Kittens that are not exposed to humans early in their lives learn from their mothers and quickly become feral. However, if they are caught and handled at a young enough age, feral kittens can be socialized and placed in loving homes.

To socialize – or not?

Whether to try to socialize feral kittens depends on two things: their age, and your ability to do what is necessary to ensure full socialization. If you cannot follow these recommendations, it’s better to try to place the kittens in a shelter, or if they are more than eight weeks old, fix the kittens and return them to their territory.

Kitten age guidelines:

Kittens under four weeks old: can usually be socialized in a matter of hours or days.

• Between four and six weeks old: can take approximately one to two weeks to socialize.

• Between six and eight weeks old: may take anywhere from two to four weeks.

• Between eight and nine weeks old: will usually take from two to four weeks, but usually closer to four weeks.

• Kittens more than ten weeks: can also be tamed, but it may take much longer and many times they will only tame to the person working with them and remain wild with strangers. This means that if you plan on placing them in a shelter, they may continue to act wild and there’s a good chance they would be euthanized rather than adopted. RMACA does not recommend attempting to tame feral kittens at this age, unless you have a good home for them that understands that the kittens may never be fully tame. Otherwise, it is better to fix the kittens and return them to their territory.

• Kittens can be safely spayed/neutered as young as eight weeks old (or two pounds).

Getting Started

Kittens cannot be socialized while they are still in their colony. They must be brought inside and confined so you have regular access to them. If you cannot do this, have the kittens altered and return them to their colony.

• Kittens can be taken from their feral mothers when they begin weaning — approximately four weeks of age.To determine a kitten’s age, here are a couple of tips.

1. Kittens usually open their eyes around 10 days of age.
2. Usually mom cats bring their babies to food for the first time when the kittens are around eight weeks old.
3. You can roughly determine the age of a kitten by comparing it to a woman’s shoe size. A six week old kitten will be approximately the same size from the tip of its nose to its rear-end (minus the tail) as a woman’s size six shoe. A seven week old kitten = a size seven woman’s shoe, etc. If you are still not sure, go to www.alleycat.org and read the fact sheet “Basic Kitten Care.”

• Ideally, it is best to take feral kittens from their mother when they are between four and six weeks old. At this age, they are young enough to be easily caught, but old enough to be easily weaned.

Kittens six weeks and under must eat canned cat food at least every three to five hours, and must be kept in a very warm area. Kittens older than six weeks old should be fed canned cat food at least three times a day.

• You will need to confine the kittens at first, preferably in a dog crate, large pet carrier, cat condo, or cage. If you do not have a cage or carrier, you can keep the kittens in a small room. Be certain to block up everything they could crawl into or under and remove anything that could injure them.

• Do not let feral kittens run loose in your house. They can hide in tiny spaces and are exceptionally difficult to find and coax out. In addition, a large room can be frightening and hinder the taming process.

• The cage should contain a small litterbox, food and water dishes, and something to cuddle in like a towel or piece of your clothing.

Socializing

Remember, the sooner (and more often) kittens are handled, the more likely they are to socialize.

• Food is the key to taming. Make dry kitten food available at all times and give the kitten a small amount of wet food at least twice a day. The kitten may hesitate to eat in your presence at first, but be patient. Eventually the kitten will associate your presence with food.

• Chicken-flavored baby food is a special treat that almost no kitten can resist — make sure it doesn’t contain onions.

• How soon you begin handling the kitten depends on the kitten’s age and temperament. Older kittens and those who are more feral can be harder to handle. With these kittens, you can start by offering baby food or wet food on a spoon through the cage. After a day or two, you can begin handling them. Younger and less feral kittens should be handled right away. Wear gloves if you will feel more comfortable, as it is important to be confident and gentle when picking up any animal.

• Wrap the kitten in a towel, allowing her head to stick out. Offer baby food or wet food on a spoon. If she does not respond, dab a tiny bit on the end of her nose. Once she tastes it, she will soon want more.

• When petting a feral kitten, approach from behind his head. Gradually begin to pet the kitten’s face, chin, and behind the ears while talking gently. Try to have several feeding/petting sessions (15-20 minutes) with each kitten as many times a day as you can.

• Progress will depend on the kitten’s age and temperament. Each day you will notice improvement — falling asleep in your lap, coming towards you for food, meowing at you, purring, and playing are all great signs. Once the kitten no longer runs away from you but instead comes toward you seeking to be fed, held and pet, you can confine her to a small, kitten-proofed room rather than a cage.

• Expose the kittens to a variety of people. Everyone should use low voices at first, and approach the kittens in a non-threatening manner.

• If you do not notice signs of taming after a couple of days, kittens should be separated from each other to facilitate taming. Left together, one kitten can become outgoing and playful while another remains shy and withdrawn. If you cannot separate them, the kittens can be housed together, but be sure to spend time alone with each one. Siblings can be reunited when they have begun to show regular signs of socialization.

Important Tips

• Handle feral kittens cautiously, as their nails and teeth are sharp.

• Feral kittens will hiss, growl, and swat. Do not be deterred, as every day that goes by without handling will make the process longer.

• Do not give kittens cow’s milk — it can make them sick.

• Once the kitten is willing to play, offer toys and use a string (not yarn) or a cat dancer for him to chase. Do not let the kitten bite, scratch or play with your hand.

• If the kittens are staying awake at night, try to play and socialize with them more during the day and cover their cage(s) at night with a towel or blanket.

• Leave a television or radio on (not too loud) during the day so the kittens get used to human voices.

• If you are confining the kittens in a kennel, try to keep it in the most active part of your house (family room, kitchen, etc.) This way, the kittens can get used to the regular noises and activities of a household, which will help with socialization.

• PLEASE be sure that you have kittens spayed and neutered before they go to their permanent homes. Otherwise, these kittens could grow up to breed and start the cycle of unwanted kittens all over again. For a spay/neuter services, please make a reservation for The Feline Fix.