Feral need help taming

Hi im part of a cat rescue group and we have a very larger feral cat population we try our best to trap the kittens at a young age and home them we have done TNR (Trap, Neture, Release) because of limited funds we can only do so many times. Since larger cats are harder to home we usually just release them but i dont enjoy that i hate that they have to live out side so i have a feral fixed male in a larger dog crate it my basement to try and tame he is a beauty of a boy he uses his litter and eats and drinks well when i go down he stays in a far corner of the cage hes lit me pet his head but always keeps direct eye contact an sometime tries to pull himself into the corner father when i leave ans spy he gets up and walks around as soon as i enter he goes back to the corner he is a full grown cat. Any tips to help tame him are greatly needed and Thanks in advanced.

He just needs time.  If he lets you pet him on the head then he is probably not a true feral but a semi-feral or a scared stray.  Be nonthreatening and focus touching the top of his head or if he lets you the cheek area or back of the head.  Try hand feeding him freeze dried cat treats.  Play is very important so you can use a wand toy- just stick it through the bars of the crate and play with him that way.  If he starts to associate you with treats and playing he will come around faster but it will take time and patience.  Go at his speed.  When he stares don't stare back as this is very threatening.  Don't make steady eye contact. Try slow-blinking.  Jackson Galaxy has a great youtube video on slow blinking:   I use this on ferals and semi-ferals and even my own cats.

A couple of tips.  Use much sounds.  Talk friendly, sing softly if you can, make crooning sympathetic noises.  This is good cat language - for example  friendly toms courting ladies do so.

Yawning is friendly.  Standing on all fours, stretching out, forwards or backwards - is friendly.   If he turns his behind to you - its friendly.  And possibly giving you a chance to sniff on his behind.

To sniff is much asked, but its enough you blew a tiny little, so he feels it alike you breathing on him being near...   Its sort of ritual for them...

This with eye contact as mentioned before.   Home cats do often so, but for homeless stirring into the eyes is more or less hostile...

The blinking...

Have a soft, relaxing music on when you arent there.  And or a Feliway adapter.   it makes him calmer, more relaxed, less fearing.

i have a pic of this big boy in my gallery 

Thats him @Mani as you notice he is ear tipped bc he was a TNR but is now inside

We also noticed he was likely the Alpha of his colony 

Ddavis said:

 
We also noticed he was likely the Alpha of his colony 

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Where do you live, Ddavis?   Which country?    I have a guess to his possible ancestry -  would be nice to have the indicium strenghened.

StefanZ said:

 
Where do you live, Ddavis?   Which country?    I have a guess to his possible ancestry -  would be nice to have the indicium strenghened.

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Im from Newfoundland, Canada

Ddavis said:

 
Im from Newfoundland, Canada

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OK, when I saw his green eyes, and a big part of his coat being grey, I think he may have a fresh ancestry of Russian blue.  The british type, with the straigh ears up...

You living in Canada, I suppose, IF he has a russian background, the probability his ancestor has british roots are as good as pure US-american roots, no?

Names suggestions for the grey and white feral are also welcomed he has been nick named "long ears" while he was living out side but now that he is in and working to be tame i think its time for a proper name need something that really suits him 

Let it be someting russian then...   As there seems to be some sort of RB ancestor in the colony, its not just a coincidental gathering of genes in one individum.

Spasskiy, perhaps, after that ex-worldmaster and grandmaster in chess.   Contains also lotsa of sss- which are supposed to help cats to hear their name.

There was probably some saint with that name, as there was a renown Spasskiy cathedrale...

We have three large colonies of cats here in my area and one of the colonies has a lot of polys ( extra to on two front feet) tons of pics of these large groups of feral cats 

He's doing good. Seems when i leave the room for to long he meows, when i go back though he crawls back into his corner sometimes when my hand is near he will hiss at it.  Decided to put in a small toy with him and he started flicking it around when i left he seems to be coming around but he really needs to be handled tips?? (also name suggestions)

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I have no tips but he is very handsome.

I just looked at him and thought, he looks like a 'Bertie', but everyone will probably shout me down in flames...

Alexander, or Alex - as in Alexander Nevskiy, the duke and great hero from Medieval Russia winning over invasions of Swedes and the german Teutonic Crusaders Order.

Sascha is btw nickname for Alexander in russian, its not girls name over there.

Im still saying his ears are a typical trait for british variant of Russian Blue, practically pinpointing his ancestry.

This boy "long ears" is really coming around i can pet im he takes treat from my hand we now let him roam the house in the day and he enjoys it he really enjoys playing. Doesnt like to me hovered over he really needs to be picked up any tips on how to get him to allow me to do so