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kitten meowing questions

post #1 of 6
8/18/10 at 5:34am
Thread Starter 
I didn't know whether to put this here or in the feral forum, so feel free to move it if necessary.

A week ago, we trapped two feral kittens (maybe 3-4 months old???) and had them spayed/neutered. We had them in a kennel until yesterday, when we let them out to roam around our guest room -- their new home until they are ready for the rest of the house.

The female is doing fine. My husband and I can coax her to come to us with food, she lets us pet her for short periods of time (but not hold her yet), she is relaxed most of the time, and she has started showing an interest in playing (the laser pointer really caught her attention).

The male, however, is still scared, and I know it may take him some time before he's comfortable with us. He backs away and hisses at us still, but at least he doesn't swipe at us too often anymore. Every morning since we got him, around 4'ish, he starts meowing. I figured it's best to let him 'cry' and try to comfort himself, or to let his sister comfort him. I know I should NOT go in the rooom, as it would be rewarding this behavior and encourage him to keep it up.

I have a two questions.
First, after he stops meowing for 10-15 minutes, should I go in with food and try to socialize with him?

Second, how long will he keep up the meowing? Weeks? Months? Years?


Sorry for the silly questions, but the two kittens I've had before didn't meow like this.
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post #2 of 6
8/18/10 at 7:29am
It could be that he's hungry. If you don't leave food out for them at night, I'd say to start doing that. At this young age, it's okay for them to free feed on dry throughout the day. I'd leave 2 bowls down for them, one for her and one for each. Something else to consider is getting a Feliway diffuser and getting that going in their room. You can find them at PetCo or PetsMart. They are expensive, but you can also find them online for much cheaper. I wouldn't wait for one to come in the mail, though, I'd get started right away. (FYI...There was a $5 off coupon in our mailbox yesterday for the PetCo on Overton Ridge if you get the Tuesday junk mailings at your house.) The Feliway helps to calm down most cats and kittens.

Also, you may want to put some old, dirty shirts in the room with them so they get used to your smell. Be sure it's something you don't care about if it gets ruined. Just be sure you've worn it a few days and sweated in it. This will help them get used to you and your smell.

Keep a radio playing for them throughout the day and night. This might help calm the little guy. You might also want to give him a small stuffed animal to snuggle with, even though he has his sister there.

When you go in, don't make eye contact with him and don't try to pick him up or pet him. Pretty much ignore him, but talk to him in a calm, soothing voice, and don't expect him to come to you. Read out loud to them while sitting or laying on the floor. Pretty soon, he'll come to associate you with good things (food!) and calmness and he'll get curious to know what's going on. Get some wand toys (fleece string on a stick, cat dancer, and DaBird) and use those to interact with him. Always praise him for his skills, but don't be loud and rambunctious yet. Provide him with lots of hiding places, like boxes with holes cut out of the end and things like that he can 'escape' into. Our newest guy used to run and hide under the bed every time we got close to his room, much less when we were in there and made a foreign noise!
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post #3 of 6
8/18/10 at 8:09am
Thread Starter 
Thanks, Stephanie. I have been wondering if he has been eating. I've seen his sister eat, but not him; but there seems to be enough poop in the litter box for two! I've left dry out for them all night and it's all gone in the morning. I'll try leaving two bowls out, in case his sister isn't letting him eat.

I've put t-shirts in their bedding area, and both kittens snuggle up to them. We leave the radio on either talk radio or the classical station all day / night. I finally got toys yesterday. He didn't seem too interested; the only thing that caught his eye was the laser pointer. I read about the Feliway diffuser, but my husband was shocked at the price. I will see if we got that mailing, but I think I'll get one even if I can't find a coupon. I'll see if I can't find a stuffed animal for him, too.

As for the "ignore him" part, that's something my husband doesn't understand. He goes in the room and tries to force contact with him since the female allows it. When he is hiding in his box, my husband puts food on his finger and puts his finger at the opening of the box, but the cat doesn't budge -- he just scoots back even more. I don't know how to convince my husband to back off.
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post #4 of 6
8/18/10 at 4:18pm
Have him read the board! There's lots of posts on socializing feral and/or scared kitties. I have an older cat who used to be a scaredy cat, but after 12 years, she's come around. My newest kitty, Tumbleweed, is a bit of a scaredy cat, but he's coming around. Now instead of darting under the bed, he'll just run a short distance away, so we're making progress! It's just slow and steady, lots of TLC and patience that wins them over.
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post #5 of 6
8/24/10 at 3:42pm
Thread Starter 

Thanks again, Stephanie! I thought I would give an update on how the kittens are progressing. They now have their permanent names Angel (girl kitten) and Demon (boy kitten).

I put out two bowls of food, which seemed to decrease the meowing at night a little. We were more 'pushy' in feeding the boy kitten wet food / baby food mixture like we had the girl kitten. He hissed and backed away at first, but the smell was too much for him to resist and he caved. He ate the food off of a spoon (I wasn't putting my hands near his mouth!) We've done this kind of feeding for the past few days, decreasing the distance between us and the kittens.

Last night was amazing! While my husband was at work, I went ahead and got a Feliway diffuser. I put it in the kittens' room, and a few hours later (when hubby got home) we went in the room for our ritual bonding time. For the first time since he's come to live with us, Demon was very relaxed in the body, his ears were upright the whole time (instead of occasionally flattening), he didn't growl or hiss at all, and he ate baby food from my husband's fingers! My husband doesn't mind the price of the diffuser now that he's been able to feed Demon from his hand! Oh yeah, and not a peep out of them last night (other than the sound of them playing).

Today I brought in their daily allottment of wet food and left it about 3 feet from them (and 3 feet from me). I sat on the bed surfing the 'Net and they both eventually came to the food to eat. I think they are finally calming down enough to trust me, and I really think the Feliway diffuser has played a big part in that.
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post #6 of 6
8/24/10 at 8:02pm
What a wonderful update! Sounds like they are settling in and getting used to you. Slow and steady, lots and lots of patience, and you'll get there with them! It might also help if you can put a screen door on the door. That way they can't get out, but they can see the goings on.
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