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To: Ditter
Pet house cats and feral cats are like 2 different species. Feral cats are almost impossible to tame if they have been born in the wild with a wild mother. The minute their eyes are open their wild mother teaches them to fear humans. If you can get them before their eyes are open you might be able to tame them.

No. At one time, I was involved in taking care of feral cats and the tamability of a feral kitten depends on two things: basic personality and age.

Some kittens are trusting and affectionate -- they can easily be tamed, at least up to six months. I have two female ex-ferals who are the most loving cats imaginable, but they were friendly towards me even before I took them inside my home. Other kittens are more suspicious -- they may never be tamed. Also, after age six months it is more difficult, though not impossible, to tame a feral. It's takes a great deal of patience and food.

A former feral who I found as a kitten hanging around my home slipped out one morning and disappeared. He didn't have his collar on and I hate the thought of some trigger-happy psychopath shooting him for the sake of shooting him. I also have friends who live in rural areas and let their cats outside. One set of cats don't wear collars.

Interestingly enough, my ex-ferals have no desire to go outside. They are content to sit on a perch in a window and watch the birds. On the other hand, with Spring here, the original Siamese Princess (a sealpoint cat I bought from a breeder) will want to go to play!

62 posted on 04/12/2005 10:20:56 PM PDT by Siamese Princess
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To: Siamese Princess

See post #57. I stick by what I said. A real feral cat is a wild animal.


64 posted on 04/13/2005 5:13:26 AM PDT by Ditter
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