What steps,and behaviors, would one take if they were trying to tame a wild animal (a feral cat for instance)?

Answer 1

Leave food out for them, near your house so they associate you and your house with the food. Don't get too close at first--you'll scare them and they'll either run away or attack. Start by leaving the food out and walking away. Then start sitting maybe 20-30 feet away, very quietly, and see if the animal will come and eat. If not, move further away. Keep gradually moving closer each day, but back off if the animal runs or growls, hisses or otherwise threatens you. The main thing is to be patient, keep feeding the animal and do all you can to avoid scaring it. We tamed several feral cats this way and are working on another one now--she comes and eats, and has stopped running when we watch her through the window, but she still runs when we open the door.

Keep in mind that this is a wild animal and probably hasn't had its shots, so you want to be careful to avoid rabies. If you're going to do this sort of thing a lot, you may want to go ahead and get the preventative shots yourself. If you'd rather not do that, avoid touching the animal until you're ready to take it to the vet for shots and to make sure it's not already rabid. If it bites or scratches you and then runs, and you can't take it to the vet, go to the doctor and get the curative shots, just in case. (But I'll warn you--from what I've heard, the preventative shots hurt a lot less.)

It's not easy, and I'll admt that it's not particularly safe, but it can be done. Our ex-feral cat lived with us, in our house, for two years before dying of old age. She never attacked any of us, came when we called her, and loved to lay in our laps and purr. We still have two of her kittens--she taught them to hunt, a skill which pet-store kittens lack, and no matter what kind of run-down trailer we've lived in, we've never had mice or rats inside!

Answer 2

Some feral cats can't be tamed. A lot depends on its age. I tamed one by putting it in a spare bedroom with food, water & a litter box. When I got home from work, I would sit in there & read a book. Eventually, it came up to me, then let me touch it, then pet it, & then finally hold it. It took a while, but you have to make it feel safe & build up trust. It can be done.

Answer 3

I would take long fast steps in another direction.Forget about taming a feral cat,it can't be done!

Answer 4

with so many domesticated animals being put to death
every day for lack of homes, leave the wild animals in the
wild, you will both be happier.