In desparate need of advice for caring for a young wild cat terrified of humans?

Question

This past April I was horrified to spot a young & emaciated wild cat in the back woods of my apt. -- first spotted by my neighbor in Dec., 2005 who said he was feeding him - evidently not enough as the cat's bones were showing. Since that day of falling in love with him, “White Socks,” I’ve faithfully been feeding him, "9 Lives" canned food, "Friskies" dry food along w/ 'Half & Half' to drink – He won't drink water but from puddles and my neighbor found that he preferred the above vs. milk. Frequented twice a day for feeding, it's been difficult to establish a schedule, there’s another tamed/outdoor cat that perhaps due to cooler weather has become aggressive/territorial. I've recently resorted to spending hours at my window protecting my love's food. With winter approaching I’m terrified as how to help my cat. Pls, tell me how to win him over, food isn't enough. Two immediate concerns – what to feed in the winter and how to provide a warm secure haven on my baron porch. Thk You

Answer 1

My sister rescues wild cats. At the beginning she was feeding them than she decided to trap and spay/neuter and re-release. She ended up placing or keeping them in the end so I will try to give you as much information as possible. Initially she was feeding them and then she obtained a trap. The trap you can either buy or borrow from a rescue of wild animals sanctuary. They are less than $100.00. The most knowledgeable one was the most difficult so she had to refrain from feeding for a day. She then placed the favourite food of the cat in the cage and with her being hungry she went in. She was immediately spayed. My sister closed most doors in her house and left the cat in a large cage in the house. Eventually she opened the door so she could come out. With out pushing the cat she did not let her hide. The only reason these cats will bother with you at first is because of the food. She made the cat come out for food. It will take time but eventually your wild child will come around. At one point in time she had a propane heater going outside so the cat had a heat source.She would regularly change the water, have a dry food at all times and canned. They knew when the food was coming out if you feed at approximately the same time. If you need more information, please contact me direct. Best of Luck!

Answer 2

what you have there is a feral cat . that means a wild cat .
if you can afford it get a cat trap same as a life trap for a small animail . once you trap the cat take it to the vet and at the very lest get it rabbies shots . if you can afford more then have it fixed
provided the vet says it healthy enough to let go right away do that let the cat go again . wild cats really cant become house cats.
if you want for the winter you could get some straw bails and put them out like a little house do that in the spot or near the spot you feed the cat .
dont worry to much about the cat its thin sure but even if you dont feed it it will find some food or catch some mice or whatever . there are lots of wild cats in every part of the world and they are fine.
good luck and you sound nice

Answer 3

Many years ago, when I was in elementary school and my parents and I lived in a very rural area, there was a black and white tiger kitty that was wild and would come up to the house to scrounge for the scraps we tossed out for the animals (raccoons, possums, birds, etc).

My father took a liking to this cat, and decided to make a pet of him. The first thing to do was to get the cat used to coming to the house (yard) for food. Then, he devised a trap - just a simple cardboard box propped up by a short forked stick, with a long string tied to the stick. We "baited" the trap by putting some tuna under the box and waited for the cat to come nibble.

When the cat was under the box and quite engrossed in his meal, Daddy pulled the string and down came the box (it didn't happen on the first try, by the way - we probably had to go thru this routine 3 or 4 times before we caught the cat).

When the cat (which we named Fuzz) was caught in the box, Daddy moved him (box, tuna and all) into his workshop in the garage, where Fuzz promptly ran and hid as far away from us as possible.

For weeks, Daddy was the only one who could go into the workshop. He'd feed Fuzz, talk to him softly, and eventually, the cat grew to trust Daddy and became attached to him. Once Daddy was sure Fuzz was relatively tame and wouldn't run away, he started letting him out of the workshop, so he could come and go as he pleased.

As Fuzz grew older, he would follow Daddy around, just like a puppy dog. Fuzz hardly every meowed, and was always skittish around other people...he did develop a taste for fresh roasted peanuts, though, and would sit at the screen of the back door during the fall, when we would roast peanuts on Friday nights before the football games. We'd shell a handfull for him, and toss them out to him a few at a time.

So, you see, it can be done - you can capture and tame a feral cat, but it will take a great deal of time, effort and patience, and the chances are good that your cat will bond to you, but will always have a "wild" streak where others are concerned.

Good luck!

Answer 4

Hi Suanne...here's a website dedicated listed with many useful resourceful tips to help people care for feral cats: http://www.alleycat.org/resources_care.html

To answer your question "what to feed in the winter and how to provide a warm secure haven on my baron porch"

Plenty of cat food and water is only needed. Cats like to sleep in warm and dry places so if you can leave a plastic covered box with blankets inside this will provide shelter for the kitty. Such would be a larger clean empty covered litter box would work for this since they use the gardens as a litterbox.

[edit] pet stores sell cat milk which are lactose free, however please keep in mind milk doesn't provide the nutrients a cat needs rather it's just a treat for them. Any vet can confirm this fact.

Answer 5

Wild cats can definitely be tamed. It's just a matter of taking time and being nice and non-threatening. My sister has tamed many wild cats at her house (all the offspring of one wild cat that showed up). She was able to tame the kittens before she could the matriarch. So don't worry, it's possible.

Also, kitty-cats, despite popular belief, are lactose intolerant. Milk products cause diarrhea in cats, so you're probably only dehydrating him more. Try sugar water instead.

You'll want to feed more during the winter and maybe even up the canned food ratio because they tend to like it more and it's generally fattier. Any meat scraps are good too, especially if you cut the fat off your own meat. If he's still very skinny, you might want to get some wormer. It's common for outdoor animals to have worms (my cat used to get them all the time from the moles he'd hunt, but fortunately he's depleted the mole population and hasn't had any problems since).

As for a shelter, we use a dog house for our cat, specifically a Dogloo (one of the igloo shaped ones, they're supposed to hold heat very well) for small dogs. Cedar shavings make good bedding because unlike towels and such they don't get moldy from being damp and hay can irritate the skin and cedar shavings are supposed keep ticks away. At first I don't suggest putting a flap on it because it might make him nervous, but once he starts using it more put something light up, like a towel with a slit cut in the middle so he can get in and out easily then maybe move up to something heavier if he's okay with that.

The most important part of winning him over is getting him used to your presence. Try sitting outside more and just ignoring him. He should learn you aren't a threat. Also make sure he sees you put out the food, so always feed at the same time. Once he gets more used to you, try just talking to him when you're outside while keeping your distance and not making eye contact. Once he gets to the point that he won't move too far away from you try tempting him towards you with treats that smell yummy (table scraps would probably work best for this). The most important thing is just taking things slowly.

Answer 6

I would continue to feed it the same thing in the winter. My sister put a wooden box outside away from people traffic and her stray cats hide in it when it is cold. I would put out enough food for both cats. You can love more than one. By the way, I have a cat who was wild. I took her in and she hid from me about a week (under my bed). She had some of her teeth knocked out by someone who mistreated her. She has become the most loving cat I've ever seen. Many people said she would never adjust but now they are amazed.

Answer 7

First mistake you and your neighbor made was feeding the cat. Sure it seems like the human thing to do but that is a wild cat, it has to learn how to hunt and fend for itself to survive.

Now that you have fed it, it will no longer hunt nor sharpen its hunting skills and be unable to find food if you stop feeding it.

You will never win this cat over as it is wild, cats by nature do not like humans. Cats that live with humans do so cause they are conditioned from kittens to be around us. But even then, take a house cat and toss them out, within 2 yrs if they survive, they won't come around humans anymore.

Since its winter now and the cats normal wild food is about gone, you have no choice to continue to feed this cat or it will die this winter.

The cat won't take shelter at your house as again, it doesn't want to be near humans. If you have a large pine tree or such, dig out a crator under the branches and place a towel or two in there, out of the weather of course. Cats by nature take refuge under pines as they stay the warmest and dry normally. Place the food under there as well but don't be surprised when every animal comes for it.

To sit at your window to watch the food is a waste of your time....you have put the smell of food out there and every animal for 1 mile can smell it.

For the future.....don't feed wild cats....I know its hard not too, but unless that cat comes up to you and lets you take them inside, don't feed them or anything. They are not the same animal as you think of as the soft playful kitten that lives inside. Wild cats are mean, will attack you, etc.

Answer 8

White Socks is a wild animal- you should call animal control or contact a zoo keeper. Maybe you can contact your local zoo and tell them about this cat and ask them to take him in and when you get a chance you can visit him at the zoo. It will be less stressful, less expensive, less responsibility and less worries for you.

He may seem precious right now but as he grows you will start to notice soem changes in his behavior and attitude. Cats can sometimes be stubborn and over aggressive- be safe.

Watch the movie Sabertooth

Take care

Answer 9

well for water.
if he likes puddle water,leave a container on your porch when it rains to catch it.and when it snows just bring the container in till it melts,then return it to the porch.
as for shelter
you could always try a small dog house.line it with newspaper,and even an old towel or blanket to give him extra warmth.
he may be frightened of people,because his last owner may have been evil,or he has been on his own his whole life.
just give him as much time as he needs,he should eventually come around once he sees that there is someone who loves him.

Answer 10

My mother has a wild cat for several years now and it hasn't warmed up to humans yet. All of the kittens have been wild too. I don't know how you could tame it. I've always heard that you can't.