/an/ - Animals & Nature » Thread #344807

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Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 00:45:00 No.344807 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>344818

I need some advice from you /an/on. There's a feral cat who roams around my house lurking for food in the night. Since s/he's feral, s/he avoids humans. I putting some cat food in a little dish outside my house to try to make her/him feel comfortable with the 'area'. Is there any way I could make her/him trust me?, I just want to pet that damn puffy fur ball :3

Pic related, looks somewhat like the cat I'm talking about.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 01:09:00 No.344815 Report

Quoted By: >>344818

Unfortunately I wouldn't get your hopes too high about trying to get a feral cat to let you pet it. Socializing feral cats is a very time consuming process, and even after the trust is built a lot of feral cats just aren't comfortable being petted like a domesticated cat would. Also if you do have any contact with the cat be aware that feral cats often have fleas and can sometimes carry other parasites, not to mention the rabies risk (although you probably would have noticed by now if it was rabid).

All that said, its nice to see that you're taking care of our feral friends. If there are any groups around you which look after feral cat colonies you might want to let them know about him/her. They usually will catch, neuter/spay, and then re-release the cat so that they can control feral populations. This prevents feral overpopulation which can lead to starvation, disease, negative interactions with humans (i.e. getting hit by cars or injured/killed by people), etc. so it is something worth looking into!

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 01:24:00 No.344818 Report

Quoted By:

>>344807
I agree with>>344815but have noticed a few people documenting their interaction with feral cats/colonies that led to ultimate trust and domestication of one or two of the cats. Definitely leave food out. Make sure this cat knows you are leaving the food out, as in - make sure it's watching you put it out. If it is cold where you live (it is freezing here) try to set up an outside box with warm blankets and things to let the cat rest in. Hopefully, this will be enough to let him stay/sleep in your backyard.

If it happens, it will take a very, very, very, long time. But it might be worth it - especially if you have not witnessed any rabies symptoms or violence towards humans.

I hope it all works out.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 01:38:00 No.344827 Report

Quoted By:

It could take a year for that kind of trust to build.

Leave food out, but in a high place so that things like the neighbor's dog won't get to it but still reachable for the cat.

It might also appreciate a nice, dry spot.

Overall you have to be fully aware that one day the cat will simply stop coming. It's sad, but it happens.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 01:55:00 No.344832 Report

Quoted By:

OP here.

I wish a could get a cat, but I live with my mother to save money, and she's very ailurophobic (fobia of cats). At least I have two wonderful rotties ^^

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 26 Nov 2008 02:08:00 No.344841 Report

Quoted By:

My family has taken in 3 feral cats, however they were all kittens when we caught them. I would say just give it time and feed it, although you will probably have little luck unless you somehow caught it and attempted to tame it, which would take quite some time.

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