Tough Love: Socializing Feral Kittens (Part 1 of 3)
by admin on Friday, July 9th, 2010 | 25 Comments
The Urban Cat League teaches you how to tame and socialize feral kittens to make them ready for adoption into homes instead of life on the streets. Produced for the Urban Cat League (www.urbancatleague.org) with a Partners in Caring grant from the ASPCA (www.aspca.org). Producers: Cathe Neukum and Daniel Breton Camera: Daniel Breton and Cathe Neukum Music: Kim Sherman Post Sound-Mix: Eric Shim In-Kind Services: Ganglion Films (www.ganglionfilms.com), Neukum Pictures, Kim Sherman, and Scott Killian
Great Video,
We are fostering feral kittens from the SPCA and I was wondering if it is ok to keep them in a bathroom? We go in the bathroom and give them attention frequently, they are around 6 or 7 weeks old.
There are two of them and they are female. Thanks
These videos were invaluable to me when I caught a feral kitten a year ago and I had no idea of how to tame it. Between watching these videos and advice that Mike gave me through email, I was able to win Newt’s trust and make her a happy and sociable part of our family. I recommend these videos to anyone who is trying to gentle a feral cat- and the techniques outlined really do work!
I captured a wild tom (about 5 years) in a cat trap. After a week in a basement bathroom and socializing I had him neutered. I planned to release him ASAP but he had a benevolent mass in his ear and so I have to medicate it for 7 to 10 days. But now he is locked in my room so he can get used to my presence and calm down till release. He learned to purr yesterday and today I learned that blankets are nicer then under the bed.
Thank you so much for the work you do. Having people like you, makes the world
a better place!
6:48 to 6:53 cats like hey give that back!
I socialized feral kittens at 3 weeks. Their mother (now spayed) was and is feral. My current batch of kittens has had no contact for the first 2 months of their lives, but their mother knows me and loves me. I’ve held one of the five kittens. He squirmed, but no biting or scratching. The others will get close to me, but mostly they’re still watching me. I think I’ll be able to handle them, though.
I’m hoping to find them homes. The shelters around here are all full.
We’re in the process of working with a local organization to trap and neuter a litter of 10 that we’re hoping will be adoptable with time. This video helps immensely, thank you!
My cat was about 3 1/2 months old when I found him. About the same size as these kittens. He became “socialized” quite quickly, within a couple days, but when I found him he was so starving and ill (he had kitty flu, tons of fleas, worms, and ear mites) that he basically wolfed down some food and then slept for almost 24 hours. After that, I think he decided to trust me, and now he’s the most wonderful pet! I really admire people like you who can save kittens like him all the time!
I have two adult ferals who took up residence in my yard a year ago. They will NOT let you pet them, hehe. But I’ve gotten used to it…they are true ferals. If they were kittens, I might have had a chance with them. I feed them every day and provide water…they are very timid and sweet. One of them is now allowing me to sit near her though, and she meows at me, so I’ve made a bit of progress.
Great video – thank you for making it . It’s great that you’re helping to get kittens adopted.
my feral cat along with me and he think i am his mother ..i found him outside street all four so thin bone ..i feed them then one keep is mine other 3 kitten to humane place ..every 3 hour feed milk to kitten grow fine with me ..he seem no problem at all.
I tamed Casey, Tiger, Serena, and Miss Kitty with lots of gentle handling.
I had a 3mnth old feral kitten come into my yard. After a month of feeding I closed the door and let it get used to living inside with us. He was scared of our footsteps and hissed when I tried to pick him up or pat him. After watching this video and adopting the tips shown, he is hardly scared of us. He is now 5mnths and LOVES when I pat him and comes when I call him. He jumps on my lap and lets me kiss his face and even hangs around with the dog now!
You really are a hero. I have a cat who was born semi-feral (not sure what the semi means) and she was put in foster care (by Vokra) and socialised. Shes a loving cat to me but to this day, she wont let anyone else near her or touch her EXCEPT me. Shes also fairly intolerant of other cats. She wont fight with them but she just hisses. Do you think theres anyway my cat can learn to accept other people touching her besides me, so she doesnt yowl or hiss? Shes 7. I just wish she was fearless.
Please take the kitten to a veterinarian for diagnosis and treatment.
Thank you so much for these videos! This is great information, and really helped me when I pulled three feral kittens to foster. And I can’t even explain how great that meat baby food works!
heyy Mayor’s Alliance, my name is Alex and i just found a kitten who is about 5 weeks out, it has an infection in his left eye, and i don’t know if he has fleas….do you have any suggestions on what i should do??i have been keeping the eye clean….but i don’t really know what i should be doing…
heyy Mayor’s Alliance, my name is Alex and i just found a kitten who is about 5 weeks out, it has an infection in his left eye, and i don’t know if he has fleas….do you have any suggestions on what i should do??i have been keeping the eye clean….but i don’t really know what i should be doing…
This video was a huge help when I fostered a little kitten rescued from a feral colony. It was not easy, but I stayed with it, and we ended up adopting her!
You sir, are an everyday hero.
You’re fantastic to take care of innocent cats! Loved the video. Very helpful. Thank you!
What a lovely idea for a set of educational videos.
Keep up the good work!
My little darling was a rescue cat, so rewarding to adopt. He gives me endless love, and is a great companion.
i need advice we have had this mother cat living in ou backyard with her older son/or daughter a few days ago i saw tht she has concieved 3 more kittens but yesturday morning one of the kittens drowned in our pool how do i get in contact with the mom or kittens
My family and I just took in a feral kitten. It’s only been two days since we brought him in and he’s already trusting me enough to eat near me. We’ve had our moments of trying to hold him, but after watching this video we’ve realized that we need to wait and let him trust us more before picking him up.
Thank you so much for this video.
What are you worried about?