Two "feral kittens" left & I'm desperate to find homes!!!

We originally saved 3 feral 7-wk-olds....one (Buffer) tamed up almost immediately & has since been adopted, but the other two (Pip & Izze) have been much slower to tame & not a single bit of interest in them. We've had them inside working w/them now for almost 6 weeks-& both will climb on our laps for food, & run right up to us. Pip will tolerate pets while eating, but not otherwise. He will curl up on my leg ( on his terms) to nap & sit beside me. Izze, when in the mood, will actually enjoy being petted, scratched under the chin, curls up next to me to sleep, & even be held & scratched (briefly-when SHE wants ). But the few people who have come over- they scatter & won't come near. We try to expose them to people-but doesn't seem to help. I'm a graphic designer, so did a professional flyer-not a single bite!!!! We've emailed to hundreds of people. One no-kill shelter said thatd consider putting them in -maybe-but I feel like its a death sentence for them. I've never not been able to place kittens-& certainly never had this thought (I'm sobbing as I write)----we absolutely can't keep them-do we have a choice but to euthanize them if I continue to exhaust everything? My heart is breaking!!!! They're sweet, clean cats---just not lap cats like everyone wants. HELP!!!!! PLEASE!!!!!!! Thanks-any suggestions

Pics of Pip and Izzie from above

Oh, how sad.  I know the feeling of helplessness.  But if you honestly can't keep them, isn't the no-kill shelter a viable choice?  They may not have run of the house and of course, they'll be distressed at the change in their routine.  But honestly, if the shelter is a true no-kill, the kitties will have a chance and they will certainly be exposed to more potential adopters.

If you know anyone with Petfinder access, ask them to do a courtesy post for you.  Have you used Facebook or Craigslist?  I know some people object to those media but if you are careful (and a little paranoid), good homes can be located.  Be honest in your descriptions.  Somewhere, someone wants an independent cat or two.

Hang in there and thank you for caring so much about them.

Sometimes how you word an adoption offer makes a huge difference in responses. I saw one at the local post office last fall that described two older cats as "lap heaters" with wonderful purrs that were much more calming than the sound of a furnace going on, and continued in that vein.

I think it was TCS member Hissy who wrote a post about that - not what you say but how you phrase it. I took a quick look but couldn't find it. Is there somebody better than me and finding old posts?

Pip and Izzy are just beautiful. I hope you can find a home for them together. :cross: Be very careful who adopts them and never give them away for free. They will make lovely, sweet house cats for someone as long as they take the time to nurture and build a trusting relationship. They will become very, very loyal and devoted kitties, the best kind. :heart3: Thank you for rescuing them.

Here is the helpful article by Mary Ann Miller:
http://www.thecatsite.com/a/kittens-to-good-homes

A suggested sample adoption application:
http://www.thecatsite.com/t/200962/cat-adoption-application

Definitely the no-kill shelter shouldn't be ruled out!   Also maybe look for rescue groups in your area that have a network of foster homes, but occasionally show cats in Petsmart/Petco's that might be a good fit too.   And who knows maybe your vet might have some ideas or connections also.

My major fear is that, while Izze is coming around all of the sudden to both me and my husband (purrs, lets us pet, hold, etc)...his brother Pip is a riot but doesn't even want us to really touch him. He's an "own his own time" kitten (he'll sit on my lap when he wants to - but woe to anyone who tries to pick him up)! This has definitely taught me I know less about socializing ferals than I thought So my worry with a no-kill is that they'll sit forever - I can't imagine Pip even allowing anyone to get near him in a cage, let alone hold him. Last time I talked to the no-kill I was going to work through, they wanted any kittens "handlable enough to be worked with by the vet at the very least" - I'm not sure he'd take to it. Izze might let someone take him out o a cage, but it's a crapshoot. So far he's becoming wonderful with us, and learning to be great with freinds who come in. But it's a slow slow process and they're getting less and less kittenlike every day. I've sent a second wave of "flyers" with photos and catchy descriptions (to about 100 friends - asking each to pass along if they can't take them themselves), and haven't heard a thing on these last two. I'm growing to love them, but I know we just can't keep them - for several reasons (for one - money is deifnitely an issue, and two, we don't want to upset the apple cart with our 19 year old and 20 year old that tend to spray when around new cats - and yes, they're both spayed females! ----and lastly, I'd promised my husband we wouldn't keep any more fosters until at least one of them was gone). In other words - keeping them is out. 

How do I go about finding someone who might have access to Petfinder?  Someone suggested Craig's list - but that scares the bejeezus out of me - too many stories about people looking for kittens for the wrong reasons....

Any other suggestions - I'm open as can be! This is breaking my heart! Makes me wonder if I ever want to foster again at this rate

What a beautiful picture you took of them. They are really, really strikingly gorgeous. Did you see the links I posted above? Make sure you do not give them away for free, please! It may be a bit difficult for them to be adopted from the shelter if they are not fully socialized and even at that, they will regress some. Although, there are many people out there with big hearts who may understand that they will, in time, come out of their shells once in a loving and stable home. What about going around to vet's offices and posting that gorgeous picture of them? Who knows, someone may see your flyer and open up their hearts to them. Write a short story about them on the pictured flyer. I am not sure about PetFinder or how to post a cat on the site. I would imagine it would have some sort of instructions on the site, though. Pls. keep us posted.

Thanks for the encouraging words, Feralvr!!! I i did read all you wrote & it was SO appreciated!!!! can really use a little encouragement-this has gotten me down. This is all so new to me (the 100+ "normal fosters" didn't begin to prepare us for the ups and downs, and particularly now the trying to find forever homes for kittens that, while delightful and playful and gorgeous and loving...they may always recoil slightly from initial touch and may never be comfortable being held. And as a former shelter worker, i know that means certain death at a kill shelter & probably life in a 2x4 cage at a no-kill. i just wasn't prepared to spend so much time & still not have shelter-ready kittens! (its been almost 7 weeks we've had them in & been working 1 1/2-3 hrs a day with them!!!!). The vet idea is good too -will do that ASAP. I've got a fler I'll see if I can attach. I'm also going to try to reattach that last shot-it didn't look like it linked right?!?! Thanks SO much-words like yours are keeping me going (Pip is the one with more black on his face & the "hooded eyes"). (

What lovely pictures!  Here's some adoption vibes

I remember how tough it was when I tried to adopt out two feral kittens I had tamed.   One kitten a potential adopter picked up and the kitten launched out of his arms so forcefully he clawed him in the stomach with his back legs.   I offered hydrogen peroxide and apologies, but he lost interest and left quite quickly.   I actually ended up keeping that kitten - he's my beloved Big Guy and every now and then he still does act too forcefully though he's a very sweet cat.   The other kitten got a fantastic home because the adopters wanted a cat that looked just like him for sentimental reasons and understood he wasn't going to be a limp noodle they could toss about.   It amazes me - sometimes I wonder do people want to adopt a kitten or a stuffed animal?   But anyway, these adopters were really keen on the idea of adopting "rescue kittens" - they had another kitten who was less socialized already.   It seemed almost like a charity/values thing for them.   Maybe if you found a place to advertize where people like that were likely to look you might have some luck?

Definitely going to head to all the vet offices, shelters in the area with flyers-thanks so much for the suggestion! I've been so focused on getting the word out thru emails that i hadnt thought of hitting those places! We at least had one inquiry yesterday that hopefully will turn into a Monday visit & then hopefully an adoption! Fingers crossed!!!!

kittychick said:

Definitely going to head to all the vet offices, shelters in the area with flyers-thanks so much for the suggestion! I've been so focused on getting the word out thru emails that i hadnt thought of hitting those places! We at least had one inquiry yesterday that hopefully will turn into a Monday visit & then hopefully an adoption! Fingers crossed!!!!

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You got it :cross: :cross: :cross: I saw your new thread in SOS and hopefully that may open up more doors and suggestions as well. They certainly are darling kitties and deserve a good home. I think you will find one too!!!

Horray!!!!!! Pip & Izze , despite receiving only 1 call (after making 200+ calls. Sending 400+ emails, got one phone enquiry about the two feral boys Pip & Izzie (their brother was adopted after only 1 week - he tamed immediately!!!!!!!!! His cat dad invited us over to Buffer so see how well he'.s doing!) really looking forward too it, although keep reminding myself the often don't remember. And it's been 2Pip & Izze -the harder-to-tame goofballs 1/2 months!!!!!)

I keep screwing up my update: one more try!!! All three kittens in the "Beuatiful lboys" request have now found amazing homes!!!!!!! THanks to all who did such an amazing job offering moral, etc. support. Fostering these three was indeed harder than expected, but so ultimately rewarding. Buffer went to the wonderful owner of a large company here in town - and in fact, has asked us to come see Buffer (he's renamed him 'Indy") tonight. I doubt if Buffer will remember us since it's been several months, but I hope so - and at least want to see he's in a good environment.

The most amazing - his brothers Pip and Izze - proved much much harder to place. THey "tamed up" but seemed to be so bonded particularly to me that they scattered when the very few people (neighbors,etc) came to see them/try to speed the taming process. But after 3 months, ,y husband said it just had to move on - whether that meant setting them loose (they'd been vet checked and nuetered by then) and if you were following my posts, knew I just didn't think I could do that. But if not that, whtat? Following ideas from this forum, I made hundreds of flyers - and placed them anywhere animal people might go - vets, groomers, boarding facitilitues, other shelters (who were generally gracious) ...even groceries, etc. ---in a wide area! I emailed over 150 personal]l emails, and placed pix, stories and vidoes on my facebook and encouraged everyone to share them along their social network. And then - only ONE phone call!!!!!!! Luckily - she was PERFECT! She could barely see, let alone, pet them the first visit. But between what she'd read, and what little she saw, she wanted Pip and Izze. So ---long story short....we dropped them off there 2 weeks ago. I warned her that she should put them in a small room, and not expect them to want to come out for at least 3-4 days, and eventhen to do alot of slinking. Tod her is was nothing personal  So we put them in her bedroom, sat down to dinner (she cooked dinner for us!).....we went back and both had already used the litterbox, eaten, drank, and played with toys THey were hiding, but within a half hour of sitting with them, they were alll over us. And she has conitnued to email ---they're sleeping with her and following her around the house. Who would have EVER thought that --- after neither of thse 2 initialy wanted to even be touched for weeks on end. Now they're her shadows!

So we go see them in a week and a half!

So thanks SOOOOOOOO


O much for being so helpful on this forum! Through suggestions, through encouragement, through personal messages that kept me going. And guess what.....new 14 week old kitten just showed up on our deck waahaa....

Yea!!!  So happy all 3 kitties have forever homes.  What a wonderful thing you did for them and also how rewarding!