Adopted Stray Kitten Freaks Out

I live in an apartment in Philadelphia. I've been there since the beginning of September, and I noticed a family of cats always running through my backyard. They're always on my block, they never leave (so I assume). So a couple weeks ago, I just started leaving food out and would put boxes on their sides along the fences so they had somewhere to sleep possibly. With the food being out, I noticed them around more and more often.

One morning, I actually saw two sleeping in one of the boxes I left out. Later that day, I decided to leave my back door open with food on the inside, just to see if they would come in and maybe socialize. Sure enough, they did come in. Three of them; one of the parents, and two babies. After my boyfriend shut the back door outside, one of the babies escaped and the mom and other baby were left inside. Mom immediately got ontop of the washer and the baby ran off. After many attempts to make friends, we opened the back door up again to let them go. Except only the mom left, the baby wouldn't leave. (Yes, I do feel bad about separating the baby from her parents, but the way I see it, she's got a full belly and a warm place to sleep... something she doesn't have outside in Philadelphia in the dead of winter. Recently, I found a dead kitten in my friend's backyard, which reassured my keeping the kitten)

The baby (now named Sofi) was actually pretty friendly, didn't mind being pet or picked up. I fed her, gave her a warm bed, and she seemed to be loving it. She would purr happily in my lap. I thought she was house broken and domesticated, but today I was proved wrong. After bringing her to my mom's house, she absolutely lost it. She jumped out of my arms, ran into the kitchen, then ran straight into the washer, banging her head really hard. Immediately, she turned around, ran into the dishwasher on the other side of the room, banging her head again. She did this for a couple of minutes until I could catch her and put her back into her carrying case. I put her in a room by herself for an hour or two and she seemed to be fine again. She was relaxed, mellow, and allowed me to pick her up. I sat on the couch with her in my lap, and she cuddled up, as usual, and let me pet her. Then, all of a sudden things changed again. She tried burrowing her head into my lap, then jumped off and went crazy again. Spastic, running all over the room, hiding behind things, just out of control wild. 

I've never seen this before, and I don't know what to do. I got her back into her carrying case, and I put her in a room by herself again to mellow out. My mom thought that this might be some of her stray cat instincts coming out, but I'm not sure. She's been spayed, and checked for feline aids and limes disease. I'm pretty sure she's had all of her shots, too. Has anyone experienced anything like this before? And if so, what do I do? Any suggestions? 

Hi and welcome to the TCS site and our Forums!

Tx for helping this family and especially, this kitty!

I think what you do describe is, in a way, fairly typical.

In a family of semiferales, one of the kittens walks in, and behaves almost like home raised. While the others are continuing to be outside, not daring nor ready to voluntarily accept to be with humans...

Someone of them verry skittish, most inbetween.

Cats are individuals.

So the most daring, the most prone to be socialized, went in and dared to stay. Her instincts telling her she was after all fairly safe with you, and also getting food and shelter there...

And quickly warming up to you.

Fine, nice and good.

But it changed at your moms place. "Terra incognita" - unknown place. With completely different smells and sounds...

As you saw, in her carries she was used to, and in the room where she was alone, not disturbed by peculiar noises, she did cooled down soon enough...

The total freaking out panic perhaps less usual, but not the fear as such, given circumstances.

But although sitting in your lap, it was enough with a wave of  unknown smell or more possibly, for her alarming sounds - and off she goes!

So it is how it is.   Do always have the carrier with you, so she can always take shelter in the carrier. And have a side room ready, so she can be there undisturbed if there are noisy guests or so.

You can also invest in a Feliway spray, to increase her feeling of coziness and security, while you are visiting other places.

As said, this is NOT particularly peculiar nor alarming. She is NOT sick. Although she is fragile.

She is after all, a feral borne, and did come to you as how old?  kitten but not longer little kitten?

It will be better with time. 100% sure.  But she may forever be a little shy, compared  to most home raised cats.

Although there are also home raised cats who are shy.  My oldest resident is - a living example how many adopted ex-ferales may be...

And this does have its own charm: you know the cats friendship and love to you is not because it it thursday and you happen to come by, but the friendship is given because you did earned it.

Good luck!  * vibes*

ps.  What about rest of the family?

Nice to hear about it is a whole family, pa being with ma and kittens. not so common but it apparently does happens..

If you can get them help, would be swell.  TNR preferably.  If you have some rescue group nearby you can surely get their help. Or they will do it, with some assistance from you.

Welcome to TCS and a big huge thank you for trying to help these feral cat's outside. As for this kitten, that is SO typical, that freaking out behavior. Remember, this kitten probably has never been inside a home and is completely out of it's element. Has no idea what to expect. It is most important to keep the kitten in a safe room, a room with all of her necessities, beds and some hiding spot's where you can still reach and pet the kitten. It is so important for them to know a daily schedule and be able to expect the same thing's each day, at least in the beginning. Don't take the kitten out of the room it is too soon and now the kitten had that scary experience and might have a bump on the head - oh dear - poor baby. Just keep her nice and quiet in her safe room for as long as it takes for her to just feel safe, secure and totally trust her new environment. You mentioned she is spayed and tested for FeLK/FIV. Did you have her spayed? If so, that is great that she is already fixed. She will probably need to be wormed also or at least have a stool check :nod: Please keep us posted on this kitten :happy3:

If you see those other cat's you are feeding - I would suggest calling a TNR organization to get assistance with getting the cat's trapped and sterilized. Quite a job - but really needs to be done if you can :cross: