It was a crisp autumn evening when Snow, our daughter, and I, decided to trim the outgrown trees in our vacation home backyard.
While working, we were occasionally interrupted and fascinated by birds and other little creeping creatures.
We were just about to take a water break when Snow, our daughter noticed a quiet and frightened little creature hiding behind an overgrown shrub probably scrounging for spilled seeds before we interfered with the outdoor peace.
My attention was drawn when she was fast approaching the overgrown shrubs with great curiosity.
Where are you hurriedly going to? I said with great curiosity and concern.
Dad, a skeletal-looking cat is hiding behind the vegetation. I need to help, she said.
Do not move, let us observe from a distance if it is a wild cat or a stray cat, I said.
After close observation, we noticed it was a feral cat and as you know, we have to approach with caution and care, or else the cat will run away feeling threatened.
Any next stop was crucial for us to be able to tame the feral cat and we needed a strategy that was more than kindness.
In this article, we will share a comprehensive guide on how we were able to tame a wild cat at home.
What is a Feral Cat:
A wild cat is a member of the feline family (Felidae) that has had little to no interactions with human interactions.
They live in their diverse range of natural habitats where they hunt for survival relying on their instincts.
They are highly territorial and solitary animals and any human interaction, especially in their territory should be done with great caution.
Feral Cat Vs Stray Cats:
Feral cats are offsprings of domesticated cats that have reverted to their wild habitat to hunt for their survival.
They have experienced human interactions in the past.
Feral cats are usually found in city areas or rural areas and they can easily be cared for by humans because of their experience of human interaction.
Stray cats are domesticated cats that are lost or likely abandoned by their owners after so many trials to find them.
They have experienced human care, affection, and great attention and they are likely not to be scared of humans.
They are more sociable and comfortable around humans than feral cats and they can be easily fed and cared for.
How To Tame a Feral Cat at Home:
It is human in us to show great care, affection, and attention not just to our kind but to other creatures big or small.
Before you do that, you have to be assured of your safety and that of the cat also be ready to exercise a great level of patience and consistency for months before they can be tamed.
Here is a comprehensive guide on how to tame a wild cat at home.
Access The Situation:
You will have to identify if the cat is a feral cat or a stray cat.
A feral cat will likely be unnecessarily aggressive to you or run away from close interaction, while a stray cat will likely be friendly and receptive to your gestures.
A stray cat will likely also have a microchip that can be scanned to identify the owner or a collar around the neck as a means of identification.
You can read here on how to use a microchip to track a lost cat.
After identifying the type of cat, do not approach to touch the cat right away so as not to frighten the cat and also to prevent any likely diseases such as rabies the cat might have contracted in the wild.
Feeding and building trust:
One of the easiest and proven ways to build trust with any animal most especially cats and dogs is to provide them with food.
In the wild, there is no easy access to food, they have to hunt for their next meal themselves.
When my daughter noticed the wild cat hiding behind the overgrown vegetation, he was looking starved and needed food.
We made sure to leave the cat with a very good meal without any form of eye contact.
Why did we avoid eye contact? Cats and other wild animals interpret eye contact as a threat and they can either engage by launching an attack or running away if they feel you are a bigger threat and they stand little or no chance.
I am sure you do not want any of that if your plan is on how to tame a wild cat at home.
We provided the cat with delicious meals every day, following a routine.
This was done to build trust while also taking care of the cat’s immediate needs.
When my daughter and I were sure our new feline friend was becoming fond of us, we moved closer to bringing the food close to the cat while offering special treats.
Call A veterinarian:
This was out of the blue but we needed to be sure our new feline friend was free of any sickness and medical issues such as rabies, etc.
This was necessary to protect the cat and our household from infectious diseases.
We had to call the vet in to assess the cat’s situation, the cat was certified free from any health issues and we proceeded to vaccinate the cat before introducing it to our home.
We also had to neuter our new feline friend because we were not ready to have a house full of cats.
Read here to know why you should neuter or spray a cat to avoid unwanted pregnancies and litter.
Introduction to Your Home:
Before our new feline friend was cleared by the vet, we had started fixing a conducive, peaceful, and same space for our new cat.
The cat’s new space had a feeding area comprising food and water bowls, toys, litter to eliminate body waste, a comfortable bed to sleep on, and a piece of furniture to scratch and hide.
We made sure the cat was separated from other pets and strangers.
This was done to prevent any form of aggression or fear of feeling threatened.
We exercised a great level of patience and commitment to our new feline friend before she was able to socialize properly.
It is important to note that taming a wild cat is a long term committment that should be done with a great deal of love, patience and empathy. Every cat is unique and the reponse might vary but by following this process on how to tame a wild cat at home, you will help a wild cat to adjust to a better living.