Feral Kitten either abandoned or isolated alone outside of my office. The moment I decided to get involved was after several rain storms the following morning I'd see her shivering alone in the mulch. Someone must feed the ferals around our office and I was leaving last week and right before going outside I saw them eating outside. I was happy until I realized the adult cats wouldn't let her have anything. She just sat there dejected about 10 feet from them, barely able to hold her little clumsy body up against the wind. I Got her last Sunday using a live trap after 5 straight days of staying after work trying to get her out of the bushes. Smelly fresh tuna, was the trick. She was so hungry she didn't even care until I walked up that she was trapped. She just kept eating.
I Have a spare bathroom attached to a spare bedroom where I've had her for one week now. She has been to the Vet. She is 7-8 weeks old, was very malnourished and thin, had slight fleas, ticks, and worms but thankfully negative on all the major tests that matter. She had a deworming treatment some vaccinations and a flea treatment. By Wednesday she had groomed herself and you could tell she felt so much better. In the bathroom the counter top extends the length of the left wall, but below it there is only a cabinet in 2/3rd of it creating a natural cubby in the back 1/3rd of the room. I had a fake hollow log meant for cats, that was never even touched by my adult cat. That gave her the perfect hiding spot in the back. From the start I have worked to gain her trust. No quick movements, no direct eye contact, and feeding her and providing some new toys. I'm happy to report that I never thought in a million years it would have gone this well. She is eating like a horse, loves to play, lets me pet her, and hopped up into my lap and fell asleep today. Her temperament was never agressive, not for a single second. She was just terrified at first. I think her mom may have abandoned her or was forced to leave her to fend for herself. It was quite clear she was the bottom of the social hierarchy among this group of adult cats, so perhaps that aided in her lack of aggression. She is to the point already, that she runs to me when I come into the bathroom. What's interesting, is she doesn't know how to meow. I meowed at her once when I noticed she had not made a sound, her ears perked up and she tried so hard to meow back but it was just air haha. It makes sense though, I guess meowing in the wild would be a liability.
On a side note, I'm worried about my adult cat. 7 year old fixed male. Usually a great cat, never aggressive. I have not introduced them at all yet, except for scent. The vet said the kitten is healthy, but said if I'm able to keep them separated for another week, it would be to my advantage to ensure no respiratory or parasites are transferred. (she gets a second deworming next Friday) That being said, my adult cat has been acting funny, especially tonight. I feel horrible. I give him a lot of attention, but he's not happy. He hissed at me after I stupidly forgot to wash my upper arm where she was sitting and he caught the scent. Now he is doing strange things. I went upstairs to fold laundry and found him in my room on top of my bureau just sitting there?! That may not sound like anything to everyone here, but he NEVER been a climber or a cat who does something to that effect, so I'll take it as he was acting out to get noticed. I'm worried he may just be too used to being spoiled with his own space and attention to ever be happy. Likewise I worry about traumatizing this poor kitten in what has already been an incredibly fast and painless process. Any experience or advice on this twist to an otherwise fantastic outcome would be welcomed!!
This was the first time I picked her up! Learned a trick from my vet to use a towel or pillow case with your hands in it, and reach for them. It's less threatening, and kittens have a natural reaction to submit. If they are not used to being held, they don't understand why their feet are no longer on the ground and kick them which leads to stress and ultimately fight or flight. She let me pet her, just sat there and began to purr and fell asleep. I think she is going to have a totally loveable personality which is remarkable considering 7 days ago she slept in bushes.
I Have a spare bathroom attached to a spare bedroom where I've had her for one week now. She has been to the Vet. She is 7-8 weeks old, was very malnourished and thin, had slight fleas, ticks, and worms but thankfully negative on all the major tests that matter. She had a deworming treatment some vaccinations and a flea treatment. By Wednesday she had groomed herself and you could tell she felt so much better. In the bathroom the counter top extends the length of the left wall, but below it there is only a cabinet in 2/3rd of it creating a natural cubby in the back 1/3rd of the room. I had a fake hollow log meant for cats, that was never even touched by my adult cat. That gave her the perfect hiding spot in the back. From the start I have worked to gain her trust. No quick movements, no direct eye contact, and feeding her and providing some new toys. I'm happy to report that I never thought in a million years it would have gone this well. She is eating like a horse, loves to play, lets me pet her, and hopped up into my lap and fell asleep today. Her temperament was never agressive, not for a single second. She was just terrified at first. I think her mom may have abandoned her or was forced to leave her to fend for herself. It was quite clear she was the bottom of the social hierarchy among this group of adult cats, so perhaps that aided in her lack of aggression. She is to the point already, that she runs to me when I come into the bathroom. What's interesting, is she doesn't know how to meow. I meowed at her once when I noticed she had not made a sound, her ears perked up and she tried so hard to meow back but it was just air haha. It makes sense though, I guess meowing in the wild would be a liability.
On a side note, I'm worried about my adult cat. 7 year old fixed male. Usually a great cat, never aggressive. I have not introduced them at all yet, except for scent. The vet said the kitten is healthy, but said if I'm able to keep them separated for another week, it would be to my advantage to ensure no respiratory or parasites are transferred. (she gets a second deworming next Friday) That being said, my adult cat has been acting funny, especially tonight. I feel horrible. I give him a lot of attention, but he's not happy. He hissed at me after I stupidly forgot to wash my upper arm where she was sitting and he caught the scent. Now he is doing strange things. I went upstairs to fold laundry and found him in my room on top of my bureau just sitting there?! That may not sound like anything to everyone here, but he NEVER been a climber or a cat who does something to that effect, so I'll take it as he was acting out to get noticed. I'm worried he may just be too used to being spoiled with his own space and attention to ever be happy. Likewise I worry about traumatizing this poor kitten in what has already been an incredibly fast and painless process. Any experience or advice on this twist to an otherwise fantastic outcome would be welcomed!!
This was the first time I picked her up! Learned a trick from my vet to use a towel or pillow case with your hands in it, and reach for them. It's less threatening, and kittens have a natural reaction to submit. If they are not used to being held, they don't understand why their feet are no longer on the ground and kick them which leads to stress and ultimately fight or flight. She let me pet her, just sat there and began to purr and fell asleep. I think she is going to have a totally loveable personality which is remarkable considering 7 days ago she slept in bushes.
She is adorable.
