Do you have a cute stray cat hanging outside your house, but it runs away every time you approach it?

It’s not that you’re a cat repellent, but rather, the cat is feral.

As you know, Thailand has countless unowned cats living on the street. While many are friendly and loving, plenty are a little wild.

So what should we do about feral cats that won’t come anywhere near us? 

Is it possible to domesticate and introduce them to our home? Or should these felines be well left alone?

As someone who has a huge soft spot for feral cats, here’s how we can best love and care for these misunderstood kitties…

Feral Cats Vs Stray Cats

Firstly, let’s discuss the difference between feral felines and friendly stray cats in Thailand. 

Many stray cats in Thailand have been cared for by humans at some point. So, while they may initially be wary of us, they are generally not fearful of people. These are what we will call our friendly strays.

These stray cats might have been abandoned or born on the street, but they are fed by local residents from an early age. Thus, they have received some socialization and have had positive experiences with humans.

Feral cats, however, have never had any human socialization. They were born on the street by feral parents. Growing up, they had no interaction with people and hunted their food. 

These cats are self-sufficient and don’t rely on humans to feed them. That’s not to say they won’t eat the food someone gives them. They will just wait until the person leaves the area before tucking into their meal.

So, if you offer a street cat some food and they comfortably eat right in front of you, they are likely an unowned stray cat, not a feral.

Are Feral Cats In Thailand Dangerous?

It is a common misconception that feral cats can be aggressive toward humans, but this is not entirely true.

Like many other wild animals, feral cats will cause no harm to you if you leave them alone. If you get too close to one, they will simply run away.

However, as they fear humans, if you corner a feral cat, they might lash out and bite or scratch you. But this is just a protective instinct. They do not trust you, so they feel they must attack you to protect themselves.

Considering this, feral cats in the community are no danger to people. 

But if you are trying to catch a feral kitty to sterilize or give medical care, you must be cautious (which I’ll discuss later).

Can You Ever Fully Tame A Feral Cat?

The most significant difference between a friendly stray cat and a feral cat is that a stray will begin to trust you after seeing you several times.

Most strays are wary of strangers initially and may run away if you try to touch them. But once they’ve seen you several times (especially if you’ve been feeding them), they will warm up to you and let you touch them.

However, it is MUCH more difficult to gain the trust of feral cats.

This is not to say it is impossible. But winning a feral over will take a lot of time, patience, and yummy food.

What’s more, how easy it is to tame a feral cat will depend on many factors, such as:

• The cat’s age (it is much easier to tame feral kittens than adult cats)
• If humans have mistreated the cat in the past
• How feral it’s parents are

Should You Try To Tame A Feral Cat?

Considering the difficulty of taming feral cats, you may wonder, is it better to leave them alone?

In most cases, yes. 

Here’s why…

Feral cats are self-sufficient. You might want to befriend a feral kitty and bring it into your home because you feel sorry for them. 

But it’s important to remember that these felines are used to living outside and fending for themselves.

If you were to catch a feral cat and bring it into your house, it would become highly stressed.

Just like you wouldn’t try to tame a wild monkey, you shouldn’t try to make a feral cat your pet kitty.

That’s not to say you can’t become their friend, though.

Ferals develop relationships with humans who feed them regularly, but they will still remain wary and keep their distance.

But there’s one exception – feral kittens (less than six months old).

It’s possible to socialize young kitties and transition them into house cats (I’ve personally done it), but believe me when I say it still takes time and patience!

Moreover, even an ex-feral kitten will likely remain highly wary of strangers and take a long time to trust new people.

So, if you are looking for a pet cat that’s super affectionate toward everyone they meet, contact a local cat shelter instead. Here, you will find many friendly kitties desperate for a loving home.

How Do You Get A Feral Cat To Trust You?

There are certain times when you might need to handle a feral cat. For example, if they are sick or injured or if you’re sterilizing the cats in your community

The critical thing to remember is that you MUST handle a feral differently from a friendly stray.

For example, you won’t be able to pick them up and put them in a cat carrier. Instead, you’ll need to trap them using a cat trap.

But before you try to trap a feral cat, I recommend doing the following things to build trust.

Feed Them Regularly

The best way to befriend any cat is through food. 

Even though they hunt their own, feral cats will appreciate you leaving food and water out for them. This is especially helpful during bad weather when it’s more difficult for them to source food and drink.

So start feeding them daily.

At first, they will likely wait until you leave before eating, but after a while, they might eat in front of you.

Put the food down and take a few steps away. If they don’t go towards the food, walk a few more steps back. 

Once the kitty is comfortable enough to eat with you in sight, try one step closer the next time. Try to inch slightly closer to the cat each time until they are eating right before you.

Work Towards Petting Them

The next stage (and the hard part) is to get them to accept your touch. 

While they are eating, slowly reach your hand towards them. This will likely startle them, and they might run or move backward. If so, give them space and try again on the next feeding.

Never forcefully stroke or grab them, as this will make them more fearful of you. Instead, offer your hand to them and only try to pet them if they show interest.

Over time, some feral cats may sniff your hand or even allow you to touch them. But some cats will not, no matter how long you’ve been feeding them for.

This is not to say they do not like you or have any level of trust towards you. 

The feral cats I regularly feed are visibly happy to see me and run towards me when I arrive – as they associate me with food.

Yet even after many months of feeding, most of them still won’t let me touch them.

Other Ways To Gain The Trust Of Feral Cats

• Slow blink at them – When you notice the cat looking at you, take a few half blinks (gently squinting) before closing the eyes fully for a second and then reopening them. Cats ‘slow blink’ at people as a sign of trust, so it can be a powerful way to show a kitty you’re not a threat to them. This research study found that cats are more likely to approach a person after receiving a slow blink.
• Give them shelter – This can be as simple as putting a cardboard box in the area where they sleep – what cat doesn’t appreciate a box?!
• Respect their space – If you notice signs of stress in the cat when you are close to them, such as growling, hissing, or flattened ears, back away and give them space,
• Be patient – Forcing interaction and not respecting their need for personal space will only hinder your progress.

How To Trap And Sterilize Feral Cats In Thailand

Even if a feral cat eats in front of you and allows you to pet them, picking them up will likely be another story.

So, if you want to take a feral cat to the vet for a checkup, vaccination, or sterilization, I recommend using a metal cat trap, like this one. You can buy these from Lazada or see if you can borrow one from a local rescue center.

Cat traps are not as scary or complicated to use as they look. 

But once you set it up, you will need to be patient. Many feral cats are very smart and will eat the food inside the trap without stepping on the metal plate (which triggers the trap door).

I’ve written an entire article on how to trap and sterilize stray cats, with step-by-step instructions on using a cat cage.

Final Thoughts On Feral Cats In Thailand

Feral cats may not be as cute and cuddly as the friendly neighborhood strays, but they deserve love and respect nonetheless. Understanding the life of feral cats in Thailand can help us better care for and live harmoniously with them.

Plus, if you follow the tips in this article, you might befriend one and witness their spiciness dissolve right in front of your eyes!

Have you ever managed to tame a feral cat? Let me know in the comments!