With patience can you tame a wild cat?

Answer 1

Oh yes, even ferals can respond. You need to be where they can see you, you need to offer a food and water source for them, and you need to be predictable.

It will take a long time, three years for us here to 'touch' the two ferals (not strays, these were born wild) but they are calm with me handling them now and they know my routine and I know theirs.

Food made the major difference. And me not approaching any further than their comfort zone. No reaching, no coaxing, just a food call when I brought out food and tidbits (three to six times a day) and me being reliable in my actions.

Answer 2

If the cat was a tame cat that went into the wild, then you can re-tame it with love, patience and care.

If the cat is feral or was born into the wild, then you have missed the people-imprint stage and the cat will always be somewhat wild and unpredictable... like a bobcat or a lion. You can teach it to trust you, but it will always be a wild animal that might be spooked or predatory by any unexpected motion or light.

You may be able to keep it outside and get it to trust you, but you are asking for trouble if you bring it inside or trust it near little children or small animals.

Answer 3

With a little patience and time, a feral (or wild) cat can be tamed into a loving pet. Younger cats are more apt to adjust quickly: 6-to-8-week-old kittens typically take two to three weeks to adjust to a domestic environment.


Step One-Enclose the cat or kitten in a small space at first'a bathroom or bed-room works best.
2Step Two-Turn out the light if the cat is terrified; this often has a calming effect.
3Step Three-Put a bed, a litter box, food and water in the room. If the cat is very young (6 to 12 weeks), put her in a large carrier with a grated door and small windows.
4Step Four-Spend at least 2 to 3 hours a day with the animal. Just sitting quietly in the same room will allow the cat to learn that you are not a threat.
5Step Five-Gently compel the cat to let you touch her. Carefully wrap a blanket around her if you have to, hold her on your lap and pet her. Stroke her coat and touch her ears, face and neck as you talk to her in soothing tones. Even if the animal doesn't seem to be enjoying the attention, she is. Hold the cat by the scruff of the neck if she attempts to leave. (The mother cat will do this to carry or train a kitten'it doesn't hurt, and it actually relaxes the animal.)
6Step Six-Present special treats such as chicken or tuna, and leave them if the cat will not eat from your hand.
7Step Seven-Gradually allow the cat to roam about in more rooms.
8Step Eight-If the cat tries to run away from you repeatedly, enclose her in a smaller space and start again.

Tips & Warnings

Don't get discouraged early on; young feral cats can become very affectionate pets. Younger cats are more apt to adjust quickly: 6- to 8-week-old kittens typically take two to three weeks to adjust to a domestic environment. An older cat that has been wild for a long time is difficult and sometimes impossible to tame, and may be better left outside. If you catch one, have the animal spayed or neutered and vaccinated, and then turn the cat loose where caught, or contact a professional.
Handle feral cats with extreme caution. Use gloves and protective clothing as required. Cat bites and scratches can result in serious health problems.

Answer 4

It can be done but it isn't easy and it doesn't happen often. I am assuming you are speaking of a feral cat. I once rescued two new born feral kittens and brought them up myself. Although they were handled a lot, carried around and cuddled they would still cringe when I would reach out to touch them even after they became adults. I noticed that compared to my other cats, they never fully kicked the traces of being feral. As far as trying to tame an adult feral cat, it too can be done but it take a very long time before you start to see results. Usually if it will let a human touch it or even pick it up, it will only be one human and even then it will never be completely comfortable with being handled so they don't make good family pets especially around children. The trick with a feral is not to try and force attention or affection on it. If it is going to come around, it will do so at its own pace or maybe it never will but it will appreciate your love and attention from a distance. You have to decide if you can love it on its terms. Good luck.

Answer 5

Assuming you mean a truly wild cat, it might be possible to 'tame' one in the sense that it won't immediately attack or run from you. But you'll never make a lap cat out of it; it remains wild and always at least a little unpredictable.

Answer 6

I don`t think you can ever really tame a wild cat, we had one living in our back garden that I used to feed I gradually put the food closer to the back door and actually got it to come into the house to eat, but as soon as he`d eaten he`d be off like a shot and wouldn`t let me shut the door I tried once and he arched his back and hissed at me. (Don`t know if it was a Tom cat for sure but he never reproduced) He died in our garden and is now buried along with mice, guinea pigs, budgies n rabbits all past family pets

Answer 7

with a lot of patience and love you can tame a cat have done it with about 5 cats now. just takes a lot of food and love and they need their time and space. They need to think they are in control.

Answer 8

Yes, most of the time. Food helps cement the bond. The feral cat may not ever get comfortable with all humans but may trust a single person enough to be friendly. My cousin took about 6 months and chilled out this pretty white girl with a mask of tiger print on half of her face. Always spay and neuter your pets!

Answer 9

yeah, right upto the moment you upset it and it rips you to pieces...
wild animals kept as pet require you to be very observant...

we had an iggy, fifteen years later he was just over five feet long, and had attitude... you didnt treat him right and you got scars.... he didnt play rough, he just was..

and weve had cats for donkeys years... and they would occasionally smack the lizard, and put him in his place.... domestic cat is a euphamism for slight soft a furry killing machine... and wild cats are the best hunters around..its instinct...

id say the olny way to train a cat with patience is if you cut her up and feed it small chunks of her... phone the agency, youll need perseverance too!

Answer 10

yes definately. I gave my sister in law two kittens which are now called prince and princess and rule the roost in her house. I took one in myself but he was a destructive little bugger so he is now demoted to the back yard. You can tame them but everything is on their say so. Pet them only when they feel like it and so forth. I actually gave a female kitten to a photographer friend of mine and he had no problems. she is like a baby and would cuddle all day. But the majority of them still retain some element of the wild I found.