My boyfriend just caught a ferral siamese cat at his workplace I am wondering how best to try to tame it ?

Question

The siamese is only about eight months old and I have a cat who is about a year old wondering if the two of them might learn to adjust to one another?

I just found out that it is only 3 1/2 months old and in 2 weeks she goes back to the vet for rabies and distemper shots, I had her tested for feline aids and leukemia and given shots for those. The vet said she was really easy to work with that she didn't put up a fuss when they were drawing blood for the tests or anything. The hardest part now will be aclimatting the tiny one and the older one, my year old cat seems to be scared of the new one I am wondering if this has to do with the declawing or spaying which I have not had done since the new one is way too young right now.

Answer 1

SAFETY FIRST: If this cat is feral, then you don't know where it's been! Rescue it if you want, but please realize it needs to be completely isolated from your other cat until the following are addressed:

1) Parasites - cats sharing litter boxes and living areas will shed the eggs of whatever parasite they carry and the other will become infected. Stray cats ALWAYS have fleas, tapeworms, and all kittens are born with roundworms, so your stray probably has all three, plus more. Take it to your vet and have them examine a fecal sample so any and all parasites present can be identified.

2) Disease - first test the stray for FeLV/FIV, your vet can draw the blood and test it for you. If he is positive for either of these deadly viruses definitely DO NOT go near your cat until you've changed your clothes and showered. You'll have to put the stray to sleep, so do this before you do anything else.

3) Vaccination - if the cat is free of disease, get him vaccinated right away. If he will be outdoors, he needs his combo, FeLV, and rabies vaccines. The combo and FeLV will need one booster in 4 weeks to become fully effective for 1 year (might as well have him neutered at the same time, too, he's old enough).

4) Socialization - once you have him cleaned up and vaccinated, you may begin socializing him with your other cat. Keep them isolated from each other when you're not present until you can be certain that they will get along. This will take some time, maybe months, but if you're prepared to put in the work, there's no reason why this stray can't become a loving part of your family.

Answer 2

Just remember..a feral cat is basically a wild animal. Not quite completely wild in nature due to its domesticity but pretty close. I've had a feral cat before and it never became completely "tame". Best thing to do is start off slowly. Give it a nice place to sleep outside near your house. Like on a porch or deck or near the back door. Depending on where you live just something simple like a box with some straw or old blankets. Leave food out for it and let come and go as it pleases. That way it will come to know and trust you.

You just have to let the cat dictate when, or if, it's ready to accept you and your cat. When it feels comfortable enough it will ask to come inside and get to know you better.

Answer 3

Unfortunately you CANNOT! This cat is way too old (even at about 8 months) if it is a feral cat. IT CANNOT BE TAMED! PLEASE do NOT bring this cat into your home with your other cat---you're only asking for trouble. Please take the feral kitty to the local animal shelter. Many of them employ specialists who know how to tame (some) feral cats, or at least, they will do the SNR (spay/neuter/release) thing, and let the cat go back out into the wild--unable to further breed. You must remember---once they go feral, there's basically NO coming back--this is a wild animal! Do NOT expose this cat to your current domestic kitty.
Now, on-the-other-hand, are you SURE that this is a ferel cat, or simply a stray-homeless kitty. It's almost impossible to actually capture a ferel cat without a cat trap. You CANNOT just walk up to an actual ferel cat and even attempt to pick the thing up---believe me, I've encountered this several times. And, NO--I did NOT even attempt this. You'll be greeted with hissing, teeth showing, hair standing up on the back and the cat is in full "attack" mode. If your b/f was able to actually pick this cat up, and wants to bring it home---this is more than likely a lost or homeless kitty, and it would be OK--IF: Your first stop, before ever bringing the cat into your home, is at the vets office for a thorough check up, lab work included for any possible diseases, and more than likely a good worming will be in order + vaccinations for any/all diseases + spay/neuter. This is going to be pretty spendy, so consider just how much you really want to invest in order to keep this cat.

Answer 4

Before you give up on this guy you need to see if he is truly ferral or just a refugee. If he allows humans to pet him and especially if he allows humans after knowing you better, pick him up, he probably is not really ferral. Ferral cats are cats born in the wild and never had positive contact with humans (such as born in a wilderness, garbage dump or other remote area) often cats that are now homeless did not start out that way. If he was originally someones pet he can be adopted if not, he will need to be fixed, treated for diseases and released.

You would be amazed if you knew how many cats end up lost hundreds or thousands of miles from home. If a cat is allowed to go outside his natural curiosity can get him in a lot of trouble. Sometimes even exploring truck trailers or train cars. Once the thing starts to move they tend to hide. The result is ending up in a strange area with no way to find out how to get home.

If he allows you to handle him he is more likely a refugee.

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Answer 5

Yes, as said before: it takes time and a lot of hands on loving to turn a ferral cat into a tame cat. Remember thought all animals have a tendency to turn back with abuse and lack of a human touch. Enjoy. If you brought it to a farm to live it would return very quickly to the wild side. Be careful with the cat around small children or the elderly as ferral cats tend to be more easily startled and in a moment of distress defend them selves.

Answer 6

First off, are you sure its feral? Just because It was out on its own doesn't mean it didn't have an owner before. Secondly, if you are going to take it in to your home, be sure it has all of its shots, and that your other cats shots are up to date also. When you try to introduce them, put the new cat in a cat carrier and introduce him to your old cat. If your old cat hisses and runs away, don't be discouraged. Try again the next day, but be sure to keep both of your cats separated. It will just take time for your cats to get used to each others scent. It doesn't matter the age. Just about any older cat can get used to a new one. There are great websites that will also teach you how.

Answer 7

Contrary to popular misconception, feral cats are exactly the same creatures as our pet cats, except they have had little or no socialisation with humans since birth. Feral cats are not pedigree either, so if this cat your boyfriend found is Siamese, then it's most likely somebody's lost or abandoned pet that has "gone wild" through living rough on the streets. In which case, you shall need to be very patient and kind in order for her to trust humans again. The web articles below have advice on taming feral kittens/cats and helping nervous cats.

http://www.messybeast.com/feralkit.htm
http://www.messybeast.com/nervous.htm

Before you take this cat home, it needs to be checked over by a vet, as you don't want to risk bringing home any infectious diseases, parasites etc. to your own cat.

How your cat will react to a newcomer is dependent upon their personality. They are relatively close in age, which is a good thing. However, bear in mind that a cat that has spent time living as a stray may be more confident about standing up for themselves. Provided that your cat is not overly timid, and you make the introductions very slowly and gradually, they should learn to accept each other. Ideally you should confine the new cat to a separate room and let them "meet" by smell before you attempt to introduce them face to face. The web articles below have lots of information and advice on how to do this.

http://www.tulsa-animalshelter.org/tips/intro%20cat.htm
http://www.messybeast.com/first-impressions.htm

Though it can take a while for them to settle in, giving a home to a stray cat can be very rewarding. Thank you for offering this cat the chance to know what it is to have a loving home.

Good luck.

Answer 8

All the information I have read about feral cats, say that they can not be tamed. They also will not get along with a domestic cat. They will fight constantly with it since that is all they know how to do. The only possible way to do anything with this cat will be to take it to the vet and get it some meds to keep it calm. But then you have a drugged out cat. Your best bet will be to let it go or take it to the pound, although most will not take feral cats, they automatically put them to sleep.
If you really want another cat, get another kitten from someone or the pound.

Answer 9

BIBSIAN: ur an idiot...
now with that out of the way, feral cats do take ALOT of work, but ur not an idiot. I have 12 cats most of which started out feral, but now they mingle with each other beatifully not to mention the 4 dogs i have as well. one word PATIENCE, lots of love, do not play favorites with ur other kitty. Siamese are very vocal, this can be aggrivating, but pleasant as well, find an easy name for kitty to get use to, then teach kitty to take treats from ur hand,cheese, ham, and cooked shrimp work best, if ur having a hard time with that one, try just being able to pet kitty while she eats or drinks, as far as introducing kitty 1 to kitty 2, this may take awhile, one of you should hold kitty one while the other holds kitty 2, pet and love on them from across the room then slowly start to walk towards each other when they get close enough and start to growl stop and stay there until they calm down, then continue to walk towards each other. DO NOT stick them face to face until they have adapted . also dont forget kitty 2 is feral and has been outside it needs a trip to vet and shots etc, etc. good luck!!!

Answer 10

It probably isn't feral it just isn't used to people.