2006-10-29 22:48:50 · 14 answers · asked by Eugene K 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
Yeah....what if?!
2006-10-29 22:50:03 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
Chances are the kitty will run from you. It's been proven that Feral kittys change over generations. They get larger in size and loose all love for humans. A cat thrown outside can become wild or join a pack of feral cats in just a few months. Don't try to capture an adult. Adult feral cats which are born feral usually cannot be socialized. Adult feral cats that were born in a a loving home and forced into the feral state can sometimes be re-socialised. Feral kittens, however, can often be socialized to live with humans if they are taken from a feral colony before they are about twelve weeks old.
Even this can be hard sometimes. A friend if mine rescued a 4 week old kitten and it has never fully tamed even though it is over a year old now.
If you want to help, set out some cat food for them. The average lifespan for a house cat is 12-18 years. The chances of a wild kitty living beyond the age of 2 is very slim. Most of the time kittens born and left in the wild will not see a first birthday. Cats need a high protein diet and it's not east you get when you eat trash or have to catch your own food. all cats need food, tame or wild.
2006-10-30 07:08:21 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Feral cats can minimize rodent problems. While cats cannot hunt rats and mice into extinction, they can keep their populations in check and discourage new rodents from moving into the area. Often feral cats fill in a gap in the current ecosystem. For example bob cats or lynx used to live up and down the East Coast but were hunted ruthlessly and driven away by development. Feral cats are similar in size and behavior to these native feline predators and help to control the same species of small prey animals.
2006-10-30 07:20:43 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I used to have a maine coone cat as a child and it was about 40 pounds...this cat did nothing to me but it sure terrorized my mothers dog that terrorized me......anyway I had it from a small kitten so that might be a difference...but if you come across an adult cat that is way bigger than a regular cat ...I think you ought to avoid it and don' t run or turn your back. Just stay very still and it "might go away"...but i mean really still. If you are referring to a regular cat thats been on its own outdoors...then you shouldnt bother it unless it comes right up to you. whatever you choose to do don't hurt it. Cats by the way are very smart and clever, and they will know if you are scared or threatening in any way.
2006-10-30 08:27:41 · answer #4 · answered by precious z 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you encounter a feral cat..... the best course of action depends firstly on your familiarity with the ways of cats in general... and secondarily on the circumstances in which you encounter him / her.
If you're unfamiliar with feline ways, and its near your home... keep your eyes on it and don't move until it gives up and leaves. Staring him / her down will typically get the point across to some degree that its your territory and its not welcome there.
However... if you're nowhere near your home then chances are that you are in ITS territory... and thus you should probably be the one to leave... though not without keeping your eyes on your feline counterpart.
If you're more familiar with felines as I am... there are a few more options. Particularly if the feline one is straying onto your territory, in search of food or whatever.... you might want to gift it with offerings non-invasively and leave it to them for a while. If it comes back repeatedly you can try to coax it closer to you by being nearby when it comes for the food. He / she might get more used to you this way, and may draw closer...
If you're familiar enough then you should know there is a golden rule when dealing with unfamiliar cats: Do NOT try to touch them immediately. Present yourself to the cat, unmoving, and let them sniff you first. It is THEIR choice whether they allow you to touch them or not, and if you make a mistake at this stage they could perceive you as a threat. Also, only present your hand to the cat for sniffing once it has already decided to get close enough to you to sniff your hand anyway... because if you move your gangly ape-limbs into its personal space without permission he / she might well scratch you for it.
Provided you've adhered to all of this and get into the habit of feeding a cat in your territory and interacting with him / her enough, he / she may decide to take you on as their minion... which in ignorant human terms means they have allowed themselves to become "domesticated"... I've managed to achieve this state of being with several feline friends before... (and cried when they died of old age as dear and beloved masters).
And as for the ones away from home where you're in their territory.... well.... Friendships with the feline ones there are likely to be temporary at best. Cats are very attached to territory, and if you have no connection to the territory they already inhabit then at best you will only be treated as a guest... a visitor... If they're not used to being close to humans then don't expect even that much unless you're a VERY regular visitor to the area and are willing to dedicate the time and effort to earning the cat's trust.
And thats about the long and the short of it.
Just remember: They're the kings and queens of their domain; you are not.
2006-10-30 07:31:16 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
About three months ago, my daughter discovered a wild kitten in the woods, caught it and brought it home.
She now lives with us in our home, she's a great cat!
Just be careful when bringing one into your home, take them to the vet and have them checked out.
Hope this helps and good luck.
2006-10-30 07:10:00 · answer #6 · answered by eyes_of_iceblue 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Ignore feral cats. They won't bother you unless threatened. If you have a feral cat "problem," that's something else again, call your animal control agency and get some suggestions from them. I think they usually involve killing them, though, and that doesn't sound too good.
2006-10-30 06:57:48 · answer #7 · answered by Singinganddancing 6 · 0⤊ 2⤋
there is no such thing. a cat is either wild or domestic, anyway, if you want a cat, go to the nearest pet shelter and adopt.
2006-10-30 06:51:16 · answer #8 · answered by Dawna H 2 · 2⤊ 2⤋
For bog cats you want to look bigger than him so stand really tall and scream and don't corner it! Little cats are scardy cats so just scare them away
2006-10-30 06:58:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
A feral cat is usualy as scared as you are/seem.
2006-10-30 06:51:40 · answer #10 · answered by graeme1944 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Take a picture
2006-10-30 06:56:34 · answer #11 · answered by zee 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋