I need advice on bringing a kitten around who is a little stand offish?

There are three kittens who have taken up residence at my house.They aren't wild but they are not exactly tame either. One is almost tame. How can I help it get closer?I need advice on bringing a kitten around who is a little stand offish?
Feed it and talk softly to itI need advice on bringing a kitten around who is a little stand offish?
Just act very calm around it. and try not to scare it in any way.
The way to the heart is through the stomach as they say so feeding them for a while will help them learn to trust you. Keep your body low to the ground and talk softly to them when they come to eat. Eventually they will feel more trustful of you and you may be able to pet them while they eat.
Taming feral kittens is a delicate process and it's success rate depends on a number of factors including temperament and age. They older they are the harder it is to tame them.


First it's best to keep them in a small area. having a whole house to explore is overwhelming for kittens. I often start by keeping them in a bathroom or small bedroom. Ideally it should be a room without many areas for them to hide or anything for them to be hurt on. Kitten proof the room. They'll chew and climb on anything and can get through incredibly tiny areas.


Secondly if you have only had limited luck with taming the kitties it may be necessary to separate them. I have best luck with kittens if they are in pairs or solo. One wild kitty will help revert the others to a more feral state. In the room make sure they have a box with rags, towels, or blankets of some sort in a corner. It should be a dark and warm refuge and you should try your hardest not to reach in there after them. They need a place to retreat and feel safe. If the kitties are alone make sure they have a stuffed animal of some sort (with no small, hard swallowable eyes or noses for them to choke on) to cuddle with. Of course make sure they have access to kitten chow and fresh water at all times. And that they have things to play on and chew.


Now moving very slowly and quietly try feeding them pieces of shredded chicken or wet cat food on a spoon. Talk to them in a low soothing voice constantly while in the room. I often will sit in a room with kittens talking on the phone or with a friend just so they are used to my voice and realise that I'm not there to catch or pray on them. Once they are used to eating from you you may try to pet them lightly. Do not reach at them from the front as this is a very threatening gesture to cats. Also never stare at kittens, this is perceived as dominance or predatory. Try to avert your eyes often and keep your head tucked. Pet them from behind. You can even do this while they're eating. They will at first assume it is a mother or sibling grooming them. If they at any time hiss or recoil slowly withdraw and wait until they feel safer. try to spend at least 15 minutes with them each time you try this. If they don't want you to pet them try gradually moving your grip farther and farther up the spoon handle until they are practically touching you when they eat. This will get them used to your smell.


Once they let you pet them you can grasp them gently at the nape of their neck like their mother would. They have a nerve here that causes them to go limp. Don't pick them up any other way or support their bottom until they are socialised because in the wild only predators would do this and it will scare them. Once they accept you though they'll let you pick them up in a variety of ways. Lift them gently into your lap and and pet them there continuing to talk to them. Do not get discouraged if each time you try they seem to regress a little, they often work in two step forward one step back patterns. As they get more comfortable you can tie small crumpled pieces of untreated paper to strings and play cat chaser. Try not to let them bat your fingers as this developes into a bad habit. If they do get to rough with you simple hold them by their sides until they realise this is not acceptable.


Eventually you'll notice they run out to meet you every time you enter the room, they fall asleep on you, they follow you about. You'll know they adore you when they purr and show you their belly. Once they are socialised you can reintroduce them to their siblings. Also be sure once they're comfortable to expose them to as many different people as possible so that they don't form an overly strong attachment to you to the exclusion of others. This is particularly important if you plan to rehome them.


The key to kittens hearts is their stomach. Giving them a treat after each session will help things along but don't continue this for two long after they adjust to you or you'll overdo it and create whiny adult cats who always want a treat. Also, try to play with them as much as possible during the day and as little as possible during the night and make sure there is as little light as possible where they sleep at night. This will ensure that you have cats who want to play during the day and let you sleep at night.


As I said before this is a delicate and variable process. I've had kitties that I've had to spend a week feeding before they'd let me pet them without hissing at me. Some older kittens took weeks before they'd sit on my lap. My most recent two feral I socialised in an afternoon.


Finally, I know it's common sense but be sure to have them vaccinated at 6 weeks and spayed at 8 if you let them roam free outside or as late as 6 months if they are not going to be exposed to other cats.
leave some food out for it and have some treats and talk softly to the cat


thank you
If you can catch it, then catch it once a day. Pet it and talk sweet to it for a couple of minutes then put it back down.





Eventually it will know that you are not a threat and it will work up to being friendly. You really should try this with all three of them.





I did this with my former roommate's cat and after several months, she would even sit in my lap.
just entice them with food and water it will work trust me
Keep feeding it and don't make any sudden moves to scare it. Eventually it should get close enough for you to hold it. Then just keep petting it and holding it, even if it tries to get away. The food is key though, it will keep the kitten coming back.
Tuna is the best when it comes to this sort of thing. Kittens go crazy over it. Make sure you use the tuna in water and not the oil. When feeding it normally start moving the bowl each time you feed closer to you.





When the kittens hang around and eat when your sitting right there the next time you feed put your hand, palm up over the bowl and feed them out of your hand. While doing so they also pick up your smell.





Use your other hand and slowly move it closer to the kittens over top of them. Start with one finger and if they will let you, stroke the kitty from the neck down. Avoid the head. If they get scared and run, repeat this step the next feed. In a few days and some patience later you will have a lap full of kittens! Good Luck
If you are planning to keep the kitten you should spend some time in the area the kitten comes to. Just sit there, maybe with a little food near you or a bowl of milk or water. Speak softly to the kitten and do not make any moves to pick it up or chase it. Sitting on the ground..at the kittens level may help build some trust. If you want the kittens removed from your home there are several feral cat groups who will trap ( without harming) the kittens and relocate them. Hope this helps some. I have an outside cat who came as a kitten to our home, with a lot of time and being patient it has paid off with a loving, warm healthy cat. It has taken more than a year of slow teaching but the cat now comes when called and will allow us all to pet and care for it. Including baths and grooming.