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Chicago Feral Cat Statistics

Why not tame them first, then find them a home?

It is usually impossible to tame a feral adult cat. Even feral kittens 10-12 weeks of age can be very difficult to domesticate. It requires a sincere commitment of a few hours per day, for months or perhaps years for older kittens or young adults.

Even if a feral is predisposed to socialization, a feral cat tends to bond with their primary caregiver.   Once placed in another home, the cat will revert to a feral state, making them unadoptable.  Do not attempt to socialize a feral cat unless you plan to keep him/her.

Forgotten Felines of Sonoma County does an outstanding job at explaining what is involved and raises issues to consider.

If you have made a commitment to socialize feral kittens, Alley Cat Allies Factsheet "Socializing Feral Kittens" will be very helpful.

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