Fostering Two Strays

Good day! I'm a Newbie to The CatSite by the way so...HELLO!

On Friday, January 25th, I began fostering two 5-month male kittens: an orange tabby, "Mutty" - he doesn't respond to "Mutty" so I calls him "Papa" (his eyes light up with attention when I do :-)...and a brown/black tabby, "Mocha".

"Mutty" (or "Papa") is so at home! He is a cuddle bug and follows me from room to room. He is so laid back and well-mannered in that he uses the litterbox and scratch post wonderfully.

"Mocha"....well....he is very nervous and frightened kitten. When I brought him home, he right away hid in a closet for two days - no eating or using the litterbox. Then, he went for much limited space under a sofa chair...and that didn't last long. So, now his new hide out is under my bed.

So far, he is beginning to come out and sit next to me...as long as I do not come near him. But, today, breakthrough! I had to pass him to get to another room and he DID NOT run! Yet...any attempt to touch him softly is out of the question. He will not eat if I'm around. But so far, the past 3 days, he makes attempts to inch close to me...as long as I do not approach him.

My concern for Mocha is this: How will he become adoptable if he is this afraid? How am I to put him in the cat carrier if he runs from me? I have to return him and Mutty on February 9 for their neuter surgery at the shelter.

The people at the shelter tells me to give me more days to come around; to sit in the room with him. But, since I work full-time, it would be hard to do that, since I am the only human they see each day.

ANY SUGGESTIONS WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!...I would like to adopt them both but I guess I want to see more of Mocha coming around and flourishing with his personality.

Thank you!

RoseDD

Welcome to the site!!! I always leave a medium sized carrier in the room with the cats and feed them their food in the crates in the beginning especially if I know I need to get them to the vet soon. That way when you feed them and they go into the carrier you can just shut the door and off you go. This works time and time again and you can use this method over and over with success. Just don't put a lot of food in the carrier on the day you take them because it will be a mess when they scurry about in the carrier. Here is an article that will have some helpful/useful tips. http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm As far as adopting Mocha after he trusts you, it is possible. But the adoptor will need to start the process from the beginning to earn trust just as you are doing now. The good news is that if Mocha eventually trusts you (and this is already happening :happy3 then he will trust another patient person. :nod: Sounds like they already have their forever home, though. :lol3: Keep us posted.

Thank you VERY much for the suggestion and website link! I will definitely use that method a couple of days before returning them to the shelter for surgery. Or should I be feeding them on the day of surgery? Your words are encouraging regarding Mocha because I was about to lose hope for him. I will continue to be patient as I believe the best is yet to come! Will keep you posted!