One of my daughter's used to foster cats for the SPCA, usually a stray mother and her kittens. Her job was to get them used to human contact so that when they went up for adoption they would respond well to humans. Of course she would get attached to them, and ultimately she had to keep some, now she can no longer foster cats. The 3 she has are sort of friendly, sleep on beds, have beds next to the computors...but they are not very cuddly cats, they are ex feral cats living with humans. They have their own lives that intersect with their human carers.
My cat on the other hand may have been in contact with humans, but he was very wild, and would attack if I just walked past. I didn't feed him, and even when I did decide he could stay, he wouldn't eat the food I put out. I thought it would be a hard task to turn him around, but he seemed determined that it was us he wanted to be with. I just let him do it at his own pace (after rewarding him getting close by locking him in a cage and having him knackered) and he has turned into a most human friendly animal. soon as I sit down he is on my lap, he calls me to come to bed at night so he can sleep next to me. Calls me to come outside, then I have to pick him up and carry him around the yard, as far as he's concerned, I need to carry him for 12 hours at a time, my arms are good for 10 minutes. He will still trot by my side then leap up and attack me...I look in his eyes and see the feral is still there. Bestest ever cat.
My cat on the other hand may have been in contact with humans, but he was very wild, and would attack if I just walked past. I didn't feed him, and even when I did decide he could stay, he wouldn't eat the food I put out. I thought it would be a hard task to turn him around, but he seemed determined that it was us he wanted to be with. I just let him do it at his own pace (after rewarding him getting close by locking him in a cage and having him knackered) and he has turned into a most human friendly animal. soon as I sit down he is on my lap, he calls me to come to bed at night so he can sleep next to me. Calls me to come outside, then I have to pick him up and carry him around the yard, as far as he's concerned, I need to carry him for 12 hours at a time, my arms are good for 10 minutes. He will still trot by my side then leap up and attack me...I look in his eyes and see the feral is still there. Bestest ever cat.