Can a feral cat become a pet?

Can feral cats live with humans?

Emily has been a proofreader and editor at a variety of online media outlets over the past decade. Feral cats (another name for homeless cats who have lived their entire lives outside) are born in the wild and thus have had very little contact with humans.

How to bring a feral kitten home?

Bringing your feral kitten home means that they have to get used to living indoors. To help with this transition, it’s important to set up a room that’s exclusive for the cat. Make sure you include all the essential amenities your cat will require. It’s also important to spend some time in that room to help your cat get used to having you around.

Is it easy to adopt a feral cat?

But it’s important to note that kittens born to feral cats can easily be adopted and domesticated at an early age with little work. It’s also easy for a stray cat to become feral if his/her contact with humans dwindles over time. Another difference is the domestication process.

What does it mean when a cat becomes feral?

This either means the cat was born outside and has had no contact with humans or the cat was socialized so long ago and lost all contact with humans that they’ve become feral. Feral cats are the exact same cat as our house cats, but they just live without humans.

Are feral cats wild or semi-feral?

Feral behavior varies Many of these cats display various degrees of feral behavior. Some are totally wild, having no human contact or only negative human contact. Some are semi-feral, having experienced some positive human contact. Abandoned housecats may also become semi-feral.

Is it safe to have a feral cat?

Be wary; even if they ‘stray’ they might be a neighbourhood cat who’s worked out that if they look hungry they can bag themselves a second meal! Feral cats are the same species of cat as our pet cats, but are not socialised to humans or the domestic environment. This means they behave like wild animals.

Can feral cats be rehomed?

Stray cats may be reunited with their families or adopted into new homes, but feral cats will find it difficult or impossible to adapt to living as pets in close contact with people. But that doesn’t mean there aren’t things you can do to improve feral cats’ health and quality of life. Why are there feral cats?

Can you adopt a feral kitten from a feral mother?

Kittens are more easily adoptable and can be socialized relatively quickly, even if they are born to feral moms. Other circumstances may also bring a feral cat indoors – for example, she might be injured and in need of care, or has just had a litter of kittens. Some feral cats may be unadoptable.

Can I bring a feral cat indoors?

Other circumstances may also bring a feral cat indoors – for example, she might be injured and in need of care, or has just had a litter of kittens. Some feral cats may be unadoptable.

Can you take a feral cat back to its home?

Most of the time, the relocation of feral cats is considered a no-no. Friendly cats and kittens can be safely removed, fostered, and adopted into homes. But the feral and semi-feral cats, you want to return them to their original home if at all possible after Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

What should I do if I find a feral kitten?

Feral kittens should be checked out by a veterinarian and tested for diseases contagious to other cats before you bring them home. Keep the kittens isolated from your pet cats, wash your hands, and wear a smock (or change clothes between handling visits) to protect against the spread of disease from the kittens to pets or from pets to the kittens.

Is it hard to catch a feral cat?

“The cat is never in the house….It’s tough to catch a feral cat, and when you do, they are more afraid than anything….I always say don’t do it.” Generally, stray cats—those that have had basic human socialization—may easily adapt to home life and form bonds with people. And unlike feral cats, strays are often fixed and have had some medical care.

What happens if you adopt a feral cat?

“But feral cats have lived outdoors and likely haven’t had any health care.” Street cats may have serious illnesses that can spread—ringworm, feline leukemia, rabies and other infectious diseases can infect other pets and humans. “If you adopt a feral cat, you are setting yourself up for heartbreak,” said Dr. Hohenhaus.

Can I give a home to a feral or semi-feral cat?

Click here for further information on giving a home to a feral or semi-feral cat. These cats need homes where they will be cared for but allowed to live their own lives. If you are able to offer one

Should I adopt a feral cat from Alley Cat Rescue?

Alley Cat Rescue does not recommend trying to adopt every feral cat who lives in your group. Although you may be upset at the idea of them not having a home, remember the outdoors is their home. Many feral cats will be miserable living inside as a companion animal.

What does it mean when a cat is feral?

Feral: A feral cat is a cat who has either never had any contact with humans or her contact with humans has diminished over time. She is fearful of people and survives on her own outdoors. Kittens born to feral cats can be socialized at an early age and adopted into homes.

What happens to feral cats when they are adopted?

Adult feral cats are not socialized to people, which means they cannot be adopted to indoor homes. As a result, they are likely to be killed if picked up by animal control or brought to shelters, so it is in their best interest to continue living outdoors.

How do feral cats socialize with humans?

Feral cats have either been separated from humans for so long that they have lost their ability to socialize with people, or they have never been exposed to humans. Feral cats are fearful of people and respond more like a wild animal than a domesticated one to human advances. Feral cats frequently live in large groups and socialize with each other.

Are cats more likely to be stray or feral?

In the city, it’s more common for cats to be strays and living as strays because there is a much higher chance of a cat having some interactions with humans. In a more rural area, it’s more likely for cats outside to be feral, as the chances to run into a human is much less. Is It Possible to Socialize Strays/Ferals Back to Domestic Cats?

When do feral cats learn to like humans?

Between the ages of two to six weeks, kittens can learn to enjoy human contact, forming a bond and becoming great pets. Feral cats are usually the offspring of stray, feral or abandoned cats and have missed out on this early experience, making them likely to be wary of humans.