Said It Here

Tips for socializing rescued stray kittens

Socializing rescued stray kittens requires navigating both behavioral challenges and potential health concerns like FIV or conditions requiring extensive medical care. These combined hurdles make it difficult to know how to properly prepare them for adoption without being overwhelmed by medical needs.

What people tried

Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.

  1. 1
    planning to release the cat after vaccination and neutering if socialization fails
  2. 2
    using wet food to attract the cat before attempting to catch it by hand or in a cage
  3. 3
    Waiting and giving them time
  4. 4
    Using toys like string or pull toys to interact with them
  5. 5
    Feeding them cat tube treats or churus
  6. 6
    Sitting nearby while they eat food
  7. 7
    Picking them up frequently and letting them go as soon as they wiggle

In their words

Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.

no matter what I do, they hiss and run away from me.source ↗

DungeoneeringDave · r/cats · 53 upvotes

I'm looking for ANY advice. My main concern is potential health problems. I cannot adopt them if they have fiv or a condition that would require extensive medical caresource ↗

Rude_Engine1881 · r/cats · 5 upvotes

Would love any tips on kitten socialization from this community! ❣️source ↗

Repulsive-Cry2968 · r/cats · 1 upvotes

I will take advice on either, I know both will be a strugglesource ↗

Rude_Engine1881 · r/cats · 1 upvotes

Where this came up

People with this problem also raised