Feeding a feral kitten

Hi everyone. I'm still working on the trust issue with the two kittens I found under the porch in rural Ohio. They are still very skittish and bolt when I try to touch them. I know I need to keep the environment quiet and dim for the first few days, which I read in keeping the environment quiet and dim.

My main question now is about food. What type of food should be offered to a feral or semi-feral kitten that is not used to indoor eating? I don't want to make it worse by offering something they reject.

I would start with wet food. It's stronger smelling and usually more appealing to cats who aren't used to eating from a bowl. I've seen it work well for my Mochi when he was teething and a bit picky. You can find more details on what I feed my kittens in what food do you feed your kittens?.

Agreed on wet food. I also suggest using a shallow bowl. Feral cats are often wary of deep bowls because they feel exposed. A flat plate or a very shallow dish makes it easier for them to eat without feeling trapped. I've used this method for Binx and Whiskers when they were new to the house.

The smell is really the key here. Olive is very food sensitive, so I know how important it is to get the right scent. If they are still hiding, try placing the food in the quiet, dim area you set up. It might take a few days for them to come out to eat.

I tried using a laser pointer to lure Whiskers to his food when he was scared. It worked really well. You can also use a catnip toy, like the one suggested in using catnip to lure a shy cat.

Thanks for the tips. I think I will try the shallow bowl with wet food. I'm worried they might just knock it over though. Has anyone had luck with that? I saw a thread about how to scoop up a feral kitten but I don't want to handle them yet if I can avoid it.

I am so stressed about this. I read in feeding schedule for outdoor cats that they should be fed every 4 hours, but I am not sure if that applies to feral kittens that are still hiding. I am worried I am doing it wrong. Should I leave the food out all day or just for a few hours at a time? I keep thinking about whether I am being patient enough.