how bad is too bad?

About ten days ago, I picked up a semi-feral kitten the neighbourhood kids were kicking about, dumping water on and otherwise tormenting.

Lately I've only had an hour or two at most of waking time at home. The rest of the time, SemiFeralKitty is shut in the bathroom. She has litter, toys, water, food, litter, a towel folded and rolled as a bed.

Yesterday I went by for 5 minutes to check on her, made sure she had food and water and litter was ok. Then got home after midnight, and spent a few minutes sock-wrestling with her. (I lie on the couch and drag a stuffed sock around on the ground, and she wrestles it.)

What kind of behavioural and developmental problems could arise from her getting so little interactive play time?


I really can't provide a better environment for her at the moment. It looks to me like she's imprisoned, yet even that still seems better than what she'd face out on her own.


Any insight?


(No, I can't get another kitten -- the complex doesn't permit pets at all. Am looking for a place that does, but that won't happen overnight.)

You can put on some music - preferably soft. Dont need here to be calming, but soft anyway.

Can you have a TV on there?? Shouldnt be necessary, but as you are wondering... Otherwise perhaps a radio... so something is happening.

I think you did forgot some sort of scratching post. Dont need to be anything fancy, but cats do like, even do need, to scrach their paws.


Otherwise everything sounds great, at least for the time being!

Tx a lot!

Good luck!


ps Welcome to the Forums!

Poor little thing is some lucky to have YOU!

Cats are pretty independant and don't require a lot of interaction most of the time, however, do what you can. When you have time, make the most of it, which sounds like thats exactly what you're doing. Good luck!

I agree with the others - thank you for rescuing her.

Have you been able to get her to the vet? That's something she needs. I don't know how old she is, but she should probably be treated with Revolution (treats fleas, flea eggs, ticks, and internal parasites like round worm).

She will need to be spayed between 4 and 6 months old, and you do need to know she will teethe at around 4 months old - she'll need lots to chew on. We used bendy straws to play with our kitties and left some lying around on the floor for them to chew on - they seemed to be the right texture and don't get completely chewed up (no dangerous plastic pieces) too quickly.

In addition to the advice of the others, the only thing that pops to my mind is if you can kitty proof your bedroom, you may want to move her in there as opposed to the bathroom. Being able to sleep with you may be nice for her, and having a little more space may be nice.

But whether she stays in the bathroom or not, you may want to consider purchasing some toys like these for her (these are not necessarily best prices):

Turboscratcher: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...0&pcatid=11640

Hide-a-box thingy: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...9&pcatid=10239

Firefly flash: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...3&pcatid=22423

Tail spin toy: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produc...2&pcatid=22132

Panic Mouse - undercover mouse - http://www.google.com/products/catal...d=0CDsQ8wIwBQ#

She's already playing with you, but I'd be willing to bet that just interaction with you plus her history will have one big impact. You'll end up with a cat that's only yours, she may end up skittish of other people.
That's pretty much it.

Originally Posted by StefanZ

I think you did forgot some sort of scratching post.

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Right now she's using the bound part of a broom. Not ideal, but I can't have obvious cat paraphenalia around.

Originally Posted by Kailie

Poor little thing is some lucky to have YOU!

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Aww, thanks. At times, I really wonder. Then I see much larger the kittens that neighbours say are litter-mates of "that little black one that died" (they don't know I have her) and how much stronger, faster and more capable they are than she is ... and then I wonder if she has some congenital defect or something and won't make it anyway.

Originally Posted by LDG

Have you been able to get her to the vet?

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No, and truly can not afford it right now, especially at foreigner prices. I've modified my own eating so she can eat meat and have natural litter.

No sign of fleas, but am pretty sure she has at least roundworms. At first she seemed too weak for Revolution, so I bought (at foreigner price, over twice that for locals) diatomaceous earth and have been giving her that. Her belly is less extremely round, and the stench has largely disappeared. If the DE doesn't work, at least she's getting stronger, and I can still do the Revolution or local equivalent.

A vet in town spays as young as 12 weeks. Looking at her teeth, she'd have been 8 weeks already when I took her in 2 weeks ago ... but her size and coordination seem like 6 weeks now. So I don't think she'll be a candidate for early spay.


I've been pseudo-crafting toys out of bendy straws, and she loves them! Glad to hear they're safe for teething.

Kitty-proofing my bedroom won't happen until she's through the biting, pawing, pouncing stage. I need my sleep.

Some of those toys look like they'd be fun for humans!

Originally Posted by strange_wings

You'll end up with a cat that's only yours, she may end up skittish of other people.
That's pretty much it.

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I'm hoping to re-home her before too long. Not sure how realistic that is, though.

Originally Posted by RawVixen

Then I see much larger the kittens that neighbours say are litter-mates of "that little black one that died" (they don't know I have her) and how much stronger, faster and more capable they are than she is ...
and then I wonder if she has some congenital defect or something and won't make it anyway.


.......................................


I'm hoping to re-home her before too long. Not sure how realistic that is, though.

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First, it strikes me your neighbours apparently do care in some degree about the homeless kitties around, in their own way. Although they dont help them actively. They SEE which are around and which seems to be gone - which is a good beginning.
I think you can perhaps sond them a little, and if you got confirmed they are positive, perhaps work something out of this with time... Say some sort of helping program for the neigborhood... Begin with someone who seems nice, between four eyes. (eye to eye).

second
Females are often quite much smaller than males. Some are surprisingly small, almost looking as kittens - and still, have litters etc...
There are some individual differences too. With a little luck, there dont need to be anything serious bad with her.

Good also her stomach starts to be better.

third
If she has you as her sole fosterer, it is true she perhaps wont never get fully socialized, ie to be what is called a social cat, children friendly and so.

But next owner will have it much easier anyway with the infostering easier and shorter... And she will surely attach and bind to the next owner too soon enough. Dont worry.
You must of course tell the owner she will be a little shy - and definitely shy in the beginning. Compare with a child - childrens are often shy in the beginning...
Prepare the change of owner with sweeping smells before you hand her over. Ie, give her the smells of her new owner a couple of days before she is forwarded.


Good luck!

Originally Posted by RawVixen

I'm hoping to re-home her before too long. Not sure how realistic that is, though.

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Do you have decent friends you can invite over? The more nice people she meets while young, the better socialized with people she can become. Start at first with just letting her hear and smell them around, maybe see from a distant hiding spot. She'll decide if she wants to be more social.

@StefanZ, it's just one couple who's taken notice. But I think they'd help with TNR. I like your optimism.

Thanks for your point about females tending to be smaller. It's probably breed/mix-specific as well, and I'm comparing her to the huge adult cats I had in the past.

Very good point about preparing with objects from the new home, once I find her one!


@strange_wings, brilliant tip! So far I only know one cat-positive person here, and I can't tell her I have a cat illegally locked in my bath. Dogs are another thing she's not getting used to ...

In under three weeks, she's outgrown the mini litter box. Probably not yet ready for a full-size one, but I'll find something mid-size, no problem.

But it's pretty clear she's outgrown the bathroom. In the past 24 hours, she was locked in there for all but maybe 2 hours total. I know I need to find new toys for her ... but this is inhumane. Will probably be moving in a few weeks, but how much mistreatment like this can she take?

Originally Posted by RawVixen

but how much mistreatment like this can she take?

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She is surely in waaay better situation than some pure breeding cats kept in cages before they are sold....
No good situations, although the more serious breeders of course let them come out into a bigger room, and are also playing with them some.
But the less serious breeders often DO kept them in cages the whole time, and no playtime either ... Terrible.


(In Sweden practically all catteries are small, and thus - practically all breeding cats are loved family members - even most studs.
But in countries where big catteries are common - is is it also common with cages).

Or take another example. Cats living in shelters. Good shelters often do have cats in "cages" - which really are small rooms; perhaps 2x2 metres.
You and this kitten are in a position comparable to such a good shelter.
And still - I´m sure it is better with you.

No optimal situation, but it could be far worse.



Ps. Try perhaps to build up some climbing possibilities for her. Set up a couple of planks and battens.... It doesnt need to be anything fancy. You dont need to sell it. Only it is reasonably stable and she can climb and balance on it...

Good luck!

Update ...

I was not "able to" rehome the kitten when I left the country. None of the options seemed quite good enough for her. So I bought a crate, and she came along on a slow and winding journey, six months of hitch-hiking, wandering through cities and camping in the woods. Cats aren't supposed to travel well, but she did, and thrived. Her balance and coordination improved dramatically along the way.

Suddenly, instead of only a few hours a day, she was with me all the time. The better her social and play needs were met, the more pleasant her company became. She's turned out to be a very people-positive little creature. When on lead, she'll approach strangers on the street and roll onto her back, hoping to play.

She's still eating raw prey-model, and increasingly whole prey, with ever-better diversity of diet. Loves green tripe.

Thanks to everyone who helped me improve her situation when I first posted, and especially to StefanZ for your kind words and pragmatic encouragement.

It's great to have such a positive update. She's a real beauty!

Just ran across your thread, and I adore your update!

Sounds like you have a travel companion as well as friend for life.

You rock!

What a WONDERFUL update!!!! Sounds like a match that was just meant to be! :rub: :heart3:

A wonderful story!!!! She is just beautiful.... and such a great friend and companion :heart3: :rub: