Feral cat help, please

[spinbaby]

So last night a good friend calls me and she's at the end of her rope. A year ago, she adopted a couple of 6-month-old feral kittens with the idea that eventually they'd come around and be halfway sociable. They still hate her. Now the house is infested with fleas, she can't get close enough to the cats to apply the remedy, and they threaten her bodily harm when cornered. They're wise to the trap after that spay/neuter incident and would rather starve than go into the trap for food. Any suggestions?

[GoneOffShore]

1. It takes some time and it's now very late to start, but

Here's a suggestion.

Get a large cage - like this one http://www.futurepets.com/CATCAGES.HTM or similar - or even two that you can link together. Litter box in one food and water in the other - Get cats in by leaving food and water in the cage.

There are various flea treatments out there in a pill format - http://www.allivet.com/Capstar-p/25230.htm?gclid=CIiDzIOkzJUCFQOuFQodnz8LjA

Here's the really hard part - After the cats have been re-trapped and the house and cats de-flea-ed, it's time to start taming the cats. When she feeds them, sit by the cage and talk to them the entire time they're eating. Very soft voice, etc. This is going to take lots of patience and time.

We have an outside feral who we trapped and spayed back in March. She won't let us near her. But she comes when called and hangs out on the patio after eating. She's slowly coming around.
But we're not sure if we'll ever be able to touch her. We'd like to get her to use the shelter we've built before winter though.

[spinbaby]

2. I think the mistake may have been giving them run of the house

Thanks for suggestions. She did consider confining them to a bathroom. These cats have become housecats--they never go outside, they expect gourmet cat food and clean kitty litter, they play with cat toys, they're comfortable hanging out near their human. Except they won't be touched. Very frustrating.

What's your opinion on getting a third cat that likes human contact to serve as an example?

[bertha katzenengel]

3. spinbaby, it may be impossible to socialize these cats.

It's my experience that at 6 months of age it's already impossible to socialize a feral cat. We have a semi-feral who lives in the house with us. We brought her in at the age of five weeks, and still she never lets us near. You have to get them very, very young and spend a lot of time holding them, talking to them, playing with them to get them socialized. Even then it's not a sure thing. I'm not saying it's impossible, but it may be easier on your friend if she, so sorry to say it, gives up.

Here's what I recommend.

Borrow a couple of humane traps from the local humane society. If they don't have them, get in touch with Alley Cat Allies or Best Friends. Any of these can put you in touch with someone who can lend traps. Read up on how to use the traps (Alley Cat Allies is the best site for such info).

Alley Cat Allies http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=191&srcid=-2

Best Friends http://www.bestfriends.org/

Trap the cats, take them to be treated for fleas, get them their shots, have them fixed* if they're not already --

Then turn them loose outside and care for them as outdoor cats.

It may sound wrong. It's a wrenching hard thing to do, but this is my best advice. Remember: they are cats, and they are wild cats. Their instincts are geared to outdoor, wild life. They will survive well until they realize they can come to your friend's house for food & water, and hopefully she can set up some simple outdoor shelter during winter.

I don't want to trump anyone else's advice. This is what I would do.

Household flea treatments are available. Google is your friend.

* Read on ACA about ear tipping. If the tip of the cat's ear is cut off (done during sterilization), it's a signal to whoever that this cat is fixed. You can educate people about this -- "hey, don't worry about that cat, It's fixed and I'm caring for it, you can tell by the ear."

[spinbaby]

4. It's too late to make outdoor cats of them.

Their behavior is feral but they haven't lived outside since they were kittens--they wouldn't know what to do. They were trapped for spay, neuter, and shots, but won't be trapped again. Right now the best option seems to be for their owner to throw herself at the mercy of her vet and have him send over a couple of burley vet techs with heavy gloves to subdue the critters.

[bertha katzenengel]

5. The humane society may be able to do that.

I had to do that once. They sent over two volunteers with those poles with "nooses" on the ends. It was a huge catfight (pun intended) but it was done.

Best of luck to your friend. You're a good bud, looking for advice. :hi: