Pistachio lived an untamed life in the woods behind our home.  That was about 14 years ago.  I didn't care much for him.  He was a "Tom-Cat" who often came and attacked our own cats, sometimes hurting them.  At the sight of  humans he fled like a wild thing.  Our son Tommy, being the compassionate kid that he was, began following Pistachio deep into the woods laying food on logs.........over time drawing Pistachio closer and closer to our yard.  Often Tommy sat for hours at a distance urging this feral cat to trust him. In time Pistachio no longer fled when people appeared. Eventually he allowed Tommy to "touch" him, and finally stroke and even pick him up.