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Cat Forum / Health and Behavior / April 2008Former feral cat Behavior
Hi Everyone, I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? It takes much time and patience. Remeber to speak softly to him and to sit (quietly) in the room when you feed him. Also, try interactive toys with him (ie. a feather on wand). Do you let the cats sleep with you? In time, he will be a wonderful pet. Gail > Hi Everyone, > > I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my > place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? > It takes much time and patience. Remeber to speak softly to him and to sit > (quietly) in the room when you feed him. Also, try interactive toys with him [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? Hi Gail, Yes I let them sleep with me.He doesn't bite or try to scratch so I am lucky.He is very young still almost a year old.He is getting better.He comes closer during feeding and play time.I think he will be a lovely pet when he gets more confident. I just took in a feral cat too. At first she would hiss and growl at me and would run when I came near her. Now, 8 weeks later, she will come up to me, let me pet her, pick her up, etc. She still will run from me if I walk towards her. It just takes lots of time. As Gail said, speak softly when you sit with him. Play with him along with the other cat. Reward him with a treat or two when he lets you pet him, etc. Good luck. I'm sure after time he will be a loving pet. S.  Signature**Visit me and my cats at http://www.island-cats.com/ ** --- > Hi Everyone, > > I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my > place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? > I just took in a feral cat too. At first she would hiss and growl at me and > would run when I came near her. Now, 8 weeks later, she will come up to me, [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? Thank you.He is not that angry where he hisses but he is very timid.He is getting braver and I hope he will be as loving as my other cat who is close to his age.I always encourage him and talk to him.He is such a sweet soul. >Hi Everyone, > >I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my >place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He >is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs >away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? Even as he gets more trusting and comes to you some cats have that quirk of putting space between you if you approach them and they never seem to get over it. My former feral Gus (RIP July 1, 2007) was that way. I could always walk to up to his bowl while he was eating and he would jump up on the bed at night but I never could walk towards him. If he was taking an afternoon sun session he would sometimes let me walk up to him if he was off the ground such as on a chair or bay window ledge. I just learned he was more comfortable on his terms and I didn't betray his trust by pursuing him. -mhd > >Hi Everyone, > > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > -mhd Angie is a pound cat and she's very skittish. I've had her close to two years now and I'll stoop down and call to her and she'll come but the moment I reach over to pet her, she takes off. Every now and then when other people are around she'll come right up to me though and let me pet her. > I adopted two cats one is a former feral. Are they both neutered / spayed? > He is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction > he runs away. Any tips from any one to help him trust me? It can take 2 weeks, or 2 months, or 2 years. Was the cat born in the wild? Or was he someone's pet who has been awol for half his life? I'm not sure what his complete history is.He was found with a colony of ferals but he seemed to be the most adoptable because he allowed people to feed him.I think he never lived in a house with a human so this evironment is pretty new for him. > I'm not sure what his complete history is. I noticed that you didn't answer my first question, which was if both cats were neutered / spayed. Living next door to a farm for the past 20+ years, I've had a lot of strays. I spent as much time with them as I could, which was a lot - and I found one of the most effective ways to bond was to get down on the floor and just talk softly to them. At first I offered treats and then after the treats were gone just talked softly. Often they will be mesmerized by the sound of your voice and it gives them a feeling of safety, and then when they hear your voice again, they associate it with comfort. Don't reach for them, if you put your hand over their head, they are going to bulk and run. Put your hand out on floor on his level, not too close, but close enough that he can check it out, and just leave it there and let him feel you near his space. Nearly all of them will cave in, but some never do. You don't know what's happened to him before he came to live with you, and sometimes the traumas are too big to overcome completely, but at least if he can find peace with you, even at a distance, it's a good life for him. :) > "vmerm...@earthlink.net" wrote: > > I'm not sure what his complete history is. > > I noticed that you didn't answer my first question, which was if both > cats were neutered / spayed. Yes they are neutered. Verna > "vmerm...@earthlink.net" wrote: > > I'm not sure what his complete history is. > > I noticed that you didn't answer my first question, which was if both > cats were neutered / spayed. Yes they both neutered. > I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my > place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? Xerces was that way, only worse. Although the most handsome animal at the shelter, he was obnoxious, unfriendly (to people, although not to other cats and some dogs) and considered probably unadoptable and a candidate for euthenasia. You would never know any of that from being around him today. Time, Love, Food all in equal proportions generate trust. Patience wins out over a probably well justified fear of humans. And be sure to find a scatching post the cat recognizes as similar to something he/she used to mark territory as a feral. Or buy inexpensive furniture. Get a "play glove" to protect your hands. And don't give up on the animal, whose natural reponses are fear and distrust you until you show him/her otherwise. On Apr 19, 9:24 am, "vmerm...@earthlink.net" <vmerm...@earthlink.net> wrote: > Hi Everyone, > > I adopted two cats one is a former feral.He is getting used to my > place and gets along with my other cat but he is still afraid of me.He > is getting better but when I stand up or walk in his direction he runs > away.Any tips from any one to help him trust me? Not sure if this is will be an echo of something already said, but, in my experiences with feril cats: They are very slow to accept the domestication lifestyle and still allow their inner instincts to rule their life instead of basic "logic". Instead of thinking "Oh its just my owner" they only think "Something BIG is moving, YIKES!". With my feril cats though, after they finally did get over their skiddishness and relax, they turned out to be some of the most dedicated cats I've owned. They truly seem to show their genuine appreciation for you taking them in under their wing. Again, this is in my experience with 5-7 different feril cats throughout my lifetime. Almost all turned out to have this same type of loyalty--almost dog-like. A high percentage of life-long- domesticated cats seem to be much more independent, whereas ferils seem to recognize your importance in their life more. In short, in the end with good patience, it's worth it! |
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