A feral cat’s precious reaction to its first encounter with a catnip toy is winning hearts everywhere.
Feral cats are notoriously difficult to approach. They often view humans as large, intimidating, and strange, making it challenging to earn their trust. It can take a long time to help a feral cat feel comfortable in a human’s presence, let alone to form a bond. However, while feral cats may not be fond of humans, they certainly have a soft spot for our belongings.
Courtney Gustafon, a cat trapper and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) advocate from Tucson, Arizona, has plenty of experience helping feral cats adjust to human interactions. She understands that the key to winning a feral cat’s affection isn’t through petting or scratching behind the ears—it’s by introducing them to the joy of cat toys!
Lola, a feral cat with a no-nonsense attitude around humans, exhibited a completely different side when left alone with a catnip toy. Upon realizing that she had the catnip ball all to herself and no one around to disturb her playtime, she transformed into a playful kitten. She zoomed and zipped around the yard, full of excitement and joy.
Though Lola seemed unsure at first about the toy (likely due to her limited exposure to such objects as a feral cat), her energetic zoomies indicated she was having plenty of fun. While it’s unlikely that this brief interaction with a catnip toy dramatically changed Lola’s view on humans, her curious glance toward Courtney suggested that, perhaps, she was beginning to understand that humans might not be so bad—at least from a distance.
“That was definitely a ‘Thank you!’” affirmed @ophelias_chamber.
“What a baby,” admired @vmditconsulting. “I hope she decides to retire indoors with you one day.”
Many people believe that feral cats will always remain wild and that no amount of effort can make them tame enough to become true house cats. However, the reality is more complex.
In some cases, feral cats can be tamed, depending largely on their age. Fully domesticated adult feral cats are hard to achieve, though they can become comfortable enough to eat food off a porch. Kittens from feral cats are much easier to socialize and domesticate if they are handled early on. It’s also important to distinguish between “stray” cats, which may have lived on the streets but are familiar with humans, and truly feral cats, who are unsocialized and fearful.
For those who want to try taming a feral or stray cat, it’s essential to be patient. According to Spruce Pets, a good starting point is to place food on the porch at the same time each day, without directly acknowledging the cat at first (as eye contact can be seen as a threat). Over time, one can speak to the cat in a soft voice, move the food closer, and see if the cat is willing to sniff a hand. It may take months, if it happens at all, but if a feral cat trusts someone enough to allow them to pick them up, the next step toward bringing them into a home may be possible.
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