[Bonny]

Originally Posted by wkogto

The young cat/kitten is not around this morning .... if it shows back up, I'll try and catch it.

Gail
Village of Pennecamp

You're a sweet heart !!

[missphit]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

Gracie you are so right. A feral cat can not be domesticated. I've had experiences with feral cats and they are forever wild (just like me).

I have worked with feral cats for many years and have to disagree. I have several cats that were feral kittens and they are sweet, lovable pets. A feral adult cat will seldom make a loving lap cat but can become house pets. I have even known feral tom cats that have become great companion animals. I've taken pregnant feral moms into my home, let them have their litters and these moms have let me handle their babies. After spaying, most of the moms were released back out, but the babies all found great loving homes because, even tho mom was feral, they were just baby kittens who didn't know about being feral.

[duffysmom]

misshipp I commend you for your loving work with kitties. Unfortunately I had a different experience with feral kittens. Rescued two feral kittens who never adjusted to being indoor cats. They would hide and only came out at night when everyone was sleeping. They were adopted by a friend and she loved and cared for them but hardly ever saw them. I'm happy to hear about your successful experiences with feral cats. Thank you for your service to our furry friends.

[graciegirl]

Originally Posted by duffysmom

misshipp I commend you for your loving work with kitties. Unfortunately I had a different experience with feral kittens. Rescued two feral kittens who never adjusted to being indoor cats. They would hide and only came out at night when everyone was sleeping. They were adopted by a friend and she loved and cared for them but hardly ever saw them. I'm happy to hear about your successful experiences with feral cats. Thank you for your service to our furry friends.

Misshipp

Your post caused me to look up more about feral kittens. I read they were by nature born to be fearful of humans, while domestic kittens are not at all fearful of humans from the beginning. I imagine there is something here going on like raising a wolf pup, but knowing they won't ever be as tranquil as a domestic dog.

This has always interested me, the old question of which is more important, nature or nurture. When it comes to humans, recent studies show that our inherited genetic material prewires our very personality..... we are born with the personality we will have all of our life and it can be altered a bit, but not nearly as much as previously thought.

So it seems that feral kittens can be tamed...somewhat.

I love cats. We had a wild kitten that never really got over being wild and would for no reason attack and bite us if startled. I only had the one. I see that you have had many. Do you think they ever became as gentle as domestic cats?

[jblum315]

My daughter had two feral kittens, very young, rescued a few months apart. The older male was quite vicious until the female kitten came along. He became obsessed with the kittten (they were both "fixed" of course) and pretty much forgot to be vicious. She was always a gentle soul. She had them both for about 16 years. When the male became ill and died the female pined away, stopped eating and died a few months later.
Now she has a domestic kitten who is vicious and always in trouble. I keep telling her to get a second kitten. She keeps telling me to shut up.

[wkogto]

The little kitten has turned up at one of my neighbor's home right off the 6th hole of Cane's Hibiscus. Came right up to her crying and wanting love and food. Her vet says it's a male about one year old (but very small). They believe the kitten is not feral. Shorthair, pale red, tawny, color ... beautiful ringed tail. Anyone interested? Please let me know and I can give you my neighbor's email and/or phone number.

Gail
Village of Pennecamp

Just sent a pm to ann8dote to see if this is her kitty. I hope it is!

[missphit]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

Misshipp

Your post caused me to look up more about feral kittens. I read they were by nature born to be fearful of humans, while domestic kittens are not at all fearful of humans from the beginning. I imagine there is something here going on like raising a wolf pup, but knowing they won't ever be as tranquil as a domestic dog.

This has always interested me, the old question of which is more important, nature or nurture. When it comes to humans, recent studies show that our inherited genetic material prewires our very personality..... we are born with the personality we will have all of our life and it can be altered a bit, but not nearly as much as previously thought.

So it seems that feral kittens can be tamed...somewhat.

I love cats. We had a wild kitten that never really got over being wild and would for no reason attack and bite us if startled. I only had the one. I see that you have had many. Do you think they ever became as gentle as domestic cats?

Graciegirl:
My "name" is Missphit, not misshipp - I think I was renamed via a typo.

If a human baby had a murderer for a mother should we assume the baby will also be a murderer?? I have several cats. Two (fem, male) that were born outside to feral moms are very lovable, sweet lap cats. However, they were rescued when very young - before the mom taught them how to survive & before they were wandering around looking for food and people were chasing them away & scaring them. I have two others (male & fem) who were older kittens and had been on their own for a while - it took some time and lots of patience but now they are friendly, love being petted, will rub on us & even come when called - usually - but don't like being held. Then I have one who is totally independent but is always in the same room as us, even if it's under some furniture. He doesn't like to be touched and I have to trick him to catch him. However, his two siblings, rescued at the same time, were lovable & have loving homes and have made wonderful pets. And, I have a cat who was born inside to a housecat mom, has always been inside and, except for me, will gladly nip anyone (inc. my husband) who is foolish enough pet him. And has done so for 17 years.

I have rescued & adopted out over 100 "feral" kittens just here in The Villages and according to their owners, they have all made wonderful loving pets. If you know anyone who has adopted a kitten from Pet Lovers Rescue, (at Petco) chances are that kitten had a feral mom. (I am not connected with PLR.)

If a cat/kitten comes up to you outside it has almost always been someone's house pet and has gotten lost or been "thrown away" by someone. These will almost always die in a bad way as they have not learned how to survive outside from their mother. However, two of my own feral babies did come up to our door & were easily picked up as tho they wanted to be house pets (one is cuddly, one is not). Not one of my "ferals" will go near a door or try to go outside - they've been there and didn't like it at all!

...getting off my soapbox now...

[jblum315]

If a cat/kitten comes up to you outside it has almost always been someone's house pet and has gotten lost or been "thrown away" by someone.

That's just what I said.
I nearly had my hand ripped off once, foolishly reaching for a feral kitten that didn't even have its eyes open yet. (And Mom was not around or I probably would have lost an arm!) Feral kittens may not know they are feral, but they are as wild as any other wild animal.

[jblum315]

Originally Posted by missphit

If a cat/kitten comes up to you outside it has almost always been someone's house pet and has gotten lost or been "thrown away" by someone.

That's just what I said.
I nearly had my hand ripped off once, foolishly reaching for a feral kitten that didn't even have its eyes open yet. (And Mom was not around or I probably would have lost an arm!) Feral kittens may not know they are feral, but they are as wild as any other wild animal.