How to Socialize Kittens

Feral kittens are typically found outdoors. When they are in close quarters with humans, they may be hissy, scared, and even aggressive.

But how do you befriend and socialize an outdoor kitten?
In this video, we will talk about 6 steps that will help you turn that frightened neighborhood kitten into a new furry friend!

Prepare them for the journey
Animal rescuers often use a drop trap to catch wary kittens. Food is a powerful motivator and drop traps allow you to catch a cat without having to force them into a confined space.
Once trapped, set up the kittens in a large dog crate to begin their socialization journey.
Let the cat make the first move
If you are trying to tame a feral cat, then ignore the cat. A feral cat doesn't want to be touched, and will probably view any attempts at petting as a threat.
Place some food in front of the kitten and back away. Stand as far away as it takes for the kitten to be comfortable to come out of hiding and eat in front of you.
Keep them coming back for more.
Feral kitten socialization is all about helping the kitten make positive associations with humans.
It is important to provide relaxed, non-threatening enrichment to ensure that the cat feels safe around you and keeps coming back. You want them to know that you’re safe and you are a source of food.
Remember, sounds like loud talking, music, and opening and closing doors may send a nervous kitty running for the hills. Make sure that the room is calm and quiet.
Slowly desensitize them to your voice
The next step is to use feeding times as an opportunity to speak to them quietly with a calm, soothing voice so they get used to the sound of your voice. You can even read them a book or talk with them about your life.
Introduce your scent
Try to get closer bit by bit during each mealtime, gradually decreasing your distance from the kitten as they eat. Continue talking to them throughout the entire meal. Watch for body language signals and back off if the cat is warning you by hissing, growling, or swishing tail.
Slowly desensitize them to your touch

The next step is to start gently touching the kitten while they eat. Focus on favorite areas like head, cheeks and under the chin, but avoid sensitive areas such as their belly or sides.
At every single meal you want to encourage the kittens to get a little more comfortable with different types of human contact.
Consider a calming remedy to help her with the transition
A soothing remedy like catnip, pheromone sprays, or calming supplements can be used to calm or relieve stressed cats.
You may even want to spray yourself with a cat pheromone.
Using calming pheromones for cats can help comfort the animal by sending reassuring messages.
The breakthrough moment
A lot of patience is required to socialize feral cats. Each cat will come around at their own pace regardless of their age – although generally the younger socialize the fastest. You have to follow the cat at their own pace and don't expect too much too soon.
A breakthrough moment is when the kitten enjoys your company without any treats or food nearby.
Things kittens love
Kittens often need an external heat source to regulate their body temperature. Make sure to provide them with a heating pad to help maintain body warmth for them.
In addition, you can provide the cat with a fur coat because it reminds them of the comfort of their mom.
Another kitten essential is baby blanket. A soft, microfleece blanket provides a soft surface for the kittens to lie on. You can even gently wrap the kitten with baby blanket to give them the comforting feeling of being held.
The importance of playtime
One of the biggest mistakes made when fostering kittens is to only focus on handling. Of course, it’s a huge part of socialization, but that won’t necessarily improve general psychological well-being. This is where playtime makes an impact.
Play decreases stress in cats and increases their confidence.
Respect their space

Once you have turned that frightened neighborhood kitten into a new furry friend, there is still work to be done. The cat will be understandably nervous and require a place to hide when overwhelmed.
If the kitten ever gets shy or is hiding away from you, you don't want to corner them or pull them out from where they are. You want them to know that you’re safe and you're a source of fun.

[cidercik]

The only tip: don't try to approach or try to touch them. Just keep talking to them. All the time. In the same chatty tone each time.
They will come out once they get more comfortable with your routine. But they will see that you are predictable. They will eventually come to you. It may takes months, but they will come to you. Don't try to rush this and start approaching.

[OfficalOxy]

0:10 aww so cute i'm gonna die of cuteness

[anibalfernando]

I adopted two feral kittens..about three months Old..the first two months they hide everywhere, I left them alone, feed them, got cartoon boxes and let them to find their ways ..by the time they reached 6 to 7 months Old they started to jump on the back of the sofà and the boy by name Pedro, he started to wash the back of my head..I left him to do and not even moved...a few says later his sister Lola, started to jump on the sofà and came to lie on my lap..to this days..

[Puppy_]

Tbh I just took a stick and saw the kitten just sitting down and I pat it with the stick then after a while I touched it then it allowed me to touch it's head and paws 😊

[imran]

A feral kitten befriended me. He was intact and het let me pick him up and cuddle him.


9 years later he’s my little boy.

[joangordoneieio]

Ive tamed three adults & a litter of 5 kittens, born then abandoned at 3 weeks on my property by their feral mom. My most recent. feral #3 came in thru the cat door this morning for the first time. Been taming him for 6 months. It just takes lots of patience. This advice was spot on. I was told that catnip gets them excited though, and not calm???

[daskapital]

Feral young cat was coming to my courtyard. I fed her for 1, 5 year, twice a day. Respected space. She never let me approach closer than 6 feet. That was her red line

[MollyKuehl]

When I was about 6 years old I managed to tame a feral kitten without using the steps in this video I had no idea what I was doing but I used to see this very sick skinny cat covered in scabs and missing fur on the abandoned house behind mine and I started leaving food on the fence few weeks of that I came outside she was in my backyard sniffing a flower and she saw me she got in position to run away but instead she stopped and looked at me still in the position ready to run but I put my hand out then instead of running away she slowly moved closer to my hand and she let me touch her and after that she would come and visit all the time if I would go outside she would come flying over the fence at full speed coming to greet me and she never acted that way towards anybody else anybody else even people that lived in my home she would hide from and hiss at she was terrified of people she just was not terrified of me. I will never forget the last time I saw her I only got to keep her for another 5 years before she ran away and passed away but I remember the last day I saw her that coat that was all patchy and the scabs and everything it was all gone she had a beautiful solid Gray coat and I remember seeing her and it was shimmering in the sunlight and she was no longer a skeleton either and I let her out she never came back. What was weird is that I wasn't really upset instead I felt really good knowing I made the last few years of her life wonderful and when she finally passed she wasn't covered in scabs and missing her she was healthy again but still she was old so nature did the rest I have no idea what happened she would follow me around though and when other people were around should come and sit on me for protection or try to hide behind me so that's my story of feral cat rescue

[bleachedout]

Two feral kittens started living on my porch and the male leg me pet him. He was so aggressive with it. He wanted my warmth more than anything but he didn't even bite hard. He just wanted to assert himself as threatening to create security. I would have taken him in if I didn't have a male aggressive larger junior cat.
But I'm buying him and his sister an outdoor shelter. They're parents are still around so I will buy two so they can chill but my goal is to get the babies to a vet and fixed.
I call him Cape and his sister Lila.

[comesahorseman]

When offering a hand to a cat (or dog), use your non-dominant hand. This hand has less energy and is less threatening.

[ElenaGeorge]

I start with food and space. Later I decrease the space and add entertainment. I play on kittens' love of play. If they warm up, then I add scratches to head and tail.

It just takes a lot of time and patience and lots of food!

[leroywatermelon]

3 of my 4 cats were born feral. I just leave them alone and let them do all the socializing work.

[CAC]

My baby comes home when she wants and usually stays nights, food and patience is the way

[winner]

Good video, l didn't think it was possible. Thank You

[F-A_NighthawkStealthFighter]

Literally in the E.R. as I'm typing this for an infected feral cat bite I got a couple hours ago, I think YouTube algorithm is taunting me.

[pankajmahanta]

No force or punishment, train with reward, love patience and understanding of your pet capacity to learn

[chapripromaxxx]

MY KITTEN IS OF 2 WEEKS BUT HE IS HISSING WHAT TO DO

[Diabuddy]

I touched a Farel cat named Meow.
I could not ignore her stray tuxedo heart coat. I massaged her on her
Back with two leaves . I made a cat
Toy out of leaves . There was a big golden retriever she hid in bushes
I shood the dog off. I fed her

And mother tuxedo would go to the
Babies

[dappimatale]

I just gave a cat food and it comes to my home everyday after three day I touched it and it pured and raised it tail straightly

[amberzartz]

Hahaha jokes on you all all my "feral" cats are literal Angels when we first got them.


But that's probably because they sensed we was good people,
That or they liked the food we gave them 💀