Feral Cats

Feral cats are the 'wild' offspring of domestic cats, and primarily result from pet owners abandoning there animals, or failure to spay and neuter. This gross neglect allows them to breed uncontrolled. Colonies of feral cats can be found both in rural, and urban areas of most countries.

Domestic animals do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and can't look after themselves if abandoned by their owners. Many cats die of starvation, disease or abuse each year as a result of being left behind when their owners move away.

Taming Feral kittens

Feral kittens can be easily tamed within 2 - 8 weeks, as can adult stray cats which were once owned, also feral cats of quiet temperament can sometimes be tamed with patience. Feral kittens are normally born in secluded places where they will not be visible for several weeks. They may be captured in humane traps. Older kittens can also be tamed but the process gets slower and less successful the longer the kittens stay in the wild. They should not be taken from the mother before they are old enough to be weaned at about 4 weeks. The mother cat should also be captured and spayed to prevent future litters.

Feral kittens should be examined by a veterinarian and tested for diseases contagious to other cats before you bring them home. Keep them isolated from your other pets, wash your hands, and wear overalls or change your clothes between handling visits to protect against the spread of diseases. Commitment and patience are the two virtues needed, if you have them both you will have no problems!

The Cage

The first thing to remember is that your feral kittens will be terrified of humans and more than capable of giving you a nasty scratch or bite. The kittens should be in a cage or a pet carrier large enough for a small litter box and bedding. Place them in a small room away from other pets and children. For the first two days, do not attempt to handle the kittens, as they must learn to feel safe. Visit them frequently and talk to them quietly, always moving slowly but resist touching. Keep a supply of food and water in the cage. If your cage is too small for a litter tray, put the kittens in a small room with the door of the cage open to give them access to the tray. You can use some of your old clothes for bedding, as this will help to get the kittens used to human cent.

Handling

After two days, select the least aggressive kitten, place a towel over it and pick it up, petting it gently on the head from behind. Do not approach from the front, as your hand coming at them will scare them. Assuming the kitten remains calm, grip it securely by the nape of the neck, putting the kitten with towel on your lap. Stroke the kitten’s body while speaking in soft, reassuring voice, then release. Making the first physical contact brief. After all your kittens have been handled in this way it's time to give them a special food treat This process should be repeated as frequently as possible.

To imitate the action of the mother cat you can use a soft brush on the kitten's coat, and a fine flea comb is also very useful, as kittens can become anaemic due to flea infestation. Try not to stare into the kittens eyes for prolonged periods, as this is aggressive body language to cats. Don't forget to play with the kittens, you can use lightweight toys or a small piece of cloth tied to string etc. Always remove items (string etc) that could be swallowed before leaving your kittens alone.

Progress

The kittens should have made considerable progress within a week. Kittens will develop at a different rates, and should only need placing in the cage if necessary. If there is one that is not responding as well as the others, place it in a separate cage in another room, away from the other kittens, and continue working with it. Don't put your kittens in a large room, as this will feel very intimidating to them. Try to seal any spaces where frightened kittens may enter and become trapped or inaccessible to you. Block access to heavy  furniture and close toilet seats, to prevent kittens falling into the water. Also remove ornaments and plants that are poisonous.

Adoption

Your kittens will soon no longer respond by biting and scratching, and will be ready at 8 weeks, to be adopted out. It is very important that they socialize with other humans, so encouraging friends to handle them as often as possible is a good idea before being adopted out.

The most suitable home for these ex-feral kittens is a calm environment, so they will feel secure. They will do best if there are no small children in the home. All the hard work that you have done can be easily ruined by normal child activity and noise.

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