feral kitten/ teen cat

Just caught this kitten/ teen that's recently came to my house to eat my outdoor cats food. I've always dealt with baby just weaned kittens so I'm not even sure how to deal with a older kitten taming-wise. Where do I even start? He/she is still in the trap just hangingout on my livingroom getting used to me walking about. My indoor cats are saying hello, lol. I don't want to move it to a crate to soon maybe tonight after it's used to my smell and knows I'm not a threat? Any advice would be really appreciated.

Little update- kitty let me pet it even let me put my hand in the trap and scratch it's head. Going to move it to a crate soon but don't want to overwhelm it to much so taking things slow. Not sure if a boy or girl yet will post a photo as soon as I get my phone off charger so expect a photo soon.

Here is kitty. It looks quite large in pic but in reality it's quite small it's in a squirrel trap that's why the photo is kind of deceiving. When it first showed up it had a slight eye infection and was uber skinny but since then it's eye got better and it's obviously gained weight. I believe it's been sleeping in my doghouse I have on my porch for my outdoor cats which ironically none use because they rather just slip in the house at night then use it, lol.

Thank you for taking this baby in. Thanks to you, he/she has a chance now.

Congratulaions on your new arrival. It looks my Sam Adams. He adopted us the same way. Sounds like what you are doing is great. I would let it out in one room for now but don't be surprised if it goes straight for the door and wants to go out. Eventually it will get used to the indoors especially when the colder weather comes. Just take it slow. GOOD LUCK. Have fun

Thanks @Crazy4Strays and @CamilleL for the support.

Already making great progress and may have found someone to adopt her. Found out she is a little girl! Gave her a bath and she purs at me and even let's me carry her and pet her all over!! I'm so happy. 1 day after trapping her and she's already on a good start to becoming truly tamed.

She is gorgeous!  I think she probably got lost or was dumped, as she seems to have had at least initial socializing.  Whatever you are doing seems to be working, so keep it up.  Take it slowly, though.  Cats need time to adjust, so give her the time.

I would have her vet checked before intorducing her to the indoor cats.  She may have a bug they haven't met yet.

Good to hear she will have a nice home.  Blessings on you for helping her.

I have plenty of indoor out cats that were supposed to be outdoor cats lol so I'm pretty sure my indoor guys are safe. After all most of my indoor cats are supposed to be outdoor but decided they like it better inside over out. Lol.

To the other thing I doubt she was dumped or anything like that because I've seen her mom who is very feral and I've seen her running around but never had the chance to catch her until she started coming to my house for food.

My mom says I'm a cat whisper cause I'm really good at taming ferals and my cats are more like dogs and follow me about and I can just carry them around and squish them with hugs. All my kitties are rescues and most started life as ferals and they are all awesome.

Feral kittens make the best cats I have to say. I'm not sure why but the seem to have something special about them. Along with the fact that you know how miserable they're lives would have been had you not caught them when they were fluffy little bundles of hissing joy, lol.

Here are two of my older bundles. Tiffany is the diluted tortie and Grim is the diluted tabby w/ white. She's almost 4 and he is about 6ish now. These two are true outdoor kitties. They hardly ever come in unless there is a snow storm or worse.

Interesting idea.. here I have a feral who after months is still hostile.. letting her develop at her pace and at least she now live atop the table rather than under it!  My take is that I am here for the cats, rather than the cats being here for me! She is safe and well fed and after her early life that is a huge, huge thing. So she  is not a cat to be  petted. Fine... The second cat I took in is a total opposite. He was a house pet and sits on me,  walks up my legs with soft paws, purrs,, a cat full of love,,, just I have to remember NOT TO PET THE WRONG CAT! Love them all!  Oh and the outisde " feral"? He is totally dangerous; wraps round my ankles purring so I cannot move.. makes hanging the washing out interesting! ALL cats are the best cats! 

Sweetpea7 said:

Interesting idea.. here I have a feral who after months is still hostile.. letting her develop at her pace and at least she now live atop the table rather than under it!  My take is that I am here for the cats, rather than the cats being here for me! She is safe and well fed and after her early life that is a huge, huge thing. So she  is not a cat to be  petted. Fine... The second cat I took in is a total opposite. He was a house pet and sits on me,  walks up my legs with soft paws, purrs,, a cat full of love,,, just I have to remember NOT TO PET THE WRONG CAT! Love them all!  Oh and the outisde " feral"? He is totally dangerous; wraps round my ankles purring so I cannot move.. makes hanging the washing out interesting! ALL cats are the best cats! 

Click to expand...

Sorry in advance for the long post just so much to say!

For sure! I just have a soft spot for ferals I tame or TRN (&rescues-usually pregnant cats) and yes some take to people faster then others that's for sure. I took in a whole litter of 6 and mama cat, for example, and one was jumping on my back while I did house stuff for attention, I named him rascal, within the week of trapping him but his sister decided she just preferred not to be tame at all (her mom tamed up faster then her actually.) I love my cats and I don't treat all the same either some prefer not to be hugged and kissed and that's okay. Plenty I've found loving homes for, otherwise Id be overrun, lol. But yea they are there for me as much as I am for them. I'm so glad I put the time and effort into taming them if I hadn't no one else would and they would have complete fear of people or not be alive today.

This girl purrs when I pet her now and yes still has a fear of hands but lets me pick her up and hold her purring all the way.

Guess I don't have as much patience as most but it seems to work for me. Every feral kitten I've had was tamed up within the first two weeks, month tops, I've had them otherwise they are always a little standoffish. Thankful I've only had that happen once that I can remember rascals sister actually. Adults are a totally different story, more time, less progress, need LOTS of patience. Usually I TRN adults I just feel it's to stressful on me and the kitty and if they have shelter (they do), are healthy and I'm feeding them. Why put them through the stress?

Yours will come around sooner or later. Kittens just come around so quick compared to adults that I've noticed. I was just afraid cause this girl is so much older then I'm used to (AND it's been at least 2 years since I had a feral kitten because I've TRN or tamed all the cats on my block.) Years of effort but totally worth it. I've always taken in rescues/ferals and always will. I'm a true animal lover and proud of it!

Rascal - feral kitten. Progression from first week until about 6 months. He is twice the size of the last pic now. (All my new pics aren't transferred to my tablet yet.)
Tiffy/Tiffany - a while after summer trim (hairs all grown out now as you seen in previous picture of her.)

Lovely photos and so much caring! Bless you! But I honestly and sincerely do not mind what my wee briar does or becomes. She is safe and happy whatever and however now.  The variety in my cats is a constant joy and fascination to me.