5 Feral kittens now in my home! Taming advice!

I took in 5 feral kittens (They belong to a neighbor who doesn't alter their cats, they have atleast 30 cats! I have gotten a dozen of them spayed (I focus more on the females, so if I catch a male I let it go!). But I caught these 5 kids (probably littermates, they are all the same size). I think I know who their mom is, 4 boys and 1 girl. They are about 10 weeks old, not used to human contact one bit!! Hiss at me as soon as they see me! The female just got spayed today, the males with be neutered Friday (All thanks to the discounted price the rescue I foster for gets!). I am going to do my best trying to socialize them....I have tried before, without success!! I tried with our 13 year old feral cat Marilyn who my mom accidentally ran over when she was about 3 months old, and my mom paid for her many surgeries...But she never got tame! She is still a feral cat, but she has moved with us 4 times now so feral or not she is ours.

Any advice?

Originally Posted by Punkygirl0101

She is still a feral cat, but she has moved with us 4 times now so feral or not she is ours.

Any advice?

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Advices will come, others´and mine.

Do you have any friendly, well socialized cat resident? Or at least, a cat friendly dog?

But as now, I want to ask a little about this wonderful story.
Are you SURE she is feral? Or she is simply shy? Some cats are shy by themselves, and thus, behaving like an ex-feral as soon anybody foreign comes into the house.

Good luck!

Are you keeping them in one room? This helps. If you keep them in a room, especially a smaller room like a bathroom, they are forced to be in a small space with you without being able to run and hide. Hiding is bad for them. They have to face what they're afraid of (you) and get over it. They will learn that you won't hurt them.
Are you free feeding? If you are, it's much easier to get them to trust you if you schedule feedings. Some people feed twice a day, morning and evening. With my ferals I do 3 times a day, especially with kittens because they get hungry. They get used to the routine and know that the food is coming from you. They will also be more affectionate when they are a little hungry and will start coming to you and rubbing against your legs when you enter the room. Sit with them while they eat so they'll associate you with one of their favorite things: food! Once they're done make sure you pick it up so they can't nibble before the next feeding.
Anytime you're able, just go sit in the room they're in. Read a book or magazine or talk on the phone, but ignore them. They'll start to see that you're not threatening.
They're only 10 weeks old so they'll definitely come around! It took me a year with a feral that I took in at about 4 months old. Now he's a total marshmellow, such a baby. Another I took in at about 7 months old will never trust me. The age really makes a difference. The younger the better when it comes to taming.

First off, THANK YOU for what you are doing to S/N all of your neighbor's cats. That makes me mad that they have that many unaltered cats that are breeding. You are doing the best you can .

YES, those kittens will come around very quickly!!!!!! They are so young and you will see changes each day. I bet in a month's time you will see huge progess with them. You must keep them in a small room with NO place to hide. You can set up some of those flexible, cheap tents you can buy at Walmart. They velcro together and the kittens will love those and can hide in them but you can still reach for them. In the first few days, just move slowly and spend alot of time in the room with them. Feed them on a four feeding schedule a day (if you can ) Don't leave food down. This way when you come in to feed they won't be able to resist but to climb all over you in a matter of days. You will be their new mommy . They will learn quickly to trust and love you back. Play with them with wand toys!!!! But, do not leave those wand toys in that room. They will eat the strings or get tangled up in them. Play some music or have a small radio going when you are not home. Start to pick them up by the scruff gently after a couple of days and snuggle them close, regardless of the hissing and spitting. Some of them will come around more quickly than others. Keep updating and much luck to you!!!!!

Originally Posted by Feralvr

Some of them will come around more quickly than others.

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And THIS will be a major weapon in your arsenale. You will interact much with this more brave sibling. The others will look on - and learn, taking example.

Having 5 at once, all shy, is usually a drawback. It is easier with one or two.
But this drawback CAN be used to the advantage too.

Some shy by nature may still be shy to foreigners of course,, even after a succesfull fostering, but the aim is they are warming to you / the person adopting. Shy to foreigners, but friend with the owners family. That should be enough. There are bough home raised cats who are such - so whatsa matter?

IF you have a sociale and friendly resident, and the quarantine is no longer an issue, you can use this resident as that example. Or one of the positive examples.

You can also use a Feliway diffuser in their room. This shouldnt be necessary -most fosterers succeed without.
But if you think you need extra help - there is this extra help.

One thing more. They shall not have possiblility to hide - ie they shall not hide dieepest under the bed... Do make for them some legal possiblities to have some shelter. Like a cat igloo, or an sideturned cardboard box. Or this tent Felvr do writes about. This way, they do have some privacy if they feel for it, but you can always reach them when you need or want.

Good luck!

In my experience, if they don't come around quickly, separate each of them from the others for taming sessions so that they can't have their fear confirmed by the others and they aren't distracted by the others. Then "force" yourself on each one by picking it up and holding it as long as you can without getting hurt or hurting the kitten. Do the picking up and holding repeatedly. Play with them with toys during these sessions. Pet them while they are playing. Hand feed them and pet them and briefly pick them up while you are feeding.

Each cat is different but I've had the very best success with the divide and conquer method. E
ven when they act miserable during the handling session, they are much less fearful of me afterwards.

The boys got neutered yesterday. I handle them a couple times a day (before work and after) one at a time. They are already less hissy, but still super shy and they run from me and give me a chase. I have found someone wanting to take ALL 5 to use as barn cats!! And I just might take him up on his offer instead of working to tame these guys, cause I know they will never be completely tame.

I got a pic of the girl, and one of the boys:


The girl, Matilda


And one of the boys Blake, who had an eye infection, looks much better!

I'm a firm believer in divide and conquer. If you separate them they may be easier to tame than if they are all together. I have three adult semi-ferals that I've had since they were 3 months. One of them, G, can be a pretty much normal cat at times. He will come up to be petted and in the past month or so I've even gotten to pick him up and put him in my lap and hold him over my shoulder. Most of the time though he is terrified of me and runs when I get near him. It depends on where he is and which other cats are there. I believe though that had I separated him from his brother when they were little that he could maybe be a pretty much normal cat now and his brother could have made more progress too. I left them alone way too much too. I'd at least take them to another room away from the others one by one for a little while each day and play with them or feed them, etc.

When it comes to if they will become tame or not there is no way to tell. 10 weeks is young but imo it's not so young that taming them is a given. In my experience at that age it depends a lot on the kitten's personality. It's possible that you'll be able to tame some of the kittens while others may remain semi-feral forever. I think it's worth a shot though. Even if just two of them will become adoptable cats at least they will get good homes. The others will benefit too.
I think it's very important to have a plan B when you try to tame feral kittens. Ideally they will all come around and become friendly and social kittens who will all be adopted. But what if that doesn't happen? What will you do with them if they all remain semi-feral? Making them barn cats is an option but if they've lived inside for too long they may not have the skills to survive outside. It's a very tricky situation so it's very important to have plans for all possible scenarios.

The tabby boy, who we call Melvunky because he looks like our boys Melvin and Monkey, is actually doing really well. He doesn't run away unless we reach out to grab him. He is out all the time, playing with the other kittens and playing with the toys! He is becoming really tame, and I have a potential adopter for him who will keep him inside and tame him more!



Melvunky




And then Aaron, he is pretty good about coming out and not caring we are there. He doesn't like being touched of course, but he doesn't get scared at noises or people talking anymore..I am actually surprised they are coming around so fast

And the three longhaired kittens (1 girl:Matilda, and 2 boys:Blake and Preston) are extremely unfriendly. If they sense movement from you they run and hide, and still act terrified when being handled.

Blake


And I don't have any pics of Preston, he is still aggressive and tries to scratch. He is super unfriendly.

Oh PHEW, I am glad to see Blakes eye is much better in the second picture. I have seen eye infections in kittens like that escalate into critical quickly. Looks good and you are doing a great job. They are so little and just adorable, precious babies. I really wish they could get regular homes, life as a barn cat is still quite harsh, but I understand you might not have any other option. I am sure they can all be tamed quickly, it just takes a bit of time and patience. Would be great if a shelter could find a foster to work with them. I am sure they would get adopted quickly into homes. You are doing so much for them, as best you can and I think you have a big heart . Loved the Hope they get more socialized each day

I have been putting antibiotic ointment in his eye, it looks a lot better! Just needs a good cleaning now. His eye looks squinty all the time though, one eye is actually bigger than the other!

Would be great if a shelter could find a foster to work with them.

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The rescue I foster for is helping me out with them. They have all been spayed/neutered already, and vaccinated.

Got a picture of Preston finally!

Yes, sorry, you did mention this earlier about the rescue you foster for. I am so happy to hear you have such a great organization willing to assist. OH my goodness, is Preston ever so cute . I really have a soft spot for Blake I would take him in a nano-second........ that's all I need though , he is just special . I am sure they will find homes and quickly, very good-looking kittens

Carol-Ann!

I think you should start an own thread. Or rather several threads, as you have several different problems, both cat problems and your private sitation.
As it is now, I fear it is too much for any individual helper or advisor... Im sorry.



Good luck!