Taming A Feral Cat- Oliver's Story

A completely feral 1-2 year old cat that I live trapped in June has made good progress and has joined our other cats. It is a long, slow process to tame down a feral and takes patience and nerve. You have to be very careful for your safety. Some feral cats never tame down completely (especially the females) some, (mostly males) can become very loving cats. Some people say a feral can't be tamed, but we have had great success with some very vicious feral cats in the last 30 years. it just takes a lot of time to work with them. I wish I had footage of all his progress, but we did not have equipment to make videos at the time.

[@sleipnirseight9709]

Thank you for showing people the reality of what these feral animals face. Their lives are difficult and short. They are domesticated animals, not wild animals. They do not have adequate means to survive well without care. And thank you for having compassion to help this poor guy. PSA: SPAYING AND NEUTERING SAVES LIVES!!!!

[@cheryl4926]

Lucky kitties to have you and your compassion in their lives! Blessings!

[@lilianalopez9197]

Just took in a feral pregnant mama. It’s getting cold here in Wisconsin and I’m afraid they won’t make it outside during the winter so I’m doing what I can to socialize her. I know it will take time but I think they deserve a good life. Thanks for your video! 🩷

[@kyliewalker6647]

You’re amazing ❤️

[@jorr1334]

❤❤❤❤❤

[@bpgk2007]

I have 4 feral cats living with me currently. I have had them for 6 months now and it has been a process. They went from not being willing to even move around me to now being willing to take food from my hands and approach me on their own. They still do not allow me to pet them but I can touch them a little and they will hang out near me.

[@AnnesAnimalRescues-lu1db]

You have patience. I wish more people were like you.

[@Animalman-f3o]

My first one was over 6 years ago and I grabbed it from a litter outside. My second one was hanging out at a bench along a rails to trails in Florida and other people had been feeding it. It actually came on my lap and was friendly and only had one working eye. I decided 2 weeks later to catch her and get her fixed and then gave her a home. My third was a small full grown female getting close to dying that I started feeding and I could actually touch her and decided after a week to get her fixed and give her a home, she also has asthma. My fourth is the sister of my first that I've been feeding for years and caught her years ago but released her. I decided to give her a home and caught her 4 days ago and cannot believe that I was actually giving her belly rubs within 48 hours. I will never understand that, I figured it would take months. And she gets along with my dog and other cats . I did however pray to GOD for help with her . I believe that she really wanted a home where she didn't have to run away from noise and people and other cats that she endured for over 6 years. PS. I'm a guy who lifts weights and I used to hate cats. My cats make me laugh everyday.

[@brendaford4920]

Otis looked at you straight away when you said his name at 12:37, that’s a happy and content cat for sure. Oliver and Stanley are both lovely cat too. You’ve done well to introduce two new cats to Stanley’s home and have all three happy with no ongoing power struggles.

[@AnnesAnimalRescues-lu1db]

We were really lucky that all three cats got along and accepted each other without marking and spraying for dominance. They all pile in and sleep together in the cat beds.

[@Clover-ec8vl]

Thank you for saving Oliver ❤ and all the hard work, making sure to keep all your cats stress free. Great job!

[@VoodooKitty]

Thank you for what you are doing. I volunteer for a rescue in Australia and have recently taken in a 1-2 year old male feral cat to try and socialise him. Hes not aggressive, but he does shut down when I walk in to his room (we have him set up in an onsuite bathroom) hes just so sweet and scared right now, but I have patience and Im stubborn, so hopefully one day we will be able to earn his trust. Im in no hurry.

[@milkyway9599]

Thank you so much for saving the cutie ❤🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 You’re amazing!!!! God bless you!

[@MichaelKalb-vn6gg]

So darn adorable they are. Oliver and Otis are a hoot and Stanley seems so chill.

[@user-sw9vy9lh7f]

A very realistic account of the time and the work with not necessarily a socialised cat at the end of the journey. I really enjoyed watching and learned a lot. I particularly appreciated the role of the other cats. They must have helped a lot.

[@Tina-qp7py]

Very good advice. I've rescued strays but not any feral adults. Only kittens from a feral mom. They were easy to take care of. Now I'm catless watching cat videos wondering if I should get one.

[@jorr1334]

Think about fostering if you're not ready. 2 months of your time will give kittens or cats a chance of up to 20 years of life in a loving home.

[@Tina-qp7py]

@jorr1334 That's the problem. They'll outlive me.

[@carolb9234]

I took on a feral cat in 2017, Christmas Eve as a matter of fact. I live in Michigan and it was one of the worst snow storms that year. In 2018 I trapped him and had him fixed and tipped. Fast forward, I was able to pick him up and sit with him on my lap. This took 6 years!! Unfortunately, I spoke to him one time recently trying to pick him up and he stays a bit clearer of me so I'm not able to put the flea medication on him but I can't open the door now and he will come in and eat but we'll leave right after. He's always had an outdoor heated house as well as a hutch to eat in. One day I hope to get him in.

[@Cheryl-pr4we]

Wow that's amazing!

[@josephbelanger5053]

I love this lady and her good work. I do not need to listen to her prattling on and on. I know what feral means. Don't need a ten minute puppet show.

[@katrinabee9846]

I liked it. She was just covering her bases, and is trying to share information. No need to be negative.

[@josephbelanger5053]

@katrinabee9846 It is good quality to be considerate of dummies.

[@SharleneLightbody]

Thank share amen

[@carolynneser4067]

i usually cable tie a wooden shelf in, it hugely increases the floor space in these cages

[@kyliewalker6647]

The 2 cats you raised are now caring for the new kitten, doing what you taught them. loving and caring for each other. Cats learn behaviors from their mom (even a human Mum)

[@pandalover3556]

I we have trapped 3 feral siblings and 2 of them have adjusted very well but 1 is still very shy. He allows you to pet him for a few seconds but he’ll tell you when enough is enough.

[@AnnesAnimalRescues-lu1db]

Thank you for being one of those folks that give these ferals a chance at an indoor life. Our ten year old feral female is still too scared to be touched.

[@SharleneLightbody]

Love you amen

[@jimsannerud6254]

We have three feral cats we have been feeding. So far we have TNR'ed two of them. Unfortunately, one of them is FIV positive. He is beautiful, all black long hair and seems relatively calm. We had hoped to tame him, but we don't want to take a chance with our cats being exposed to this. We have built outdoor shelters for the cats to use in the cold weather.

[@oanadevera5570]

I have a cat who came to me as a feral and who is now the sweetest , most lovable cat I’ve ever had. A year later he’s still an outdoor cat because I have an indoor cat who is not fond of the one I domesticated. Do you have any advice on how I could bring him in the house to live peacefully with my other cat? Is it true that some cats who grew up as ferals will not want to be inside all the time and will try to get out? Also, any advice on moving with outside cats?

[@lanialost1320]

Thank you -- this is such a heartwarming story, Anne. Just one question -- is it necessary to cover the cage with a sheet or quilt for a few days or weeks to keep you new feral feeling less exposed during the early stages of the taming process?

[@zelliehtrue]

I rescued a pair of ex feral siblings and I covered the cage but I also kept it in the main room because I was in a studio flat at the time. In the end I think this helped because they got used to me very quickly. The first time I opened the cage and left it open was at night so they could explore and that also worked well. After a couple of nights they were running and playing over me all night lol

[@ariana42]

Thank you for the tips and super awesome cat videos...! I have a little tortie or calico, not sure whats the diff? She loves hissing at me so I call her Sassy, been feeding her wet, now dry and she is so hungry she eats the dry right up someone told me once you go wet food thats all they want. I am leaving next week so my mom is coming to feed her I want to do the catch and release to have her spayed, treated, and released. It is a late summer here so I am worried about when it does get cold, just gets wet here no snow....she does go somewhere sometimes but she is starting to spend most of her days in my backyard napping and waiting for me to feed her in the am/pm. I am allergic to cats so I was not planning on an indoor, am I doing more damage than good? She kept coming around at the beginning and I felt bad for her I started with the small cat food in plastic called soups or something like that, she licked the bowl clean scooting everywhere so I just kept on feeding her...I did buy a cat toy and willing to provide her outdoor comforts...kind of mixed emotions here on how to help her

[@user-sw9vy9lh7f]

If you are allergic maybe you need to set up an outside cat shelter (house). Apart from that idea, from what you write you seem to be doing everything necessary. Just make sure the cat shelter is well waterproofed etc. I have one in the "open" shed where we keep the bins and lawn mower and other tools (8 appartments in an old building with a beautiful back garden), so I didn't have to go too heavy on the waterproofed options. I put in bedding and it does look quite aesthetic, which is nice.

[@ariana42]

@user-sw9vy9lh7f yes so far she loves sleeping in the raised brick bed in the leaves, she goes in the neighbors large tree and I swear she was raised by raccoons, bc she and a group will come at night and they don't fight I was terrified when I saw a large group swarming her bowl and she just stood there i ran outside to scare them off and she was like oh were good. What the??? But a friend bought a lil house for her but I would like raised off ground, I bought a doggy igloo well see off Amazon I let her come in kitchen and tried garage to no luck I think too big n scary, thanks for the tips, allergic or not she got us in the palm of her paws smh!!

[@BurkesOutdoors]

The coyotes moved into town because more food and cats it sad but true can the coyotes no it.

[@joanbaczek2575]

A stray cat that found me loves to come for affection and as soon as you let your guard down he bites. He thinks he owns my porch. He’s way to intrested in people to be feral but with his behavior if I surrender I know they will put him down. A vet is willing to vax and neuter but only if I can take him in or have foster ready to take him. This cat loved on my son for hours but his body was very unrelaxed while at same time seeking my sons pets. Then bam cat bit my son and it wasn’t a love bite. This cat a walking contradiction and dangerous cuz he desperately seeks people. My landlord won’t let me help this cat by taking inside. I’m so frustrated I can’t sleep. All these places that are supposed to help have all these stipulations that make it too hard to help! If I could have gotten vax and neuter without having a home set up for him atleast my son would not of needed rabies vax when the cat bit him! 😠 I’m stuck

[@FarrahB1]

What size the cage you use?

[@MaricelaGaribay-s8n]

😢