Feral Cats
Rediscovering Feral Cats By JD Adams
The loveable creature we know as the domestic cat (felis catus) had its origins in the deserts of the Middle East as long as 100,000 years ago,
according to the latest genetic research. Five matriarchal lineages descending from the Near Eastern Wildcat (Felis silvestris lybica)
followed Humankind along their migrations through the Neolithic World and beyond. The process of cat domestication likely began around the
first agricultural communities where stored grains were subject to rodent infestation. Forensic and archeological evidence unearthed at Quanhucun,
China shows that cats were present 5300 years ago in a farming village and had been cared for into old age.
Cats were revered in ancient Egypt, and killing a cat could incur the death penalty.
Feral cats are usually born in the wild where they don’t come into close contact with humans during the window of time where socialization is most effective.
Consequently, they avoid humans in general unless special techniques are employed to reduce their natural distrust. Looking at us from the cat’s perspective,
we’re large, noisy creatures with erratic movements. We make unsettling eye contact and strange gestures that make it difficult for a cat to discern our intentions.
Contrary to popular opinion, it is possible to re-socialize a feral cat over a period of time. It may be wholly or partially effective depending on the cat,
the degree of feral tendencies, and the personalities of the persons involved. It’s actually a form of bonding, because the feral cat may still avoid other people,
even though they will become your close friend.
It may take two years to re-socialize your feral cat. Once the feral cat feels comfortable around you, a new world of pleasure and sensation awaits the cat when you
can reach out and pet the cat for the first time. They often act totally enraptured by petting and stroking them, pressing themselves against you and purring like a
diesel engine. Their reaction to human attention can become much more intense than a normal cat. It’s one of the most rewarding things you’ll ever experience,
truly a mutualistic relationship where both species benefit. We were feeding our feral cat Rascal for ten years before we discovered how to bond with him.
The moment I watched my wife reach down and pet Rascal was amazing. We spent the whole weekend petting Rascal and watching his coy glances as he enjoyed the
wonderful sensations that socialized cats often take for granted.
The mysterious nature of cats makes them vulnerable to persons who would attempt to project their personal issues upon them. Various writers will use terms
like mercurial, savage, or aloof to describe them. Our wonderful cat Rascal, for example, is none of those. To a person who understands cats, their behavior
is very predictable. If you require a subservient creature for a pet that will lick your boots, I suggest you honestly examine your motivations for having a pet.
I’m glad you stumbled upon this article, because as far as I know, my wife and I are the only ones who know how to re-socialize cats. It is however, something that
anyone can do. Some outdoor cats are semi-feral, and these cats will respond quickest. It does require that you have at least one other normal, socialized cat.
Begin by feeding the feral cats on a regular basis so they will frequent the area. During this time, make a good impression on the feral cat - don’t frighten
it in any way, don’t raise your voice, and don’t move too quickly. Wear soft-soled shoes and walk softly around the feral cat, especially if you are a heavy person.
Avoid looking at the feral cat in the eyes directly while walking toward it. The feral cat needs to have some kind of feedback about your present intentions and
state of mind, so softly talking will make the feral cat less anxious. Don’t talk 'at him' but 'with him'.
There will be setbacks. The feral cat will remember them and the effects will be cumulative to the extent that too many instances of frightening the cat will probably render
the re-socializing process a failure. Re-socializing has worked for us every time to some degree. The tipping point to success depends on a critical interaction
that usually occurs in the yard during good weather when you’ve been petting your socialized cat or cats. If you’ve been successful in gaining some trust from the feral cat,
they will sense that the other cats are feeling comfortable, and wander along and mingle with the socialized cats.
When the feral cat comes within reach, the critical time is approaching. Wait until the cat is moving away from you and isn’t looking at you. Reach out with one hand and
quickly but gently pet the cat one time on the lower half of its back. The feral cat will respond by stopping and looking at you with wide eyes, as if to say 'You touched me!'
Divert your eyes from the cat after petting him like its no big deal. He’ll realize that he’s still alive after being touched by the dreaded human. This seemingly minor
interaction, believe it or not, is the beginning. Give the cat time to process what for him is a monumental event. Try it again later or the next day. From that point,
the feral cat will become less and less wary of you.
Eventually, he’ll come inside the house like other cats, even sleeping on the bed next to you. It’s a fantastic achievement considering the conventional 'wisdom' regarding
feral cats. The love from a 'feral' cat is unique - you will be the center of their world. Far from being aloof, the re-socialized feral cat is very sensitive to your
personality. As such, they should be treated with reserve and temperance. It may always be more difficult to administer medicine to such a cat even under the best conditions.
Pills can be ground up and liquids placed in a teaspoon of food for feral cats.
The politics of feral cats tends to blame the cats for the mistakes that humans have made in abandoning them or bringing them to islands where the native species have no
natural defense for predators of any kind. Many (not all) cats are successful hunters, but it’s foolish to blame them for Humankinds annoyingly pervasive habit of introducing
non-native species into sensitive ecologies. It’s no different than the Scotch Broom that lines the roadsides, or the non-native fish that fill our waterways.
Rather than admit that feral cats largely began as abandoned, mistreated animals, we blame the cats themselves. The demographic that is the most likely to surrender animals
are women ages 18 to 25. It is upon this demographic that efforts to educate the public should be focused if the numbers of feral cats are to be controlled in a humane fashion.
The Internet is full of shrill rhetoric from a variety of well-meaning 'experts' that fail to connect the dots in a pattern of animal abuse and neglect that have driven the
growth of feral cat colonies. One day the Bill of Rights that we have so presumptuously bestowed upon ourselves will essentially be extended to all those creatures who
suffer from our lack of understanding. Just imagine, as John Lennon said.
JD Adams
The above was written by JD Adams. You can send him a comment here.
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