Care for Feral Cats

Feral cats are cats that were born in the wild, like a Bengal cat. They are the most aggressive breed of cats, so they would often hiss or growl at you if you get too close to them or their kittens. Feral cats have a few basic needs that are different from other breeds of cats. Ferals need different care when it comes to their diet, play time, litter box, and scratching post.

Letting It Settle In

 * 1) Start setting up their housing and bedding when you first get your feral cat. Their bed will need to go in a warm corner that has a washable floor. Place the food and water bowl/water fountain in a clean location. Place the litter box in areas that cats mostly do accidents in, and the scratching post in a clear area. If you get a cat tree too, put it in a big enough place.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 1 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Cats may not know much about the house, so of course they may have a few accidents at first. Ferals were born in the wild, so they also need to be outside. Ferals need to get used to the house, so show them one room at a time. Wait at least a week, then show it another room and keep it there. Once your cat has gotten used to all the rooms in your house, you can keep it in random places.
 * 3) *Keep in mind the litter box and furniture:
 * 4) **Cats may scratch furniture, so a nice, tall scratching post should help. Make sure the scratching post is tall enough so it can stretch up and relax.
 * 5) **The litter box is more difficult. Always keep the litter box in an area that's easy to keep clean. Make sure you wear gloves when cleaning the litter box. Litter train your feral to make sure it remembers.

Feeding It

 * 1) Feed your feral cat a special type of food. Feral cats are carnivores. Since they were born in the wild, they eat meat. In the wild, feral cats usually hunt and eat birds, mice, and other small animals. You can feed ferals,meat or chicken. Do not feed it fish, as this is not a real food which ferals eat; it is make-believe that ferals and other cats eat fish. [[Image:Care-for-Your-Cat-Step-3.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *You can feed your feral cat regular cat food, but meat is a better food for the diet of your feral cat. If you do feed your feral a type of cat food, make sure it doesn't have any artificial flavors, sugar, chocolate, grapes, onions, garlic, dyes, or artificial colors. Check the ingredients on the bag or can of cat food. If it has any of the harmful foods, don't feed it to your cat. They can get sick if they eat a food inappropriate for them. If they start to feel sick, it might be because there is a food that is harmful, so take your feral cat to the vet immediately.
 * 3) *Your feral should eat their meal on a regular schedule. Make sure to clean and remove leftover food. Make sure your feral eats the right amount of food, so be careful of how much you give them.
 * 4) *Your feral cat should eat from a food bowl. Wash the food bowl after the cat has finished eating. At least wash the bowls two times a day.
 * 5) Give your feral fresh, clean water every day. Some ferals drink water from anywhere, such as the hose, puddles, etc. Clean water is better though, so don't give them water from the faucet, puddles, hose, etc. Tap water is okay, and filtered water is also good enough too.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 2 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 6) *Give the water in a water bowl. You can also get a water fountain for cats, which keep the water cleaner for long periods of time. You can find these at your local pet store. Also, wash the water bowl two times a day just like the food bowl.
 * 7) *Feral cats and other cats dehydrate easily, so always keep a bowl of water out for your feral. Dehydration may cause death.

Taking Care of the Litter

 * 1) After a few hours/minutes after your feral has had its daily meal, it might have to go to the bathroom. Make sure it has a comfortable litter box, as some litter boxes are hard for them to their business. Choose the right kitty litter, such as wood chippings litter or clay-based litter. Make sure your feral cat is comfortable with the litter it has, or it might have an accident. Test with different litter. Once you've found a good litter, put it in the litter box and keep it there.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 3 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Always clean the litter box once a week. To clean the litter box, you must use gloves, as the feces can cause serious health problems. Throw out dirty litter in a trash bag. Throw it away in a waste bin big enough. Next wash and rinse the litter box. Wash with soap and rinse off with water. Dry the litter box with a clean towel. After letting it dry, add fresh new litter. Every time there is feces, scoop it up.

Fitness and Health

 * 1) Exercise is important. Make sure your feral gets plenty of exercise every day. Toys that are great for exercise are:[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 4 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 2) *Balls
 * 3) *Laser pointers
 * 4) *Fishing pole toys
 * 5) *Mouse toy
 * 6) *Feathers
 * 7) *Do not give your feral cat string, yarn, or ribbon to play with.
 * 8) *These are also good toys for your cat to play with, including many others.
 * 9) When your feral cat is tired, it's best to let it relax in a nice, sturdy cat tree. Either get a small one, a medium one, or a big one, just make sure it is right for your type of feral cat. Cat trees can also be good play time; some cat trees have tunnels for your cat to go through. You can even make a cat tree of your own for your cat.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 5 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 10) Feral cats need to hunt because they were born from the wild. You should let them outside, but not for very long. They can come back by themselves, but check every now and then in the places your feral will usually hunt. You should have a cat door at your front door for your feral to come inside and out.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 6 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 11) * Be very careful when you let your feral cat hunt, especially at night. Check every now and then to see if your feral cat is okay. Serious injuries and illnesses can happen to your feral, if it faces any accidents like getting hit by a car, walking in a poisonous plant, or a fight with dogs, other cats, etc. Do not let your feral stay out for very long. A maximum duration of twenty minutes should be fine. If your feral hasn't shown up for more than their time's routine, something may have happened. Check to see, but if you find them, they may have forgotten the routine.
 * 12) * Don't be mad at your feral just because it brought back a rat or bird it has killed. They are meant to hunt. It's natural. Ferals need to hunt because they mostly need to eat small animals they've killed.
 * 13) Make sure the bedding you have for your feral cat is comfortable so it won't escape in the night.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 7 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 14) If you need to, brush your feral cat. Use the right brush and brush once a week.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 8 Version 2.jpg|center]]
 * 15)  Take your feral to the vet for annual check-ups and vaccinations. When your feral is sick, take it to the vet. Make sure your feral cat has a good veterinarian.[[Image:Care for Feral Cats Step 9 Version 2.jpg|center]]

Tips

 * Just like other cats, feral cats have to have exercise and playtime, so they can have some free time enjoying themselves.
 * Feral cats are from the wild, so they eat wild food. You can feed it regular cat food, but spice free meat and chicken may be good for a hungry feral.
 * When you first get your feral cat, always start housing and bedding the place so the cat can find everything organized. That way, it won't have any first-time accidents.
 * Remember that you cannot expect your feral to get used to your house as soon as you get it. It needs time to get used to all the rooms and household people in your family, because at first, it will think "What is this strange place?" It may take up to a whole month for it to get used to all the things and rooms in the house.
 * Cat trees are good resting spots for ferals, and they have other uses that the feral cat can use them as--some cat trees are a resting spot, scratching post, and a play area all in one.
 * Make sure you buy all the supplies your feral cat needs, such as food, before you get your cat, or you will get a lot of trouble.
 * Feral cats must get annual visits for check-ups and vaccinations to your local veterinarian. Make sure that when you first get your feral cat, you find a good vet for it. Some vets don't care very good for cats and are sometimes mean too.
 * Ferals may have a few difficulties, so consider putting a scratching post and litter box. The scratching post should be tall enough, and litter box should be in the right place with the right litter. Test different litter to see which one is best for your cat. Make sure you choose a non-clumping litter, because clumping litter will force your feral cat and other cats to not use the litter box anymore.
 * Even though you have enough money for the cat, you have to have lots of profit for the needs of your feral cat.

Warnings

 * Do not let your feral cat out to hunt for more than twenty minutes. They may get a serious injury.
 * Never let your feral get close to string, ribbon, yarn, laces, or small, sharp, or loose objects. This is very dangerous, and a very serious thing. It is a choking hazard, and if your feral swallows it, it may lead to death.

Things You'll Need

 * Scratching post
 * Litter box
 * Litter
 * Cat brush
 * Cat toys
 * Food bowl
 * Water bowl/fountain
 * Cat food (optional)
 * Meat and chicken
 * Good vet

Related wikiHows

 * Tame a Feral Cat
 * Trap a Feral Cat
 * Catch a Stray Cat
 * Bond With a Feral Kitten
 * Earn the Trust of a Feral Kitten
 * Befriend a Wild Cat or Kitten
 * Know if Your Cat Was Born in the Wild

Sources and Citations

 * http://www.alleycat.org/pdf/feeding.pdf

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