Ferals versus Domestics Gone Wild
Feral cats have usually had no experience at all of human contact during their lives; they are basically wild animals. Domestics Gone Wild, on the other hand, have been pets at some stage of their lives. They may be cats which have gotten lost, or have left home and become strays. On first contact it may be impossible to know which type of cat is which, but anyone trying to tame one will soon find out! For Domestics Gone Wild will usually respond fairly quickly to attention and food, and will remember that humans are basically friendly. Ferals, on the other hand, are a completely different ball game, and need special treatment.
Confining the Feral Cat
Confinement is necessary if the feral cat is to be tamed at all. An individual pen for each cat is best, if this is possible. However, any safe enclosure will do so long as the cat(s) cannot escape, but the area must be warm and dry. Feral cats will need to be confined for much longer than ordinary rescue cats or domestics gone wild, since once they are let out, unless they already allow themselves to be touched, further taming will be impossible.
The Taming Process
All movements around feral cats should be slow. At first the tamer should make no attempt to touch them with his or her hands. Gloves do not help, and may frighten the cat further. The tamer should acquire a long thin stick, perhaps a garden cane, which should be kept close by in the enclosure. When she goes in to feed the cat, she should put the dish down quietly and then touch the cat from a distance with the stick. This should be done very gently, while talking quietly to the cat, and trying to combine this with the cat’s meal. The idea is to associate the pleasure of eating with being stroked.
What Happens Next?
At first, the cat will almost certainly attack the cane, possible biting the end. This may continue for days or weeks, maybe longer. The tamer should persist, setting up a quiet, calm routine. She will need to judge for herself if and when it is practical to move a bit closer, gradually working her hand up the cane. But this should be done extremely carefully. When feral cats attack they really mean business, and a deep cat bite or bad scratch can require hospitalisation.
When the cat has quieted down, the tamer can start putting a chunk of some tasty food on the end of the stick, and offering it to the cat. Ultimately she may be able to change to a fork, once she is confident of the cat’s reaction. She must also gradually weigh if and when it would be prudent to risk touching the cat, again when it is eating if possible.
The End Result
Some feral cats come round far quicker than others. Some may well be willing to rub against the tamer’s legs in time, and even tolerate being stroked. Feral kittens are much easier to tame than adult cats, but again, there is a great deal of variation. Some cats refuse to have anything to do with humans, no matter how hard the tamer tries. But stroking a cat is one thing, picking it up is quite another, and very few ferals will tolerate this. So if veterinary treatment is required, it is best to borrow a trap. Eventually the tamer will need to give the cat its freedom. At this point taming is unlikely to go any further, but the tamer will know she has done all she possibly could.
A Real Life Example
One person, inexperienced at feral handling, took on a feral mother and kitten who had been living in a dangerous area of a city centre. She kept them in a shed for three months, then let them out. By this time, the kitten was following her around and playing with her shoe-laces. When let out, he used to greet her and join her in walks around the garden. The mother, on the other hand, always refused to allow the tamer to come close. However, she stayed in the garden and shed, and clearly considered them her home. And the tamer knew that both cats had a far better life than they had had before she rescued them
So taming a feral cat may not be easy, but it can be intensely rewarding.
