Home > Out of the Cage! > November 2004 > NYC Feral Cat Council: Socializing Feral Kittens: A Primer

NYC Feral Cat Council

Socializing Feral Kittens: A Primer

Few things in life are as rewarding as witnessing the change that occurs when an animal makes the leap from being fearful and distrustful of humans to being confident and relaxed with them. And nowhere is this transition more gratifying than when socializing a feral kitten.

Whether you're a rescuer, adoption center worker or volunteer, or someone who finds a feral kitten and wants to give him or her a good home, a basic understanding of how to socialize a feral kitten can go a long way toward helping you prepare the kitten for a new home.

Mike Phillips, President of the Urban Cat League, a Manhattan-based organization that provides care and protection to NYC street cats, offers some sound advice about socializing feral kittens. In July, Mike introduced a workshop in Feral Kitten Socialization with ASPCA animal behaviorist Dr. Barbara Pezzanite, in which they demonstrate techniques for bringing biting, scratching kittens to the point where they enjoy the touch of a human — and can safely be adopted. Urban Cat League Vice President Cathe Neukum has prepared a 35-minute videotape that demonstrates these techniques.

Following are some of the highlights from the training:

Age: Kittens under eight weeks of age can usually be socialized without much difficulty following the guidelines detailed in the training. Kittens eight weeks and older who have not had any positive interaction with people often take longer to socialize. However, the guidelines are often effective with kittens up to six months, and even with adult feral cats.

Location: The optimal environment for socializing kittens is anywhere the socializer can comfortably interact with them and avoid making them feel "backed into a corner" or allowing them to hide out of reach. A large dog pen, a bathroom, or other small room with no hiding spots can work well, especially if they provide the kittens with exposure to television, radio, and other household sounds. Small cages or carriers don't work to your advantage because they do not allow the kitten to make the decision to approach you. Remember, cats socialize themselves by choice. We only provide the incentive: food.

Food: Food is your most important tool to facilitate the socialization process. Growing kittens have an insatiable appetite that will give them the courage to approach you and be touched. The process of enticing an un-socialized kitten to eat from a dish near you, progress to eating from your finger, and eventually to sit on your lap and allow you to lift him/her requires a degree of patience and the ability to practice "tough love," that is, compelling the kitten to work for its food. Never put food down and just walk away. It's important that the kitten understand that you are the food source. Otherwise, you'll not be successful in the socialization process.

Interactive Play: Most feral kittens are frightened by interactive play when first exposed to humans. Start with a toy that isn't too threatening, such as a string on the end of a stick or a toy that allows the kitten to get involved with your game without being face-to-face with you.

The points raised here provide only a brief overview of the issues and techniques involved in socializing feral kittens. For more in-depth information about the topic, to find out when the next Feral Kitten Socialization workshop will take place, or to order the kitten socialization video, please visit the Urban Cat League web site.

The Urban Cat League is a member of the Mayor's Alliance, and a founding member of the NYC Feral Cat Council (NYCFCC), a coalition of Alliance Participating Organizations dedicated to providing responsible care for NYC's feral cats. Click here to learn more about the Urban Cat League. Click here to learn more about the NYCFCC.