Feral Kittens
For kittens 6-12 weeks
How long to decide to socialize is recommended to hold for 14 days and work daily three times per day if there is a noticeable improvement in socialization if not return to Colony.
If in 21-30 days you cannot pick up and hold you should return to colony.
Feral cats are not socialize to people and therefore cannot be adopted. But, with some time and attention, you can work with young feral kittens to help them become affectionate & loving companions. It is not a transformation that happens overnight socializing kittens is a big commitment but it can also be a very rewarding experience!
Kittens who do not have contact with humans after they are born will be feral, regardless if their mother is a loss house cat or a feral cat living in a colony or alone outdoors. Feral kittens will be frightened of people and demonstrate all of the signs of fear & anxiety that adult cat would, such as spitting, hissing, and running from human contact.
To become pets, they will need to be socialized and taught to be comfortable around people. If the kittens are eight weeks or younger, usually just about anyone can socialize them by following some simple steps. Kittens that are older than 8 weeks will often take more time and skill to socialize.
To Tame or Not to Tame
Your first instinct when you see kittens may be to scoop them up and take them home but that is not always in the best interest of the kittens.
Socializing and caring for feral kittens is a time-consuming process which requires devotion, patience and attention. The decision to bring feral kittens into your home should not be taken lightly.
Considerations Before Moving Forward
Do you have the time it takes to socialize kittens? You will have to commit to caring for them one-on-one, for at least a couple hours each day, for a period of a few weeks to a month.
Are the kittens neonatal? If so, they will require even more specialized care including around the clock bottlefeeding. This is why we DO NOT recommend removing kittens from their location if they’re not AT LEAST 6 weeks old so they can stay with their mothers for nurturing.
Sadly, people often bring feral kittens into their home and do not take the time to work with them. Then, weeks or months later, they realize they cannot touch the kitten, pick it up or hold it. And, that makes these kittens unadoptable.
How to Socialize
Keep kittens in a room that can be closed off, like a bathroom or spare room. Set up a cage for them inside the room this will give you easy access and won’t give them an opportunity to hide in hard-to-reach spots. The small space will also calm them and allow them to easily find their food water and litter while keeping other pets, and kids, away.
Provide a safe zone or a den such as a small box with the blanket this hiding place provide security and gives them away to feel comfortable and not threatened.
Give the kittens an initial two day adjustment after trapping before you attempt to hold them. Leave a TV or radio on so they become a custom to human voices and sound.
Kittens will spit, hiss and hide as expressions of fear be patient and do not mistake the signs for aggression.
For your safety and the kitten’s safety, make sure you are wearing gloves when handling them for the first few days as kittens will bite & scratch.
If you’re socializing a litter or more than one kitten, consider separating them as isolating them from each other forces the kittens to rely on people.
Food is the key to socialization. You may keep dry food out all day but when you feed wet food, stay in the room with the kittens while they eat it so they associate you with the food and begin to trust you.
Talk and pet the kittens while they’re eating their wet food, gradually working up to holding them. Make sure to reward them with a special treat like some canned food or chicken flavored baby food. Do not offer food on your finger or in your hand.
Socializing kittens with touch and play
All young kitten should be picked up often, petted, brushed and played with so they are used to this behavior when they grow up. Do not allow them to play with your hand, bite or scratch you.
Take time to socialize each of them individually handling them away from the group can speed up socialization by making them more dependent on you. Keep in mind you need to devote two hours per day for a successful socialization.
Hold the kittens as much as possible. If they’re squirming, wrap them in a towel like a burrito make sure they are close to your body so they feel your body warmth & heartbeat.
If a kitten is particularly feisty and it’s slow to socialize, put kitten in a toweled burrito with only the head out or a secured kitten apron and hold kitten while doing things around the house.
Once kittens start to socialize, you need to introduce kittens to as many people as you can. They need to learn how to adjust to strangers and unexpected circumstances.