Taming a feral cat can be a journey of both challenges and deeply satisfying rewards. These cats, either born in the wild or abandoned by owners, live in loneliness, with little to no contact with people.

As a result, the process of taming a feral cat demands patience and dedication.

Taming a feral cat involves trapping and providing a safe shelter, consulting with a veterinarian for essential check-ups and TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return), and gradually introducing human interaction. The timeline for this can be a couple of weeks to several months or even up to a year.

In this blog post, we delve into the experiences you can get when you successfully rescue and tame outdoor cats. Let’s discover rewards and challenges that’s tied to it.

5 Rewards of Taming a Feral Cat

Here are rewards you can get when you tame a feral cat:

1. Saving lives: By taming and adopting a feral cat, you provide a better life for and help reduce the feral cat population, which helps reduce the strain on animal shelters.

2. Fulfilment: Witnessing a feral cat transform from a fearful creature into a trusting and affectionate companion is rewarding. The bond between you and the cat you rescue is highly fulfilling.

3. Personal growth: Taming feral cats can be a transformative experience because it teaches patience, compassion, and empathy. It also provides you with a sense of accomplishment and purpose.

4. Community Impact: Feral cat rescue positively impacts the community by reducing the number of stray and abandoned cats, which enhances the overall well-being of feral cats. This ultimately promotes a healthier and safer environment for both humans and animals.

5. Educational opportunities: Feral cat rescue provides opportunities for educating communities about the humane treatment of animals. You can become a feral cat advocate and inspire others to join you.

The Challenges of Taming a Feral Cat

Below are the challenges you can experience when taming a feral cat:

1. Trust-issues: Feral cats are often suspicious of humans. Building trust with them can be a slow process that requires patience and persistence. Rescuers usually take some time checking the cats near their hiding places, offering food, and gradually earning their trust.

2. Aggression: Feral cats are habitually fearful and may be aggressive when approaching. They can hiss, scratch, or bite. Preparing for such reactions and taking the necessary precautions to avoid injury would be best. 

3. Medical issues: Feral cats regularly suffer from various health issues, including infections, parasites, injuries, and malnutrition due to their outdoor lifestyles. Cat rescuers and volunteers need to provide them with food, shelter through set up feeding stations as well as provide essential medical care, including vaccinations and neutering, which require finances.

4. Socialization: Since they’re not used to human interaction, feral cats may find socializing challenging. It’s therefore essential to invest considerable time in gradually adjusting them to human touch and companionship. 

5. Rehabilitation setbacks: Taming feral cats can have occasional lapses, whereby a cat that seems to be making great strides may suddenly revert to fearful behavior. If this occurs, it’s essential to remain patient and adaptable.

Bottom Line

The dedication and compassion of feral cat rescuers and volunteers make the world a better place for these felines and contribute to the well-being of your community.

Despite the challenges, taming a feral cat can be a gratifying undertaking. Not only does it change and improve cat lives, but it also provides fulfilling benefits to those who embark on this noble mission.