Anyone ever tamed a wild kitten?

[astylishgirl]

We had lots of wild cats living around us. Some just decided to be tame. It was odd. One day they were hissing and running... the next day they were rubbing our legs and saying feed me.

The main thing with a kitten is isolating it. Then it comes to rely on you and trust you.

 

[scbatz33]

My cat Enneskillen (RIP sweety) was a WILD kitten. I got her from a lady who was wheelchair bound and her cat had a litter but the lady was unable to catch them. Skillen was about 8 weeks old and just crazy! My friend got all scratched up when we cornered the kitten to catch her!!

I had her for 8 years before she got sick and had to be put down. She was the sweetest cat and one heck of a great mouser! She wasn't super lovey-dovey. She'd go out hunting for a couple days, come home, eat and demand to be petted for a day and then gone again.

I did have to keep her in the house and all by herself til she came around though. I think she spent the first 3 days under the couch. I'd feed her and talk to her and finally she decided I wasn't all that bad.

Never had a full grown cat come around like that though. We have several strays here that we feed. They don't run away when they see us anymore, but they aren't jumping in our laps to be petted either.

 

[Ducklove334]

all this talk about feral cats, and wife calls me and says we might GET one

her moms a real-estate agent, and they were showing this couple a house, apparently a momma had kittens under the porch or something, if the guy can catch them we're going to take them!

 

[thebritt]

We have 6 indoor/outdoor cats, 4 of which were completely feral (thanks to the neighbor's extremely fertile and wild mama cat. I trapped 2 litters with the intention of spaying/neutering and finding new homes. Each litter had 4 kittens. Job 1 was to tame them so they would be adoptable. This was done successfully by keeping them in our spare room (with a litterbox, water, and healthy crunchies). Twice/day I brought in wet kitten food, put on 2 plates. For the first 3 days or so I completely left them alone, not forcing any interactions. They would run and hide whenever I came into the room, but I just left them alone. I did, however, speak softly to them so they associated my voice with good food. Next step was to feed them, and remain in the room and quietly sit, reading. When they would peek out, I would speak softly. W/in a week, they were hanging out with me. I would pull a string or tie a cat toy to a string and pull it around. They absolutely can't resist chasing toys! I found homes for 2 out of each litter and got "stuck"with 2 out of each litter. The kittens were about 9 or 10 weeks old when I caught them. They are all VERY social and not afraid of our 6 dogs!

 

[AmyRey]

If they're very young (as someone else said) wrap them in a towel/blanket - to save yourself from the claws and teeth - and just hold them.

Guy here at worked picked up a feral kitten out of the middle of a very busy five lane highway. He literally hissed and spit when you looked into the cardboard box he was in.

It took him about two days. And now he's the biggest baby, lapcat we've got.

 

[ranchhand]

Patience, patience and patience. I have 2 ex-ferals who are now lap lizards.

As a caution though.... I HAVE to say this, okay?

A friend of mine grabbed a feral kitten and got bitten. She hung on to the kitten, and then it was found to be rabid by the state labs.

So be VERY careful! Heavy gloves at least, cage and confinement for 2 weeks minimum.

 

[NotTheMomma]

Yuppers! Have 5 of them. All were really easy to tame and are VERY food driven! I always start them out in the bathroom. The rule is that every time someone uses the bathroom, they must speak to and attempt to rub the kitten. Within 2-3 days, those babies all waiting on ya to come into the bathroom for some interaction. The last two I tamed were siblings, or maybe...there were several litters at the time, so I dunno. Anyway, just might be coincidence, but the two torti-shells are still weary of certain situations, and strangers. One still doesn't really LIKE me, but tolerates me. She knows I bring in those nice, new, smelly bags of cat food.

Otherwise, I can rub her, but one doesn't like ME to pick her up, but everyone else in the family can. One has claimed my son from day one, and she literally gives him hugs, and smooches. She use to not like me as much, but lately he hasn't been at home as much (17yrs old and has a job) so she has started following me around for attention, and wanting me to carry her.

Anyway, all are excellent hunters, and extremely smart. So far, it has only taken them bringing me the 'wrong' present ONCE, and me showing extreme displeasure, and they haven't done it again! Not to say that they aren't killing the song birds, bunnies, etc., but I've seen no evidence of it. They do kill mice, and moles. I've seen them attempt to kill a squirrel, but were unsuccessful. In the winter they do lay in the windows and watch the birds at the feeders, but don't attempt to go out to get them. They don't like going outside in the winter, only during the warm months.

I say, GO FOR IT!!