Tips on stroking a feral

Hi I have been fostering a feral kitten for 3 weeks now. She is about 4 months and was very frightened when she come to us.
She will now make her way from her room (utility) through the kitchen to the living room to come and play. She will come to us when called and sit with us, walk on us but the second your hand gets near to stroke her she's off!

Any tips on stroking her? Is it just a matter of time?

Thank you for any help.

Ps how do I load photos into a new thread?

It will take time. You can slide your hand towards her on the floor (or the surface she's on), not fast, of course, but close enough that she doesn't run, to let her sniff you. Let her come to your hand, or call her with your hand out. Just let her approach you hands like this until she feels fine with being near it, and then try to touch her. She may dart away at first, so you'll have to backtrack to just letting her be near your hands. If she will take a treat or piece of food from your hand, the bond will build faster, but try to resist petting her if she takes the treat. Eventually, once she feels comfortable near your hands, you can try touching her while feeding her out of one hand, but make sure she sees the petting hand coming, and don't sneak it on her.

I hope that helps!

Hi, thank you for replying. I think I just get a little worried it will not happen. She will eat from out hand, sniff and lick it, sometimes she pats it lol.

So do you think it will happen when she's ready? Or do some kittens never let you stroke them?

I think that if you start young and keep ensuring and reassuring that you won't rush her comfort, she'll warm up eventually. I've never met a feral kitten that didn't warm up with persistent work (not to say they don't exist!). However, I have met feral and abandoned adults that never warmed up because they simply didn't have that persistence as a kitten, or because trauma caused them to distrust people.

You just have to keep trying, backtrack when you need to, go at her pace, and fulfill all her other needs. You got this! [emoji]128158[/emoji]

You can take something like the other end of a wand toy and use it to gently stroke her, so your hands aren't near her but she gets used to the idea of petting for a while.

You can also just hold out your fist to her and see if she'll rub against it. It feels kind of like rubbing against another cat's head to her. When she does let you start petting her, start by using just one or two fingers and gently stroking from the tip of her nose back. This is how a mother cat starts a grooming session so it feels comfortable and familiar.

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Aww thank you, I just want her to see we care

Wooden spoons or similiar are good for stroking.  Its softly curved - that is why spoon.  Ad why wood?  Because it feels soft and almost warm in touch.   Best natural wood, just polished off, but not lacquered.

Many cats, esp shy cats, arent fond of stroking when they stand on the floor.  Its much easier to wait when they are laying comfortably up somewhere, on a charir, on the sofa, etc,  you sit down at them there, and with a little luck, you can stroke them there almost any lengh of time...

My cat loves to be stroked with inanimate objects. I have no idea why I didn't even think about that!

He loves being "buttered" with spoons, butter knives, and spatulas. I like to tell him "let's better the cat loaf" very softly when I do it. We're silly.

I use a homemade "pet petter".  I took the end of an old wand toy ( a dowel rod or long handed spoon would work too).  I then covered the end with an old sock.  I just used duct tape to hold it together.  I then added a piece of soft flannel around it.  It can also be used as a toy to entice the kitty to play.  I have found that it sometimes helps to approach the kitty with the pet petter from the back side.  If they see it coming, they often freak out.  If you can surprise them (not startle or frighten them) and allow them to feel how awesome touch can be it might help.  Just take ti slow.  I sometimes put the pet petter on the floor with a tiny bit of catnip on it.  Then just leave it there.  After a few hours I pick it up and move it back and forth so the kitty thinks it's a toy.  If you can get the kitty interested you can even move it just above their head and then bring it down very gently onto their back. 

Here is a picture of the pet petter I used this past summer while working with a feral cat.

shadowsrescue
That's awesome! You should put that as an entry submission on the current giveaway. That's very creative, and inspired by a cat!

The best way I found for getting a feral to allow you to touch, then pet them is to get them used to being fed. Usually after a while they will be waiting for their dinner. Bring the food bowl out but don't put food in it until the feral comes up to eat it, then put it in the dish/bowl while the cat is there...often they will start eating before you are finished putting the food in the bowl. When they are comfortable eating when you put the food out, the cat will often brush against your hand as it eats and you put the food out. Take advantage and lightly stroke the cat. Ferals will usually be pretty skittish but working with food is the best way I have found to befriend a feral.

Jim  

Thank you all so much, some fab advice [emoji]128522[/emoji] Love the stick idea!

Kitty will be leaving us on Friday, she has a forever home! I have mixed emotions as I wanted to bring her on a little more before finding a home. But her new human will have lots of time to give her and at least we made a start.

You tips will come in useful as I'm sure to come across more feral kittens [emoji]128522[/emoji]

DianneH said:

Thank you all so much, some fab advice [emoji]128522[/emoji] Love the stick idea!

Kitty will be leaving us on Friday, she has a forever home! I have mixed emotions as I wanted to bring her on a little more before finding a home. But her new human will have lots of time to give her and at least we made a start.

You tips will come in useful as I'm sure to come across more feral kittens [emoji]128522[/emoji]

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Be sure to pass these awesome tips on to the kitty's new forever home! We love you all and wish you all luck![emoji]128158[/emoji]

Thank you, I will be passing the info on to them, and I'm sure it will come in useful as my adventures as a foster carer continue