Creating a cat-safe yard for ferals

I am all for Sterilize, Tip, And Return (STAR) for adults, but think kittens should live in a fenced yard and learn to trust humans after they have surgery, exams, and vaccinations. Not only are they as easy as a squirrel to get killed on the road because of their size, but they are easier to tame than adults because they had less time on Earth to learn how mean people are. (Sorry, I can't remember where I read that. But I know a kitten's purrsonality is formed during the first two months.) So I decided if I am ever going to work with ferals, my job will be keeping kittens off the street by giving them a fenced yard and large enclosure while socializing them.

Is this plan realistic? Would it work? If it is a good idea, what features should the yard and enclosure have? I welcome all input about this.

Generally, no, I don't think this would work if your goal is socializing them. If you give them the option to avoid you, they will, and will remain feral. There are some proven methods for taming feral kittens, and I know someone will help you out with that. I've never really tried to do it, or even read up on it. But I do know that they need to be confined in an area where they feel safe but don't have the option to avoid contact with you.

A yard would be a good option for adult ferals who can't be returned to their previous location for some reason.

Agreed that this won't help and will hurt your turnaround time-they may come around but if you did this with a cage a baby kitten will come around in a few days-I have even gotten 6-8 months old to tame up within days-week.

Also my experience has been if they have another cat they will not be as easy so I seperate kittens till they come around.  IMO a case for a short period ends with a socialized kitten who could be placed in a very short period.

i mentioned this in a previous thread, but Best Friends Animal Society has a setup for feral cats

http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/specialfeatures/ferals1_8.cfm

http://www.bestfriends.org/allthegoodnews/specialfeatures/ferals2_4.cfm

We looked after two kittens and their mother until the mother took off for another round of sex and kittens. We could never catch her.  We fed the kittens and I put a cat door in the pool cage to allow them to come and go in the pool area. We had them neutered when they were old enough. They've lived outside now for over a year. Occasionally they go off on walkabout but usually return within a few days.

We've had them around now for over a year. One kitten is completely tame and loves to be hugged.  The other one can be petted while feeding but won't let you near her otherwise. We've treated both kittens the same. It's like human children - they can be very different. As with our children we loved them both anyway.

"The best pets are feral cats" but let them live their own lives. They are at risk and may die young, but at least they will have lived free without a government telling them what they can do and what they can't do.  I must expand on the idea of "ferals make the best pets"  in a future post. In the photo, the calico, Spice is male and friendly. the white cat, Cleo is female and standoffish.

Good luck with your pets.

Willowy said:

Generally, no, I don't think this would work if your goal is socializing them. If you give them the option to avoid you, they will, and will remain feral. There are some proven methods for taming feral kittens, and I know someone will help you out with that. I've never really tried to do it, or even read up on it. But I do know that they need to be confined in an area where they feel safe but don't have the option to avoid contact with you.
A yard would be a good option for adult ferals who can't be returned to their previous location for some reason.

Click to expand...

catsallaround said:

Agreed that this won't help and will hurt your turnaround time-they may come around but if you did this with a cage a baby kitten will come around in a few days-I have even gotten 6-8 months old to tame up within days-week.

Also my experience has been if they have another cat they will not be as easy so I seperate kittens till they come around.  IMO a case for a short period ends with a socialized kitten who could be placed in a very short period.

Click to expand...

Agree with above. That will not work for socializing kittens - an outdoor enclosure. Would be a great way to keep feral adult cats safe who cannot be socialized indoors and cannot be returned to their original territory.

If I do make a cat yard, what should I put in it?