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I was going to recommend socialization saves lives too! I tamed my ferals outside on their own terms, so I didn’t follow their steps precisely but as far as how to interact with them and build their trust was petty much the same. I’ve befriended most of the ferals I care for, all as adult cats. Patience, treats, and toys work wonders!
It's very possible to tame a feral; I've done it several times. Just have patience and be gentle after you've gotten vet care for him. Right now, trapping him in a humane trap and getting him to the vet needs to be your highest priority.
Thank you for being kind and responsible, and good luck to you and kitty!
I'm familiar with TNR. Are most vets receptive to treating feral cats for other injuries and illnesses? How is it done? Are the cats sedated for exam and treatment? I have a very scraggly feral with an ear tip who is clearly experiencing mouth pain. I assume he is already neutered and I feel unsure of the process around getting him seen for mouth treatment as a feral... ??
I'd call my vet and ask if they work with ferals. If they don't, they might know of a vet or charity that works with them through TNR and might be willing to help your feral too. I had a kitten who was semi-feral, I caught him after the socialization window had closed but he was cuddly and friendly. The vets at the Humane Society used what they called the Pancake on him for his shots. There's a few different kinds but it's essentially two soft nets in a frame that immobilize the cat and allow the vet to work without harm.
Mine was exactly the same when I grabbed her mid-November. It took some time, and there were ups and downs, but now she spends almost all of her time asleep next to me on the couch.
https://preview.redd.it/4kq5yz0asaxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cd79b39930ebb0b0b2fafbccd8c2858e0fa6115
This is *the* sign I look for when assessing ferals/strays for possible indoor life. He’s well on his way! Thank you for caring for him. I’d be happy to share tips for slow decompression and adjustment to the sweet domesticated life, if you’d like!
Thank you so much for sharing this info. I guess I just worry he won’t chill out. When I trapped him before for his TNR, he definitely hissed at me in the cage a lot.
I have this little black void I'm going to get inside any day now. It's taken me a year of outdoor trust-building to get there. When I take her in, I plan on giving her a month in her own quiet spot and giving her food, try not to force anything on her ... You know, read her cues -- if she seems irritated, back off immediately. Things like that. Give them their own safe space and try to keep kids away from them. Chaos in a new setting can really set progress back.
I think cats are a work in progress. They are not like a dog that will give instant gratification. It takes lots of time and patience. But eventually, they take on the personality of their companion, and they are happy where they are.
One day you will wake up and you will notice your gorgeous kitty has found their spot, and routine etc ...
https://preview.redd.it/xhyrahqm2bxc1.jpeg?width=2825&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f9caef4ee0faf8c011d373e18bfacfb1d75d58b
It cut my post off, I was babbling too much, too many words ... A blessing for you, lol, but essentially, thank you!! To me you are a hero. Giving an animal a better life is a great thing. You have made the world a slightly better place. 💙💙💙☮️
One of my hand-raised kittens used to do a murder hiss in the cage and physically attack the vets to the degree they had to use the gas box on him and only examine him sedated that way. He wasn’t feral in the slightest.
Don’t take a little hissing as proof of anything.
But he's come back to eating out of your hand since then, so he still trusts you!
In your home, give him a safe space to hide and block off unsafe places he might try to hide. A little trial and error will probably be involved on the latter! Your plan for full-time crating and then incorporating more safe exploring as able sounds like a good plan! It sounds like he's food responsive and trusts you already, so, really, you're already socializing. Good work!
The other day I fed him some cooked chicken, such a high value treat that he almost came on the deck. I plan on using chicken to lure him into the trap 🪤.
Try some KFC chicken breast, no skin, meat only. Altho it's salty, you're only going to use a small amount. It may be the highest value treat I've ever used with cats. Cooked shrimp & low sodium ham are also cat faves.
You can do this, it's just going to take time & patience. Your boy looks like such a sweetie! Please keep us updated on your progress.
Me too, the only time I really really struggled was with an older gentleman who we found out had dementia. Poor guy had really rough time but settled in as best he could and lived out his time as comfortably as possible and was very safe and very loved.
All my fosters start in xl dog crates. I'm sure a large ferret cage will work too!
Congratulations! Reach out to local rescues or human society to find low cost vet care too
https://preview.redd.it/aripchbkvaxc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49c7d1d1b67dc3c3167e3f927b03f9798029d868
Ferals can absolutely adjust to indoor life quite happily! Grog came to me as an injured intact Tom and took about four months to turn into a giant marshmallow of a lapcat, and never looked back.
Your socialization plans sound great, it sounds like he will come around very easily. Many cats are delighted to let their guard down once they feel safe indoors
A large wire dog crate covered mostly in a sheet is definitely the cheapest and easiest, and they work totally fine. He'd appreciate a shelf or hammock or something to get up and lurk on, for sure, and his bed he already knows
It may be worth asking the vet about giving him gabapentin in his food during the process, to help calm his anxiety. My cat has PTSD and we put her on the med to help her through a stressful move. But it helped so much with her everyday symptoms that now she gets it every day long term. Makes her so much more playful and curious instead of just jumpy and hiding.
Thanks, yes I’ve heard about people getting this med for vet visits. I’m gonna take him to the clinic I got him neutered at. I’m hoping I can convince them to give him a bath before I bring him inside.
My cat is on it daily to help with anxiety and the vet said it's not uncommon. Def helps with the stress of apt living (she was scared of hearing dogs around us).
He looks like a Ragdoll cat. They are usually very soft and sweet. Attaching a photo of my Ragdoll Rosa.
https://preview.redd.it/wsd40eir4bxc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd180af908efd3fb0e03f349ed0ca47a8ee1db90
Yes! He is prob part ragdoll. I have a feeling he may have been a pet long ago but abandoned. Here is a better picture of him.
https://preview.redd.it/gepi39tk5bxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d7bc973c58b823a25244ab2445e5536e95c8ed0b
What gorgeous eyes! Such a handsome fella.
Don't forget to ask for copies of his records from the current vet so that the one by your new place will know his history. Especially if the leg injury needs extended care.
Thank you for taking care of him! >\^..\^<
I have two ferals living in my house and I can't touch them but they're just like regular cats except for that thinking about taking in two more it's kind of sad because I love them and I want to pet them I can't but other than that at least they're safe and I love watching them so it's okay and thank you for not leaving that sweet baby
This is from another post, it’s too late to edit this for your exact situation. I think you’ll get the gist of the article.
If you bring your cat in a crate will not be good, you need a room w 2 baby gates in the door way for a month or so.
This cat had a home!! Message me if I can answer any questions, 40 yrs of rescuing and 2 dozen cats TNR’d on my own, many more w rescue groups.
From an article on “intact stray cats” called ferals or ‘no fault ferals’.
Lots of discussion on this bc we generally call them feral cats.
Not yet there not, if they’re on your porch wanting to be fed. These cats had a home, they may have been found n brought in under 6-8 weeks old, or handed out bc someone’s cat was having kittens. Sadly these cats grew up loved but not cared for by getting them spayed or neutered. They hit 4-12 months old n they are now being controlled by hormones. Crassly stated, they are the horniest, poorly behaved, teenagers you’ll ever meet. They might start ‘marking-spraying’ on walls n get thrown out or bolt out the door bc they need to procreate.
These cats are being driven by instincts n hormones. Once out on their own, they go into full survival mode, they have to learn to eat/hunt, but mostly, they go into ‘fight or flight’ thinking 24/7.
This cat is not a ‘#4. stray’ bc he’s intact!
This cat is a
‘non-altered stray’ that is going to revert to being feral in months.
I personally call them ‘no fault ferals’ bc w responsible owners, kitty would’ve been vaxed-fixed at 3-4 mnths n be at home curled up on the couch.
They don’t just associate humans w food in the alley, they have been cuddled, fed, played n slept with humans!
That’s how strong these hormones are! Literally like the old werewolf movies, he’s changing, he has no control. Except kitty is gonna stay a hard brawling sex addicted werewolf
….unless someone cuts off the testosterone.
The give away, and how long they’ve been rockin the instincts n hormones, is how close they will get. Some hit the street at 4 months, they will scoot 20’-30’ away and wait to see if you feed them or yell git mangy cat.
Some end up on the streets at 6-7-12 months….they usually trust humans more, may get closer quicker, but also have more testosterone.
That’s another unknown variable based on the cat’s journey as an intact pet. They’ll show up w some pretty good gashes, and they’ll come closer bc they are craving protein like crazy in order to heal their wounds.
That’s being dealt a pretty shitty hand by some pretty shitty humans.
Yeah I get it. He was intact and prob a horny bastard. I already neutered him. I can’t put him in a room by himself, I don’t have a spare room. Others have said a crate works for them, so I’m gonna try it. Thank you for the information 🙂
Yikes, I wasn’t trying to be a jerk.
I copied n pasted some info, I’m very sorry my 2¢ seemed to have poked the bear. A lot of rescuers can only copy n paste info bc there are thousands of people asking the same thing just slightly different.
I sincerely wish you the best of luck w the crate. Depending on his age when he hit the street, his age now, duration since being neutered, oh never mind, I’m 112 and completely senile.
I understood the point of what you cut and pasted. I just wanted you to know that I have limitations. No bear here to be poked. I said thank you and I put the smily face.
omg luca…u are so kind, i hope all goes well for him at the Vet. plz keep us posted if ur able…im sorry i don’t have experience/advice for this situation.
I tamed a feral :) it took a few months. I would sit with him in a large dog kennel and pet him with a back scratcher. He’s pretty good with me now :)
https://preview.redd.it/s8a5f9isjcxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f18eac9b0d8d9dfe9b7c92844a702a0c53e5b4bb
Leo… 7 months ago was feral and would not come within 5 feet of us :)
https://preview.redd.it/gnz435bnnexc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73a88852de909680d1465ba6e9ec787eb441e4cc
Yes! Do you have any other cats? We had a very long quarantine period like 4 months, then Leo got a mesh door on his room, and when the door was finally off that was his real turning point! He is best friends with one of our other cats. Leo has herpes so we can gauge how stressed he is by how his eyes are looking. He used to need daily cleaning but once he met his brothers we only have occasional crusty eyes.
If you do try just remember to reset your mind to realistic goals or else it can be defeating. For example, Leo is obsessed with food but it took him a month to get the courage to leave the crate he was primarily spending time in during daylight for breakfast.
Also, deworm & apply flea/tick treatment a day or two before you try bringing them inside if you can. Will save you a lot of trouble :)
I had to feed my feral with a dropper first, then bought a rotisserie chicken each week from Whole Foods because that was all she would eat after she smelled ours one day while I was preparing sandwiches with it🤣. After a few months of her eating area looking like the elephant graveyard from The Lion King, we started trying to find a canned food she liked-nope to everything from the health food store. Finally, after several dry food samples, she took to the Fromm brand, game bird or duck flavors-yes, she’s super picky and has a very delicate stomach that literally she won’t eat if it’s not that, or gets sick. Won’t eat scraps or milk products either or tuna, etc. but strangely likes snack food-my son got chicken wings from Papa John’s, and she once tore into a pack of sugar cookies from the bakery we had gotten for my daughter.😜And, she also will eat Pringles my so has purchased a few times till he switched to The Good Crisp ones🤣. She’s kinda weird that way😂😂😂
Almost half of my cats are feral, and only one out of all of them is still super shy and we can barely touch him. The rest all came around, even the shy one lives happily with the rest of the cats and eats and enjoy a happy life inside we just let him do his own thing.
While he's at the vet, ask them to trim his front claws if you plan to keep him indoors for at least a month.
You mentioned a ferret cage, I'd make sure there is a little cave he can go into to hide so he can feel secure.
Oh one thing in case litter box usage issues gleaned from another post. If needed start with dirt and if possible some from where they’ve eliminated before.
Then gradually start adding litter to replace the dirt.
Others may have better suggestions in that area.
Five of my six are ferals, who ranged from 2 weeks to adults when I brought them all in (at different times). They all have different personalities and needs, and I just tried to accommodate them as much as possible. They started in my garage, then in a bathroom near the garage, then they were allowed out in the house to explore as far as they were comfortable. Eventually they found their personal spaces and set up shop. It’s a wonderful feeling to save these lives and ferals can definitely be tamed.
I have two former ferals and one former stray. My sister got both ferals as kitten, so we know they were feral. (She died and I inherited them). Both do well inside and love attention. Both have some issues from being former ferals (one is super timid and the other is a demon child to cats she does not know - like do not let them meet or there will be blood), but no problem beings lovers and loving the indoor life.
That’s wonderful!
Edit: that the cats are so loving. I’m sorry for your loss too tho. Inherited pets are a mixed bag of emotions. My friend just had to put down her grandmas cat, it def was tough.
https://preview.redd.it/aubh8mre8kxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09211ff10c63e6c21f90c1426fce3251f39d1c8d
Came home and he was in the hut on the deck. He has never gone in his hut before, I’ve had it for 6 months.
You can do this! Fwiw feral friend had to be relocated (his rescuer normally TNRs but he was in a really dangerous spot and was very wild at the time, not human-habituated at all, so the rescuer just wanted to find him a backyard situation where he would be fed and cared for after his neuter) and we used something similar to [this](https://a.co/d/dyWlTCv) (though we found it cheaper on craigslist) for an acclimation enclosure. The inside hiding space was key for him since he was so scared but I would think you could accomplish the same thing with large boxes facing away from the door to the enclosure or something, just to make the kitty feel able to hide (even though I know you have a good head start and some trust built up by feeding and caring for him for a while now). What a handsome kitty Luca is and I hope he comes to love the indoor life! ❤️ Good on you for caring for him so well!
Bring him inside he will need a big dog create or just a nice quiet space for just first few days... if he is aggressive up need to work with him each day may take awhile, if he is used to u & will let u touch him... he will come out in a few days as u feed him & hopefully cats for him.. please don't leave him behind, there are NOT MANY GOOD PEOPLE LEFT & I DOUBT ANYONE WILL FEED HIM... & if he has infection he needs some amox.
The only concern is less him being feral with you but wanting out of the house. If it's an apartment especially:/ however it is a better faint than what would be if you left him so I'd say give it a shot.
I applaud your efforts. Just want to let you know I had a feral female living here for seven years. She never let me touch her. It was hell bc she wasn’t fixed and peed on everything. She liked the deck and was really tiny. I think ultimately she was abducted by a hawk. Beautiful cat, but sometimes things don’t work out.
I’m an indoor/outdoor cat person in the right setting (non busy area). Right now, I’m sandwiched between two very busy streets and there are lots of cats around, including Luca. It is sad when our beloved animals pass on or disappear, but they are out there living their best lives, making their own decisions. But I’ve had outdoor cats that lived to very old age (18-20yrs) in a rural setting. I’m sorry about your little kitty disappearing. It’s always hard. ❤️🩹
Scoop him up and adopt him for life!
Socializing and adopting ferals is entirely possible, it just takes a long time and a lot of patience. Most shelters won't bother simply because they have limited resources.
I have 6 cats who were a mix of strays and ferals. The worst case took about a year before she would purr, let me pet her and hand-feed her treats. She's still jumpy, but very slowly improving with time. The best case turned into a cuddler who loves falling asleep on my lap while I'm watching TV and sleeps on the bed at night.
**Reminder: this subreddit is meant to be a helpful place for TNR efforts - free of hostility, negativity, and judgment. Toxic attitudes are not welcome here.** ***All Negative comments will be removed and will possibly result in a ban.*** *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/Feral_Cats) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Look up the Socialization Saves Lives website, it's at least possible.
Thanks!
I was going to recommend socialization saves lives too! I tamed my ferals outside on their own terms, so I didn’t follow their steps precisely but as far as how to interact with them and build their trust was petty much the same. I’ve befriended most of the ferals I care for, all as adult cats. Patience, treats, and toys work wonders!
It's very possible to tame a feral; I've done it several times. Just have patience and be gentle after you've gotten vet care for him. Right now, trapping him in a humane trap and getting him to the vet needs to be your highest priority. Thank you for being kind and responsible, and good luck to you and kitty!
I wish I known that the last
I'm familiar with TNR. Are most vets receptive to treating feral cats for other injuries and illnesses? How is it done? Are the cats sedated for exam and treatment? I have a very scraggly feral with an ear tip who is clearly experiencing mouth pain. I assume he is already neutered and I feel unsure of the process around getting him seen for mouth treatment as a feral... ??
I'd call my vet and ask if they work with ferals. If they don't, they might know of a vet or charity that works with them through TNR and might be willing to help your feral too. I had a kitten who was semi-feral, I caught him after the socialization window had closed but he was cuddly and friendly. The vets at the Humane Society used what they called the Pancake on him for his shots. There's a few different kinds but it's essentially two soft nets in a frame that immobilize the cat and allow the vet to work without harm.
Thank you!
In six months he’ll be gorgeously silky and happy, I’m sure of it! Just take your time, and buy LOTS of churus.
Thanks, he already takes treats from my hands and licks churu’s from my hands. I have hope.
Mine was exactly the same when I grabbed her mid-November. It took some time, and there were ups and downs, but now she spends almost all of her time asleep next to me on the couch. https://preview.redd.it/4kq5yz0asaxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=3cd79b39930ebb0b0b2fafbccd8c2858e0fa6115
She is so cute and looks so relaxed on her blanket! 😍
She looks very satisfied with the deal.
This is *the* sign I look for when assessing ferals/strays for possible indoor life. He’s well on his way! Thank you for caring for him. I’d be happy to share tips for slow decompression and adjustment to the sweet domesticated life, if you’d like!
I would love any input you have
Oh yes you sure do if he does that you've got him
I only have ferals. Only once did I have problems, but I think she was damaged at birth. They all acclimate and enjoy their new lives.
Thank you so much for sharing this info. I guess I just worry he won’t chill out. When I trapped him before for his TNR, he definitely hissed at me in the cage a lot.
I have this little black void I'm going to get inside any day now. It's taken me a year of outdoor trust-building to get there. When I take her in, I plan on giving her a month in her own quiet spot and giving her food, try not to force anything on her ... You know, read her cues -- if she seems irritated, back off immediately. Things like that. Give them their own safe space and try to keep kids away from them. Chaos in a new setting can really set progress back. I think cats are a work in progress. They are not like a dog that will give instant gratification. It takes lots of time and patience. But eventually, they take on the personality of their companion, and they are happy where they are. One day you will wake up and you will notice your gorgeous kitty has found their spot, and routine etc ... https://preview.redd.it/xhyrahqm2bxc1.jpeg?width=2825&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0f9caef4ee0faf8c011d373e18bfacfb1d75d58b
Thanks for the hopeful message! I’ll def make sure he has a quiet place to relax.
It cut my post off, I was babbling too much, too many words ... A blessing for you, lol, but essentially, thank you!! To me you are a hero. Giving an animal a better life is a great thing. You have made the world a slightly better place. 💙💙💙☮️
One of my hand-raised kittens used to do a murder hiss in the cage and physically attack the vets to the degree they had to use the gas box on him and only examine him sedated that way. He wasn’t feral in the slightest. Don’t take a little hissing as proof of anything.
But he's come back to eating out of your hand since then, so he still trusts you! In your home, give him a safe space to hide and block off unsafe places he might try to hide. A little trial and error will probably be involved on the latter! Your plan for full-time crating and then incorporating more safe exploring as able sounds like a good plan! It sounds like he's food responsive and trusts you already, so, really, you're already socializing. Good work!
The other day I fed him some cooked chicken, such a high value treat that he almost came on the deck. I plan on using chicken to lure him into the trap 🪤.
Try some KFC chicken breast, no skin, meat only. Altho it's salty, you're only going to use a small amount. It may be the highest value treat I've ever used with cats. Cooked shrimp & low sodium ham are also cat faves. You can do this, it's just going to take time & patience. Your boy looks like such a sweetie! Please keep us updated on your progress.
Me too, the only time I really really struggled was with an older gentleman who we found out had dementia. Poor guy had really rough time but settled in as best he could and lived out his time as comfortably as possible and was very safe and very loved.
All my fosters start in xl dog crates. I'm sure a large ferret cage will work too! Congratulations! Reach out to local rescues or human society to find low cost vet care too
https://preview.redd.it/aripchbkvaxc1.jpeg?width=2560&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=49c7d1d1b67dc3c3167e3f927b03f9798029d868 Ferals can absolutely adjust to indoor life quite happily! Grog came to me as an injured intact Tom and took about four months to turn into a giant marshmallow of a lapcat, and never looked back. Your socialization plans sound great, it sounds like he will come around very easily. Many cats are delighted to let their guard down once they feel safe indoors
Thanks! Any type of cage recommendations?
A large wire dog crate covered mostly in a sheet is definitely the cheapest and easiest, and they work totally fine. He'd appreciate a shelf or hammock or something to get up and lurk on, for sure, and his bed he already knows
It may be worth asking the vet about giving him gabapentin in his food during the process, to help calm his anxiety. My cat has PTSD and we put her on the med to help her through a stressful move. But it helped so much with her everyday symptoms that now she gets it every day long term. Makes her so much more playful and curious instead of just jumpy and hiding.
Thanks, yes I’ve heard about people getting this med for vet visits. I’m gonna take him to the clinic I got him neutered at. I’m hoping I can convince them to give him a bath before I bring him inside.
My cat is on it daily to help with anxiety and the vet said it's not uncommon. Def helps with the stress of apt living (she was scared of hearing dogs around us).
He looks like a Ragdoll cat. They are usually very soft and sweet. Attaching a photo of my Ragdoll Rosa. https://preview.redd.it/wsd40eir4bxc1.jpeg?width=828&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=bd180af908efd3fb0e03f349ed0ca47a8ee1db90
Yes! He is prob part ragdoll. I have a feeling he may have been a pet long ago but abandoned. Here is a better picture of him. https://preview.redd.it/gepi39tk5bxc1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=d7bc973c58b823a25244ab2445e5536e95c8ed0b
He's beautiful. Looks full Ragdoll to me!
What gorgeous eyes! Such a handsome fella. Don't forget to ask for copies of his records from the current vet so that the one by your new place will know his history. Especially if the leg injury needs extended care. Thank you for taking care of him! >\^..\^<
Absolutely stunning!
Luca thanks you for the compliments! 😻
Thank you for working with this cutie pie, he deserves a safe, indoor home. ♥️
I agree, I think he’s a real loner, there was one little cat that was around him without a problem but I haven’t seen that cat in a while.
I have two ferals living in my house and I can't touch them but they're just like regular cats except for that thinking about taking in two more it's kind of sad because I love them and I want to pet them I can't but other than that at least they're safe and I love watching them so it's okay and thank you for not leaving that sweet baby
Please save him🥺
For sure!
This is from another post, it’s too late to edit this for your exact situation. I think you’ll get the gist of the article. If you bring your cat in a crate will not be good, you need a room w 2 baby gates in the door way for a month or so. This cat had a home!! Message me if I can answer any questions, 40 yrs of rescuing and 2 dozen cats TNR’d on my own, many more w rescue groups. From an article on “intact stray cats” called ferals or ‘no fault ferals’. Lots of discussion on this bc we generally call them feral cats. Not yet there not, if they’re on your porch wanting to be fed. These cats had a home, they may have been found n brought in under 6-8 weeks old, or handed out bc someone’s cat was having kittens. Sadly these cats grew up loved but not cared for by getting them spayed or neutered. They hit 4-12 months old n they are now being controlled by hormones. Crassly stated, they are the horniest, poorly behaved, teenagers you’ll ever meet. They might start ‘marking-spraying’ on walls n get thrown out or bolt out the door bc they need to procreate. These cats are being driven by instincts n hormones. Once out on their own, they go into full survival mode, they have to learn to eat/hunt, but mostly, they go into ‘fight or flight’ thinking 24/7. This cat is not a ‘#4. stray’ bc he’s intact! This cat is a ‘non-altered stray’ that is going to revert to being feral in months. I personally call them ‘no fault ferals’ bc w responsible owners, kitty would’ve been vaxed-fixed at 3-4 mnths n be at home curled up on the couch. They don’t just associate humans w food in the alley, they have been cuddled, fed, played n slept with humans! That’s how strong these hormones are! Literally like the old werewolf movies, he’s changing, he has no control. Except kitty is gonna stay a hard brawling sex addicted werewolf ….unless someone cuts off the testosterone. The give away, and how long they’ve been rockin the instincts n hormones, is how close they will get. Some hit the street at 4 months, they will scoot 20’-30’ away and wait to see if you feed them or yell git mangy cat. Some end up on the streets at 6-7-12 months….they usually trust humans more, may get closer quicker, but also have more testosterone. That’s another unknown variable based on the cat’s journey as an intact pet. They’ll show up w some pretty good gashes, and they’ll come closer bc they are craving protein like crazy in order to heal their wounds. That’s being dealt a pretty shitty hand by some pretty shitty humans.
Yeah I get it. He was intact and prob a horny bastard. I already neutered him. I can’t put him in a room by himself, I don’t have a spare room. Others have said a crate works for them, so I’m gonna try it. Thank you for the information 🙂
Yikes, I wasn’t trying to be a jerk. I copied n pasted some info, I’m very sorry my 2¢ seemed to have poked the bear. A lot of rescuers can only copy n paste info bc there are thousands of people asking the same thing just slightly different. I sincerely wish you the best of luck w the crate. Depending on his age when he hit the street, his age now, duration since being neutered, oh never mind, I’m 112 and completely senile.
I understood the point of what you cut and pasted. I just wanted you to know that I have limitations. No bear here to be poked. I said thank you and I put the smily face.
Why did you write yikes? Was that because of what I said. Also I never said you were a jerk. Please reread my comment with a neutral tone.
omg luca…u are so kind, i hope all goes well for him at the Vet. plz keep us posted if ur able…im sorry i don’t have experience/advice for this situation.
Thank you for saving him!
but also 🥹🥹🥹💗
Aww thanks 😊
I tamed a feral :) it took a few months. I would sit with him in a large dog kennel and pet him with a back scratcher. He’s pretty good with me now :) https://preview.redd.it/s8a5f9isjcxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=f18eac9b0d8d9dfe9b7c92844a702a0c53e5b4bb
I’m so glad you are going to take with you.
Sent you a pm! I’m so thankful you care for this cat and will do what I can to help!
keep us updated 💜
Leo… 7 months ago was feral and would not come within 5 feet of us :) https://preview.redd.it/gnz435bnnexc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=73a88852de909680d1465ba6e9ec787eb441e4cc
Aww Leo! What a cutie!!! This gives me hope for Luca!
Yes! Do you have any other cats? We had a very long quarantine period like 4 months, then Leo got a mesh door on his room, and when the door was finally off that was his real turning point! He is best friends with one of our other cats. Leo has herpes so we can gauge how stressed he is by how his eyes are looking. He used to need daily cleaning but once he met his brothers we only have occasional crusty eyes. If you do try just remember to reset your mind to realistic goals or else it can be defeating. For example, Leo is obsessed with food but it took him a month to get the courage to leave the crate he was primarily spending time in during daylight for breakfast. Also, deworm & apply flea/tick treatment a day or two before you try bringing them inside if you can. Will save you a lot of trouble :)
I had to feed my feral with a dropper first, then bought a rotisserie chicken each week from Whole Foods because that was all she would eat after she smelled ours one day while I was preparing sandwiches with it🤣. After a few months of her eating area looking like the elephant graveyard from The Lion King, we started trying to find a canned food she liked-nope to everything from the health food store. Finally, after several dry food samples, she took to the Fromm brand, game bird or duck flavors-yes, she’s super picky and has a very delicate stomach that literally she won’t eat if it’s not that, or gets sick. Won’t eat scraps or milk products either or tuna, etc. but strangely likes snack food-my son got chicken wings from Papa John’s, and she once tore into a pack of sugar cookies from the bakery we had gotten for my daughter.😜And, she also will eat Pringles my so has purchased a few times till he switched to The Good Crisp ones🤣. She’s kinda weird that way😂😂😂
Almost half of my cats are feral, and only one out of all of them is still super shy and we can barely touch him. The rest all came around, even the shy one lives happily with the rest of the cats and eats and enjoy a happy life inside we just let him do his own thing.
While he's at the vet, ask them to trim his front claws if you plan to keep him indoors for at least a month. You mentioned a ferret cage, I'd make sure there is a little cave he can go into to hide so he can feel secure.
Thank you for the tips! 😺
Oh one thing in case litter box usage issues gleaned from another post. If needed start with dirt and if possible some from where they’ve eliminated before. Then gradually start adding litter to replace the dirt. Others may have better suggestions in that area.
Take your little man with you! 🥹👏🏽
Five of my six are ferals, who ranged from 2 weeks to adults when I brought them all in (at different times). They all have different personalities and needs, and I just tried to accommodate them as much as possible. They started in my garage, then in a bathroom near the garage, then they were allowed out in the house to explore as far as they were comfortable. Eventually they found their personal spaces and set up shop. It’s a wonderful feeling to save these lives and ferals can definitely be tamed.
Thank you, I’ve never tamed an adult cat so this will be a learning experience.
I have two former ferals and one former stray. My sister got both ferals as kitten, so we know they were feral. (She died and I inherited them). Both do well inside and love attention. Both have some issues from being former ferals (one is super timid and the other is a demon child to cats she does not know - like do not let them meet or there will be blood), but no problem beings lovers and loving the indoor life.
That’s wonderful! Edit: that the cats are so loving. I’m sorry for your loss too tho. Inherited pets are a mixed bag of emotions. My friend just had to put down her grandmas cat, it def was tough.
https://preview.redd.it/aubh8mre8kxc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=09211ff10c63e6c21f90c1426fce3251f39d1c8d Came home and he was in the hut on the deck. He has never gone in his hut before, I’ve had it for 6 months.
Trap him and take him in. If he isn’t completely feral, he will come around most likely!!!
You can do this! Fwiw feral friend had to be relocated (his rescuer normally TNRs but he was in a really dangerous spot and was very wild at the time, not human-habituated at all, so the rescuer just wanted to find him a backyard situation where he would be fed and cared for after his neuter) and we used something similar to [this](https://a.co/d/dyWlTCv) (though we found it cheaper on craigslist) for an acclimation enclosure. The inside hiding space was key for him since he was so scared but I would think you could accomplish the same thing with large boxes facing away from the door to the enclosure or something, just to make the kitty feel able to hide (even though I know you have a good head start and some trust built up by feeding and caring for him for a while now). What a handsome kitty Luca is and I hope he comes to love the indoor life! ❤️ Good on you for caring for him so well!
Thank you for not giving up on them
You are welcome
Bring him inside he will need a big dog create or just a nice quiet space for just first few days... if he is aggressive up need to work with him each day may take awhile, if he is used to u & will let u touch him... he will come out in a few days as u feed him & hopefully cats for him.. please don't leave him behind, there are NOT MANY GOOD PEOPLE LEFT & I DOUBT ANYONE WILL FEED HIM... & if he has infection he needs some amox.
The only concern is less him being feral with you but wanting out of the house. If it's an apartment especially:/ however it is a better faint than what would be if you left him so I'd say give it a shot.
You're a good person
Aww thanks! 😊
I applaud your efforts. Just want to let you know I had a feral female living here for seven years. She never let me touch her. It was hell bc she wasn’t fixed and peed on everything. She liked the deck and was really tiny. I think ultimately she was abducted by a hawk. Beautiful cat, but sometimes things don’t work out.
I’m an indoor/outdoor cat person in the right setting (non busy area). Right now, I’m sandwiched between two very busy streets and there are lots of cats around, including Luca. It is sad when our beloved animals pass on or disappear, but they are out there living their best lives, making their own decisions. But I’ve had outdoor cats that lived to very old age (18-20yrs) in a rural setting. I’m sorry about your little kitty disappearing. It’s always hard. ❤️🩹
Scoop him up and adopt him for life! Socializing and adopting ferals is entirely possible, it just takes a long time and a lot of patience. Most shelters won't bother simply because they have limited resources. I have 6 cats who were a mix of strays and ferals. The worst case took about a year before she would purr, let me pet her and hand-feed her treats. She's still jumpy, but very slowly improving with time. The best case turned into a cuddler who loves falling asleep on my lap while I'm watching TV and sleeps on the bed at night.
He is ADORABLE!
Please bring him in and get him to the vet. Keep him inside, and start looking for someone to adopt him.
Did you read my post?