Nanette, almost 4 months old and so feral yet

Orly is now Nanette. She has been with us since yesterday and has true feral habits (DUH I know but I've never dealt with any rescue like her) She eats but only at night when people is not there. Used the litterbox only at night too at the vet, not here yet (I expected something this morning, she ate and drank but didn't go anywhere) And she hisses, sort of yowls/meows if scared.
Should I expect some change by the nd of this week? Behavioral I mean, hopefully she'll use the pan before that! I tried treats (baby food) nope. I'll give her a bit of KMR, since she was drinking that at the colony, maybe it tastes familiar. I hope she comes to terms with being at a house, it'd be a shame if she gets sicker b/c she's unhappy after surviving distemper

The best thing to do for her right now is to completely ignore her so that she knows that you aren't big scary predators. Tend to her needs, but otherwise ignore her. I've heard of some ferals holding out on using the litterbox for a couple days, because the scent of elimination is a giveaway to predators in the wild!

It's really impossible to give you a timeline for Nanette. The time table is all up to her, and every feral is different.

When we brought Pru in, I found this site, which was the best thing I ever did. One bit of advice I was given, was to put potting soil in with the litter, feral cats are used to dirt and then gradually phase it out and back to all litter. It worked with Pru.
~Rhonda

The best thing to do for her right now is to completely ignore her

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I noticed she peeked out of her lair while I was going about the room cleaning today and was actually looking at me, more in a curious than scared way but yes, I agree that being as invisible as posible seems to be the better tactic for now. Two years ago I had 2 teenager ferals that loved being read to/talked and petted so I thought this one was similar but she's more feral it seems (the others mother was rather friendly with us & I guessed that influenced them, this one instead is one we got TNR'd and revaccinated, period.)
I mentioned one week because I heard that if a ferals stays like the first day he was confined for one week, he might never adapt/convert. But that was an adult. Maybe a kitten, even if she's 12 wks. And I agree that all are different.
About dirt in the box, I'm rather paranoid about it but it is a good suggestion. She did use it at the vet so I suppose when she can't hold on longer she will here too.
Thank-you very much, ferals are quite special to me & I could put up with a "house feral", just don't want her to get sick again after so much.

I caught a feral kitten she she was about 6 weeks old. She is now almost 9 months old just became normal for the first time yesterday because she had a litter of kittens. I guess because she cannot hide anymore or run away because she has babies to take care of. I notice this morning that she has also lost her "wild-eyed" look. Til today, my husband had never been able to pet her, much less get her to purr, but she did today! I only let her get pregnant for that exact reason. I figured it was a last deperate measure to have her be a happy cat and not always scared of everything, and it worked.

I know some of you out there will be mad at me for letting her have a litter of babies and , no offense, but keep your opinions to yourself because we all have different ones and it's VERY rude to try and push your opinions onto someone else and I downright don't like it. I take care of all of my animals!

Originally Posted by TortieBaby

I caught a feral kitten she she was about 6 weeks old. She is now almost 9 months old just became normal for the first time yesterday because she had a litter of kittens. I guess because she cannot hide anymore or run away because she has babies to take care of. I notice this morning that she has also lost her "wild-eyed" look. Til today, my husband had never been able to pet her, much less get her to purr, but she did today!

I only let her get pregnant for that exact reason. I figured it was a last deperate measure to have her be a happy cat and not always scared of everything, and it worked.

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Tortie...here is the issue with your plan...yes, she is an attentive mom for now...however, it is not unusual for cats to go back into heat and "lose" the sweetness that they develop when they are pregnant/nursing. I've read other situations where someone found what they thought was a very sweet pregnant cat....and while she was pregnant and nursing, the cat was very attentive. But I've read a lot of stories of cats going into heat or "changing" once their kittens are slightly older. It is in her best interest to be spayed as soon as these kittens are weaned. I do hope that she does not revert back to her feral ways...but as long as she is intact, her hormones will dictate a lot of her behavior.

Let me also address this:

I know some of you out there will be mad at me for letting her have a litter of babies and , no offense, but keep your opinions to yourself because we all have different ones and it's VERY rude to try and push your opinions onto someone else and I downright don't like it.

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It is the one of the guidelines on the cat site to promote spaying/neutering:

As a general rule, TCS is primarily concerned with cat welfare. Because of our strong committment to responsible cat care and treatment, we do promote and strongly encourage a pro-spay/neuter policy here. Unless you are an experienced, responsible, ethical breeder of pedigreed cats, we do not advocate breeding.

It is fine for you to hold your own opinion..but do keep in mind the above statement.

Katie

I'm going "by the book", the Kitten Socializing Lessons Learned pdf file in http://www.icraeastbay.org
And so far Nanette is doing very well socializing-wise (I feel like the smiley but I can't act it out or she'll get scared)..Tortie; I read your post and I see your point but it isn't necessary IMO; my foster turned 4 months yesterday and I'm already thinking what will happen when her hormones start acting up b/c I've seen it with 5 month old ferals and "early heats" are no fun if you are responsible for their welfare; and that goes for any cat not only ferals.
I asked the vet about early s&n and she said to let her recover completly first.
Anyways she's progressing bit by bit, I couldn't pet her until two days ago, now purrs and kneads when I go in the room. Last night she looked out of her cage and saw my feet for the first time and got spooked! it was funny but then I'm a giant to her.
The vet was right, she does eat like a horse, still with URI but on the mend hopefully..she's an Amazon, I'm so proud of baby Nanette..

You can never predict a timeline with feral cats. All of the cats in my household were born feral. Some tamed up immediately upon entering my house. Others, after close to 10 years, are still what folks call "scaredy-cats". It's more in their personality than anything else.

I have learned that when you force yourself on them, it takes longer for them to come around. One wrong move and you are back to square one with them. As others have said, just ignore her and let her chose her own timeline. The worst you can expect is that she will bond to you and only you. The best you can expect is that she becomes a fully socialized cat with all people. Based on her beginnings in life and what would have become of her had you left her there, the former has rewards in and of itself.

The word to remember: patience, patience, patience.