wild cat to social cat ??

Question

hello everyone, i dont know if im postting in the right place or not

anyway, the question is, how can i make a wild cat to be a social ?
i have two wild cats in my back yard, a male and a female,
when i 1st saw them they were solid wild, they even wont showup if theres no food, so at 1st i start to put some food and walk away and then i start to hold the food and just throw small pieces at a good distance between us, and latre i did the same but with shrter distance untill they were next to me, the female was closer and more relaxer than the male, i've been doin this for like a week now but still not 100% done, i've tryed to touch the female couple of time but every time i touch her she freaks out, how can i touch her w/o she freaks out ??
i want her to be more friendly more social more relax

any feedback will be appreciate

Answer 1

If the cats were born in the wild (ferral) you've got a long road before you. Ferral kittens need to be exposed to humans before they are 6 weeks old to help them become socialized. What you are doing is a great start, but you will need LOTS of patience because it could be years before they truly let you interact with them...maybe not ever...only from a distance.

I adopted a 6 week old ferral kitten 3 years ago. But, I was already too late to make an instant impact on her socially. She is very sweet and shy. A total indoor cat. But, she will not let us walk up to her and just pick her up! She will come and get in my lap to sleep and be petted....but it's ALWAYS on her terms. I have two other cats in the house, and she follows their lead....and plays just like a domesticated cat. Sometimes she will get up against a wall and roll over to let my husband pet her and scratch her tummy.....but she has NEVER just climbed into his lap like she does mine.

We love her to pieces....but she still has that "wild" part of her personality. In three years she has come a long way...but she still has a long way to go.

Just keep doing what you are doing.....and be very patient. I know a lady who keeps water and food on her front porch for several ferral cats, and they hang around her house like it is home! But, they run when anyone approaches.

I hope this helps.

Answer 2

I tamed down a wild one here, it took a long time. He would come for food, and I'd call him specially when I had something besides the dry food. I was going out more and more, like 3-6 times a day to put out small amounts to get him used to it.

He let me get within 5 feet but would retreat. I spent more time outdoors working in the garden and he got closer. We came to an understanding that I could scritch the top of his head, but nothing else. He would come right up IF I didn't reach for him.

After he was doing that I changed it one time--I put down some baked chicken and when his mouth was full I used both hands to cup his ribs, stroking once. He growled but didn't want to give up the chicken, and I backed off. Because I'd touched him just the once and retreated, he relaxed after that and within a week was letting me stroke his back (but I didn't try picking him up).

So work it in small increments. Don't push more than they're willing to accept. Humans are dangerous and they know that, but if you're predictable in your actions, they relax and start trusting you.

We've gotten two fully wild cats to accept handling now, just by using food, having water available and being outdoors doing stuff that they can watch us at. Just ordinary things like sitting outside reading a book or raking leaves, working in the garden or sunbathing. The second cat spontaneously came over and laid down next to me, leaning into my side, then got up quick and ran 15 feet away (he was being brave), but he did adjust quickly after that.

Answer 3

You could try placeing the food down infront of you and letting them come to you. Then just sit there and talk to them while they eat. Once you think they trust you then you can try moving around but not touching them. Then after a while of moving around try doing something like sweeping the porch or rolling a tennis ball. Sometimes you could play with an item that makes a noise. Not a loud noise. And when they start coming to you then gradually try and pet them. Since they are wild you should try to pet their back or tail to start. After a while you should be able to handle them.

Answer 4

that's a rough one...

feral cats have a hard time adjusting to life with humans... though it's easy enough.

She may have a hard time with you touching her because that's a very intimate type of contact. Sometimes just being around you and being relaxed is enough.

Also - some cats never REALLY enjoy being touched, so don't worry to much about it.

My cat used to like to be picked up, but now she's decided not to let me anymore... just the way they are.

Answer 5

I've got several former feral (wild as heck before!) cats living w/me for a few yrs. now.
I live trapped them in winter months in the industrial area, spent many a cold nights watching traps too (live in Canada).

It all depends.
The kitten I trapped "Trapper" was young enough to rehabilitate into a now 4 yrs. old loving motor-purring housecat with big feet , but stunted growth. All his littermates must've died. He was so malnourished that when I took to vet for exam thinking he was 6-8 wks. old , vet said closer to 12 wks. and I thought he was a longhair, he's a short hair cat (was so emaciated that skin and bones made fur appear long).

Then there's "Scotty" (trapped as a young adult, obviously born in wild), to this day, also 4 yrs. later, I have NOT been able to touch or go too near him,... he skittles around the house, but gets along with the now-grown ex-feral kitten "Trapper".
Others in my house were dumped for awhile to fend for themselves and were once housepets but reverted to being semi-wild,.. they are still tempermental.

All have been fixed and all are using litter boxes, which are many.
I don't expect you can totally tame those cats, unless at one time they were lovingly owned by people.
It will take lots of patience, time and effort,... but worthwhile with every improvement.

Good luck

Answer 6

don't do anything to startle them. move slowly, talk calmly, offer food. Its just like you would build trust ith anyone else, except that you are a lot bigger and scarier than they are used to. They may have been abused in past too. Patience and kindness is really all it is. Go sloooooooooooooooowly.

Answer 7

Cheetah brothers will form groups called collisions. That can make their success rates more.

Answer 8

Its hard but if you try show alot of love.