TNR Handbook - Neighborhood Cats

The Neighborhood Cats TNR Handbook
Once you have them in your home or shelter, it’s best to start feral kittens out in a
confined space like a bathroom where they will be forced to deal with your presence
when you’re also in the space. Otherwise, if you let them out into your home at large,
they’ll run and hide and may never interact with you. At first, put a carrier in the
confined space which they can go run into when they want. This way, they feel there is a
safe place within their territory. If after a couple of days, they’re still running and hiding
whenever you show up and won’t come out,
replace the carrier with an open box. That
way they still feel somewhat protected, but
can see you and begin to interact.
Before you try to touch or handle them,
draw the kittens to you by playing with
them. One of the toys with a long wand and
a feather on a string is great, as is a widely
available and inexpensive toy called a Cat
Dancer which consists of little pieces of
cardboard on the end of a wire. Once
they’re engrossed in play, keep running the
feather or Cat Dancer over your feet and legs
and get the kittens to run over you and touch
your body while they’re playing. This way, they will learn you’re safe. Talk to them
constantly.
The kittens may become comfortable playing and haphazardly touching you very
quickly or it may take several days. Be patient if it does take time – they’re learning to
trust you and need to move at their own pace. Once they are at ease, as evidenced by
their quickly wanting to play and showing no fear of your presence, then reach down
during the play and stroke them once or twice on the back, but no more. Don’t let the
touching interrupt the play. Gradually, increase the amount of touching, but avoid letting
it get to the point where they act at all disturbed by it.
When they’re very comfortable with your petting them, which again can take a few
days, you can start to pick them up. Once again, escalate the contact slowly. At first,
only lift them up off the ground for a second or two. When they’re ok with that, then
hold them a bit longer. Eventually, place them on your lap, but don’t hold them there if
they want to jump off. Continue increasing contact until they’re lying in your lap and
purring as you stroke them. The length of this process – from play to petting to holding
at length – will depend on the temperament and age of the kitten.
With a particularly wild kitten who resists these methods, try wrapping him in a towel
(to immobilize him), then put him in your lap and pet him on the head and through the
towel. Start off doing this briefly and slowly increase the time period. When he’s
comfortable and appears to enjoy the touching, then you can try doing it without the
towel.
Another technique for very wild kittens is to start them off in a cage instead of an
open space like a bathroom. Include a litter box and an open cardboard box inside the
cage. Use a back scratcher or a long, soft-haired paint brush to reach through the bars
and touch him. He may hiss and react poorly at first, but eventually he’ll likely realize it
feels enjoyable and start to purr. At this point, you can try using your hand, though be on
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