Hints for socializing mama feral needed

Hi all,

I have adopted a mama feral and her 3 kittens.  All shots, deworming, blood tests, neutering done, (except neutering kittens, they're still too young, but have appts for next month). Mama and kittens are in separate areas of the house. I am doing well with the kittens, but does anyone have hints for a shy mama?  The vet says she is only about 6 mo.-1 year old, (a teenage mama).  She will tolerate sitting on a lap in a towel, and today I even brushed her (she has tons of long fur that needed attention).  Poor thing has had a rough life, missing a toe and 1/2 her tail.  I can feel a right angle bend in her tail just before it ends.  Anyway, she is still frightened of us, and hides behind the toilet in her safe room.  She hisses like crazy when I pick her up.   The house cats, also female, hiss at her, but she doesn't hiss back.  What should I do next to help her adjust?  We want her and her kittens to be indoor cats since we live in the country with lots of foxes, mountain lions, and other predators.  We plan on keeping the entire family.

Thanks,

Sherry

HI! I just saw your other thread about the negative FeLK/FIV test results. Just wonderful news. I would take things very, very slowly. Are you pulling her out from behind the toilet? I would not do that. That might be too much for her and way too soon. Again, let her progress on her own terms, not yours. It takes a long time and is different for every cat as to how quickly they adjust. I think you are absolutely doing the right thing by keeping her inside and safe. I do think she will come around and is not totally a feral cat if she allows you to pick her up. I would not do that. Just reach your hand to her, closed fist, and allow her to smell your hand. Start by petting her under her chin and behind her ears and cheeks. She will appreciate that as her natural pheromones are in those areas and you are mixing your two scents. You can also place a worn bedshirt in her safe room. I usually place those in their beds or where ever they are hiding. Here is a wonderful article filled with wonderful advice and suggestions for bringing along a frightened kitty. Feral or not - this article is packed with great information. Enjoy the process and as we all say here, turn off the clock and let her tell you when she is ready for the next step.

http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm

Thanks, that is a great link.  Yes, I have been pulling her out to pet her and hold her, I'll back off.  I just feel so bad for her hiding behind the toilet all day for a couple of weeks now, even though she has a towel back there.   She does leap up into the sink where we put a towel and sometimes up to the windowsill to look out.  She seems interested in our old cats, should I hold off on introductions?  Is it ever ok to change the safe room?  She did have a stressful time when we had to evacuate for a week due to the wildfires in our area, and she had to adjust to a new bathroom saf room. She might like the guest room better, more space and it is easier to spend more time in there reading and "napping".  Sometimes she cries and scratches on the bathroom door, trying to get out. 

You can surely begin a carefuly supervised introduction with your residents, now when the quarantine is over, she has had a clean bill of health, an no Felv whatsover. 

The change to the guest bedroom sounds good. It is the self transport in there who may be tricky, but I suppose you can bear her in there wrapped up.  Have in there as many of her old things as you can, including her litter, so she will recognize the smells.

Prepare the room for her beforehand as well as you can.  Carry her over (and the rest of her things).

Unwrap, let her be there alone several hours, till you are sure she has cooled down.  At that time she knows she is safe in there, has found some nice and cozy places.  (make sure she has - preferaby cat igloo or a sideturned cardboard box. So she feels cozy and hidden, but you can reach her if need be)

Good luck!

Help!  mama has not eaten all day and very little the last couple of days. Today she had her choice between wet and  dry kitten food,  foods she has eaten well in the past.  She only weighs 4 lbs and is small due to being malnourished and having kittens at such a young age so she really doesn't have much weight to lose.

Thanks

Sherry

You are rushing her. It can take months..We have a semi feral male kitty we brought in at 5 months. He will let us pet him now but not pick him up. I think you need to isolate her in a room and go slowly

Sherry52 said:

Help!  mama has not eaten all day and very little the last couple of days. Today she had her choice between wet and  dry kitten food,  foods she has eaten well in the past.  She only weighs 4 lbs and is small due to being malnourished and having kittens at such a young age so she really doesn't have much weight to lose.

Thanks
Sherry

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See if you can get some Hill's A/D from the vet right away. It is highly nutritious and should get her appetite going. IF she does not eat in the next 24 hrs. and refuses the A/D she may need a vet. You can also try Fancy Feast pate canned foods as those are very appealing as well. She has been under a lot of stress and I am not surprised to hear that she is having good and bad days. But you do need to get her eating.

Sherry52 said:

Thanks, that is a great link.  Yes, I have been pulling her out to pet her and hold her, I'll back off.  I just feel so bad for her hiding behind the toilet all day for a couple of weeks now, even though she has a towel back there.   She does leap up into the sink where we put a towel and sometimes up to the windowsill to look out.  She seems interested in our old cats, should I hold off on introductions?  Is it ever ok to change the safe room?  She did have a stressful time when we had to evacuate for a week due to the wildfires in our area, and she had to adjust to a new bathroom saf room. She might like the guest room better, more space and it is easier to spend more time in there reading and "napping".  Sometimes she cries and scratches on the bathroom door, trying to get out. 

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Moving her into a larger room might be a great idea for her. It will be a step back and be prepared for that as she will have to readjust to the new room. IF there is a bed in there - put the mattress on the floor so she cannot hide under the bed out of your reach in case you need to get her to the vet for the not eating issue going on right now. Make sure to have some hiding spots for her in that room as well. I love these tents from WalMart http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sportpet-Cat-Cat-Play-Cube-1-ct/10532707 You can velcro two together and put a nice bed in the back one. They love those cubes. OR a small carrier or two for her to hide in. I think if you move her into the guest room, you can allow your resident cats, one at a time into the room to sniff around. It will be a start.

that she eats for you today. :cross:

Thanks for the great hints Ferlvr, I will stop by vet's office tomorrow for the A/D food.    Love the cubes from Walmart as well.  I sewed up a cat bed that looks like a teepee with a small circular entrance for her, but so far she has preferred her hisding place behind the toilet.  I am going to put off moving her to guest room since we have a guest coming in for a few days next week.  I really appreciate your guidance!

Sherry

Yeah - hiding behind toilets seem to be the favorite place to hide in a bathroom. :lol3: It is actually perfect from their point of view!!! That's a great idea, make your own kitty cube Sounds really cute and I am sure she will use it once in the guest room. You can get pretty creative with ideas and some can be very simple. Even a cardboard box with a hole cut in the side would suffice My cats love those to play in and to chew on!!! :happy3: Continued vibes that she is feeling better!