure a better life for a cat that was probably on its way to a short lifespan. It’s the vibrations,” she warns. He knows he’s got it good! After I had him a year, while laying in bed, I used to casually put out my hand, palm up, and he would touch my finger, then pull away. At the same time, offer them some food to eat. I have another 16 in a variety of stages of socialization. A little female showed up a few weeks ago. They tend to avoid being touched, but may vocalize when around humans or even make eye contact. It’s important to accept that many feral/wild adult cats never tame or take months or years to do so. They are very scared and they have to defend themselves.”. But Max will often just walk away from him. Before taming feral cats it is necessary to consider the fact that an adult feral cat may require a few months or even a year to socialise. Plenty of scratches and bites, but I was persistent. They’ve taught me a lot about how to be around them. “…using non-pharmaceutical behavior modifiers like Feliway, Rescue Remedy, or Composure Soft Chews. Now Lucas will suddenly stop playing and run and hide under the bed. She has a preference for my tough looking guy ,Buster. Sounds like human voices, music, and opening and closing doors may send a nervous kitty running for the hills. One of semi-feral cats began to snuggle up to me in bed. I would also suggest you do this exercise several times a day, at least twice anyway. “You have to desensitize them, and do it slowly,” she recommends. The next step will be getting him used to the rest of you. The volunteers were very worried I would not adjust and could not be socialized, but the PR team that took me in was able to tame me in just 3 short weeks. Some of them have bonded with each other, others are loners. Do Cats Sense our Physical and Emotional Pain? However, if you are trying to learn how to tame a feral cat or considering taming a feral kitten, you've come to the right place for information. According to Robinson, almost all cats can be tamed, just remember to be patient, stick to a schedule, respect her natural needs, interact with her every day, and provide lots of treats! It took over a year to get him to trust me enough to touch him. He’ll sleep on my pillow next to me. Most veterinarians believe that feral cats cannot be tamed, though animal rescue agents often disagree. Work in a very quiet environment, and avoid talking. The mother cat should also be captured and spayed, to prevent future litters. I love it. Great advice. 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