Theyre is a stray cat living in my garage. It is a little bigger than a kitten but it is not full grown so I know its young. I have been putting food and water out there for it but it is still afraid of me. How do I get it to be comforatable around me so I can pet it.
2007-08-13 17:52:55 · 6 answers · asked by Brittany 3 in Pets ➔ Cats
This will take time. The kitty has to learn to trust people. Your doing the right thing by placing food and water out. Try speaking to the kitty so it will get to know your voice and hopefully in time, the kitty will come closer and closer to you.
Good luck
2007-08-13 18:11:52 · answer #1 · answered by catlady 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It takes a while, but food food food works good.
The litter of feral born kittens we had near us were brought to the food bowl we keep out by the garage, and once they started coming on their own I started watching for them out the window.
When I saw them, I'd get the extra scraps/treats together, walk out with it on a plate and give a food call, put the plate down without looking at the cats, then turn and go back into the house. It got so I was going out 4 or 5 times a day with little treats--cut up meat leftover from supper, chicken skin off the baked chicken, a half can of catfood, things like that. They got real used to me taking stuff out and retreating, and would be closer and closer as I showed that I was doing the same thing each time--I got 'predictable', which made me safe to be around.
If I sat down at least 10 feet away, that was their comfort distance for a while, then they started coming closer. I never grabbed at them, but would sometimes toss a small bit towards them with small arm movement (big movement means danger). They had to make the approach, not me. We were able to get the kittens/youngsters to be pretty relaxed around us this way and when I'd be out sunbathing on a towel they all tried sneaking up when my head was turned, to check me out since I was down on their level and not moving.
It takes time and patience, but it does work.
2007-08-13 18:09:43 · answer #2 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Just sit out there and don't make any sudden movements. See if the cat will come up to you. We've had a stray kitten that was scared of everything including the wind. My fiancee and I just sat out there and the kitten came up and started warming up. We had the food and water near us and would shake the food every now and then to get the kittens attention. Just don't force the kitten.
2007-08-13 20:09:51 · answer #3 · answered by notte_bella666 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It will take some time. I'm taking care of FIVE stray cats right now. Three are really young kittens. The mama cat is the only one who is afraid of me still. I've been feeding the cats/kittens for a couple of months now. Occasionally, I will take a container of treats out and shake them when the mama cat is around. I will open it and let her smell that "fishy" smell that treats some times have. After that, I will hold one out for her and if she seems too scared.. I'll nicely toss her one and she will eat it.
She's getting a little better, but still is not comfortable with me. She's okay with me picking up her kittens, playing with them, and petting them though. I'm hoping that with my scent on her kittens, she will open up to me too.
2007-08-13 18:01:58 · answer #4 · answered by Jessica S 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
i have a cat outside that does that too
i just put food and water outside and sit in a chair texting and my phone is on vibrate and i wait till it come up then in a few days just start talkin in a sweet calmin voice like good kitty
and eventually you will be able to pet it
this will take a while
2007-08-13 17:59:43 · answer #5 · answered by Courtney 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Continue feeding it. Try to make sure he sees you doing the feeding. Hang around but don't try to touch him, that will just scare him. Let him make all the first moves. It might take a while but if you be patient he will come around. Also see
http://muttcats.com/articles/taming_ferals.htm
2007-08-13 17:59:28 · answer #6 · answered by wherewhenwhatwhywho 5 · 4⤊ 0⤋