Cats

@snowy22315 (208802)
United States
May 6, 2008 9:17am CST
My friend has some feral cats hanging around his house. They are reproducing. He is trying to befriend the kittens in order to tame them, but he really needs to catch tadults and get them spayed. He's having trouble finding people to help with this issue. What are the best places to contact? What is the best way to tame feral kittens?
2 responses
@Loverbear (4918)
• United States
6 May 08
Check with your local humane society or animal control. If they can't offer any help then call vets. Many will spay and neuter for free if the cats are feral. As for taming the kittens, it is a slow process of getting them to trust you. I usually start with placing their food someplace where they can see me but it's just far enough off that they know that I can't touch them. Then I start inching forward while their eating. When I reach a spot where I am extremely close then I slowly start extending my hand towards them. They'll run for awhile, but soon they'll get used to the hand. I then start inching my hand towards their back. Don't start trying to pet them on the head, as they are very protective about their head. For awhile when you touch their fur they will run, but after awhile they will accept the person's touch. You'll find after you gain their trust from the slow considerate way that you got to pet them, they will accept you and then maybe they will start letting you pick them up. Remember they are wild, so they will take longer to get to the point that they will accept being held. I tamed a feral cat that had been in my housing area a few years ago. I can't pick him up but we still have contact, I can pet him and he rubs up against my legs.
@snowy22315 (208802)
• United States
7 May 08
Thanks so much!
@mcat19 (1357)
• United States
7 May 08
Do a search online on feral cats. One organization that may help is Alleycatallies. They might lend him traps to get the mom's spayed at discount rates. They may have some insight into taming the babies also. Good luck to him.