How to Introduce Feral Kittens to Other House Cats

A stray cat is a family pet who has been lost or abandoned. If a stray cat is not spayed or neutered, it will eventually produce kittens. These kittens are deemed "feral cats." The offspring of feral cats are also feral. These cats avoid human contact at all times, fleeing or becoming violent when facing the prospect. Rehabilitation of feral cats involves acclimating them to humans and other pets again. Sometimes this is possible, other times it is not. The process of introducing a feral cat to house cats and humans is a long, arduous task that should not be undertaken lightly. Feral cat taming requires a huge amount of patience, dedication and time.

Things You'll Need

  • Cat carriers
  • T-shirts
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Instructions

    • 1

      Ensure that each cat has a place he or she can consider a "safe zone". This can be a crate or a whole room. This place is where the cat can escape to if it feels threatened or overwhelmed.

    • 2

      Rub down each cat with a T-shirt. Allow the cats to sniff the unfamiliar scents. Cats rely heavily on their olfactory sense. The more familiar a scent is, the less threatening it seems.

    • 3

      Place each cat into a carrier. Move the carriers progressively closer together. If one of the cats becomes agitated, cease movement and wait until the cat is calm again. Continue this until the cats can be in their carrier next to the other cats without panicking.

    • 4

      Allow the feral cat free rein to explore the other cats. Keep the other cats confined in a carrier or kennel to avoid potentially disastrous confrontations.

    • 5

      Permit the house cats to explore the feral cat one at a time. By nature, feral cats are incredibly skittish and do not respond well to being overwhelmed.

    • 6

      Repeat these procedures on a regular basis until the cats are used to one another and can coexist without an altercation or fear. This can take several weeks to several months.