Hi, ive just joined this site and am really hoping to find some help. For tge last several yrs i have cared for an outdoor cat my family named Salem. She was the most amazing, friendliest and smartest cat ive ever known. Several days ago she was run over and didnt make it. She left behind 2 kittens that i believe are 2 or maybe 3 months old. She had them in a secluded area and we didnt know about them until they were big enough to follow her around. My daughter has named them peaches and rose and they are completely feral. Theyve never been touched and run and hide when you get close to them. We are trying to catch them in live traps and i hope to get them fixed. My husband does not allow animals in the house but id really like to be able to socialize them and keep them as lets. I know theyll never be like theyre mother but i hope to give them the loving home she had. My problem or question is...every thing i find to read says how to socialize inside the home. I have a pen in the barn to possibly put them in. But how do i go about socializing then outside of our home?
-
Too many ads? Join our community of cat lovers now to reduce ads by 90%! Click here to join for free!
Feral Sisters
- Thread starter salem2015
- Start Date
Thank you for caring for these sweet one. Step one is to definitely get them trapped and spayed/neutered. Start by letting them get used to the trap. Don't set the trap, but start feeding them in the trap for about a week. Once they are used to it, set the trap and hopefully they will both go in the trap together. If not, be sure you have two traps.
I have worked for 5 years to socialize a feral cat that came to me at the age of 7 months. He lives outside on my deck and I would call him semi feral. I can pet him, he will sit on my lap and I can lift him off the ground. I cannot pick him totally up, but I can lift him a few feet off the ground. It takes daily work. Start by being around them as much as possible. Sit on the ground so you are no looming over them. Bring the yummiest treats ever. You can use plain cooked chicken, tuna, salmon or Gerber stage 2 baby food in chicken or turkey. Just be sure the ingredients are chicken/turkey and water only, no added spices. Cats love it. IT's not a meal replacement just a training tool.
Here is a great video on resucing feral kittens and socializing them. These kittens are a bit younger, but I used many of the tips to socialize my feral. Just remember, you have to work with them daily. If not they will quickly revert back to their feral ways. Quiet voices are a must as are no quick movements. It's best for adults to work the kittens unless your kids are old enough to sit quietly and no sudden movements.
Just get them spayed quickly so you can move to socialzing without too much interruption.
http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo
I have worked for 5 years to socialize a feral cat that came to me at the age of 7 months. He lives outside on my deck and I would call him semi feral. I can pet him, he will sit on my lap and I can lift him off the ground. I cannot pick him totally up, but I can lift him a few feet off the ground. It takes daily work. Start by being around them as much as possible. Sit on the ground so you are no looming over them. Bring the yummiest treats ever. You can use plain cooked chicken, tuna, salmon or Gerber stage 2 baby food in chicken or turkey. Just be sure the ingredients are chicken/turkey and water only, no added spices. Cats love it. IT's not a meal replacement just a training tool.
Here is a great video on resucing feral kittens and socializing them. These kittens are a bit younger, but I used many of the tips to socialize my feral. Just remember, you have to work with them daily. If not they will quickly revert back to their feral ways. Quiet voices are a must as are no quick movements. It's best for adults to work the kittens unless your kids are old enough to sit quietly and no sudden movements.
Just get them spayed quickly so you can move to socialzing without too much interruption.
http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo
The pen in the barn will be an ideal place to recuperate them after their spays and to socialize them. Helping them become socialized to humans is possible - as ShadowsRescue says, it can be a long process but it is possible.
Feeding them in the traps is an excellent way to get them used to it. The night before you have the vet's appointment, set the trap to spring, so they will only have to spend one night in the traps.
Thank you so much for helping them. Once they are spayed, even if they don't become "pets" their lives will be much improved.
Feeding them in the traps is an excellent way to get them used to it. The night before you have the vet's appointment, set the trap to spring, so they will only have to spend one night in the traps.
Thank you so much for helping them. Once they are spayed, even if they don't become "pets" their lives will be much improved.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Thank you so much for the video link. Was great! and gave me alot of hope. Already had them caught before i read replies though. Peaches and Rose. or as i call them "the twins" are being safely kept in a pen. I left them alone the day they were caught except to bring food and water. Theyre using the litter pan and eating though not while im around. I havent seen them since putting them in the pen. Theyre staying in the back of the hidey box i put in there for them.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
Also i have to wonder. When its finally time to release them. Will they revert back to their feral nature because they are no longer confined to a pen?
Do you plan to keep them as outside cats? They are still young enough to socialize - maybe not to the point where they'd be housepets but certainly enough for them to stick around and stay close to your house.
The pen in the barn can become "home base" actually. You can make them shelter and a feeding station inside the pen. That way, if it becomes necessary, you can secure them in the pen (in case you want to keep them out of harm's way for any reason)
Once they are fixed, I would keep them in the pen for a few more days at least. They will recuperate better in familiar territory and by not being able to run around. When the are fixed, they will also calm down, as their hormones are not raging. You will find they will stick pretty close to home and may become freindlier.
The pen in the barn can become "home base" actually. You can make them shelter and a feeding station inside the pen. That way, if it becomes necessary, you can secure them in the pen (in case you want to keep them out of harm's way for any reason)
Once they are fixed, I would keep them in the pen for a few more days at least. They will recuperate better in familiar territory and by not being able to run around. When the are fixed, they will also calm down, as their hormones are not raging. You will find they will stick pretty close to home and may become freindlier.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #7
Yes, they will be outside only cats. I really like the idea of the pen staying home base in case a need aises. Im not 100% sure how old they are but i would estimate they were born sometime mid april. Im hoping they're old enough to get fixed so we can get that done.
I have a lot of former feral cats that are very friendly now. I think two ~ three months of age is the perfect time for socialising them. Most of mine were a bit older than that when I first TNR'd them. I'd recommend keeping them in the pen and going out to talk to them and feed them several times a day. They'll soon learn that you're their friend. Feral cats that have been relocated to another area need to be kept in a cage for four weeks, but if they were born nearby they won't stray.
You can get them spayed when they weigh 2 lbs. They're probably already big enough.
Good luck and thank you for helping them.
You can get them spayed when they weigh 2 lbs. They're probably already big enough.
Good luck and thank you for helping them.
