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Socializing feral kittensSome feral kittens socialize the moment you pick them up and hold them in yourhands. Most take a little more work. As always in dealing with feral cats, you must bemindful of your own safety. Their parents have taught them to fear humans so rememberthat before sticking your hand in the carrier to grab one. A six week old kitten’s sharpteeth can injure you and, if frightened enough, he may bite. You have to let feral kittensget to know you a bit before you try to handle them. When they’re a more used to you,then you can carefully try touching them, using the techniques described here. A goodidea is to leave them alone and just talk to them for a day or two before attempting anyphysical contact.When introducing them to your home or shelter, place feral kittens in a confinedspace, like a large playpen or your bathroom (making sure first to locate and block offany holes in the wall or other spots inaccessible to you where they could hide). At first,they need to be kept in a confined, controlled space so they’ll be forced to deal with youwhen you want them to. Otherwise, if you just let them run loose in your home, they’llrun away whenever you approach and avoidinteracting with you, defeating any attempt tosocialize them.For the first two days, leave a carrier intheir space so they can go run into it and feelsafe when you enter their space. Talk to themwhen they hide in there, but don’t try to forcethem out. After a couple of days, if they’re stillrunning and hiding whenever you show up andwon’t come out, replace the carrier with acardboard box open on top. That way they stillfeel somewhat protected, but can see you andbegin to interact.A major goal of the socialization process isphoto: Bryan Kortisto get the kittens comfortable with being heldand touched. But before you try to touch them,get them to start touching you. One way to do this is by playing with them. A populartoy called a Cat Dancer, which is a wire with a piece of cardboard at the end, or a longwand with a string and feather are perfect. Kittens love chasing these. Sit down andbegin playing with them. Once they’re engrossed in the chase, run the feather or CatDancer haphazardly over your feet or legs and get the kittens to run over and touch youwhile they’re playing. They may romp on top of you right away or it may take a fewdays. Be patient if it does take time – they’re learning to trust you and need to move attheir own pace. Eventually, they’ll learn you’re safe to touch. All the while you’replaying, talk to them constantly so they get used to your voice.Once the kittens are at ease and used to touching your feet and legs, as demonstratedby their quickly wanting to play and showing no fear of your presence, reach downduring the play and stroke them once or twice on the back, but no more. Don’t let thetouching interrupt the play. Gradually, increase the amount of touching, avoiding lettingit get to the point where they act at all disturbed.137