The kittens must learn to feel safe. A feral cat whisperer helped tame a wild kitten who seemed unadoptable at the shelter. Older kittens can also be captured and tamed, but the process becomes slower and less successful the longer the kittens stay in the wild. All bites are serious. It is really important that you not take a kitten when they are too young, so make sure that they are of a suitable age for taming. Also, for a sick feral cat under observation or treatment, stress is a major deterrent to recovery and this pen allows space away from litter and food for the cat to relax and convalesce. 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. If the kitten remains calm, grip it securely by the nape of the neck, put the towel on your lap, and set it on the towel. Litter training is how you redirect this natural behavior to a litter box so your kitten goes where he is supposed to! They prefer a nervous seven-week-old to a tame four month old. Now taming and socializing a feral cat isn’t always the simplest thing. A feral kitten is a cat that was born in the wilderness. If you want to easily tame feral or undersocialized kittens for adoption, there is a narrow window of opportunity between four and eight weeks of age. For example, FOCAS, the Humane Society, and the Department of Animal Control all have such agreements. To stand any chance of taming a feral cat, it must be young. You are saving lives and producing affectionate loving companions. Some say as young as 3 months may be too late. When you want to help a feral cat adjust to living inside, the following tips can help. I have tamed 1-2 month old kittens before. The guidelines can be […] Volunteering is so rewarding! A couple of months ago I adopted a 6 week old stray kitten that was found eating rat bait. It is also extremely important for the health of the kittens to remove fleas as soon as possible. Protect vulnerable knickknacks, clothes, and plants (some poisonous) from curious kittens. The first three were barely 8 weeks old when I caught them in my driveway on Thanksgiving weekend. If you do not have a cage, or your carrier is too small for a litter box, place the kittens in a small room, like a bathroom, in the carrier. Some Helpful Guidelines for Taming Feral Kittens. Step 1 Obviously, the first thing you need to do is capture the kitten. Remember that to the kitten you may be a predator; the kitten may think it is fighting for its life. Feral kitten socialization is most successful for kittens under three months of age. Although it is a slow, difficult process, taming a semi-feral cat is possible. At best, you're likely to have a semi-feral cat, who may allow some contact but is not friendly by any stretch of the imagination. They will be frightened of people and demonstrate all of the signs of fear and anxiety that an adult cat would, like spitting, hissing, and running from human contact. Approach the cat a little and sit down; talk in a calm voice so that they get used to your voice. Never stare at the kittens for prolonged periods. All the work you have done can be easily shattered by normal kid activity and noise. They are usually terrified of humans. If you are bitten, seek medical attention and quarantine the kitten. Kittens under 8 weeks can usually be socialized without much difficulty following the guidelines detailed below. Never approach from the front. Work with your local animal shelter and learn how to help. Approach the cat a little and sit down; talk in a calm voice so that they get used to your voice. Christiane. If you are an individual with the time, space and patience, it is possible to tame older kittens and young adults, but it is a more time consuming process with a higher failure rate. They are for all intents and purposes wild animals. The kittens are 8 weeks old or older, meaning they and their mother should be spayed or neutered and vaccinated as soon as possible. Food is how wild cats became domesticated in the first place: they figured out that hanging around humans equaled regular meals. Ideally, they should be taken in as soon as they are weaned and can eat solid food. Are you new to socializing feral babies? Taming a kitten, teaching it to love and trust humans, is a very rewarding process. If the kitten stays calm, pet it gently on the head from behind. Our cat was feral… she adopted our youngest daughter. They prefer a nervous seven-week-old to a tame four month old. We often receive calls from people who have a feral cat who just had kittens. Taming Feral Kittens. When screening prospective “parents,” remember that the kitten will do best if there are no small children in the home. The kittens will follow and learn from your cat. According to Galaxy, “it depends on the cat.” He says that everyone has a different theory on what age is too old for domestication. This will be less threatening to the kittens. If a trap was used, transfer the kittens to a cage or pet carrier large enough for a small litter box and bedding. Social cats are not to be confused with social ized cats who are fully domesticated, and accustomed to being around, and being touched by humans. Put Together a Dedicated Room. Just as a hot bath and a cup of herbal tea … Here’s a general outline of the process to tame a feral or undersocialized kitten over a few days or weeks. Also try to kitten-proof the room as much as possible before letting the kittens out into the room. Kittens instinctively begin to use dry loose materials at 4-weeks-old! Unlike feral cats, semi-feral cats are vocal and may make eye-contact with you, even if they don’t allow you to touch them. When the kittens no longer respond by biting and scratching, encourage friends to handle them as often as possible. TNR is an appropriate option for older kittens who are not socialized to humans. It is rare that an adult feral cat can be tamed, but these same techniques can be applied to adult cats, and is some cases we have seen success. Be careful of open toilets and anything that could be climbed and pulled down on top of the kitten, causing possible injury. I love the challenge and patience it takes to tame feral cats. Currently, she is crated in our bedroom. The Reason We Started Taming Them I wrapped the little grey tabby we had just captured in a towel and held it for a few minutes before putting it in the small dog crate for the night. A hand coming at the kittens frightens them, which may cause them to hiss or bite. Play with the kittens using “kitty tease” toys (a tiny piece of cloth tied to a string that is tied to a small stick) or lightweight cat toys. I love this story! Bonding with the Kitten Talk softly to the kitten throughout the day. Socializing a feral kitten could be one of the most rewarding things a human being can do. Sometimes the boys will tame up faster. Kittens over 8 weeks of age who've had no positive interaction with humans often take much longer to socialize. Taming Feral Kittens This information is drawn from numerous people with hundreds of hours experience. A feral kitten may hiss and \"spit\" at humans. I thought that I would probably just neuter and release. Avert your eyes frequently and lower your head often to display submissive behavior. Any person attempting to tame kittens should be totally committed and patient. In some litters, all the kittens must be isolated, so as not to reinforce wildness in the group. The taming process is certainly worthwhile. The steps involved in the taming process are: A feral kitten may hiss and “spit” at humans. It is very important that they socialize with other humans. For older cats that are completely feral and unlikely to become a household kitty, one of the most humane ways to stabilize and reduce the feral community is through Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). One word: cat food. Food is how wild cats became domesticated in the first place: they figured out that hanging around humans equaled regular meals. It’s helpful if the cage or carrier has food and water bowls that are attached to the doors so you can give them food and water without placing your hand inside. Taming Feral Kittens. Place the litter box in the room and leave the carrier door open (or remove it). Feral cats older than a year will be almost impossible to approach. Individuals can differ greatly in temperament, even within the same litter. GOOD LUCK! It is a slow process, and it will require patience and knowledge about how to socialize a feral kitten from your side. The goal of taming a feral kitten or cat is to prepare it … Let the cat make the first move. Turn them on, so the kittens will get accustomed to the indoor noises and human voices. If the kitten is not rescued until it is ten to twelve weeks old the taming can take several weeks, if not months. This can be fatal. Place it in a small room away from family pets and children. They may be captured in humane traps (available from the Feral Cat Coalition) and should be taken from the mother at 4 to 6 weeks of age. For info about taming older feral kittens, see the three-part video, Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens, or consult Urban Cat League’s Taming Ferals! The longer a feline lives on the streets, the more independent it will become. Place the kittens in a cage or large carrier which already contains food, water, litter box and bedding. 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