Is it possible to tame a feral kitten

They should not be taken from the mother before they are old enough to be weaned at about 4 weeks. Kittens taken too young are vulnerable to disease and may not survive. The mother cat should also be captured and spayed, to prevent future litters. The process of taming kittens can take from two to six weeks longer for some exceptionally skittish kittens , depending on their age and state of wildness.

Individuals can differ greatly in temperament, even within the same litter. Some may tame up immediately, and some may take quite a long time. Any person attempting to tame kittens should be totally committed and patient. The taming process is certainly worthwhile. You are saving lives and producing affectionate loving companions.

They are usually terrified of humans. The kitten that acts the most ferocious is just the most scared, but it is capable of giving you a nasty scratch or bite and will probably try to escape if given the chance. Remember that to the kitten you may be a predator; the kitten may think it is fighting for its life. All bites are serious. If you are bitten, seek medical attention and quarantine the kitten. Feral kittens should be checked out by a veterinarian and tested for diseases contagious to other cats before you bring them home.

Keep the kittens isolated from your pet cats, wash your hands, and wear a smock or change clothes between handling visits to protect against the spread of disease from the kittens to pets or from pets to the kittens.

If a trap was used, transfer the kittens to a cage or pet carrier large enough for a small litter box and bedding. Place it in a small room away from family pets and children. Be careful not to allow the kittens to escape during the transfer process. For the first two days, do not attempt handling. The kittens must learn to feel safe.

Visit them frequently and talk to them quietly, but resist touching. Always move slowly. Food, water, and bedding should be placed in the cage or carrier. Many cages and carriers have food and water bowls attached to the doors so that you can feed and water the kittens without having to place your hand inside.

If you do not have a cage, or your carrier is too small for a litter pan, place the kittens in a small room, like a bathroom, in the carrier. Place the litter box in the room and leave the carrier door open so that the kittens have access to the box.

After two days, select the least aggressive kitten, place a towel over it, and pick it up in the towel. If the kitten stays calm, pet it gently on the head from behind. Never approach from the front. A hand coming at the kittens frightens them, which may cause them to hiss or bite. Kittens that act the most ferocious are usually the most scared. They are capable of scratching or biting and will probably try to escape if given the chance.

To the kitten, you are a predator and they are fighting for their life. Kittens must learn to feel safe. Visit them frequently and talk to them quietly. Always move slowly. Select the least aggressive kitten, place a towel over it, and pick it up. If the kitten stays calm, pet it gently on the head from behind. Never approach from the front. A hand coming at the kitten is frightening. If the kitten remains calm, grip it securely by the nape of the neck, put the towel on your lap and set it on the towel.

Make this first physical contact brief. Go through this process with each kitten. After all have been handled, give them a special treat. Repeat this process as frequently as possible. Brushing with a soft pet brush imitates the action of the mother grooming the kittens and will help to transfer their need for parental love to you.

Kittens become anemic from flea infestation and can easily fall prey to illnesses in this condition. Using a flea comb also helps the bonding process. Never stare at the kittens for prolonged periods. This is aggressive body language to cats. Avert your eyes frequently and lower your head often to display submissive behavior. This will be less threatening to the kittens.

This can be fatal. This will help them become accustomed to human voices. Along with these hormonal changes in mom, the growing teeth of the kittens and their sharp claws kneading her belly further inspire mom to teach them to hunt rather than to continue nursing.

All of these influences come together for a very efficient transition to independence. To further impress the importance of this timing, science has shown that while kittens are very ready to learn and change habits between four and eight weeks, they are also very reluctant to give up any impressions formed at this age.

This period is when nature has biologically predisposed kittens to learn and absorb basic life lessons at warp speed. Whichever teacher gets there first has the strongest influence on their opinions for a lifetime. It is important to create a positive association with humans before they have learned otherwise. Once a fear of humans is ingrained, it is very hard to change their young minds. Start the taming early, be consistent, and get it done as young as possible!

Otherwise, be prepared to be very patient and forget any timeline. His tried-and-true taming techniques are featured in Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens , a video used by animal shelters around the world.