ive just bought a kitten which was left to run wild does anyone know how i can tame it?

Question

i canmt pick the kitten up it allows me to stroke it but is still very very nervouse any suggestions.

Answer 1

Love and patience.
You're doing a kind thing.

Answer 2

The only answer to this question is "time and patience".

If you can stroke her then you've got some trust. Thats a good start. Here are some other tips, that I have learned through fostering unwanted cats:

1. When you approach them, don't tower over them, that can be imposing. Also show her/him your hand so that they can sniff you. Cats rely on their sense of smell to recognise things as their eyesight isnt that good.
2. Don't grab hold of him/her.
3. Bribe with treats. Start by putting them on the surface next to the animal and then moving them closer and closer towards yourself. With time you should be able to encourage him/her to eat out of your hand.
4. If they are very nervous make sure they have got somewhere to bolt to (the nervous kitten that we have at the moment likes to hide under the bed).
5. When you want to fuss him or her, start by sitting next to them and fussing them, In time the cat should feel confident enough to sit on you.
6. Play with him/her. A lot of pet shops will sell you expensive toys, but you can you everyday items as well. Our kitten particularly likes shoe laces and bottle caps, Even hair ruffles are fun...
7. Don't pester the animal, otherwise they will just get fed up with you. Little and often is the best way.
8. Don't let any children grab hold, that will frighten him/her.
9. Every cat has a 'spot' which they like to be fussed (i.e. under the chin, behind the ears, belly, etc) work out where that spot is and you'll probably have a friend for life!

Although it takes time, I can assure you that it can work. A long time ago we had a very nervous kitten who would constantly run away and wouldn't be picked up. That same kitten is now a 19 year old tart who will show her belly to anyone if she thinks she can get a fuss out of it!

Answer 3

Move quietly when the kitten is there- dont raise your voice or wave your arms about, and be calm. Carry on stroking the kitten at every opportunity, talk to it and use its name. When it is a little calmer, pick it up and snuggle it against you, and stroke it gently. Just carry on like this, and the kitten will be less afraid of you, and will become accustomed to being handled. I would not let it go outdoors; it will run off and anything awful might happen to it. Just be gentle and quiet around it, and it will settle down. Thank you for taking on a little terrified person; we all need love!!!

Answer 4

One step at a time, first you have it coming to you for food, great. Use food or a treat to train the kitten. Spend time with it while it is feeding, pet and stroke him to get rid of fear of humans. Continue doing this for a while before you try to pick it up, you have to build a bond between you and the kitten. Once you have established a good bond then set on the floor and start picking up the kitten using a treat to encourage it. Continue to set of the floor for a while then try to set in a chair and pick up the kitten. Do you see what I'm suggesting? That is to gradually get the kitten use to the difference in heights. Its a kitten that doesn't understand heights.. So work gradually up and then walking around with the kitten, I hope you understand what I'm saying.. Good Luck...

Answer 5

If you look at how other cats interact, you can find there are calming signals that they will use to let another cat know they mean no harm, one is slow blinking, slowly close your eyes and then slowly reopen them. Never look directly into the cats eyes, look at the face but not into the eyes, staring is considered threatening.

When you make eye contact with the cat, look away, then slowly crouch down, then look back at the cat, but not directly at the face.

Use featherwand toys or a feather on a string and play with the kitten, the kitten will get used to having you there and will associate you with pleasure and fun. Over the course of a week, slowly get the kitten playing closer to you with the toy. Let it see you putting out it's food and offer treats, you may need to put them on the floor and slowly bring them closer to you.

Good luck, be patient and you will be rewarded with a loveable kitty.

Answer 6

My beautiful cat (I hate cats) was a feral late adolescent when I was persuaded to try and make him "handleable" so he could be re-homed.

He hung off the end of a gloved finger with his teeth for a month. No chance of re homing him - put him down, or neuter him and let him go?

I will keep him for now (sez I) - give him the run of the house - then let him go, after neutering.

Wake up - find cat curled up next to me -move - he's off under the bed.

Six years on he is my cat - still only comes to me when called, but (and this is why cats are opportunists) provided the cabaret for some recent house guests, when we were called away unexpectedly.

Main suggestion is - Lie down - cats don't feel threatened by you if you are prostrate.

Answer 7

Keep stroking it and feeding it. It will learn to trust you. Sit down on the floor and get it to come over and let you pet it. You may be able to entice it onto your lap for a little bit. After a while those little bits of time will become longer. I've tamed completely wild outdoor cats, it just takes a while for them to learn that you are safe. When you stroke her down her back, rub her back right in front of her tail. They love that! She won't run then and that is helpful when trying to get them to stick around long enough to get them used to being handled. That's what I did with the outdoor wild cats.

Answer 8

Be patient. Stroke and talk to it when you feed it and it will gradually associate nice stuff with you!!

It can take quite a while but if you let it come to you, gradually it will probably let you hold it.

Ours crawled under the bath, up the interior of the wall space into the loft to escape us! We thought it was under the floor boards, had the fire brigade in and everything only to find it very dusty and cobwebby 2 days later!

Answer 9

Time. Give the kitten some time. Slowly, over the course of the next few days, the kitten will start to calm down.

Answer 10

Give it some time! My kitten came out of hiding and allowed some handling after three days at my home... don't worry.
(He is now one of the most cordial cats I know, both to me and to strangers, so the fact that your kitten is not sociable yet may just mean he is scared of being at a new place, with new people).

Don't scare him/her more, just sort of let him/her come to you. S/he will, eventually.

Answer 11

you have to build up trust give it nibbles like you would praise a dog when it lets u stroke it give it a bit of ham very tiny and keep this up as she is a kitten she will get tame quickly ,make her a bed and let her know she is secure in the house .
when feeding it stroke it and get it used to this stops all shyness and nerves building up and it gets used to someone stroking it or it wont get food if it doesnt let you stroke it.