4 month feral taming

Hi there. I'm trying to tame a 4 month old and believe we've made some progress. She came out of her hiding space for a brief second to see what I was doing when I cleaned her litterbox - and this after only 4 days! I already love her to pieces but have a concern.

I'm actually taming her for my sister and don't know if she'll adapt to my sister's home after this. My sister doesnt have the time or patience to do this. Has anyone got experience with socialising a kitten and rehoming them?

I'd much rather take her back to her colony (on my dad's property where they are fed daily) if it's not viable...any thoughts?

Thanks!

Any kitten I've been able to find a home for has done very, very well. Maybe your sister can visit while you are socializing her so they become acquainted. How little patience does your sister have, will she be the right "mama" for this little one? Can you keep her? I think a home with your sister would be preferable to living without hugs and cuddles in the colony.

Karen

Thanks Karen. My sister just doesn't have the patience to socialize a kitten, if I go on the amount of time I've put in and the results so far. She should be fine once kitty is ok with people.

I thought to get kitty used to me first before introducing her to other people but don't know that thats the correct way.

Must be honest, am thinking about keeping her depending on sister's attitude about a rescue cat but already have two small dogs and a spoiled brat kitty that I raised.

Some kittens do socialize completely, and adapt easily to the permanent adopter.

Some, these by nature shy, socialize nicely to the fosterer, but are still shy to strangers.  True.   But the next adopter has it anywasy easier to socialize them herself, than making a first time socialization.   The gates are already open, so renewing is easier than  doing it all herself from beginning.   For the permanent owner and for the cat both.

Such a kitten is of course almost chanceless on these Adoption Shows so common in USA, but if you find an individual adopter who is accepting a shy cat, and doing some socialization - it should work OK.

So, even in this Plan B it should go OK, as long as you manage well with the fostering.   I think and want to believe.

And Im sure you will manage.  You know for example, time, love and patience are the main keys.

Good luck!

Here is a series of videos on taming feral kittens.  These kittens are much younger, but the same principals apply.  I used these techniques to work on a 7 month old feral and it took time and patience, but I did make progress. 

http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo

Good morning. I have watched the videos for taming a 4 month, but am unclear about something.

I have determined that she's using the litterbox and eating when food is left. I have decided to start the tough love phase and giving food only when I'm in the room to encourage her to come out when I'm there.

I opened the cupboard where I know she hides and she hopped out and made one attempt to approach the food. The rest of the day was spent hiding.

Should I be "exposing" her in the hiding places when I'm in the room or leave her to come out by herself? She hasn't had food in 24 hours...she's been with me for 6 days now.

Thanks!

A quick update on the kitten and a request for advice..

So it's been 4 weeks and kitty now eats next to me with my hand resting next to her. She is also starting to show some interest when I enter the room and I've seen that she's lying outside her safe space most afternoons. She also plays with any objects I hold in my hand as long as it's not too close to my face (i do this lying down). All in all, good progress.

I do have a few questions though if someone could help...

Kitty still hisses at me approaching, although she quickly forgets that I'm a threat when I start playing or feeding. Is this normal after all this time?

The other thing I'd like to know is whether I should be trying to hold her. I've read many different articles on this with conflicting opinions. Some say (including my vet) that I should grab her and start petting while others strongly advise against this. I don't want to damage my relationship with kitty.

Lastly, I have a fur-child cat who I raised and she's extremely jealous of the time I spent with kitty. When is a good time to start socialise the two amd might it help my cause if kitty sees me interact with another cat?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

It sounds like things are going well.  The hissing - maybe she thinks you are coming too fast?  Try a slower approach and see if that helps.  It could be that she's just trying to keep the boundaries up until she's completely comfortable.

You would try a screen door on the room where she is.  It will give the resident cat and she the ability to see (and possibly sniff) one another without being able to actually fight, if it comes to that.  ShadowsRescue has a great set-up - she puts the door up using tension curtain rods.


That way, it comes off easily for you to get in and out but is sturdy enough to protect the cats from one another.