Can You Tame a Wild Kitten?

Feral cats live outside and have had little to no previous contact with people. These cats react aggressively to humans, a behavior they pass on to their young. While taming older feral cats is not recommended, you can tame kittens under 8 weeks old to become loving pets in a matter of weeks. You can also tame kittens between 8 weeks and 6 months old, though the process takes longer.

  1. Trapping

    • Feral kittens begin to emerge from their mother's nest at around 4 to 5 weeks old, when they can start to eat solid food, according to the Peninsula Humane Society &SPCA. At this time, you can set up humane live traps around the area of the nest to trap the kittens. Bait the traps with pungent, delicious foods, such as human-grade tuna, mackerel or sardines to attract the kittens. Check the traps every couple of hours. Once you catch a kitten, cover the trap with a towel before moving it to reduce anxiety. Trap the feral mother, if possible, and have her spayed before releasing her back into the area you found her.

    Care

    • Bring the kittens to a veterinarian for a health check and inspection for skin parasites. If the kittens require medication, ask your veterinarian if he can give them to you in liquid form, as giving a feral kitten pills can be traumatic for it. Take the kittens home and place them in a large dog crate with water and a litter box available in the crate at all times. Spend the first two days of their confinement with them, without handling, feeding them canned kitten food in a dish while in your presence, according to the Feral Cat Coalition. The kittens will begin to associate you with food, a positive experience.

    Handling

    • Observe the kittens for a reduction of aggressive signs, such as hissing and spiting, while in your presence. Take the crate and place it in a small room with no places to hide, such as under beds or couches; if using a bathroom, ensure that no small spaces exist under cabinets for the kittens to escape to. Allow each kitten to lick food off of your finger in the crate until they become used to your hands, recommends the Urban Cat League. Place a dish of food on your lap, open the crate and let the kittens approach you. While they are eating, begin to lightly touch and stroke the kittens with your hands, speaking to them gently.

    Socialization

    • The entire socialization process of feral kittens to humans takes two to six weeks or longer for very skittish kittens, according to the Feral Cat Coalition. Progress from handling the kittens gently during feeding to picking them up while you keep a tasty treat, such as meat-based human baby food, in front of them. Slowly increase the amount of handling for each kitten per day, allowing other people to gently handle the kittens to get them used to the presence of other humans. Once kittens tolerate human handling with no food and no signs of aggression, you can adopt them out to a loving family.