How to Tame a Stray or Feral Cat

You may have noticed a homeless cat or kitten hanging out around your house or neighborhood, but what can you do? There are many courses of action which can be taken in this situation, such as contacting your local Animal Control agency or Humane Society. But if you are more interested in befriending this homeless cat or kitten, there are also helpful steps you can take in order to earn the trust of this poor animal.

First, it is necessary to interpret whether or this cat is simply a stray or is feral. Stray cats have had human interaction and contact at some point during their lives, and may have been abandoned or run away from their homes. Feral cats have had little to no human interaction and are essentially wild animals – though not impossible to tame.

How can you tell whether this cat or kitten is a feral cat or simply a stray? Feral cats generally run at the very first sign of human presence, such as tapping on a window when you see the animal or even making eye contact. Stray cats will hold their ground a bit longer and may even allow you to come within just a few feet or inches of them.

Once you have determined whether the cat is a stray or feral, you can begin the process of earning its trust. The majority of stray and feral cats maintain a regular feeding schedule. If you are leaving food outside for the animal, keep track of its daily eating habits for one or two weeks. 

When you have established the cat's daily feeding schedule, try to be outdoors during the time the cat feeds each day. Your presence will initially frighten the animal, so it is important to sit down on the ground fifteen or twenty feet away from where the cat is eating, thus making yourself appear smaller is size. Be sure to place the cat's food in the same place and sit in the same spot each day, allowing the cat to become accustomed to your presence.

After allowing the cat or kitten to see you nearby during its feeding for two or three weeks, you can begin moving the food closer to the spot on the ground in which you sit every day. Move the food only a few inches at first, then several inches, allowing the cat to slowly adapt to being closer to you. When the cat seems more comfortable and less alert to your presence, you should begin moving the food one foot at a time.

Eventually, the cat will be eating within only a few feet of where you are sitting on the ground. It is important to remember to never attempt to grab the animal, as this will only set back your progress, scare the animal, and may cause the cat to injure you by scratching or biting.

When the animal is finally comfortable being within a few feet of you, gently stretch out your hand within a few inches of where the cat is feeding. Do not make eye contact with the cat at this time, as this will only induce a nervous and fearful reaction. By now, the cat has grown accustomed to your scent, and chances are that the animal will gently sniff your hand and back away.

Beyond this point, developing a daily interaction with the stray or feral cat will become much easier. After only a few weeks of close encounters, the majority of stray and feral cats will slowly come around and allow you to gently touch and even pet them. Trust and respect will blossom, as will your new-found friendship with a needy cat or kitten.

Sources:
http://www.metroanimal.org/feral/main.shtml
http://www.freecathealthtips.com/straycats.shtml