new kitten need help

[jacqui]

My roommate and I just took a kitten in from the wild. His family is still living out in the woods. I believe he is about 3 months old but we have not brought him to a vet yet. He is very jumpy and has been hiding in the corner. when we approach him he either curls up or dashes out of the way. Is there a way to develop trust with him? should we leave him alone until he feels safe or should we try and go near him and pick him up(though i think that is out of the question. Please let me know thank you

[moosmom]

Jacqui,

He's feral. Feral cats are terrified of humans. Is he in a separate room with the door closed??? If not, he should be.

Taming feral cats takes alot of time, patience and love. What I would do is put food, water, litterbox in the room and a radio with the classical music playing. Leave him be for a while to let him get acclimated. When you have time, go in the room, close the door, and sit on the floor either to read, knit or whatever. Take some cat treats in with you and see if he'll take some. Talk VERY softly to him telling him it's okay. Don't try to touch him. You need to let him approach you. It won't happen overnight. I've worked with feral cats for years. LilEli, who Ramanth rescued, never quite lost his feralness. He's now living in a barn on a farm in Northern Michigan. He's in heaven.

If you know of anyone who has a cage you can confine him in (a small crate with enough room for a small litterbox, food and water and a door with a latch on it, see if you can borrow it. It's alot easier to tame a feral cat when they're confined in a cage.

I'm sure there are MANY other PTers who also do animal rescue that can add to what I've already posted.

Good luck!!!

[Jessika]

I think moosmom pretty much summed everything up, but I just wanted to repeat that feral cats have NEVER had human contact before, so they don't know what to think or how to act! It will take lots of time for them to become tame again. Sadly, some never become tame and have to be humanely euthanized. This is very common with cat collectors. :(

[lvpets2002]

:) Thank you Donna & I could have not said it better myself.. I have done just that so many times & it works every time.. Yes very much on the time, patience & love..

[moosmom]

lvpets2002,

You are most certainly welcome. Jacqui, if you have any more questions, just PM me or email me at [email protected]

[AvaJoy]

. . . Sadly, some never become tame and have to be humanely euthanized. This is very common with cat collectors. :(
A preferable alternative to euthanasia would be to spay/neuter the cat and release it back outside. This is called TNR (trap/neuter/return). With lots of patience and love, some ferals do warm to humans eventually. Others will never trust a human and should be let go (AFTER being fixed) to live their 9 lives independently, or possibly joining a colony of other ferals. I am of the opinion that euthanasia should be reserved for only those ferals that are too ill to subsist on their own in the wild. Jacqui, if you have the time and devotion to work with your kitten, I hope it will come around . . . mine (Muskrat) finally did, and it was well worth the effort! :)