Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/behavior

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/30/2008


Question
I have recently "adopted" a cat that I know has been wild for the last 3 years since birth. I have no idea if the cat is male or female, so for now, I just call the cat "it". I've been putting food out daily for it for two reasons...one, for the health of the cat, and two, because I live in a rural setting and the cat helps keep mice and snakes away. At anyrate, in the last two weeks, the cat has gone from running and hiding if it saw me come out the door, to now allowing us to be only feet apart, especially while it eats/drinks. I know it's NOT because of hunger over fear as I feed the cat VERY well, and give it a very diluted mixture of milk and water. I know milk isn't good for a cat, but they love it just like candy isn't good for a kid, but they love it too. Even with what I think is great progress(the cat allowing me to get within feet)why does the cat still "posture" and hiss? I'm very careful not to move too fast when it sees me, nor too slow...either could constitute a threat to an animal wild. I just sit back down on the steps while it eats, sometimes even turning it's back on me while eating, which to me is a sign of some level of comfort, and even laying down stretched out and taking a nap within mere feet of me, but it still will not allow but so much distance between us. I'm not trying to rush anything, but again, if it has come to this level of comfort around me, why all the posturing then basically coming right up to me? Thank you in advance and hope you have or had a great Labor Day weekend.
Chuck

Answer
Chuck,

That is a nice thing you are doing for the cat and you have made great progress! The cat is inbred with a fear and distrust of humans and that is warring with his need for affection and attention. Go slowly as you have been doing. Unfortunately it can take months for a feral cat to trust a human, and with older feral cats sometimes they never do.

Note: when the cat turns around and you see two big 'cahungas' under his tail he is a male!

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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