HELP,
I rescued a kittie. He is sort of feral through he never tried to bite me, scratch me or hiss at me. He even let me pet him for a sec before he started to try to climb the walls in fear...anyway I want to try to socialize him, and find him a good home, but have never done it before. Does anyone know how to do that?
2006-09-05 09:34:45 · 8 answers · asked by Nicolleta 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Patience and a lot of love, lol.
It doesn't sound as if he's too far gone. In fact, he may not be feral at all, just a scared kitten.
Give him plenty of love (but don't force affection), and try to move slowly around him for the first couple of days, taking care to move things to a more "normal" pace with time. This will get him used to your presence slowly instead of being bombarded with the oddities of every day life all at once. Too much stress could delay the socialization process. Get some cat toys and play with him, offer him treats from your hand, and give him a warm place to curl up and sleep (the rounded cat beds are fantastic).
And most importantly, get him to a vet as soon as possible!
And kudos for wanting to rescue the little guy:)
2006-09-05 09:40:32 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yay! A feral question! I am my shelters only feral handler, and I LOVE it. If you properly want to socialize a feral kitten, you'll need to purchase a few things. First get a small crate (small dog cage basically)- try those renting stores if you dont want to buy one- buy a harness w/leash. Ok.. put the cage in a semi-busy people traffic area in your home. That wa he can get used to feet, sounds of ppl walking by, but not to much to scare him so much he just hides in the lit box! Make sure you put his food and water and litter box inside the cage as well. Also place a few towels in there so he can consider them security blankets.
Do NOT let him out to play or whatever until he can come up to you and let you pet him etc on his own from the corners of the cage. Once that trust is established, you can practice letting him out in front of the cage with the harness and leash. Dont let him roam to far, get some toys keep him entertained near the cage. Try to hold him at this point with the harness and leash on, baby steps on that. After about a week of that step- he'll be ready to start exploring more around the house with a harness/leash. For the first few times he gets roam of the house, stay with him on the leash. Gradually, and with your knowledge of how he's coming along, you can let him go on his own with out you, but with the harness and leash still on. This way, you can still get him if he is spooked and runs under something, and he learns that you are the one in control. The purpose for going with him on the leash at first before letting him go on his own, is because he needs to learn comfort with people around him, following him, behind him, etc. And if he realizes he cant get away, over time that'll pass and he'll calmly explore a little more w/comfort.
When you think he is read you can eliminate the harness and leash, but not the cage. I think it would be best if you kept him caged over nights and what not, so that way your not adding confusion by moving a litter box, or comfort zones. Let a new family do that.
Hope I have helped some, good luck!
2006-09-05 10:03:37 · answer #2 · answered by dreamkillerkitten 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The best way to get a wild or semi wild animal to get used to you is with food. Sit or lay near the bowl when you feed, as close as he will let you. If he won't come, move back. Don't make any movements towards him until he is comfortable. Speak softly to get him used to your voice.Then try laying your hand on the floor and sliding it closer. Reaching from above will trigger the instinct to run/hide. Often if you just sit quietly, curiosity will prevail and they will come to you. Let him see that you are not threatening in any way. Once you can move without startling him, try rolling a ball with a bell or one of those crackly foil ball toys slowly towards him. Especially if it's a kitten they will eventually want to play.
Good Luck!
2006-09-05 09:43:11 · answer #3 · answered by moonwalkerblueeyedwolf 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Feral kitties need ALOT of patience. My son brought home my Stormy over 13 years ago. She was doing fine with a couple of my elderly cats, at the time. When I got her spayed, she didn't want us to hold her anymore or touch her tummy. But when my older cats passed, she was very sad. But,she is resceptive to petting, but not holding her. I wake up with her sitting on top of me,now. Different cats respond to different places and enviorments-GOOD LUCK!!
2006-09-05 09:59:39 · answer #4 · answered by gypsy56@sbcglobal.net 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
attempt putting a number of your clothing which you have already worn on the floor or in a cat mattress for her to sleep on. that's going to help her get used on your fragrance. yet another element to do is placed already worn clothing (something previous) precise below her foodstuff dish. she would be in a position to affiliate your fragrance with something good--her foodstuff. different than that, all you're able to do is look ahead to her to return around. I foster cats and that i now have a wild cat that i'm attempting to tame. She has fairly progressed, yet she isn't a kitten, so that's going to take greater time. because you have a kitten, that's going to no longer take that long.
2016-09-30 09:10:50 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just need to take the time with him. You need to contain him to one room and stay with him a little every day. talk to him like a baby they seem to like that. I just recently rescued 4 kittens and i have kept one by the time i had given the kittens to new owners they wher fine but it took 8 weeks and they wern't that feral. Just remember it's time consuming just don't give up
2006-09-05 09:50:30 · answer #6 · answered by darkness_falls111 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
feral means a plant or animal that is not native to the country that it is currently in. do you mean it is wild?
food is the best motivator. get a can of tuna and make it come to you to get it. get up and move with the tuna, and make it follow you around to get more. only feed it dry food away from you.
soon enough it will asociate you with good things and will come to you even when you dont have any food.
2006-09-05 09:42:55 · answer #7 · answered by paintmetalwood 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nicolette, you've got to have a lot of patience and use lots of TLC. Feed it and socialize by giving treats every time it gets close to you. Of course, keep up the petting and when you've won it's confidence pick it up and hold close; not tight in a short time it'll be used to the love and attention. Good luck.
2006-09-05 09:40:49 · answer #8 · answered by Frank R 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋