How to Teach a Semi-Feral Cat to Use a Litter Box

Feral cats are the offspring of lost or abandoned cats or other feral cats. Many are fearful, wild and cannot tolerate human contact. Semi-feral cats are less timid than fully feral cats, and may be easier to adopt and train. Care of feral and semi-feral cats improves their quality of life and reduces their reproduction. Some semi-feral cats can be kept as household pets. If the semi-feral cat is tame enough to adjust to indoor living, litter box training is an important step to master.

Things You'll Need

  • Humane cat trap
  • Food dish
  • Water dish
  • Litter box
  • Large dog crate
  • Blankets
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Instructions

  1. Trapping

    • 1

      Carefully follow the instructions on the humane cat trap. Choose a day when the weather is mild to set up the trap. Do not feed the semi-feral cat the night before the scheduled trapping.

    • 2

      Place newspapers or towels on the bottom of the humane trap to make it more comfortable for the cat. Place food, such as chicken or tuna, in one end of the trap and leave the other end open. The door will close once the cat has entered.

    • 3

      Place a towel over the trap to help calm the cat.

    Crating

    • 4

      Place the clean litter box into the large dog crate.

    • 5

      Place a water dish into the crate. Spread a soft blanket or towel into the crate for the cat to sleep on.

    • 6

      Transfer the cat from the trap to the prepared crate. The semi-feral cat will instinctively be drawn to using the litter pan.

    Training

    • 7

      Set up a confined room with a litter box, soft place to sleep, food and water.

    • 8

      Release the cat into a confined room once he has calmed down. The semi-feral cat will be drawn to using the litter box.

    • 9

      Scoop out feces and dirty litter every day to encourage the cat to continue using the litter box. Empty out the entire litter pan and wash it as often as needed.