Kittens handled gently when they are small, readily become affectionate pets. Not so
feral cats. I have two feral cats that I have fed often enough that they invite my
stroking them. But I would risk painful scratches if I tried to pick them up
Their mansuetude is limited.



mansuetude
n.
ME < L mansuetudo < pp. of mansuescere, to tame < manus, a hand (see MANUAL) + suescere, to accustom < IE base *swedh3, custom > Gr cthos6 gentleness; tameness