Welcome any advice, here. Brought home a feral kitten from a nearby farm

[chowmama]

32. There are stages. So many stages.

And all of them take patience, gentleness and time. Celebrate (quietly) every one.

You've gotten to the slow blink stage in only a day - that's a significant step. It'll be a while before he's completely able to feel safe with you and comfortable in his new environment, but a truly fearful cat doesn't dare close their eyes around others. He'll still spook and skitter at every move, but will slowly learn which are to be expected and may offer good things.

It's going to be hard for him to adjust; he had no one to teach him how to interact with humans, and he probably wasn't with the litter long enough to even be socialized with other cats. He'll get just as frustrated as you will. But he'll be slowly tempted to interact with you because you're there. You'll learn each other's way of communicating.

Assuming the environment is safe and escape-proof, let him choose to wander or stay in the kennel. He may even hide for a day or two and come out at night for the food, water and litter box. He'll reappear. He may still prefer a high perch for safety and will probably always need a quiet hidey-hole when there's noise. (We've got water pipe repair on the block today, and Fast Eddie is currently vanished into the...something. He's never completely recovered from his parking lot dumpster beginnings. He'll be out and complaining to the heavens soon enough. Probably around dinnertime, assuming they've gone. Otherwise, we'll be eating late. The other two are dealing better, but they were never ferals.)

A big step will be when he's secure enough to sleep out in the open; that could be a while, but he may start keeping you company from a distance fairly soon. Windows with a view of birds and squirrels are very appealing, if the traffic noise isn't too loud.

Anyway, a first step in a day is really encouraging. Once he stops believing every moment is a fight for his life, he may be less feral than expected. Just - lots of love, even from a distance, really good gooshy food and treats on the regular, and soft quiet places to lay. Don't push (but nudge) and give it time.