How can I tame and handle a Ferrell Cat?

Question

We have been feeding him outside and he comes in through our cat flap on a night. He has now started coming into our garden when we are actually in it. Today, he has been in our house (by the patio doors) most of the day. The problem that we have, is that he won't allow us to handle him yet. If he has chosen to make our house his home, then we need to be able to flea him and care for him properly. He won't come close enough, to allow us to stroke him. How do we go about doing this? Also, how can we ensure that our cat doesn't feel left out? All good advice will be very much appreciated

I would like to say a Big Thank you to everyone that has replied to my initial question. I found the advice/info really useful.I would also like to take the opportunity to clarify a few points in relation to some of the responses that I have received. A few of you mentioned that I should trap the cat and take him to the vets. I have already done this The reason for doing this, was the cat turned up with a plastic pot on his head. I did not realise he was ferrell. It was only after a couple of weeks when the pot was still on his head that I knew something was wrong (to start with we thought it may have been a vet collar) We tried to catch him ourselves .The vet took the pot of his head (she was certain it had been falsed on) and suggested that we have him neutered as she said this should make him healthier, which we did do. I also asked her to flea and worm him as my cat was sleeping next to him in next doors garden. He hasn't been tested for leukaemia my cat has been fully vaccinated

Answer 1

Some feral cats never become any more social than that. I have three that "came with" the house and I have to trap them every three years for rabies vaccines. Flea medication has been Program, since it could go in the food. They are hard to care for much more than that. When they start to get old and ill, they will have to be euthanized because there is not option to treat them.
I would trap him and get him to the vet for an "overhaul" and go from there. Get everything done at once!!!!!!! He may become better over time, so get the vet part out of the way now so he can make progress.

FIV probably would be more of a concern that FeLV since he was an intact male. I would have tested him though. If he is positive, he should not be allowed outside to infect others, and the vaccine is NOT 100%.

Answer 2

Some people feed feral cats and never see much of them at all. A truly feral adult cat would not come into your house. You can use a humane trap and catch him that way if he is not too clever about that. Once trapped you can usually never get a feral cat to fall for that technique again.

It would be best for you to do that so that he can be treated for fleas, worms, tested for FIV and feline leukemia. If he should have either disease you are putting your present cat at great risk. The vet will also know if the cat is neutered or not and that must be done if you eventually want him in your house.

It can take a while for a cat not used to humans or who has had bad experiences with humans to learn to trust even a very caring new owner.

When you are able to touch him or you have done the vet thing and you do bring him into your house the cat should not be allowed outside for at least a month and that means closing the cat flap and letting your present cat out only when you open the door for her.

You can get a bottle of Rescue Remedy from a health foods store and treat him with that. Even if you trap him and take him to the vet you can just shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the fur between his ears. Treat often when you have him - you'll be amazed at how long the bottle will last. This will calm his fears and relieve any trauma from his past experiences.
It's for emotional healing and I strongly urge you to use this. It's entirely benign and cannot harm him in any way. It will ease his adjustment to a new life immeasureably

Answer 3

It's near impossible to tame a Feral Cat....and think about your OWN cat 1st!

That's important, so I suggest you keep Feral Cat outside, feed it outside, and hang around the Cat Flap when Feral Cat wants inside.....The MAIN reason.....Feline Leukemia.
You don't want your MAIN cat to get F.L. from the Feral Cat, it is highly transmissable by spit from what our Vet has told us.

Just be happy that you have an outdoor cat, put a nice safe haven from predators for it outside.....shelter it's food and water from weather, try to extend your hand to it during feeding so it can smell/trust you....and >IF< it Finally lets you pick it up, get it to the vet for a Feline Leukemia test before allowing it near your house Cat......

Answer 4

Food Food Food - old cold cuts, juice from tuna/chicken can. Give the cat overwhelming great tasty stuff that it's never had before. Our feral is totally 'tame' now. We've been able to pet, handle, take to the vet, give medicine - the works. Because of the food, the trust became solid.

Answer 5

I have 4 ferals and one that was abandoned, 3 of the 4 ferals come up to me now, but Gilda will not let me touch her much, I have had Gilda for a few years, inside, I try to work with her to get her to trust me, but sometimes they only get so friendly then they back off. I had one cat, years ago, back in 1998 that I worked with for a couple of months on a daily basis and he finally came up to me and rubbed up against me. I carefully bent down and touched him, he loved it, though he was weary. He began to really trust me, then I was able to pick him up and I took him to the vet and they tested him, he was so trusting after that, but he had feline leukemia and feline aids, the vet would not fix him, they told me that they thought I should put him down. I was heart broken, but I researched it as much as I could back then and decided I didn't want him to suffer. I had him put down. I cried for months over that. I will never do that again, I have 5 cats now and one has feline leukemia, but she is healthy and strong, I have had her since 1999, they told me she would not live passed 2 years, but she is still vibrant and nice. She was feral, too, but the nicest she could be. If you are patient and work with him he will most likely come around and let you pet him. Your other cat will be fine, they will be ok together, he will be a companion for your other cat. Have him tested, just so you know if there are health issues, most ferals are healthy. All of our other ones were tested and they are fine. We have a "managed" colony, besides the ones I took in. He is hanging around and that is a good sign, just sit with him, spend alot of time with him, let him see you can be trusted. Best of luck.

Answer 6

A before feral cat of even that youthful age would be a perplexing undertaking so which you would be able to socialise. in case you get an "exterior" kitten at around 8 to 10 weeks the possibilities are better. you may supply her area to regulate to her small area. Going into her area and purely speaking softly or taking delicate music and sitting analyzing a e book in her presence will help her get used to you. on the San Francisco take care of we'd unquestionably examine thoughts or from books to the fairly some "undertaking" cats. you do no longer say how long you have had her and you gets some Rescue therapy from a wellness meals save and manage her with that. you in easy terms shake the bottle properly each and every time to activate the essences - on the beginning up i might placed 3 to 4 drops on a small fabric and purely bypass away it interior the room along with her. Refresh the fabric with drops as many situations an afternoon as you bypass in to work out her. you additionally can placed drops in her water bowl. once you may touch her placed the drops on the fur between her ears. Flower essences are used with many animals - cats, canines, birds etc. to assist them gain a wellness state of emotional stability. they are completely benign and can't injury her in any way. you additionally can use something like a feather duster or a quicker duster to stroke her gently on her physique with out having quite close to to her. that is pleasing for her and gets her used to having her physique touched. be careful to no longer frighten her with the duster - you may sneak that in the process very softly on an identical time as you talk to her in soothing words. she will proably devour and she or he HAS to. perhaps once you're actually not modern before everything. you may have made progression while she starts ingesting on your presence. endurance, endurance and endurance. It is truthfully no longer an elementary activity. have faith me using the RR will make issues circulate alongside quicker. additionally take a brilliant number of time in the previous shifting her out of the small area. don't experience undesirable approximately confining her. She has each thing she desires and too lots freedom around the whole residing house will purely be overwhelming for her now.

Answer 7

I have noticed with all wild creatures that if at first you don't feed then try try to feed again. First feed and watch from a distance then slowly move closer and closer. You know it may have something contageous that he could give to your pet. Happened to my wifes brood. took forever to get rid of it.

Answer 8

most ferrals stay ferral....it will take lots of time and trust..he will do it on his own..please dont rush him ..your doing so good ..hes beginning to trust you...just love on your other kitty show it special attetion..cats are smarter then we give them credit...maybe your kitty and the ferral have commincated already in that special ways kittys commincate with each other...please give him time he has to do it himself ..trying to rush him will only scare him and push him back to were he was before...thank s for opening your home to him..wish there were more people like you out there....