Advice in taming 6 month old feral

I got my latest foster on Wednesday. A shy, 6 month old, orange cream kitten named Rigby.


From his history, the people who brought him in had been caring for him as a stray for about a month and they thought he was 4 months (shelter placed him at closer to 6 though.) He would allow them to pet him while he ate. He was also very social with other cats outside. He was brought into the shelter on Nov. 27th and I just received him on the 16th, about 2 1/2 weeks later. 

This little guy is pretty paralyzed. He hasn't been eating much and just started eating wet food that I've left by him. He finally ate a bit more dry food last night and again ate wet food I offered this afternoon. He isn't very active in the day, mostly at night. I'll hear him wandering about the bathroom, using his litterbox, exploring, meowing. Don't think he's playing with the toys though.

My fiance and I have scratched his head a few times and it's sometimes met with hisses, sometimes not. That's the most he does - hiss. Sometimes he'll run if we try to handle him. I've been able to snuggle him by placing a blanket over him and transferring him to a towel and burritoing. He tries to hide his head in the towel, but seems to enjoy chin scratches.

I got a rolling cat condo cage that I'm going to set up in the living room once his quarantine is over (I have a resident kitten.) Soonest he can go in is Monday afternoon, but I want him to be eating good proper amounts before I move him since the change will be stressful and he needs some nourishment.

Also, I've got a radio in the bathroom with him playing talk shows to get him used to people noises. (I started turning it on and off to give him breaks though, yesterday, cause I wanted to bring his stress down to get him to eat more.)

This is the oldest kitten I've been given as a foster to try to tame before. Any advice on how to deal with these older guys would be great! 

I am of the no-push school, so I usually do quiet things while with my ferals. I'll sit and read out loud to them, work on the computer, etc. I know the hands-on approach works with many cats, so do what seems to work best with him. Indicvidualizing your approach is the key.

You said he was friendly with the other cats, so perhaps he will be less unsettled once he sees a "friend" in your other kitty. Hopefully, after a few weeks, he will settle in.

Thank you for fostering him. We need more people willing to do that tough job.

I´ve had good success with feral kittens in a group of kittens that are more socialized. Seems like they watch each other. For example you have one shy one and 3 well socialized ones. When you enter the room, the friendly kittens come and greet you and are all excited to see you. Typically the shy one will join them pretty soon, even when you can´t touch him yet, he´ll start showing the same friendly behaviour. Another good way of getting a kitten used to us is having him lick (human) baby food with meat flavor from you fingers. First you have to use a spoon, so he learns that the stuff is to lick and not to bite. By having him lick your finger he will associate your hands with something positive.

If that works out well, try feeding him regular food next to you and eventually on your lap. If you do this each time, he´ll be happily waiting to be picked up and sit on your lap. Of course that means scheduled feeding, not free-feeding. You don´t want to leave food out all day long.

Thanks guys. I was thinking similar things. And it's good to know others would do the same.

I've tried giving him baby food off a spoon and even my finger, but he won't eat at all in front of me. He's only just started eating wet food if I place it near him and leave. I'll still continue to try it - at some point I'm sure he'll eat off my finger, even if it's two weeks from now. And I'll be doing scheduled feedings once he starts eating more heartily. 

I hope he'll be able to learn from my resident kitten. I know he is lonely and I hear him meowing sometimes at night. It's sad. But I know this is what is best for him in the long run of course.

I really like fostering. It's rewarding.

Today I scratched his little head and under his chin. He lifted his head and started purring. >w< Progress!! Even if he's a shy house cat, it'd be better than being a working cat or TNR. They clipped his ear already in preparation for that, but I'm hoping it won't come to that.