Do Feral Cats Pose Health Risks to You and/or Your Pets?

It’s difficult for us, humans to catch a disease from feral cats since we are not often in contact with them, and feline diseases are usually transmitted between cats alone.

However, feral cats can carry diseases, worms, and viral infections, and they can pass these infections to your domesticated cats at home.

You should also be aware that cats are territorial, so, both the feral and your indoor cats can be stressed by each other’s company. It may take weeks or even months for them to get along.

In some cases, they may never tolerate each other’s presence. So, you may need to relocate the feral cat elsewhere, or you can start socializing him with other potential adopters.

Conclusion

Most feral cats may run away if they see humans approaching them. However, with patience and a regular feeding schedule, it’s possible to tame and domesticate them with the end goal of having them as house pets.

Of course, this depends on the cat. As mentioned earlier, adult feral cats are harder to tame since they are already used to living independently without human contact. Nonetheless, it’s still possible to tame them.

However, if you want to help adult feral cats, you can trap, neuter, vaccinate, and return them to their colonies, instead of adopting them and keeping them indoors. You can also act as their caretaker by giving them food and water regularly, and watching over their health and general condition.

It may be difficult for us to accept, but some cats are happier living outdoors. And the best that we can do to help them is to control their population, assist them by giving them food and water regularly, and look over their health even from afar.

Is it possible to tame a stray cat?

You may have a chance of taming or domesticating a feral kitten. However, it’s not generally recommended to tame a feral cat — and it’s usually not possible to tame an adult one. Feral cats aren’t used to human contact, and they probably won’t ever be as docile and friendly as a domesticated cat.

How do you get a cat to come to you?

To train a cat to come to you, start by standing several feet away from your cat. Then, call out a phrase such as “Come here!” or “Treats!” As soon as your cat comes to you, give it a treat, toy, or any other reward that your cat enjoys. Afterwards, step back a few more feet and repeat the exercise.

How long does it take to tame cats?

In addition to being a challenge, taming a feral cat can take a lot of time: feral kittens could be tamed in as little as two to six weeks, but it could be a year or more before an adult feral cat is tamed.

Can a street cat become a house cat?

Yes, that stray cat or alley cat can become your beloved house cat, but there are some caveats you should consider. First, understand the difference between a stray cat, an alley cat and a feral cat. It’s often impossible to tell at first glance. Both types of cats may seem skittish when you first approach them.