Home » Useful Information
Many people associate cats with playful and affectionate creatures. But in fact, not all fluffies are ready to fawn over their owners and climb into their arms at the first call. Sometimes it takes a lot of effort to tame a kitten or an adult animal.
- 2 Reasons why a cat doesn’t like to be held
- 3 How to tame a wild kitten
3.1 Video: how to accustom a kitten to your hands
- 3.2 Is it possible to tame an adult cat?
Features of street animals
First of all, take into account the fact that a kitten hisses at people and is afraid if it was born on the street and did not live near them. But even such an animal can be weaned from displaying aggression if effective methods are used. Remember - it is much easier to instill trust in a person in a small kitten than in an adult pet.
A mature cat most often hides in various basements, his character has long been formed, and teaching him good manners is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. Such animals are afraid of people, scour landfills in search of food and become too aggressive, as they are often forced to defend their lives in fights with other homeless animals.
The fact that a kitten or a grown-up pet sits still when it sees a person and is not too afraid of you indicates that it was most likely kicked out into the street. Pay attention to the fur: if it is clean, not tangled, and looks well-groomed, then you have a cat that already had a family and could have been on the street only recently. In any case, if you decide to pick up a kitten or even a wild cat from the street, be patient: he will definitely scratch, damage furniture and play mischief in the house. However, with proper care and education, you can instill good manners in him.
We recommend this article:
How to properly care for a kitten at home
Some errors
Sometimes novice pet owners make mistakes in taming a pet, and this leads to sad consequences. For example, if you look directly into a cat's eyes, she will perceive this as a challenge and a threat, so she will show aggression as a response. The domestication of an animal must be regular. Since cats have episodic memory, they need training sessions daily. Prepare for the fact that it will take about three weeks for the first progress.
Nuances of catching
Adult cats are afraid of humans and it is not easy to catch them. As a rule, at the sight of animal shelter workers, these creatures flee for their lives, hiding in bushes, basements and other nooks and crannies. That is why, if you decide to catch a cat, take with you an old blanket or a fishing net.
When your catch is in the nets, take it home and place it in a box prepared in advance for this purpose. Place a regular tray not too far away - let the animal sniff and get used to it a little. If possible, allocate a separate room for the newcomer or place him in the bathroom. Let him stay in a closed area for the first time: this will help him relax a little. If you have a small apartment, place the kitten in a cage and cover it with a blanket. In any case, your main task is to create a calm environment for the animal.
We recommend this article:
How to easily train a kitten or adult cat to go to the litter box
How to accustom a cat to hands and affection
If you want cat affection, become patient and affectionate yourself. An outdoor cat will begin to trust a person when it gets used to his smell and voice. He will associate his appearance with a pleasant event (food, affection).
A wild cat is tamed in the same way as a kitten. First, treats are brought regularly. Then they hold out their palm with a piece of the most delicious thing (the delicacy lies in the center of the palm, not on the fingers!), and allow it to be sniffed. When the cat begins to approach, perhaps rubs its head on its leg, you can pet it in response, speaking calmly and affectionately.
A common mistake: in order to tame a cat at home, he is immediately locked in a room - the animal will try to escape as soon as it is freed.
You can call the cat with you, after a few meters, stop, praise, and give a treat again. The main thing is that if you come, give her the opportunity to leave. Without feeling afraid, the pet will return.
Establishing contact and adaptation
After you have picked up the kitten and brought it into your apartment, leave it alone for a while. He must get used to the new environment and get hungry. After three hours, go to the cage and start talking to the animal in a calm, gentle voice. Be sure to offer him some kind of treat (a piece of food or fragrant chicken). The main thing is that the cat must take the food directly from your hands. If the kitten bites and refuses to do so, do not insist. In this case, it is better not to approach for some time. First of all, the kitten must realize that now you are its breadwinner and friend. In addition, during this time he will get pretty hungry and will take a treat from your hands.
When the feral kitten has calmed down a little, open the cage and gently reach out to him, not paying attention to his hissing. If an animal tries to hit you with its paw, brush it off - let it see who’s boss. Wait until the cat stops responding to your movements and give another treat, but do not put the food dish down.
After 15 hours, the tailed baby will be hungry enough to leave the cage on its own and take the goodies from your hands. If this happens, move carefully and calmly: any sudden movement or loud voice will frighten him. Hold the food in your hand, stroke your pet with your free hand, and then feed it.
We recommend this article:
How to properly raise an obedient and tame kitten
Important Procedures
When a street kitten or cat is caught and brought into the house, a number of procedures must be followed. First, let him sit in a dark corner for a while. Then take the kitten out and examine it. Discharge from the eyes and nose, rash, and areas without fur indicate an infection in the animal’s body, so it should be shown to a veterinarian. If nothing is found at first glance, wash the kitten. This must be done because of parasites. For example, fleas. Fill a bowl with warm water and immerse the kitten in it. It is best to use a special anti-parasite shampoo. The animal, despite its tiny size, can desperately resist: bite, scratch and break free. Try to finish your ablution in any case.
When a wild kitten appears in the house, how to tame it to people is not the most important problem. As a treatment for parasites, you need to give him an anti-worm tablet. It is unlikely that your pet will take well to attempts to push medicine into him. Wrap the kitten in a sheet or any thick fabric, forcefully open its mouth and place the tablet on the root of the tongue, then press it with your hand. The animal will be forced to swallow the medicine.
Taming Rules
If a cat is not given to a person at all, it is necessary to accustom it to contact gradually.
Pour food into a bowl and place it outside the cage - this will force the kitten to come out of its hiding place. Then gradually move the bowl to the middle of the room. When the pet begins to move further, try petting it and then feed it.
The next stage in taming an animal is the tray. Stray cats relieve themselves on the sand or ground. That's why fill your cat's litter box with sand first. Every time the kitten starts to fuss, put him in the litter box. Thus, he will soon understand what his purpose is. Over time, replace the sand with purchased filler. Of course, sometimes cats are so stressed that they may urinate in inappropriate places. But any experience is temporary.
Why is the cat not affectionate?
If a cat scratches and bites as an adult, the owners themselves are to blame. While still playing with her, they allowed her to “claw” in excitement. At first it's funny, then the adult:
- bites legs;
- does not allow himself to be combed;
- spoils things, marks territory.
The simplest veterinary examination and medical procedures (injections, enemas) turn into a nightmare for the owner.
The independence and aggressiveness of a mustachioed cohabitant should not be shown towards family members. If the owners are afraid, the pet will become impudent. It is recommended to hold the cat in your arms more often and show affection. After taming, release it for further exploration of the area, praise and treat it with something tasty for good behavior.
Gradually the cat will understand: nothing bad is happening. If you do this regularly, at the same time talk affectionately, give a piece of “yummy” - after a while you can add short-term combing, examining the ears and other manipulations.
An irrepressible desire to “cuddle” can also be the reason why a cat becomes less affectionate. Small children will happily play with the kitty and pull its ear or tail.
Adults sometimes don’t lag behind (especially if the cat is not their property): they shamelessly shove pieces from the table, try to stroke them and pick them up against their will. It's not the cat that needs to be blamed, but the owner:
- If the cat is not the highlight of the program, it is better to isolate it in another room. Or warn the guest about correct behavior.
- For children, it is better to find other fun, otherwise the simplest scratch on the hand of an uncontrollable child will ruin the evening.
- When neither the person nor the cat is particularly anxious, let them interact as they wish.
Advice. It is advisable to wash your hands not only after interacting with an animal, but also before. Precautionary measures apply to small unvaccinated kittens.
Where to put the tray to quickly train a kitten?
The tray is placed in a remote area from the kitten’s feeding area so that the smells do not mix. It is better to choose a corridor, balcony, toilet or bathroom for the cat litter, it depends on the interior and the desires of the owner.
Be sure to read:
How to remove the smell of cat urine: products for removing acrid odors from pets
It should be easy for the animal to reach the tray at any time of the day without assistance, so it is better to choose a room where there are no doors or where they are easy to open.
You need to immediately determine the only place for the cat’s toilet; you should not rearrange it, as this will negatively affect the kitten’s training in the litter box.
How to catch a wild kitten that is afraid of people
Although caring for a cat takes less effort than caring for a dog, adopting an outdoor cat is a big responsibility. It’s a pity for the little lump, scared and frozen, squeaking near the trash can or the entrance door. He will not scratch or bite if you put the kitten in your palm, stroke it, and mutter a few gentle soothing words. The warmth of human hands for a baby is a guarantee of food and safety.
Please note that we are talking only about feral and street cats, whose ancestors have always lived with humans. The real wild cats, which can only be tamed by Yuri Kuklachev and the Zapashny brothers, are:
- Jungle Cat (House);
- European forest cat;
- Amur (Far Eastern) cat - inherits aggression towards humans and fear.
For an outdoor wild cat or kitten from the street, a visit to the veterinarian is mandatory, as it can be a carrier of viruses and infections that are dangerous to the health of humans or other animals in the house.
The newborn was probably thrown out by people: no hand was raised to drown or poison. Opening her eyes, the baby captured the person as a relative. Therefore, he does not experience aggression towards people. It’s easy to domesticate this one: it will get used to its new home and fall in love with its new owner in an evening.
Imprinting (instant early memory) of kittens that were born and lived in an attic or basement for a couple of months does not apply to humans. Stray cat cubs can remain feral for life.
The little “animals” run away, and when you try to pick them up, they bite. To catch a wild cat, use primitive traps:
- large box;
- baby bath;
- a rabbit cage without a bottom;
- regular carry...
They put food on the ground and cover it, for example, with a box.
Important. Consider the size of the animal. A heavy container falling on its back can injure the cat.
All that remains is to lift it and place one side on a support with a rope. As soon as the animal approaches the food, the stick is pulled out.
A more complex option: a cage with a lowered door (kotolovka). Triangular-shaped nets with a long handle and noose loops are also used.
To catch a domestic yard kitten, it is enough to regularly feed it by hand and talk to it. In a couple of days the baby will come running when called and allow himself to be petted.
When thinking about how to tame a cat, a person forgets: the cat chooses the owner. It was the cat who first began to meow, demanding food and attention, rubbing against her legs, showing affection. Once in the apartment, the animal adapts to the rhythm of the owner, giving him special, cat-like care.
