How to tame feral kittens/cats

So many people have feral kittens or cats and want advice on taming them so here it is, how to tame feral kittens or cats (some adult feral cats never tame or take months, sometimes years but it's no harm to try.).

First, confine the kittens/cats somewhere.  A shed/bathroom, or large dog pen. The dog pen above shows the typical layout for kits-in-taming.  Have bedding, litter trays, toys in the shed/bathroom/dog pen and feed as normal morning and evening.  The importance of confining is so that the kittens/cats can't run away from you, though it is essential they have somewhere to hide such as cardboard boxes. Out in the open they have the space to run from you, the idea is to get them to run towards you.  How to do that?  Treats!  

Begin with bits of cooked chicken, fish, meat and for the first few days, just throw it in their general direction.  Throw it towards them and then walk away, don't wait around to see if they come to it or eat it,  just leave them to it.  Do this once a day until they begin to tentatively come towards you when they see you coming. 

At this point, you switch to a different type of food.  Tesco's tuna in mayonnaise fish paste or chicken paste or Primula cheese spread in the tube (also at Tesco's) are all fantastic, cats seem to love them!  At this point also, you begin to sit on the floor of the shed or bathroom, legs stretched out in front of you or crouch at the door of the dogpen.  Scoop out some fish/chicken paste with a teaspoon, throw some in the direction of the kittens, leave some on the spoon and place it a bit away from you, then stay perfectly still, make very little eye contact (cats perceive prolonged eye contact as a threat), just glance occasionally and wait.  No matter how close the kittens/cats get, DO NOT reach out to touch them or they will run away.  You MUST have patience. Throw the fish/chicken paste/cheese spread to them a few times during each session. You may find that one cat is more confident than the others and comes closer to you, great!  Let them lick the paste off the spoon while you hold it in your hand. 

Follow this routine for a few days/week, then try putting some paste/spread on each of your fingertips, stretch out your hand, rest it on the floor, fingers splayed and stay still.  Let the cats come and lick the paste/spread off your fingertips.  Usually if one does it, the rest will follow. Again DO NOT try to touch them, it's way too soon.  And only make brief eye contact.  You'll see yourself they'll back away if you look at them too much.  So keep it to a minimum for now, you can build this up later.  Repeat putting the paste/spread on your fingertips and reaching out your hand to them a few times per session. You may find at this point the kittens become curious and start sniffing your shoes/clothes, this is great!  They may start playing with your shoes, let them.  The more you stay still the more they will approach to investigate you which is the object of the exercise.

After a few days/week, bring your hand with the paste/spread on the fingertips nearer to your lap while you're sitting, you may find they begin clamouring across you legs to get at the food, this is great.  It shows they are getting comfortable being close to you.  Eventually rest your hand on your lap with the food in it and while the most confident cat is eating, try stroking it gently down its back with your other hand.  Hopefully it won't jump away, if it does, then keep going with the eating out of your hand and try physical contact again a few days later. Stick with it, even if it takes a couple of weeks or longer. Some days it may seem like two steps back, one step forward but don't give up. Eventually you will be able to stroke the cats while they eat from your hand. Introduce more eye contact at this point, but don't stare. 

It's soooo tempting at this stage to try to grab them for a cuddle, but it is too soon. At this point, let them dictate the pace, you will find as they become more used to being stroked and petted down the back, they begin nudging your shoes or legs with their heads and eventually will nudge your hand.  Or they may sit on your legs.  It's all progress! At this point, incorporate physical contact, stroking, petting at feeding times morning and evening and when emptying the litter tray so they don't just associate it with treats. 

At some point when you feel they are totally relaxed with being petted, try lifting one cat up slightly off the ground for a second and immediately leave them back down again. Give them a treat.  The next day lift up a little higher and for a little longer. Reward with a treat. Progress slowly with this, they must feel comfortable, if they are wriggling to get free, you are moving too fast. Go back a few steps.

And then one day, you will be able to lift them up, hold them close and give them the cuddle you've been waiting to give them for a long time.  And yes, it's worth the wait!  All the work and patience is so worth it.  

To summarise:  Confine.  Use treats.  Brief eye contact.  Take it slowly. Resist the urge to touch too soon.  Have patience.  Don't give up. Enjoy the success!