Never Owned a Kitten let alone Two!!

Stop pushing them. Forcing the kitty to be held will only make him more scared of you. Don't chase them, that is scary to a tiny kitten.

The best thing to do is isolate them in a room for a bit and spend as much time as you can in there with them, just sitting and talking quietly to them. Make no movements to reach out and grab or touch them until they show interest. When you come in the room, bring a tasty treat.....something they only get from you. Don't expect them to come running. Put it farther away from you and let them discover it. They'll be watching, don't worry. Then, offer them more....if they won't come all the way towards you, toss it gently to an area around them, don't throw it at them, just enough for them to follow it and know that it came from you.

Also, get some kitty toys like a laser light or stringy toy attached to a wand. It's a great way to encourage them to come out of hiding. Not too many kittens can resist either of these items.

As long as you are patient with them, they will come around. Just don't force anything, that will do more damage than good. When these babies come around, you will feel such a sense of accomplishment and your bond will be very strong. Earning a kitty's trust is an awesome feeling.

Also, take a worn, sweaty thirst of yours and put it under their food bowl or in their bedding....this will help them get used to your scent.

A home is a scary place for a kitten, especially when they've only ever been outside. New noises, new smells and mama isn't there to teach them how to react. They are behaving like scared kittens. Give them time.

Keep us posted on their progress

Hey!! My Boots was just like your kittens. I got him at 8 weeks old or so as a former feral.

He was completely terrified of me for about 2 weeks. But he is now a happy little kitten who loves his meowmy.

You need to keep them in a confined space with no hidey-holes, such as a bathroom, for at least a few more days. Spend as much time as you can in there with them, just doing normal stuff -- reading, paying the bills, etc. Get a wand toy and try to entice them to play with it. Sometimes that was the only thing that would bring Boots out from behind the toilet. Well, that and bits of lunchmeat, which is why I also recommend you get some tasty kitty treats to entice them to come out.

Remember that cats who aren't used to humans interpret prolonged eye contact as a sign of aggression, so don't stare at them!! You'll notice they come around you more when you aren't looking directly at them.

Eventually, they WILL decide that you aren't a scary monster, and they will warm up to you. But keep in mind that this may take weeks.

Definitely stop trying to chase them when they don't want to be around you. I recommend you set up a carrier for each of them in the bathroom/safe room, with worn shirts to get them used to your scent. When they're in there, don't bother them unless they're clearly in a medical emergency. Their carrier should be their safe place where they can go if it all becomes too much.

Good luck and keep us posted on these babies

Aw bless you for rescuing these babies!

LOL I remember this! We were completely clueless about cats, and felt like we were doing everything wrong. Over the years, the main lesson we've learned is that the most important thing to do is turn off your clock. These are simply scared babies, and their world has been turned upside down.

In answer to your question though it could be days, weeks, or longer than a month (though at that age, its unlikely).

All I really want to add to RAFM's advice is some perspective.

"Ready made" kittens born to a mom that was around people, and raised around people, and handled from day one, know how wonderful "home" and pets and snuggles and beds are. But these babies don't "get" love yet. The process of socialization is easiest if you think of it as having two parts. The first part is having them make their new territory "home." They need to feel safe, and all you need to focus on is earning their trust. Forget pets and love, that's the second part, and it comes naturally once you're over the trust hump.

Don't worry about your long hours, they have each other while you're working. To earn their trust, and help them understand, they're safe, do as much as you can in a routine. Clean litter boxes at the same time every day. If you feed wet food, give them their meal(s) at the same time every day. If you let them free feed on dry, wash out the dish(es) and fill them at the same time every day. Same with the water. Knock on the door gently before you enter, tell them quietly you're coming in.

When you look at them, don't look them in the eyes, this is a sign of aggression. Look at their foreheads. Let them "get" the groove. They'll associate you with their care. To further the association of "you" (both of you) and "good things," get a couple of t-shirts really good and sweaty. As RAFM suggested, put one under the food dish(es), and leave some kind of treats on one when you leave the room.

Other than that, spend what time you can in the room with them NOT trying to interact all the time. Read out loud, work on a laptop, iron, whatever. Let them watch. And then hold babyfood (Gerber's chicken, for instance) out on a spoon while sitting on the floor reading, and act like you could care less if they eat it or not. If you're going to eventually let them in the bedroom, and at night, you might want to consider making the bedroom their safe room during this process. You can move the litter box(es) out later. But sleeping humans aren't scary monsters lol.

Cats are contrarians. So IMO, acting like you don't care whether they like you or not helps them come around faster lol. Approach it with the attitude of you're just there to take care of their needs and perhaps entertaining them with some play, and they'll be all over you soon enough.

Sorry for repeating some of what speakhandsforme wrote, I'm on the phone with a slow connection and went to feed kitties, etc.

The milestones are always so much fun!

And yes, when they take the food from you, don't try to reach out and pet then. People feel very differently about this, and we did it wrong with most of the early kitties we rescued, but the first kitty we did it "right" with is THE most loving kitty we have. The "right" I'm referring to here is not forcing pets on them, but waiting until THEY headbump you. When you're sitting there, and they eat tuna from your hand, don't react, leave your hand there for a minute, and then just go back to what you were doing. This helps them learn that hands are "good" and not threatening. Right now, trying to pet them is a "threatening" hand. As they get curious and come to sniff you, keep ignoring them. When they're ready, they'll "bump" you - either bump your leg or hand with their forehead, or try to rub their cheek on your hand or leg. THAT is the sign they're ready to be touched, and a a stroke on the cheek - a single one - is best, and guage the reaction.

Of course, as with everything, there are different opinions on this. Some people force attention on them, and pick them up every day. Both work over time. But when I first read about it from a long time rescuer, and we subsequently waited those MONTHS for the (older) kitty to bump first, when he finally did, the switch was FLIPPED, and he became the most loving thing, always bumping and rubbing on us. He purrs if you just look at him. And this is a kitten that was born outside to a feral mom, and one we deemed unadoptable because he was SO aggressive, and always spitting and hissing.

But most importantly, have fun with this. And TRY not to worry too much - when socializing kitties, it's almost always one step forward, one step back, then often three steps forward, one step back - and then one day you're just there, and they're sleeping with you - but may flee if someone drops a pan or something. But as you're learning, you see how they react to things you do. Just keep doing the things that don't make them react in fear.

Personally, I'd recommend waiting until they're a little more comfortable with you before expanding their territory. I'd also make sure they're fully set in the routine of "meals are at this time and here," so they come for meals when you do open the door. Are they comfortable eating their meals in front of you? Often what happens is they're comfortable in their space, but not with you yet. You open the door, they're out exploring, something scares them, they hide in a new place, and won't come out. You get worried, and try to pry them out of there.... and then you're starting over.

Look at it this way... in a shelter, they'd be in a cage. The bathroom is just fine.

LDG is smart....take her advice. I would also give them a little more time in the bathroom, it won't hurt them and will give them more confidence.

Ferals can be tough but getting through this and out the other side is an amazing feeling. You know how awesome you felt when the female ate out of your hand, just wait till you wake up in the middle of the night and one is curled up at your feet. Pure bliss I tell you.

Totally agree with the above and great advice. Just be very, very patient, kind and loving. The kittens will come around in their own time, you can't push it or you will scare them even more. Keeping them in the bathroom IS better right until such time as they are trusting of you completely. And as Laurie says , the bathroom is bigger than a cage at a shelter The rewards will be well worth the wait with these babies, I am sure Keeping up with the for these babies

They will get tamer, not wilder.  And often it's like a switch is flipped.  One day, they crawl into your lap and decide they like attention, and that's it.

Some people feel it takes longer to socialize when there are two. We've never had less than two, so I don't really know. I do know it's best you have two. Some cats make great "alone kitties," but that's really more applicable (I think) to when you're adopting older or senior kitties. Kittens have a lot of energy, and for people who do not work from home, you're far less likely to have behavior problems from stress, boredom, or separation anxiety when you have a pair.

A note on why it's best to keep them in the bathroom (unless you want to move them to a larger room, and I still recommend the bedroom if properly set up) for now. Cats are territorial above all else. This is part of the reason it's much easier to socialize them in a small space. They have to feel they "own" the space first. When they're not afraid of where they are, then they're more "open" to the big scary monsters maybe not being so scary. It also helps reinforce the routine, which helps reinforce that you two are the ones taking care of all their needs.

Think of it this way. In the wild, cats spend most of their awake time hunting. They need the large space only to find prey. But they den in very small nests. Our indoor kitties don't need to hunt, so they don't need much space. We have to ensure they're not bored, and that they get proper exercise and stimulation, but especially given that cats are 3D and go vertical, "square footage" isn't a big requirement. (DH and I live in an RV with 8, all feral rescues).

And your girlfriend should be reassured. Cats are a domesticated animal for at least 10,000 some years now. They revert to a feral state in the absence of human contact, but cats are 100% about "what's in it for me." And their love of napping, sunshine, food, comfort and fun happens to intersect with our caring for them. . So if they're not outright attacking you now, the more they realize "hey, these things aren't threatening us, they're FEEDING us!" the greater their trust builds and their fear falls. . There is NO way that six months from now they'll revert to being feral. Not possible. Six months from now you'll be wondering how you ever fell asleep without a cat purring at your feet or on your head LOL.

Unfortunately, toilet paper is FABULOUS FUN for many, many kittiens. (Think of it as a kitty treadmill LOL) Our solution was to put it inside the cabinet next to the toilet.

As to the bottle cap... far more likely it became a toy and has been batted under something. We cleaned out under the stove and under one of the bookshelves in the living room weekly, as toys often became trapped under there.

Another perspective.  We have kittens (adopted when they were 12 weeks old) that were really well socialized. Realize that kittens have so much energy and as they become more comfortable, they will be more interested in running around than cuddling.  For the first year, they would follow my husband and I around, being content to sit near us.  We could handle them but it is only until recently that Aoibhe would start laying on my lap.  Her brother is perfectly happy to be sleeping three feet away from where we are sitting.

 

Also, never underestimate the trouble they can get into.

Bless you both for adopting these babies.  Besides all the great advice above, I wonder if you might find a book like Kittens for Dummies useful (I got the Cats for Dummies book when I adopted an adult - and the poor book is pretty worn out!). 

 

Another thing you might do, is just read aloud to yourself when the kittens are around.  They're already associated your voices and scents with food and love and all good things - and they might be more comfortable when they think your attention is off them - let them come to you.

 

And, some cats really just aren't much for being picked up - my adopted girl loves me, I think - she greets me at the front door, often assuming the meercat position so I'll pet her right away - yet, she hates being picked up.  My boy is the opposite - go figure!

 

BTW, another suggestion - always keep the toilet lid down when not in use (little kittens might get curious, fall in, and, well, that's not good - they could drown) and always always check all major appliances before you close the door and turn it on - especially ones like washers and dryers.  Don't want to scare you, but think of kittens as being extremely agile, curious toddlers.

 

Yes, and my 8 year old boy loves toilet paper - I keep it in a cabinet.

 

Oh, you've probably talked to the vet about the right time for neutering....please don't postpone that. 

 

Again, bless you both for what you're doing - you both have wonderful hearts.

Glad to hear they are playing throughout the house! Good job. As for the door stopper plastic tip, it is probably under something. We have a cat that does that too.....very annoying, but what are you gonna do?!

And toilet paper, put it up on the back of the toilet or in a cabinet....and hopefully they won't learn how to open the cabinet. Nothing like coming home to an entire package of toilet paper shredded from one end of the house to another. Oh joy.

We have one cat that steals the rubber bumpers off the door stops.  We find them behind stuff and under stuff all the time.  Look under your stove and refrigerator, for starters.

 

Put the toilet paper on the roller so the paper goes behind the roll, not in front of it.  Unless you want a TP nest in the bathroom!

My house has no rubber caps on any door stoppers anymore . I am sure the kittens probably chewed it up into little pieces before they ate it. Or you just can't find it! Makes a great toy. Very good sign that they have come out of the bathroom all on their own to play together in the LR. Just let them be and enjoy the show. The more you relax and "turn off your clock" as Laurie says , the quicker they will come around and the easier it will be on you two. I think they are already doing very, very well in the socialization process. Leaving the bathroom door open is a great idea. You will see they will venture further and further away from that room, BUT will always know how to dash back to the bathroom for safety. Not much you can do on the TP front. Other than keeping the roll out of sight. And then hopefully they will forget it is there once they are free from living in the bathroom. There will be too many other things to get into at that point and the TP will forgotten Your doing a great job with these babies:clap:

Ah the joys of kittenhood!

I think the recommendaiton for the book Kittens for Dummies is a GREAT idea!

Some things to know:

They will begin teething around 4 months old. You'll need things for them to chew on, and there is nothing better than plastic bendy straws. LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of them.

The best way to "teach" cats things: Praise them profusely and frequently for good behavior (playing with the right things, scratching on the right stuff, using the litter box, etc.). They do learn the meaning of the word "no," but when they're doing something you don't want (like biting your ankle, for instance), blow a short, sharp puff of air directly in the face (startles them), say "no," and redirect them to a toy. Praise them to high heaven for playing with the toy. If they don't redirect, walk away and ignore them completely. They learn they get praise for good behavior, they learn they get ignored for bad behavior. This is the most effective method.

They are very much like little children in this regard, and praise goes a long way, because just like people, they need to know what's GOOD - almost more than they need to know what's bad.

They're also probably big enough already to be spayed/neutered. Many vets will not perform surgery on small kitties just because they've never done it. The latest they should be spayed/neutere is when they start to teethe (again, around four months).

Oh kittens, so fun and so annoying!! But mostly fun (until they try to climb your bare legs or jump on your face when you're sleeping). Sounds like you (and them) are doing great. Just to add to the book recommendations, I really like The Cat Bible http://www.traciehotchner.com/cb/ for a good overview of all things feline. Covers everything from litter boxes to food to trimming their claws to getting them comfortable going to the vet. Very worthwhile.