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How to tame a shy kitten?

B

bignateyk

Lifer
We found a feral kitten and decided to take it in. My guess is it's about 8 weeks old. Not surprisingly it is very shy. It hides under stuff and won't come out. We've had it about a week and it is eating solid food and using a litter box. How should I go about socializing it?

It tries to run away if I come to pick it up, but if I am able to pick it up it seems fine. I can just hold it in my lap for hours and it will even start purring.

Should I just do this every day for an hour or so?
 
dont chace it around let it come to you, last cat we adopted hid under the couce for like 2 weeks only coming out to eat, now she wont leave you alone
 
bignateyk said:
It tries to run away if I come to pick it up, but if I am able to pick it up it seems fine. I can just hold it in my lap for hours and it will even start purring.

Should I just do this every day for an hour or so?
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Yes. And pet it thoroughly.
 
Anubis said:
dont chace it around let it come to you, last cat we adopted hid under the couce for like 2 weeks only coming out to eat, now she wont leave you alone
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Yeah right now it won't come out unless I corner it and pick it up. It doesn't try to scratch me or bite me though.. it just runs away. Once I pick it up though it seems to be fine.
 
Anubis said:
dont chace it around let it come to you, last cat we adopted hid under the couce for like 2 weeks only coming out to eat, now she wont leave you alone
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This. Stay near it, keep active so that it knows you're there and gets used to your presence. Find some toys that it likes and get it play.
 
bignateyk said:
We found a feral kitten and decided to take it in. My guess is it's about 8 weeks old. Not surprisingly it is very shy. It hides under stuff and won't come out. We've had it about a week and it is eating solid food and using a litter box. How should I go about socializing it?

It tries to run away if I come to pick it up, but if I am able to pick it up it seems fine. I can just hold it in my lap for hours and it will even start purring.

Should I just do this every day for an hour or so?
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Pretty much, just keep doing what you are doing and have a lot of patience. The more you interact with it the better it will be but if it will sit on your lap and not run off as soon as you let go of it you are already most of the way there.
 
Be careful feral cats, they don't understand sizes and essentially think they're little lions which can be dangerous.

I wouldn't 'play fight' with him at all. Only gentle nice playtime should be allowed.
 
You smash it as hard as possible until it cries for mercy and creams.

Edit: Sorry, didn't read the OP, thought you're talking about another type of kitten.
 
SpatiallyAware said:
Be careful feral cats, they don't understand sizes and essentially think they're little lions which can be dangerous.

I wouldn't 'play fight' with him at all. Only gentle nice playtime should be allowed.
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This describes my old cat perfectly. When he was born, he was separated a little early from his mom and became feral at a young age. He was eventually captured but only after spending alot of time outside, fending for himself. He was never very friendly and gobbled down his food voraciously at feeding time. We used to tease him while eating and he would growl and hiss at us in between bites, sometimes he would nearly choke to devour the food and growl at the same time. He was neutered but was the undisputed boss and bully of the other cats in the household.

This cat would chase my little sister around and ambush her, clawing at her ankles while she ran away. You could not even pick this cat up and it was dangerous to put him near your face; he knew to aim for your eyes or nose. He did mellow out as he got older and turned into a friendlier lap cat. I think he purred for the first time after his 12 birthday. he was a smaller cat, maybe 10 pounds max but he had the guts of a lion. RIP Alvin, you were one tough SOB.
 
Cats have different, and distinct personalities. It may never really tame down. Give it attention, avoid loud noises, play with it, and see what happens.
 
My room mate brought his kitten when he moved in a few months ago. He would get scared shit less at loud noises and what not. Eventually he got used to it all and even found some toys he likes to play with. Now he is pretty nice and quite vocal (meows at everything).

I would say just do your normal routine around the house and it will get used to you.
 
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We tamed 4 feral kittens that we captured with a box, stick, and string. The secret is in the food. Do not let them eat unless you are near, then slowly don't let them eat until you are next to the food. Then start petting while they eat, keep your hands in the food, feed them off your fingers,etc.

As a cat associates you with good things, you become the whole world to them. They might never grow to trust other humans, but they will socialize with you like any normal cat.
 
If you have an old shirt or two, put them near where the cat likes to hide so he/she gets used to your scent. As others have said, don't force the cat to come out, let him come to you.
 
sourceninja said:
We tamed 4 feral kittens that we captured with a box, stick, and string. The secret is in the food. Do not let them eat unless you are near, then slowly don't let them eat until you are next to the food. Then start petting while they eat, keep your hands in the food, feed them off your fingers,etc.

As a cat associates you with good things, you become the whole world to them. They might never grow to trust other humans, but they will socialize with you like any normal cat.
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Great advice! :thumbsup:
 
amdhunter said:
I'd just wait until the little bastard is too big to hide under anything. Then we'll see who's boss.
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7NmsU.jpg
 
Anubis said:
dont chace it around let it come to you, last cat we adopted hid under the couce for like 2 weeks only coming out to eat, now she wont leave you alone
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This. Some cats just take time to begin to socialize with people especially if they've never really been around them.

Just talk nicely to it, don't chase it around. Maybe get some string toys to play with it.

My kitty.

Romeo.jpg
 
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