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10-13-2010, 06:39 AM | #1 |
and molliluv too! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Irving TX, USA
Posts: 1,619
| Socailizing kittens? So as if I don't have enough stuff to do I started fostering a 6 week old feral male kitten. He was found in a field and I don't think hes had much human contact. He seems intrested in me but is super scared, sometimes he hisses when I put my hand in his kennel but he hasn't tried to bite. I've been trying to read up on socailizing kittens but a few things I havent found- If he is hissing should I leave him alone or should I try and salvage some sort of interaction? Should I hold him occasionally to get him used to it or should I leave him alone until he comes to me? How much /often should I try and interact with him? How do I know when to stop? If any one has experience with feral kittens it would be great to hear any advice! Thanks! |
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10-13-2010, 07:06 AM | #2 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play
Posts: 7,069
| Awww, bless you for taking him in. I have had lots of experience with cats/kittens. My guess is the kitty is hissing because he is scared and relying on his natural defenses to protect himself. He doesn't know that you intend no harm. Kittens of that age, actually tame very quickly though. I would offer the kitty some soft food either canned or softened with water cat food, and gently touch it while it eats. Once it realizes you are it's source of food he will warm up quickly. If this kitty has never before been handled by humans, it doesn't understand "touch" like a socialized kitty or puppy, so you have to teach it that touch is a good thing, so at first it will move away from you or hiss when you try to touch it. Go slow and all will be fine. Post pictures if you can.
__________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee |
10-13-2010, 07:51 AM | #3 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Port St. Lucie, Florida
Posts: 1,043
| Awww...you are a very special person for taking the lil guy in I too raised a feral kitten male I think he was like 5 to 6 weeks old when I found him...Took both my sons over an hour to catch the lil fart lol...but they did...I ended up keep him couldn't part with him, Rex went to rainbow bridge 2 years ago of old age, he was 16 years old(god bless him) What I did was... when I fed him I would touch him as much as he would allow me to...than once he got use to that I would hold and play with him ALOT with some string and an old piece of paper balled up they love that and than I started letting my kids play with him...within 2 weeks he was littered trained...sleeping and purring up a Strom with us...he was the best lil kitty ever...just spend LOTS of time with him, he will come around...I hope that helps..Good luck!!
__________________ Jennifer R.I.P Bailey Bella Harley Ivy Baby Milo Last edited by bellababy08; 10-13-2010 at 07:54 AM. |
10-13-2010, 08:41 PM | #4 |
and molliluv too! Donating Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Irving TX, USA
Posts: 1,619
| Today was a lot better, still a little hissy but gave him food and held him in towel for a bit then he layed on the bed. The doggies even layed quietly next to him and every one was quiet for about 2 seconds before aa noise scared him but I think he is coming around. He is super hungry and scrawny but I dont want to feed him too much at once and make him sick so the food has been a good motivator to come say hi. He even played with a string with me today. We will see how it goes, thanks for all the help. Also I started calling him Oliver. Seemed like it suited him being an single orphan and everything. Here's Oliver and Company (lol) |
10-14-2010, 08:58 AM | #5 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Where the deer and the antelope play
Posts: 7,069
| Awww, he's a little Sylvester! LOL, but I like Oliver better. Sounds like you are doing great with him.
__________________ Shelly and the girls Moka Mylee |
10-15-2010, 04:29 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canton, GA
Posts: 3,242
| I also raised my Avery who was feral from about 3 weeks of age. The first week involved bottle feeding and a lot scratches on my arm but after about 4 days he decided I was a nice Mom since I fed him. That was 12 years ago and he is still around, still my baby and is going strong. The only thing about Avery is he is not social, he will not come out of the Master Bedroom if he hears voices he doesn't know. He loves me of course and he will come out for the dog walker. Good Luck, your baby kitty is so cute.
__________________ Cheryl,Mom to SophieKate |
10-16-2010, 06:18 PM | #7 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: canton ohio us
Posts: 1,574
| I just stopped fostering feral cats. after i ended up with two i decided it best to stop my boy Cookie came out of a feral cat colony he was about 4 months old he is still really stunted so if your little boy dose not grow too fast don't worry as long as the vet says hes fine. I would get some chicken jerky (the catswell company makes a good cat treat Amazon.com: Catswell VitaKitty Chicken Breast Cat... ) when he starts to hiss back up and offer him a piece then when he takes it walk away I always let the cat come to me going after them only ends up with bad scratches try to interact several times a day as often as he will let you when he walks away board or upset let him he is more likely to come back
__________________ Don't say I love you unless you mean it, but if you do say it a lot. People forget. |
10-16-2010, 07:28 PM | #8 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Canton, GA
Posts: 3,242
| I always let the cat come to me going after them only ends up with bad scratches try to interact several times a day as often as he will let you when he walks away board or upset let him he is more likely to come back[/QUOTE] This is really good advice, to this day I never force Avery to come sit with me - he is free to come up to me for his loving and he is free to be himself and just sleep on his own. That was the advice I got from the cat rescue and it seems to work well for us.
__________________ Cheryl,Mom to SophieKate |
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