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two new feral kittens

post #1 of 12
10/14/10 at 2:22pm
Thread Starter 
I have just taken in two feral kittens yesterday that appear to be about 5 weeks old. One is a calico and is very tame, she hasn't hissed once and I can pick her up and pet her, but the other kitten is orange and is very skittish, and I think gets the calico kitten riled up. This morning I was moving them into a different box and the orange one darted out and hid in a corner and then the calico darted out and went behind the refrigerator and they were mewing at each other and now they are both behind the refrigerator in a little space underneath it. They ate the kitten food I put in the box with them yesterday and I have put out a dish of kitten food and water and tossed little bits of chicken nearby but they haven't eaten any of it so far. What should i do?
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post #2 of 12
10/14/10 at 2:43pm
Welcome to TCS, and thank you for rescuing these babies!

The kitties need space and time to adjust. The very best thing you can do is contain them to one room - a bedroom or large bathroom. (Bedrooms are great, because there is nothing less threatening than a sleeping human). Get them set up with a litter box, food, water - and spend as much time in the room as you can. Play and food will be your best tools. Doing as much as you can on a schedule will also really help - especially when it comes to giving treats, or a wet meal, or a baby food treat (chicken is great - Gerber and Beechnut have no additives)...

Here are some articles that will help you!

http://www.straypetadvocacy.org/soci...feral_cat.html
http://www.thecatsite.com/Care/18/Br...a-New-Cat.html

Have they been to a vet? If not, they need to go. They likely need flea treatment, and just assume they have internal parasites. I don't know if kittens that young can be treated with Revolution (formerly available only by prescription, now available at most pet stores), but it treats most internal parasites and fleas and ticks.

At five weeks, it shouldn't take long to socialize them. But spending some time in the same room with them NOT trying to interact with them all the time gives them a chance to figure out you're not so scary, and having a play schedule, and a feeding schedule will help them associate you with good and fun things right quick.

Are they using the litter box? They may need a little help there. I'd have more than one, and initially make them low-sided just so it's easy for the wee ones to get in and out of them. I'd also use Kitten Attract litter. Sometimes ferals need a layer of dirt or leaves or whatever they were using outside over the top - but they usually figure it out pretty quickly.
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post #3 of 12
10/14/10 at 2:48pm
Oh - specifically as to them hiding... just sit patiently, talk to them quietly and calmly. Have a crate ready, and as they come out to eat one by one, put them in the crate and release them into whatever room is going to be their safe room. You can also get a book and sit on the floor and read out loud.

You may also want to get a piece of string (if you don't have any wand toys handy) and tie a large knot in the end of it or tie a wadded up piece of paper to the end of it, and make it wiggle around like a hurt small animal. It may perk up their prey/play instinct and lure them out.
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post #4 of 12
10/14/10 at 5:41pm
Thread Starter 
Thank you for the tips. They ran out from under the refrigerator but went into a little space under the dishwasher so I unplugged it. It looks like they might have eaten a little while I was away but they are hiding together still and sometimes make little squeaking noises. I have to take them to the veterinarian whenever they come out.
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post #5 of 12
10/14/10 at 7:37pm
Good luck. Unplugging the dishwasher was a good idea. Please let us know what happens!
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post #6 of 12
10/16/10 at 7:31pm
Thread Starter 
Today the kittens have come out from under the dishwasher and we were able to catch them and put them into a cat carrier, then moved them into their own little room. The orange baby is still hissing but is pretty calm when someone is holding him and will eat out of someone's hand. The tortoiseshell baby still seems more naturally like a domestic cat and bathes herself and never hisses but she seems to empathize to however the orange baby is feeling. They already know how to use the litter box but the orange kitten stood up on his hind legs to use it, it seems very peculiar. I am calling the vet for an appointment on Monday, how exciting that today just happened to be feral cat day
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post #7 of 12
10/20/10 at 6:41pm
Thread Starter 
I took the kittens to the veterinarian on Monday; they have fleas but no disease The Orange baby is 1.8 pound and Calico is 1.5. They were very well-behaved but were a little cranky when we got home

I've started to get them to play with yarn and cat toys, the Orange baby is more inclined to play but is still hissing frequently. I think that we made a breakthrough tonight though, I got Calico to let me pet her and she started purring. Orange baby came over near my hand and I am almost able to pet him but he is still hissing. Both Kittens are approaching me when I sit down in their room but seem to get scared before coming too close. It's only been a week since I've got them, it's normal for it to take a while, right?
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post #8 of 12
10/21/10 at 11:32am
Totally normal. They're learning that not only do you not want to eat them, you give them FOOD - and PLAY - and they're learning just how wonderful human hands can be. They're so young to be away from their family - but they're getting over their fear, and at least they have each other.

Sounds like you are doing GREAT.

I would just make sure you don't leave any yarn out - and no wand-type toys. It can be too enticing to try to eat (like they would the prey), and it can get wrapped around their intestines and require major surgery. So do make sure to pick up anything like that before you leave the room. We inspected poop for a few days and that was NOT fun. Fortunately no surgery was required - but it's best to not have to go through it at all, trust me.

They'll do the schizo kitty thing for a little while - purring one minute, afraid the next. That's normal too. But at this young age, it really won't take too long! They'll come around.

Are you keeping them? Or fostering them until they can be adopted out?

again for rescuing them!
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post #9 of 12
10/22/10 at 5:10pm
Kudos to you. I brought in a feral female who was about 1 in Feb.2009. What has adjusted beautifully but is still skittish and runs when the door bell rings or a stranger comes in. I just time her space and time and lots of love.
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post #10 of 12
11/10/10 at 4:18pm
Thread Starter 

My calico kitten, Aubrey, is now as domestic as any cat i've met. Orange kitten has just started purring this week and i have been able to pick him up a few times without any trouble, but he is still very feisty usually and hides from strangers. The vet said that I should keep picking him up even if he is hissing.
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post #11 of 12
11/10/10 at 4:34pm
Oh are they ADORABLE!!!

And that's exactly what we did. Pick them up, and set them down, so they learn nothing horrible is going to happen . We didn't try to hold them at first - just up and down. As soon as they stopped squirming from just being picked up, we'd extend it a couple of seconds, then put them down, and do that for a while - then extend that "holding" time a little longer, &etc.... It's important to be able to pick them up in case you need to crate them or move them quickly in an emergency or something.
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post #12 of 12
11/10/10 at 4:47pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by LDG View Post
Oh are they ADORABLE!!!

And that's exactly what we did. Pick them up, and set them down, so they learn nothing horrible is going to happen . We didn't try to hold them at first - just up and down. As soon as they stopped squirming from just being picked up, we'd extend it a couple of seconds, then put them down, and do that for a while - then extend that "holding" time a little longer, &etc.... It's important to be able to pick them up in case you need to crate them or move them quickly in an emergency or something.
You took the words out of my mouth
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