Skiddish kitten/cat

Question
I found a stray kitten about 7 months ago in the woods - I brought him home and he was approximately 4 months old and weighed 4 lbs per the vet.  He has become very attached to me but almost always wants to nip at my husband when he trys to "pet" him.  But that's not the "problem" - my concern is that he is totally anti-social.  Whenever he hears a car drive up, hears someone other than us come in the house,. hears a lawn mower start up, or our outside dogs barking, he runs and hides upstairs or somewhere else and it takes me hours to get him to come around us again. So, if we have guest over for a few hours, he is no where to be found - he shoots out of the kitchen like a bullet when he hears a stranger in the house.  Is this normal?  I've never had a cat before and don't know what to expect or how to get him to be a little more "social".  Please help and thank you!

Answer
Hi Treace, Unfortunately this is pretty normal behaviour for a kitten that has been raised in a feral environment. Feral cats survive by being cautions of every new situation they encounter. Kindness and patience will go a long way with this boy. It sounds like he is good with you with is a real victory. I find that the best way to work with these cats is to limit them to a small area such as a spare bedroom or bathroom where they cannot run too far away,  and then slowly introduce new situations to them in a safe friendly environment with you beside him. This is a lot of work but it does produce results. Also feral cats respond well to food treats. So, if you can keep your boy in a spare room for the weekend then you will need someone to help you with this, and you stay in the room with him while the other person turns on the lawnmower, rings the door bell, goes in and out of the room to pet him, etc. Try to have as many noisy situations that you can think of and you will have to repeat each one about 5-6 times to see results. Withhold food from him for an hour or two before you want to practice each situation. Then as the situation is happening and right after, offer him something very wonderful like chicken or tuna.. just a small amount. Each time it happens he gets another piece of chicken. Do you get the idea?? He won't eat the treat as the first instance is happening because he will be too nervous... but he will see it and smell it and associate it with the situation. Then when he is calm he will take the treat. you will notice he will become calmer and take the treat sooner and sooner and this is how you will measure your success !! Although you may not be doing practice sessions with the exact incident he is going to encounter it will help him learn that loud noises and people coming and going are not something to fear. You may even have to repeat this weekly a couple of times.Most owners will not have the patience for this but I assume by you writing me and your concern that you will be able to take this on.. Good luck ! Teresa