Trying to tame a semi-feral
 

Hello,

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

I adopted a semi-feral from the humane society about seven months ago
(she is now 13 mo old), and in this time she has stopped hiding, and
usually comes up to me at night for pets - sitting beside me on the
sofa, purring her heart out. Occasionally she will step over me to get
to a better seat, or sit on me if I am lying down covered by a
blanket. She never sits on my lap if the blanket is not there, though.
More importantly, she hates being picked up and will hide for a few
hours when an attempt is made. She also disliked being petted if she
is not in one of her designated "safe" spots - aka, the sofa, the
kitty tree, or the bed. If I try to pet her while she walks around on
the floor, or when she is on the windowsill, she hides from me for an
hour.

I am trying to get her to adjust by putting my arms around her when
she's allowing pets, and sometimes adjusting her so she's closer to my
lap, but it's slow progress. I'd really like some advice on how to get
her to be pick-up-able, as I'd like to take her to the vet for an
annual checkup in a month or two and I'd really like for the pick-up
not to be a traumatic chasing around the house and swoop into a box
experience. I also worry about putting her back into the box once we
are at the vet.

She likes treats, but won't come forward for them, I've tried
sardines, I've tried turkey and chicken meat, she waits until I give
up and put it down in a dish before she comes out of the hiding spot.

Thanks,

Shana

Shana Cooke wrote:

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

Some cats just don't like to be picked up. My Benjamin was beautifully
socialized when I adopted him and his sister at 12 weeks, but he Doesn't
Want To Be Picked Up. No ifs ands or buts about it! At age 6+ he's
gotten a lot better about my face being near him, and he'll drape
himself across my lap, but no picking up.

I'd suggest maximizing what is tolerated and let the rest come with
time. Don't push the poor critter.

Priscilla

Shana Cooke wrote:

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

Some cats just don't like to be picked up. My Benjamin was beautifully
socialized when I adopted him and his sister at 12 weeks, but he Doesn't
Want To Be Picked Up. No ifs ands or buts about it! At age 6+ he's
gotten a lot better about my face being near him, and he'll drape
himself across my lap, but no picking up.

I'd suggest maximizing what is tolerated and let the rest come with
time. Don't push the poor critter.

Priscilla

Sounds like your doing everything right, I've delt with ferals and semi
feral cats for years, and I've learned it just takes time. Once they get
to trust you, they get better, but they will ONLY trust you. Or people
in your home that give them simlar attention, so when you do take her to
the vet, don't be surprised when she becomes a wild cat for your vet.
Don't worry about it though, it's not like the vet hasn't seen this
before.

Hang in there, they are worth all the time it takes to totally tame them
And God Bless you for taking the time to give a home to the sweetie.

Aimee

Sounds like your doing everything right, I've delt with ferals and semi
feral cats for years, and I've learned it just takes time. Once they get
to trust you, they get better, but they will ONLY trust you. Or people
in your home that give them simlar attention, so when you do take her to
the vet, don't be surprised when she becomes a wild cat for your vet.
Don't worry about it though, it's not like the vet hasn't seen this
before.

Hang in there, they are worth all the time it takes to totally tame them
And God Bless you for taking the time to give a home to the sweetie.

Aimee

It may never happen but that's up to her. Our feral adoptee is now 5
years old (4 1/2 of them in the house) and she will only cuddle a bit on
the bed and in my chair. 2 hands on the floor is a no no and you just
need to respect her limitations. She's a beauty and a lover - on her
terms and that's fine with us!
Rose

It may never happen but that's up to her. Our feral adoptee is now 5
years old (4 1/2 of them in the house) and she will only cuddle a bit on
the bed and in my chair. 2 hands on the floor is a no no and you just
need to respect her limitations. She's a beauty and a lover - on her
terms and that's fine with us!
Rose

My cat is three yrs old now and is a full blown ferral, he has just started
sitting on the sofa near me {but not too near}He'll lay across me for 15
minutes or so in bed as long as there is no bare skin,and Purr and kneed but
then its away to the bottom of the bed.he will now let me cuddle him which I
do often,
but not for too long at time, but will not let anyone else pick him up
he'll
rub up to my two small Grand-Daughters but not my Grand-Sons, they are
too lively for him to trust although they love him. If any car stops outside
my window he knows instantlyif they are coming to our unit if its my family,
he'll come in from the veranda and sit in the hall, in my bedroom doorway,
if its strangers, e.g. workmen, he bolts in like a rocket, into my b-room
and under the bed, and there he remains till they've gone. I just let him be
himself, I did once hear that it takes three generations for the ferral to
finally become socialised.dont know if thats true or not. Jean.P.





Shana Cooke wrote in message
om...
Hello,

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

I adopted a semi-feral from the humane society about seven months ago
(she is now 13 mo old), and in this time she has stopped hiding, and
usually comes up to me at night for pets - sitting beside me on the
sofa, purring her heart out. Occasionally she will step over me to get
to a better seat, or sit on me if I am lying down covered by a
blanket. She never sits on my lap if the blanket is not there, though.
More importantly, she hates being picked up and will hide for a few
hours when an attempt is made. She also disliked being petted if she
is not in one of her designated "safe" spots - aka, the sofa, the
kitty tree, or the bed. If I try to pet her while she walks around on
the floor, or when she is on the windowsill, she hides from me for an
hour.

I am trying to get her to adjust by putting my arms around her when
she's allowing pets, and sometimes adjusting her so she's closer to my
lap, but it's slow progress. I'd really like some advice on how to get
her to be pick-up-able, as I'd like to take her to the vet for an
annual checkup in a month or two and I'd really like for the pick-up
not to be a traumatic chasing around the house and swoop into a box
experience. I also worry about putting her back into the box once we
are at the vet.

She likes treats, but won't come forward for them, I've tried
sardines, I've tried turkey and chicken meat, she waits until I give
up and put it down in a dish before she comes out of the hiding spot.

Thanks,

Shana

My cat is three yrs old now and is a full blown ferral, he has just started
sitting on the sofa near me {but not too near}He'll lay across me for 15
minutes or so in bed as long as there is no bare skin,and Purr and kneed but
then its away to the bottom of the bed.he will now let me cuddle him which I
do often,
but not for too long at time, but will not let anyone else pick him up
he'll
rub up to my two small Grand-Daughters but not my Grand-Sons, they are
too lively for him to trust although they love him. If any car stops outside
my window he knows instantlyif they are coming to our unit if its my family,
he'll come in from the veranda and sit in the hall, in my bedroom doorway,
if its strangers, e.g. workmen, he bolts in like a rocket, into my b-room
and under the bed, and there he remains till they've gone. I just let him be
himself, I did once hear that it takes three generations for the ferral to
finally become socialised.dont know if thats true or not. Jean.P.





Shana Cooke wrote in message
om...
Hello,

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

I adopted a semi-feral from the humane society about seven months ago
(she is now 13 mo old), and in this time she has stopped hiding, and
usually comes up to me at night for pets - sitting beside me on the
sofa, purring her heart out. Occasionally she will step over me to get
to a better seat, or sit on me if I am lying down covered by a
blanket. She never sits on my lap if the blanket is not there, though.
More importantly, she hates being picked up and will hide for a few
hours when an attempt is made. She also disliked being petted if she
is not in one of her designated "safe" spots - aka, the sofa, the
kitty tree, or the bed. If I try to pet her while she walks around on
the floor, or when she is on the windowsill, she hides from me for an
hour.

I am trying to get her to adjust by putting my arms around her when
she's allowing pets, and sometimes adjusting her so she's closer to my
lap, but it's slow progress. I'd really like some advice on how to get
her to be pick-up-able, as I'd like to take her to the vet for an
annual checkup in a month or two and I'd really like for the pick-up
not to be a traumatic chasing around the house and swoop into a box
experience. I also worry about putting her back into the box once we
are at the vet.

She likes treats, but won't come forward for them, I've tried
sardines, I've tried turkey and chicken meat, she waits until I give
up and put it down in a dish before she comes out of the hiding spot.

Thanks,

Shana

On Fri, 05 Nov 2004 14:04:52 -0800, Shana Cooke wrote:

I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to
like being picked up (or at least tolerate it).

Patience, and technique. The cat may never come to like it, but the point
is to make the experience tolerable and non-threatening.

1. Know how to pick up a cat. (Amazing how many people get this wrong,
typically picking the cat up by its midriff, like a towel.) With the cat
facing away, you want one hand from behind a foreleg cradling the chest,
and the other under the haunches or butt. The idea is to use the front
hand to lever the cat backwards onto the back hand. The heaviest part of
the anatomy (the pelvis) is firmly supported, and there is no discomfort.

2. Accustom the cat to your hands. The cat should associate your hands
with petting, and this should apply to all parts of the body. So, try
scritching the chest from behind a foreleg from time to time. This is
preparation for the front hand of the two-handed pickup.

3. Develop the chest petting into occasional upward pressure (preparing
for the levering backwards). Try for just enough to lift the forelegs
momentarily off the floor. Since this is part of a petting session, the
cat should get accustomed to it as "part of the game".

4. Eventually try the two handed pickup, again for only a moment. They
will panic, just keep your cool, and keep on interacting with them.

5. When, later, the panic reaction subsides, the idea should be short
lifts where the cat is put down somewhere pleasant, e.g. in front of a
food bowl, into its favorite napping spot, etc. The point is to make the
experience something the cat should not fear, because something "nice"
always happens.

6. Be prepared for this to take a year or more before you can carry the
cat across the room.