How Long Before Your Feral Let You Pet Them?

[ads3j]

I know it's different for every cat, and some may never like to be petted, however, I would love to know from others with more experience how long it took them to get their feral kitties to allow their human to pet them. I have had my (semi?) feral in the house for 5 weeks now, she's getting along with my resident cat and seems to be exploring the house more and more each day, however, while she will sniff and touch our hands (and once my foot) with her paw, when we move ever so gently to touch her, she won't allow it. I would just love to know other people's experience. Thank you!

 

[tarasgirl06]

I know it's different for every cat, and some may never like to be petted, however, I would love to know from others with more experience how long it took them to get their feral kitties to allow their human to pet them. I have had my (semi?) feral in the house for 5 weeks now, she's getting along with my resident cat and seems to be exploring the house more and more each day, however, while she will sniff and touch our hands (and once my foot) with her paw, when we move ever so gently to touch her, she won't allow it. I would just love to know other people's experience. Thank you!

Two locations ago, there were a lot of community cats, who were varying levels of habituated to humans. Some, like the matriarch, took a couple of years(!) to gain the trust of enough to touch. My last location also had some wandering felines; one of them, found out wandering under one of our ancient junipers, got scooped up by me and installed in our "kitten cabin", a 12x12 cabin with screened windows and electricity where I could care for her until she got vetted. She was approximately 6-7 weeks when she found us, and she was pretty bratty for awhile, but she did let me touch her (she didn't have a lot of choice, honestly) and now, she is bonded only to me, barely tolerates the other cats in the family, and runs and hides from any human other than me. Other cats from two houses ago, a lot of them offspring of the matriarch, were somewhat easier to capture, and they would accept some affection from us. They were quite bonded to one another, as they were related.

 

[Norachan]

Happy let me pet the the first day I found her. I found her in a car park and she was so friendly I actually scooped her up in my sweater and took her to my vet, about a 5 minute walk away.

Sick, possibly FIV+ Feral Kitten

Marley followed his feral mum into my house and I managed to shut him and his sister in my spare room so I could work on socialising them. It took a month before he came out of the wardrobe. I think it was about 4 months before he would let me pet him. It's been five years now and I still can't pick him up, but he will let me pet him if I move towards him slowly and tell him what I'm going to do.

Albert was about 4 months old when he first showed up. He used to rub against our legs and get his petting that way. We could touch him very gently by the base of his tail, but if he saw our hands moving towards him he'd run off. His sister, Sophie, let me pick her up and carry her into the house after about a week of feeding them outside.

They're all different. Just don't try to rush things, if she's sniffing at your hands and feet let her do the touching first of all. I think it will go much more smoothly if you let her set the pace.

 

[keeneland]

I know it's different for every cat, and some may never like to be petted, however, I would love to know from others with more experience how long it took them to get their feral kitties to allow their human to pet them. I have had my (semi?) feral in the house for 5 weeks now, she's getting along with my resident cat and seems to be exploring the house more and more each day, however, while she will sniff and touch our hands (and once my foot) with her paw, when we move ever so gently to touch her, she won't allow it. I would just love to know other people's experience. Thank you!

It took 2 years to get our

Mother Feral Fluffy to where we could pet her & still does not like to be picked up. Pretty obvious when we first petted her she had never been touched by human hands and she was so scared. For the first year and a half she always had a wild look in her eyes. Now she has a lazy dreamy look in her eyes and actually enjoys the petting. It's been a 360 degree turn around for her!

 

[maggiedemi]

My 2 cats are ferals, straight from the woods. Demi was only about a month old, he was crying for food but hissed at everyone that came close. Then I got the idea to pet him with a long handled duster and I was able to pet him with my hands about 3 days later. It took about a month for him to let the rest of the household pet him. No strangers can pet him. Maggie was in heat, and came knocking on our door with her front paws, so I was able to hold and pet her right away until she came out of heat and snapped out of it. She was like "Who the heck are you guys?!" She was really mean when she came out of heat. After 3 years, she still doesn't really like to be petted or held, but enjoys hanging out with us. She is afraid of all strangers too.

 

[di and bob]

My feral was born on our property and raised in the nearby woods. He knew us as a kitten for food but did not let us touch him until he was about a year old. I just persisted with being closer and closer to him when he was eating. It took a lot of hunger and persuasion to get him near. At first he hissed and ran off, but over several weeks became used to my presence. I touched him lightly on the back for the first few times, and he did not like it to say the least, he was out of there like a shot. But eventually he accepted my strokes. It seemed like once that first stroke is initiated, it is downhill from there. i would say it took about a month. Not easy, but a start. He is ten years old now, loves strokes and scratches but we have never picked him up, we know his limits.

 

[ads3j]

It took 2 years to get ourView attachment 188520 Mother Feral Fluffy to where we could pet her & still does not like to be picked up. Pretty obvious when we first petted her she had never been touched by human hands and she was so scared. For the first year and a half she always had a wild look in her eyes. Now she has a lazy dreamy look in her eyes and actually enjoys the petting. It's been a 360 degree turn around for her!

what a beauty!

 

[ads3j]

Thanks so much for sharing these stories, it's fascinating to read them and it breaks my heart to think how afraid these kitties were living in the woods/streets. So happy they found good homes.

 

[bigbadbass]

While a stray, prior to neuter ...Bug was downright nasty, he'd rip my eyeballs out. I was able to lightly pet only while he was concentrating on eating. Finally brought inside...vetted and neutered, as his hormone levels dropped...took a couple of months for him to socialize. He was so whacked out...during the interim he was really confused...purr, scrape against my legs, yet scratch and hiss when petting attempted. The nasty side of Bug finally left him....7-8 weeks after neuter as hormones normalized. He's now a confirmed mush....7 months on.

 

[ads3j]

Bug sure doesn't look like a mush in the pic, he looks ferocious. I love the black kittie so much.

 

[tarasgirl06]

It took 2 years to get ourView attachment 188520 Mother Feral Fluffy to where we could pet her & still does not like to be picked up. Pretty obvious when we first petted her she had never been touched by human hands and she was so scared. For the first year and a half she always had a wild look in her eyes. Now she has a lazy dreamy look in her eyes and actually enjoys the petting. It's been a 360 degree turn around for her!

Very pretty girl!

 

[tarasgirl06]

While a stray, prior to neuter ...Bug was downright nasty, he'd rip my eyeballs out. I was able to lightly pet only while he was concentrating on eating. Finally brought inside...vetted and neutered, as his hormone levels dropped...took a couple of months for him to socialize. He was so whacked out...during the interim he was really confused...purr, scrape against my legs, yet scratch and hiss when petting attempted. The nasty side of Bug finally left him....7-8 weeks after neuter as hormones normalized. He's now a confirmed mush....7 months on.

View attachment 188583

Panther KING!

 

[be81174]

I know it's different for every cat, and some may never like to be petted, however, I would love to know from others with more experience how long it took them to get their feral kitties to allow their human to pet them. I have had my (semi?) feral in the house for 5 weeks now, she's getting along with my resident cat and seems to be exploring the house more and more each day, however, while she will sniff and touch our hands (and once my foot) with her paw, when we move ever so gently to touch her, she won't allow it. I would just love to know other people's experience. Thank you!

Hi! I have had a little feral with me for almost three months now and she won't let me touch her yet either. I can brush her and "sneak" some petting in while I do that but if she catches me she is NOT impressed! Today was the first time she ever touched me - she rubbed against my legs while I was giving out treats.

Slowly but surely! I am sure it will happen - for both of us - one day!!! :-)

 

[tarasgirl06]

Hi! I have had a little feral with me for almost three months now and she won't let me touch her yet either. I can brush her and "sneak" some petting in while I do that but if she catches me she is NOT impressed! Today was the first time she ever touched me - she rubbed against my legs while I was giving out treats.

Slowly but surely! I am sure it will happen - for both of us - one day!!!

You're on your way!

 

[keeneland]

Hi! I have had a little feral with me for almost three months now and she won't let me touch her yet either. I can brush her and "sneak" some petting in while I do that but if she catches me she is NOT impressed! Today was the first time she ever touched me - she rubbed against my legs while I was giving out treats.

Slowly but surely! I am sure it will happen - for both of us - one day!!!

Try some chicken and see if that wins her over. Our Fluffy will eat only soft cat treats. The picture I posted of her there is some of the crunchy cat treats laying in front of her and she won't touch them! Cats are so different and what works with one sure may not work with another! Time and chicken is the best thing that has worked with ferals at our house!

 

[bigbadbass]

Bug sure doesn't look like a mush in the pic, he looks ferocious. I love the black kittie so much.

hows this? on his "throne".

 

[daisyd]

Hey guys my kittens not a feral and been with me since 7 weeks (now 9 months ) and she still gets narky if I pet her without notice

 

[maggiedemi]

We had two cats when I was a kid that acted feral, but they were not at all. They were mother and son and they were afraid of us their whole entire lives. They never bit or scratched, but they never wanted to be touched. It broke my heart. I often wonder if I could have tamed them if I had them now, they were a beautiful calico mom and a tuxedo boy.

 

[tarasgirl06]

We had two cats when I was a kid that acted feral, but they were not at all. They were mother and son and they were afraid of us their whole entire lives. They never bit or scratched, but they never wanted to be touched. It broke my heart. I often wonder if I could have tamed them if I had them now, they were a beautiful calico mom and a tuxedo boy.

Some cats, like some people, just aren't that physical. I'm glad you were able to share your life with this mom and son, though, and love them.

 

[tarasgirl06]

hows this? on his "throne".

View attachment 188606

Looks like a perfect opportunity for a *SNORGLE* of the kittehbelleh