And it begins...

Kittens have been divided into two groups in two cages.  We caught Castor and Leonides first, and they share the large cage.  Ruth and Pollux share the smaller, and were caught 12 hours after the brothers.

Castor is starting to come around.  Last night and again this morning, he permitted soft rubbing behind the jaw near his ear.  He would sit on the perch no more than 4 inches from my face and listen to me while I talked to him.  And this morning - 

JACKPOT!

Castor licked some baby food first from a spoon, then from my finger!  There is hope.

His brother, after hesitating, took food that way as well, but he continues more wary.  They both then ate normal kitty food from a dish.

Castor had been the shaky kitten, and now he's steady, his eyes focus, he's interested, and he's been playing with toys.  

Ruth and Pollux are still in the stage where they are petrified with terror.  Poor dears.  They aren't as quick to eat, although food disappears.  I hope they'll start coming out of their shell later today.

Progress at last!

Hello and so glad that you found our feral forum!! And more so that you have saved these babies!!! I have been there with many a feral kitten and I can assure you that with time, love, care, a schedule and routine, and LOTS LOTS LOTS of patience, you will break through their little shells. I can also assure you that experience will be so very, very rewarding. Please keep the progress reports coming!

An article with tips and steps to help along the process.
http://www.catnipchronicles.com/may2012/laurie.htm

Hurray, hurray!  You're making great progress.

Castor was attempting to take advantage of my son's attention to sneak out of his cage.  He'd climb up the trap while Max had it open and rub his little face on Max's hands.  Too cute!  Max played with Castor and Leo this evening, and Castor flew around the cage.  Leo is more reticent, but I think he'll budge soon.

Ruth and Pollux remain petrified.  They eat, but stay back in a corner as much as possible.

Tomorrow, all kittens go to the vet.  They'll be checked over for all parasites and illnesses, given vaccines, and then fixed.  No more kittens from these guys.  After they return, we'll start giving them more freedom on the porch to run around, play games, and explore.  But with sheltered indoor kitties just inside the house, I'm not inclined to do that until accidental contact between groups won't lead to indoor fleas, mites, or illness.

I'm so pleased about all this.  And HOPE I'll find great forever-homes for each of these little ones.

All four kittens are back from the vet with clean bills of health.  No fleas, mites, or worms on the little guys, and now, no reproductive organs either.  

We did have one sex change, though.  Ruth has turned out to be a boy.  The new name we've chosen is Oedipus.  

Or rather, OediPUSS.  Heh.  

Kittens are chilling in the havens this evening, and we'll start work with them again tomorrow.  All of them ate once they returned, and all ate with people no more than a foot from them.  We're making progress.  Two we let out of the cages for a little bit, and both attempted to climb the screens and find an exit.  None there, so they had to give it up.  In the morning, we're starting the Play-eat-groom routine - play with kittens, feed kittens, let them groom and chill.  I hope this works.