Could use some advice regarding my rescued feral

Somehow I don't think that Tiger is a pure feral, he doesn't behave like a typical feral.

When I came across this forum, I was reading up on how to socialize with a feral, and that's when I knew he wasn't a full feral.

He's fine with eye contact, he hides under a table all day, only coming out to laze on the carpet or use his box and eat.

I know cats smell fear, and he does smell a little with me, I don't want to be all scratched up by him, which is why I haven't gotten too close to him.

When he was at the vet, he did tolerate the rescue woman touching him, prior to the morphine injection, then was too drowsy to care when I did.

I was able to touch him on the ride back home, but not since then, and that was just under a week ago.

This morning however, while he was munching on his treats, he let me touch his head, but only with one finger. If I did more, he swiped at me. I guess it only works when he's distracted.

Given that he's been here for a month now, I wonder what I can do to make the transition easier on him.

I'm looking at having him neutered in the coming weeks, just raising enough funds to do so. I'm hoping he'll be happier then.

Some ferals are just more accepting to the human touch more so than others. I had a "true" barn feral who allowed me to touch his head, with one finger while he ate. It took weeks but eventually he allowed me to pet him more and more. And, then eventually he started rubbing up against my legs. One of my released feral's, Dixie, was easily handled at the shelter and for her TNR, but she was extremely fierce and aggressive and would never tolerate ANY petting while she was in my care recovering from surgery and recently a leg infection. I just think she allowed to be handled at the shelter and the vets because she was in over her head and so fearful that she was frozen in fear. BUT having said that, I think these types are the ones who can come around quickly and be socialized/trusting with one person. This may be the way your guy is. It is possible that at one point early in his life he was someone's pet and got lost and totally reverted back to his wild roots. If so, you would have that in your favor as you progress with his socialization. Be very careful about trying to pet too much until he is neutered. He will get overstimulated quickly and become very aggressive and swift about it. Once he is neutered it will take about a month for his hormones to calm down and he will be more willing to accept a relationship with you. He is a very good looking, beautiful cat

Tiger I was told, did have a home until his owner dumped him and the siblings.

I'm not sure how long ago that was, but it was pretty recent I think as I never saw the cats when we moved in last September.

Originally Posted by Newfosterparent

Tiger I was told, did have a home until his owner dumped him and the siblings.

I'm not sure how long ago that was, but it was pretty recent I think as I never saw the cats when we moved in last September.

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I have to point out that you can't see cat if cat does not want to be seen, hiding and scouting is what they were 'made' for, when I did move to my house there was two small cats, I never saw them more than twice, but even next year I saw paw prints at my warehouse, thinking it was some random cat, but warehouse has been feral hideout for really a long time, there has been ferals living there lot more than I have seen, after setting up cameras, reality become much clearer to me, there were so many of them.

Also with my current three it has happened more than once that cat get spooked as I simply can't see one which is right next to chair spying on me while hiding, so when I walk to other room past the chair cat runs like fire under it's tail, they are not quite tame yet, still hiding during day and it has been almost a year, but petting has become now possible, only when they are willing, though.

It can't be known what horrors your poor cat has been trough, it may take quite some time for wounds to heal, especially wounds that are in mind, when Tiger learns that you are different from what experiences he may have, who knows maybe he has been hit fit hand or kicked with leg, surely one gets very cautious about those things then, or maybe someone has chased him off from their lawns/porch so that makes some wounds which must be healed first.

Having him neutered helps in 1 month really lot, at least from my (very little) experience, just be patient, he shows up when he has made his judgement, he probably will test your nerves too, making mess, dropping something from shelf, mine did toss large window glass to ground as it was leaning against the wall in storage, most likely just to see what is my reaction and if I'm worth of their trust.

Also must be said, if I was put to situation of my cats, I would for sure be the same, getting captured and vet where neutered and then bring to new odd place where huge two legged monster is moving around, who would not be afraid and later testing if monster will really not be a monster