The Grass Doctor

How do you tame wild cats?

That likes to come up to your front lawn and eat cat food? They would eat in your presence if you are more than 4 feet away. tips? they're domestic cats that are wild

Public Comments

1. Patience. You probably will have to talk to them and feed them everyday. Try moving a little closer each time until one day your presence will be just a normal part of their meal.
2. Here's what i did, we get cats dumped here all the time and they are crazy wild...The first week i fed them, didn't pay much mind to them, put the food down and left, didn't look at them or talk...Slow i started talking to them and looking them in the eye, fed them and left...Slowly but surely the all come look for me, I'm the keeper of the goodies and they figure this out on their own. Now i can touch them, sit with them whatever...It just took a few weeks and i made it seem like it was their idea to make friends...
3. They are what is called feral. They will be very difficult to tame; I wouldn't recommend it. We had a kitten, who was probably about 2 months come to our door cold and hungry. We took him in, fed him, gave him shelter, and he would go berserk and scratch us and bite us. He did not want to be cooped up in the house. He only knew the outside and wanted to go back out. So, if you are willing to let them or him/her be outdoor pet(s) then go for it. I would recommend feeding them and easing closer each time. Then eventually try to feed them out of your hand. Try and always use soothing, low voices around them. Eventually they will realize that you mean them no harm and are providing food for them. GOod luck and hopefully they will come to trust and love you.
4. What you've got is feral cats. These are cats that were once domestic or were born to a cat that was once domestic. They are not quite wild animals and some can be tamed (I have one now who is about 5 months old and I am working on her - she lives in the house now, but hides alot). Here's more info about feral cats: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feral_cats If you want to try to domesticate them, call your local animal shelter or Humane Society and see if there is a "live trapping" program for your area. They will set humane traps for the cats, trap them and get them fixed - give them shots, etc. Then, the cats may be released back into your neighborhood (this is a trap and release program and there are ones called "Alley Cats" and others) or if the cat is friendly enough, it could be adopted out or taken to a cat rescue organization. Often, if a cat is trapped and released, one part of it's ear is severed so people can see easily that it has been fixed. People think cats and dogs are wild animals, but they are not. They were domesticated by man thousands of years ago and now they need our help to survive. If you decide not to have the cats in your neighborhood trapped, but you are feeding them, talk to the local vet or Humane Society about oral contraceptives that can be put over the food and may help prevent pregnancy. "The current population of *feral* cats in the United States is twenty to forty million." (*that's feral only - not including the ones people own) Good luck! :)
5. You might not ever tame them. Just slowly gain their trust. Sit down a little closer as time goes by and see how they tolerate it. But remember they can always bite, scratch and might have diseases.
6. just keep feeding them til they get used to your voice they may come up to you or they may never, keep in mind they may not be vaccinated and could bite you.