Feeling guilty about taking in a farm cat...

[AuldAlliance]

DS's teacher asked the class if anyone wanted a kitten, and I said OK. However, said kitten is quite old, probably around 4 months. It has been used to roaming free on a farm, coming to the door to be fed only, and is naturally totally terrified at its new surroundings.

It has been in our utility room since Monday, where I set things up and we have left it alone as much as possible, only going in to feed it/change litter or just sit quietly in the room. It is hiding behind the washing machine, coming out to eat and use the litter tray at night.

On Tuesday it was in a basket on a shelf, all cosy looking, but DS spooked it and it fled into its hiding place. Since then it has been curled up behind the washing machine whenever I've peeked.

I know it is v early days, but I am feeling guilty at taking a cat that is too old to adapt to life with us. I've been thinking about suggesting we return it to its original environment.

Any suggestions?

I've been watching those taming youtube clips, most of them are men doing all the taming & coochy coochy noises.

After the third video our cat started to give me very hard looks, maybe he thinks I'm kitten shopping.

Do you know if the kitten had any human interaction in the first few months at all? I am pretty sure they have to have had some human contact otherwise they will really struggle to be tame. Has he been neutered yet? Might make him more docile.

The cat has run away. The wind must have blown open the door, as it was wide open when I got back from work yesterday, and there was no sign of the cat.
Waiting to hear whether it has returned to the farm.
I spied on it from outside one day and watched it come out to eat and use the litter tray. Judging by its size, it was way older than 4 months, which is what the teacher told me she thought its age was.
It had had no real contact with people before, just came to the farm door to be fed every now and then. It was still very, very wary and we couldn't go near it. I doubt we'll ever see it again. Hoping it has not been hit by a car.

Oh bugger. Poor you.

Maybe he/she will come home when they get hungry.

Tbh I think you would struggle to socialise him, imo kittens need human contact fairly early to become good pets. Hopefully he will be fine if able to hunt etc, maybe keep some food by the back door just in case though.