How To Socialize Feral Kittens

The primary principle of socializing feral kittens is gradual humane desensitization.

How to socialize feral kittens. Hold the kitten loosely on your knees and eventually up to your chest so your heartbeat can be heard. Even if your intentions are the best you can harm the cat. Containment within a cage or carrier handling with a towel containment in a room to work on socializing. The socialization of feral kittens requires a daily commitment of time the duration of which depends on the age of the kittens and the amount and consistency of the time you spend working with them.

If you can grasp this simple truth you can socialize any feral kitten. As they get more comfortable put the food in your lap and pet the kittens while they eat. The urban cat league also suggest interactive play as a way to socialize feral kittens. We have tons of tips on how to help your mini kitties feel at ease around people and how to help them grow up to be loving companion animals.

Spending time with these fuzzy little guys though a lot of work will also be a lot of fun. Lift under the chest with a small dish of food directly in front of the kitten s nose the entire time. Feral kittens that are between 4 to 10 weeks old are especially suitable to socialize. Community kittens can be socialized fairly easily if they re handled at an early age 8 weeks or under.

Depending on what the cat is working on and what the cat can tolerate the length of sessions will vary. Congratulations on deciding to foster and socialize kittens. By helping them associate human presence with a pleasant stimulus we slowly condition them to feel that we aren t so scary after all. Engage them in play with thing on a string toys.

Several organizations recommend not to take a cat from the wildness if they are all grown up already. Once that s mastered try lifting while you re kneeling. Work up to feeding wet food from a plate as you sit on the floor nearby. For shy kittens start by feeding from a spoon through the bars.

Then work your way to lifting while you re standing.