Can an older feral cat be tamed?

Can an older feral cat be tamed?

Many experts agree that feral adult cats simply can’t be tamed. They are wild animals, like raccoons. They tend to stay away from humans, hide during the day, and when adopted, are very difficult to socialize. Just like you would never try to handle a raccoon, you should never try to pick up a feral cat.

Can you tame a 2 year old feral cat?

You may have a chance of taming or domesticating a feral kitten. However, it’s not generally recommended to tame a feral cat — and it’s usually not possible to tame an adult one. Feral cats aren’t used to human contact, and they probably won’t ever be as docile and friendly as a domesticated cat.

Can you socialize a 6 month old feral cat?

Kittens over 8 weeks of age who’ve had no positive interaction with humans often take much longer to socialize. However, with consistent effort and extra sessions, these same guidelines can be effective to socialize kittens up to 6 months old and even with some adult feral cats.

Is it cruel to tame a feral cat?

Generally, it is advisable not to try and tame a feral cat. They are unused to human contact and it is unlikely they will ever become as docile and friendly as a domesticated cat.

Will my feral cat ever trust me?

With time and patience, your stray cat will come to trust you and want pets consistently. You might even start giving him access to your home from time to time if your bond has grown. At some point, you may want to take him to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations.

Can a 7 month old feral cat be domesticated?

Commonly referred to as a social cat by some animal rescue experts, a semi-feral is a cat or kitten who has had some experience with humans in the past. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to tame semi-feral and feral cats after 4 – 6 months of age, but it is not impossible.

How long does it take to bond with a feral cat?

Taming a feral cat is difficult and comes with no guarantee that the taming will be successful. In addition to being a challenge, taming a feral cat can take a lot of time: feral kittens could be tamed in as little as two to six weeks, X Research source but it could be a year or more before an adult feral cat is tamed.

What is the best age to adopt a feral kitten?

If you want to easily tame feral or undersocialized kittens for adoption, there is a narrow window of opportunity between four and eight weeks of age.

Where can I find information about taming feral kittens in NYC?

For info about taming older feral kittens, see the three-part video, Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens, or consult Urban Cat League’s Taming Ferals! page. Mike Phillips, LVT, is the Community Outreach Coordinator for the NYC Feral Cat Initiative of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals.

How long does it take to tame a feral kitten?

The optimal time to quickly tame feral kittens is between four and eight weeks, their natural weaning period. There are many biological reasons that make kittens emotionally predisposed to accepting humans so readily at this age. During this time, kittens begin the transition from complete dependence on their mother to complete independence.

When is the best time to adopt a cat?

After two months of age, the combination of age, gender, genetics, and life experience of the cat will determine whether a cat might be easily tamed for adoption or will need a prolonged period of work to be at all comfortable around humans.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPK3ord9gcY