Do you have to scrotch feral cats even thou they hiss at you?

Hi. I adopted a 12 week old feral kitten from a shelter. Kept him in a room for 2 days but every time I get close he hisses. I don't want to try to scrotch him when he hisses because I feel like he doesn't want to be hold or pet. He hasn't ate or drink and I don't want him to get sick. Do I have to scrotch him even thou he hisses and feels uncomfortable?

I honestly do not know what you mean by "scrotch" :dk: It will take quite some time, much more than two days, for the kitten to settle in and begin to trust you. I would wait a week or two before you attempt to try to hold the kitten - meaning using a towel wrap. That is a good way to get the baby used to you. You wrap him snuggly (not too snug) with only his head out of the towel. Gently talk with the baby, and gently pet under the chin. Don't bring your hand over the kittens head. Bring you hand from below. Make sure you keep him confined to that room until he is totally trusting of you. That could be weeks. Otherwise, he will run and hide somewhere in your house. Kittens can squeeze into very, very small spaces.

Thank you for adopting and taking a chance on this little fellow. Lots of time, patience and love will bring him around. :nod:

Two days is a long time for a cat to not eat or drink. It is dangerous. Try tempting him with different brands or flavors. Wet food is best ,especially if he is not drinking. Good luck with him.

Yeah, I think smitten is right; it's the eating and drinking that's the issue now. Your kitten is probably pretty scared, and scared cats occasionally don't eat. Christy didn't when she first came to stay with me. She eats perfectly now, but it was scary at first.

Did you get any of his history from the shelter? What sort of food did he have there? Did he eat well? Any idea what his former owners fed him? If he was a stray, he might have survived on scraps and not know what cat food is. Try giving him some KMR (kitten milk replacement--for very small kittens, but adult cats often like it as a treat, and it is good for sick cats who need to put on some weight). If he was a stray, he might have eaten restaurant scraps. Try a bit of tuna, or see if he'll lick the juice off wet cat food. Tuna's not good for long-term, but if he's not eating anything, it might help his appetite. Or try some chicken scraps--cooked, maybe fried chicken like you might find at a fast food place. Remove the breading and the bones; just give him a few scraps of plain meat. The idea is to just get him eating something. Once he gets a good meal, he'll probably get his appetite back and hopefully give your kitten food a try.

Poor kitten is probably pretty scared. Have you tried playing with him, with toys that let him keep you at arm's length? Maybe one of those fishing rod toys?

I think the best you can do now is just to give him a quiet place, tempting food, and to teach him consistently that your presence is a good thing.

Callista said:

I think the best you can do now is just to give him a quiet place, tempting food,

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As food and water is priority nr one 1 at this moment, letting him "land", relax and stress off is most important.

Quiet place, somewhere to hide like cat tent, cat igloo, sideturned cardboard box... In worst case under the bed...  Let him be alone not stressed nor feeling threatened in any way..

Let him find his food, water, litter, in his own pace. He may prob do it at night...

Begin to foster you do when he has settled somewhat.

Oh, dont look into his eyes! look at the body or so... No raised hands...  If you talk, soft voice, even baby voice.

The wrapping in a thick towel and carrying, as Feralv mentioned, will be a good gimmick in fostering.

Very useful for kittens, still young but too old for the automatic socializing ages 2.7 weeks. 

Good luck!