Feral cats are those born in the wild, or city whom will have or have had no human contact, making them quite wild and dangerous. Literarily, the term feral cat means cats that have gone wild. Feral cats can be the offsprings of stray or abandoned cats who have reverted to a wild state, showing the strong instincts of their bigger ancestors, the tiger etc. However if you find a feral cat in need of some help - all is not lost. There are still lots of hope in taming him with a little patience and time, a feral cat can be tamed into a loving pet. Especially with younger kittens as they will succumb to the training a lot quicker. Important note before attempting to handle any feral cat... USE EXTREME CAUTION. Use gloves and protective clothing, because cat bites and scratches can result in severe health problems for you. The
Taming Processes. Since most likely the kitten who is feral has had no previous contact with humans, will view humans as preditors. The most likely reaction will be for the kitten to hiss and spit. Like any cornered animal, kittens will fight for their very life, and will not only hurt you, but will most likely hurt himself in the process. This will stress the kitten out which will be detrimental to their health as a catch can readily catch infections easier when in a stressed state, so using a box like trap is more recommended, and will keep you both a lot safer. The kittens background/history will be unkown to you so you will need to test him for diseases by taking him to your veterinarian. This is also a good time to spay/neuter him. Isolate the kitten in a small section of your home until he is tamed and for sure until they hae been tested and treated for diseases by your vet. If you have any other pets in the house, especially another cat, do not introduce until it is clear what the kitten's health is like. Once known, and after the kitten has been tamed, you can then look at introducing them to each other. Becareful to transfer the kitten from the trap into a cage that's big enough to hold him, his betting and a small litterbox, and food. Cats are fond of their cleanliness even if they are feral and would highly prefer the litter box placed far away from their sleeping area. A great tip to help settle the kitten to you is to use some of your old clothing as his bedding. The smell from the clothing will make the kitten get used to your smell and in turn will become more comfortable around you. Placing the cage in a quiet room of the house away from all other noise and activities of your house, will lessen the stress on the kitten. You will be still viewed as a potential preditor so never do not attempt to hold the kittens. To make this even safer, cap like nails can be glued over the claw to reduce the risk of serious harm by scratching. Enter the room once or twice a day for a small amount of time, and then increasing the amount of time you visit, and extending the time your in there. Moving slowly and quietly, talking softly, and reassuring the kitten that you mean no harm, will slowly acclimate them to you and the surroundings. Let the kitten slowly gain your trust and feel safe with you. Moving too fast on this process can terrify the kitten, cute as some kittens can be, they can still give you a nasty scratch or bite and will most likely try to escape if given the chance. Remember, patience is the key when trying to tame cats or kittens. Cats will take a lot longer to tame than kittens as they would have most likely been in the feral state longer than kittens and will have a more stronger view as humans as preditors. Please exercise extreme caution for you and your feral cat, and feel good about it - your saving a life, and creating a lifetime companion! Good luck! The Complete Cat Care Team have put together a great product, that covers everything from toilet training your kitty to looking after your senior cat! The Complete Cat Health and Cat Care Resource!
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