Tips needed for taming semi-feral kittens

[hollyclyff]

A while ago we adopted a couple of older feral cats from a rescue group that places at-risk ferals as barn cats. We followed all the rescue’s instructions about keeping them in a large wire crate for several weeks to get them used to the place, etc. But when we let them out, one cat was never seen again. The other stuck around for a couple of weeks, but then he too disappeared.

So I adopted a couple of older kittens this weekend. They are around 7 months old. These little girls were born to a feral mother, but a lady began feeding them when they were a few weeks old after their mother was caught and taken away. She was able to use food to coax them into coming to her and allowing her to pet them, but most of them still stayed a bit on the wild side. Around the middle of December, she caught them all and put them in her spare bedroom, had them all spayed/neutered, etc. and then looked for homes for them. She didn’t have a lot of time to spend socializing them, but they were fairly used to her and she could pick them up if she cornered them. When she brought them here she held one of them and rubbed her tummy and the kitten seemed OK with it and was purring. Now of course they don’t know us and they’re understandably afraid of us. Right now I have them in a large crate in my tack room and they stay as far in the back of it as they can. My goal is to gradually allow them more freedom by first letting them be loose in the tack room before allowing them outside.

What I need are tips for getting them to trust us and not be so afraid. If I could just get them to the point they were with the lady who rescued them, that would be great. It’s OK if they never become all lovey dovey, but I would like them to stick around and not be afraid.

Oh, and I can’t believe I need to point this out, but I do feed them! I’ve recently been told that some people don’t feed their barn cats because they think they won’t hunt if they’re fed.

 

[ozarkmomma]

Spend lots of time in the same room, talking to them till they get used to your voice. If they are in the crate, try reaching in to pick them up and pet them. If they are young, they will be easier to tame. Good luck.

 

[ConchRepublic]

Spend a lot of time and love with them.... and of course food!

 

[CityGirlintheCountry]

I had a similar situation. I bribed mine. The wildest one turned out to be food driven. I bought soft yummy cat treats and the occasional can of tuna. It worked like a charm. It took several weeks (couple of months maybe), but eventually the hissing, spitting wild boy turned into a lap kitten. Now I can't keep him out of my lap. And he is still food driven. My scrawny little feral kitty is now a whopping 15 pounds of love cat.

Good luck!

 

[Crazyland]

Food and time. Lots of both.

 

[pips&peeps]

Put them in a room where they cannot get out. Make sure you feed them and spend lots of time with them.

You would be surprised how a little bit string and some patience will work.

I found three feral kitties starving last October. One bit the pooie out of me when I was catching them. Unfortunately one didn't make it, but the other two are happy well adjusted maturing cats.

 

[gritsar]

Quote:
I agree. Kitty was a full feral, no taming involved when I brought her home at 3 weeks old. She lived outside at first, but was fed here and there really wasn't anywhere for her to go since the farm is so big. She eventually tamed to myself and DH. DH became her hero when he climbed a pole to rescue her after she'd gone up there to get away from a bobcat hybrid. Now she lives indoors, tolerates me and adores DH. However when company comes, she disappears into a wall.
I had another feral, DC that I brought indoors and she became tame, but to me only. It tooks lots of time, good grub and patience on my part.

 

[wegotchickens]

Ditto what everyone else says. Food, time, patience.

I talk to any feral animal the whole time I'm around them so they get used to my voice. And when I bring treat food I use a different tone of voice. The ONLY time they get treat food is when I'm there, the rest of the time they have access to plain dry food.

For really wild kittens I put the treat food a little ways away from me, and then talked to them the whole time they ate. Each day the food was closer to me and I still talked to them. Eventually it got to where the food was next to me and, and that's when I started playing with them a little with string after the meal. After a few days of that they'd climb all over me even if I didn't have food. But the 'treat food' voice consistently brought them charging to me!

And yes, you do feed barn cats. You never want them desperate for food or they wander away. (I know you said you do this. I just can't believe there are people who don't.)

 

[ChickenToes]

Time and patience. We had a semi-feral cat in the past, and she warmed up to us considerably within a few weeks. She was very sweet and loving.

The only problem we had with ours was litter training. She was great at first, but when she became used to us and became more comfortable in the house, started wandering all over the house and going to the bathroom wherever she felt like. Like in our closet, under our couch, and on our shoes.

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

we've had a ferral barncat for almost 4 years and she STILL wont let us touch her... her brother tho, he's a snuggler. another feral kitten showed up and was so lovey that he became a house cat. so it may depend on the individual.

we talk to ours, feed them, sing them songs in a low even voice, and give them the 'slow blink' when they look at us. when they start to get close and are comfortable around you, slowly point your finger out to them and let them sniff. if they are interested they will rub against you.

but keep feeding them - they'll keep mousing. ours eat like kings and they mouse like the dickens.

good luck!