Fostering
Fostering Space
Socialization
Documents & Resources
Socialization
Few things are as rewarding as teaching a cat or kitten to trust. And it isn’t just the good feelings. A well-socialized cat or kitten can get a home! You are changing their life forever.
And you are helping the feral cats left in their colonies too.
- Competition for food and shelter is reduced when adoptable cats or kittens are removed from the colony. This reduces stress and improves the quality of life for the remaining members.
- Smaller colonies make good neighbors. Humans are more likely to tolerate small colonies in their communities. That increases their chances of being able to stay in their home territory.
- Smaller colonies tend to be healthier with fewer cats to spread illness.
- Predators are less likely to be attracted to smaller colonies. Coyotes and other large mammals stay in areas where there is a steady food source, so they tend to target larger colonies.
- Humans benefit too because they won’t have to provide as much food.
Taming Feral Kittens
Handout and Presentation
Use the buttons below to view or download our taming kittens materials. The documents are in PDF format and can be downloaded and viewed on you phone, tablet, computer or browser.
Finding Homes for Shy or Semi- Feral Kittens
Tip: After the kittens have been fully vaccinated and combo tested, considering pairing a shy or semi-feral kittens with a highly social kitten for adoption. An outgoing kitten will help your shy foster come around faster. And adopters are more likely to tolerate and keep a shy one if they have another one who is in-their-face friendly. Two shy kittens in the wrong home may result in you having them returned a few months later.
Tip: You may do a great job socializing a feral kitten, but she may not transfer that trust to other people. So make sure the new adopters replicate the taming process in a small space like a bathroom or office. If they have never had a shy kitten, they may casually turn it loose in their house and find that it hides for weeks. This can be result in the kitten never fully socializing.
Tip: When adopted, send the kittens to their new home with a familiar bed or blanket, food and interactive toys. Familiar bedding, food and fun will speed up the adjustment period. And they are less likely to start off with an upset tummy by an abrupt food change.
Taming Tools
Relaxing Sounds
The sound of purrs can be relaxing to stressed kittens. If the kittens are in the untouchable phase, start by playing the purring sounds while feeding canned food. Later, as you begin adding touch, play the purrs. Many kittens will visibly relax making the taming process faster. Try it with your own cats too. A couple of mine will jump in my lap when they hear it.
Play in browser
Interactive Toys
Play wands, long feathers and other interactive toys distract the kittens from their fear and help them make the first steps in approaching you. It isn’t unusual to see no play activity at all in the first days after trapping. This is particularly true of older kittens. Go very slow at first. Just a slight wiggle of the wand in their general area. At first, they may be scared. Remember, they were learning to survive not too long ago and play may not be natural. They have to feel safe first.
Radio and Television
Sometimes our desire to make the kittens feel safe can interfere with thier socialization. Quiet voices and silent house may help them relax, but they won’t help them become adoptable. Turn on sinks, flush toilets and talk to them to help them get used to human sounds. Bring in a radio or turn on a nearby television. Playing audiobooks with both male and female voices is good too. Gradually increase the volume so they become habituated to the noise. Getting used to household sounds is easier on kittens, so start right away.
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