Feral cat-ate around me...Normal behavior?

calicoblue

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Last while feeding my feral cat-Mr. Butters-- he started to kinda answer my call...so I sat on my porch and he came close and ran to the bowl grabbed some food and ran off. A couple minutes later he did the same thing...then after doing this a couple more times he just stayed and ate. It was amazing...so my question is...do you think over time he might tame a bit so I can "adopt" him and get him domesticated or is this still pretty much feral behavior. I've been feeding him for about three months and this is the first time this happened....
 

keith p

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I adopted a feral from my yard, who lives in my house now and is no longer feral, but very nice,gentle, and friendly.

If you eventually wanted to adopt this cat, what happened is a good start! But you'll need more time before considering to adopt. He'll need to trust you enough that you can pet him without him hissing/biting/scratching.

Sitting down outside being very quiet and still having food by you, if he will eat next to you is something to do every day. Eventually he may decide to rub against you and start to trust you. Once he starts doing that and smelling you, see if he will smell your hand. If he allows you to pet him with no fear, see if he will take bits of food out of your hand. If he will thats a major breakthrough.

Every cat is different, but here is the steps (progress) my cat took before I adopted her.

stage 1. cat came around, would eat food, if she saw me would run away and not come back that day.

stage 2. cat would come by, would eat even though I was looking out my door, but would run away if I went outside.

stage 3. cat came by to eat, started coming by my back door for food, would eat by the door while I sat inside.

stage 4. cat would eat with me outside, but would no approach me.

stage 5. cat would eat, and come 5 feet from me to eat while I sat down, but if I got too close would hiss and growl.

stage 6. cat would come to eat, and eat the food right in front of me, but would still growl/hiss if I tried to pet her.

stage 7. cat would eat by me, I could walk around and it would not phase her, she would no longer hiss or growl at me.

stage 8. cat would come to eat, and rub against me! she then let me pet her! we are starting to become buddies!

stage 9. cat would sit by back door meowing all day and night to eat, and would start to come inside my house if i let her!

stage 10. cat would come inside, let my family pet her, pick her up, would spend all day in my yard without leaving and cry all night for me.

stage 11. we adopted the cat, and she made a great pet and loves being inside.
 

momofmany

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Over time, many feral cats will become less shy with their caretakers. They often will form a bond with their caretakers but does not always mean that they will bond with others, unless someone else takes over that role. Other feral cats can be socialized and adopted. A lot depends on their life prior to the point where you start to care for them. If they had been in a home and haven't been feral for long, they have a higher chance of turning around.

Every cat (but 3) that I've taken into my home in the last 20 years was born feral and most have fully adjusted to me. Some could be adopted out but others would never do well with others. Every cat is different and you don't always know until you get them out of their environment and into your home.
 

StefanZ

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I presume you know of the classical advices:
not looking directly at the cat; as staring is hostile in the feral cats world.
And not raising your hand to pet; as raised paws are also semihostile...

Thus, only short looks at the cat. Look near the cat instead.
Or if looking at the cat, blink slowly like friendly cats do.

You may even try to yawn some and or stretch yourself, as friendly cats do.


Part of being fostered into homecat is to learn humans are funny people, who look at you and raise their hand without any evil purposes - quite the opposite.
 

kazy

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Originally Posted by keith p

stage 6. cat would come to eat, and eat the food right in front of me, but would still growl/hiss if I tried to pet her.

stage 7. cat would eat by me, I could walk around and it would not phase her, she would no longer hiss or growl at me.

stage 8. cat would come to eat, and rub against me! she then let me pet her! we are starting to become buddies!
How long does leap from stage 6 to stage 8 take?
Weeks, months, years?
I took in ferals and they live in one of my bedrooms.
They play with me, but they never rub against me....

Thanks,
-Kazy
 
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calicoblue

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Thank you Keith for taking the time to answer my questions and giving me your steps. You Rock!!!

I will follow your lead for sure! Thank you thank you!
 
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calicoblue

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Thank you momofmany! I sooo appreciate your insight!
 
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