Expert: Jessica - 10/6/2009

Question
hi i live in kennesaw ga.....have a feral cat i believe  that ive been feeding for two months.....he ran at first but now will allow me to get very close to feed it....also  speaks to me..... really would like to try and save it....any ideas about how to do that? thanks......

Answer
Hi Michael.  The fact that he's speaking to you is a good sign.  Pure ferals won't engage in vocalization with humans at all, so it's encouraging that he's open to interacting with you in this way.

Really, the best way to save a feral is to live trap him and keep him in a small room or even a cage and work on taming him.  Place the live trap in the same place where you feed him, and bait it with canned food or tuna.  Note that you should withhold a meal so he'll be nice and hungry.

Some ferals are extremely wild, and trying to have physical contact with them can take years and may even be dangerous.  Others are just extra nervous strays who are beginning to revert to a feral nature, and it sounds like your guy is one of them.  Although they usually don't become lap cats, they can be tamed up with enough work within just a couple months' time.

A feral will remain feral if given the choice.  We have to give them a very strong nudge in the right direction to let them know we're not so bad.  That means forcing the contact that they are so resistant to.  This is why taming an outdoor feral is nearly impossible - they will run before you can have contact.

I start out with my ferals in a cage, like a dog crate.  Their reactions can range from nervous to terrified, with refusal to eat or use the litter box for the first few days.  While it's disturbing to see them go through this, it's temporary.  If the cat is refusing to eat, leave canned food for them just before you go to bed.  They're more likely to eat when the whole house is dark and quiet.  

While the cat is limited to the cage, I begin trying to hand feed them treats of chicken or tuna.  You can use a fork if you feel nervous to reach in too close.  Most cats won't take it from your hand right away, so you can lay it down in front of them and then walk away.  They come to see you as their provider (and link you with treats) very quickly.  Within two weeks' time, just about all ferals will be approaching you in a friendly manner looking for their treats.  Sneak a gentle rub with your finger along their cheek.  Once they realize they are being petted, many will draw back fearfully and might even hiss, but try it again with the next treat.  They grow more tolerant, and eventually, they are more concerned with the treat than they are worried about the petting.  At this point, you can move them into a small room.

However, be sure there are absolutely no hiding spots!  Ferals will cram their way into the tiniest places and not come out.  This will undo all your previous progress.  I personally try to have lap time with my ferals, but this is entirely up to their personalities and will depend on how friendly you want to get with the cat.  The cats need to be held by the scruff of the neck to pick them up (support their body with the other hand), and you sit on the floor with your legs crossed, with the cat in the middle.  Some people wrap them with towels to prevent being scratched.  Be sure to make an effort several times a day to pet or hold the cat, and reinforce the progress you have made with treats.  This is most important!  Any time I have turkey or chicken or beef, I save a couple of bites for any new feral I'm taming (as long as it's not cooked with onions or garlic).  Up to five treat sessions a day makes a huge difference.

Half of my home is converted to a feral sanctuary.  The ferals all came in as adults.  I can hand-feed them and pet them all except one, and several of them are now lap cats (which most people believe to be impossible of ferals).  On average, it takes about 3 months to tame an adult feral - shorter to tame young cats or those who are actually extremely nervous strays.

You can try taming him while he stays outdoors.  Some ferals do allow their caretakers to pet them eventually.  But the chances of being able to catch him in order to get him any kind of vet care if necessary are very slim.  Ferals typically live about 2 years, although there are certainly those who dodge death for much much longer.

Best of luck!

Jessica