Feral 5 Month Old

[Thespaceace]

Alright so, I volunteered at an animal shelter for a year before moving out of state, it was my job to socialize new and current cats and kittens so I have a lot if experience being patient with previously feral and stray cats and kittens.

Recently my cat passed and it's been a couple of months so we are getting a kitten, the one we are looking at is a 5 month old feral who was caught a week ago. Now I have the experience, but I work full time, I'm home every day though and live close enough that I can spend lunch breaks at home. I know it takes socialization and patience to open up a feral kitten however is it wise to leave a kitten home for 7 1/2 hours a day. I'm a night owl as well so more time would be spent with the kitten than away. Any tips?

 

[tabbytom]

T Thespaceace , and welcome to TCS!

So sorry to hear about the passing of your cat but we are glad that you are volunteering at the shelter and ready to adopt another cat.

It should be no problems leaving the 5 month old at home for that period of time. As long as she is kept in a safe room with clean water and food and clean litter box and toys.

Most of the time, she’ll be sleeping. Once you are back home, shower her with lots of love and spend time talking softly and sweetly to her and playing with her.

Try hand feeding her when you are home to make her get use to you that food comes from you and not appear when you are out. Make her associate you with food. Once her confidence grow and she’ll trust you more.

Leave your clean unwashed clothings with her and leave it where she lays and around the room. This will let her get use to your scents and also comfort her and this make it easier for you to approach her when you are back.

All this takes time and don’t rush through. You have to go through the whole nine yards for her. Both of you must gain each other’s trust. Don’t blow it.

 

[msaimee]

Being away from home 7-8 hours a day should be no problem, the kitty will use that time to rest and sleep. Leave catnip toys in her room, along with a bowl of dry kitten chow 24/7. It would be great if you could get her a cat tree. You could purchase one from eBay or Amazon. Cats love them because they provide height, and they also have cubby holes they can hide in, but you can still see the kitty. A cat tree is a nice item to provide if your finances allow for it.
I've gone through through the socialization process with various cats, and have been at work for much longer than 8 hours a day. You are giving this kitten a chance to have a wonderful and safe life. Maybe you will consider adopting a second Kitty to keep the first one company once this kitty settles in? Just a thought

 

[1CatOverTheLine]

.
T Thespaceace - I'll go along with tabbytom and msaimee - the kitty will do just fine.

I've Catified quite a number of former ferals over the years, and my last pair - Black Friday and her Daughter, Clawed-Ya - had their own place (now affectionately called "the guest house" but built for them, owed to the fact that they were simply too wild to consider socialising them in the main house with the rest of the clowder (now eleven cats).

They were alone sixteen hours a day, though not in continuous stretches, and they've adapted completely - Loving their new Lives as safe, social kitties, and as part of a Family. They're pettable, pick-uppable "regular cats" who interact without incident with the others, and who'll purr at the slightest touch, where - two years ago - their sole purpose in Life was to rip out the heart of anyone who approached them. Five months old? This should be a cinch for you, being an old hand.

On the recent passing of your own kitty, my sincere condolences. Welcome to TCS!
.