Patience is the key when working with ferals

I've been TNRing ferals for about a year, but never adopted any until January 2016. I noticed 2 kittens coming around to my food/ shelter area outside, one a tuxedo and one a red tiger, for a couple of weeks. They were always by themselves, and were about 8-10 weeks old. It was freezing cold outside, and I fell in love with them. One night they were both in the outdoor shelter, and I picked it up and brought it inside. I knew nothing at the time about dealing with feral kittens, I just knew they were so little and they were going to freeze to death outside. Poor things, they were so traumatized that they stayed behind the refrigerator for 3 days. I placed water and kitten chow close by, and waited. They gradually came out, and I put a little catbox close by. They clung to each other for dear life, sleeping together, eating together, and after awhile playing together, but were terrified of me. I spoke softly to them, used cat toys to encourage play, and let them see me pet and care for my older rescued Maine Coon. Eventually I found out their sex when a friend helped me corral them for neutering. Two boys, Bruce and Stevie. Stevie is the red tiger, and has been quicker with trust and responding to me. Often I have felt dejected, thinking that these 2 were never going to come around and that I must be doing something wrong. Since then I have done alot of research and I read over and over that there is no time limit, it's up to them, whenever they feel safe. Well, Happy 4th of July to me! The boys had progressed to taking food out of my hands, sleeping on the bed, and occasionally being still while I rubbed their paw, but that's it. This morning, I got up at 6am, fed them like always, and they ate, used the catbox, and started playing with each other, as usual. Stevie walked by me on the sofa, and I tried to softly pat his back. He didn't run!! I started to scratch his back and neck, and he started purring and let me do it. I scratched his neck and back, telling him I loved him and what a good boy he was. He let me do it, and then started to use his paws to hug my hand, and he gave me a couple of little lovebites. I told him no no, and he stopped the nipping, but it was definitely a breakthrough moment. It made me tear up to see this little guy receiving and giving love....a long way from that tiny red hissing and spitting fur ball in January. So...perseverance, my friends...it is so rewarding to work with these two! Now, for my black and white tuxedo to see this, and come around, too! It happens when it happens..Once he started trying to hold my hand and nipping, while purring away, I realized that he may be overwhelmed so I cut it short...and will follow his (their)leads. This morning I feel like I did when my children took their first step!! So to all of you raising ferals for the first time, hang in there! They are all different and as long as you provide a calm, quiet, stable environment and work with them daily, they'll come around!

Thank you for rescuing these two and working so hard to make their life the best possible!  They are very lucky to have you.

Your title says it all.  I was never a patient person until I met my first feral kitten.

Thank you so much for taking them in.  Lucky little kitties!

I love this!  I am fostering 3 feral kittens now and this gives me hope.  Two of them are more social but the other is very scared and hisses every time I get near. And I still have one kitten outside that avoided being trapped with mama, daddy and the other three.