Home taming 2 feral kittens

Hi

Well yesterday was the big Vet trip and as I feared both the kittens and the owners were well stressed out by the time the kittens were in the carriers.

Kittens turn out to be about 5 months old--so 4 monthe when we got them which explains the greater difficulty in socializing them--we were told that they were 

8 weeks when we got them..

Muse(the tabby type )  is female and Shadow(the chocolate ) is male

Well ,it turns out that kittens cant take a joke---lol.This morning we have a good view of the back of their heads and thats it.

So,its back to the drawing board---according to the Vet ,they cant play for a week after their procedures so we have lost that tool for the moment

Other than that,both kittens and  owners seem to be in good health after the ordeal

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

Just saw the pics - Oh my goodness how freaking ADORABLE!!!! (I'll admit it, I'm a HUGE sucker for long-hairs). 

My experience is the same as Ondine's - time and time again, the set back is minimal compared to the change in hormone level, which ends up calming them down. Obviously every kitten/situation is different though. And you absolutely positively did the right thing in the spaying and neutering...since they actually were 5 months old and of opposite sex, they're at the age where pregnancy really is an issue (even yes, between siblings). So know you HAD to do it --- and you were absolutely right. It's definitely best in the long run!!!!

Keep working with the "kitty crack" --- if they're home and recuperating, they may surprise you. I've had kittens that were previously barely touchable, but then right after spaying/neutering (while recuperating) they could acutally be lured onto my lap with "Kitty crack". I'm not kidding myself - - it's probably the body heat that's the comfort on top of the food. But you might try lying on the floor and trying to lure them onto your lap with the fod. You never know - I've certainly been surprised before! 

And - far be it from me to go against anything a vet says ever --- but don't drive yourself crazy with the "no playing". Particularly the male, Shadow, will be back to almost 100% (at least generally this is how it works) within a day or two. Yes, it's best to do your best to not encourage speed racing around the room. But a little play will probably just happen, particularly with him. So a little gentle playing to remind them you're a source of enjoyment, in my (non-vet) opnion, is fine. 

Keep us posted on these adorable little babies!

Glad all went well.  It is stressful on us though!  In a week or two, you will definitely notice the difference.  Let them decide when and how to play, although like Kittychick said, no zooming around the room!

Thanks for the update!

Thanks so much for your note--

Please tell me more about Kitty Crack ??We are at the Gerber #2 stage which the kittens love

Tony

Kitty Crack is another name for the Gerber baby food.  It's because they just can't resist it.

Ok--got it--Thanks

Tony

Hi all

We had our kittens spayed.neutered this last Wedensday(Jan 29)--can somene advise how soon after the doctoring we can treat them for fleas??

Also,from our experiences,I would suggest to anyone who intends to keep a feral kitten,to have it spayed/neutered before starting to socialise it

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

Are they old enough and do they weigh enough yet for a topical (like Advantage or Revolution)?  If so, you should be able to do it now.  Just make sure none of it falls near any incisions.  (Wriggling kittens can be slippery!)

And you are right, the sooner they are fixed, the better for everyone!

Hi

Well there is no chance at the moment of holding them---I was hoping we could get something to add to their food

You can get food grade Diatomaceous earth (DE).  It is the fossilized shells of microscopic sea creatures, very powdery, very fine.  Sprinkle some on their food and it shreds the tape worms.  Tape worms and fleas have a symbiotic relationship - I know, ech!

Anyway, make sure you get food grade - its available on Amazon.

HI

Just a short update on our 2 feral kittens---(now 5 months old)

Both kittens are fine after their doctoring although they are pretty unapproachable (we are of course begging for forgiveness).

We have found Tidy Cat to be the most acceptable litter to them

They seem to have lost interest in Gerbers baby food(could it bring back memories that we used it as a bribe when we were catching them prior to the vet visit ??)

They dont feed much in the day but eat all their food at night

Have used Capstar tablets for the fleas(goodluck trying to catch them for any of the topical preparations)and we have ordered Program tablets as a control process.

Other than that--they are always ready to play both with us and by themselves---a lot of rolling around togeather going on.

We intend to let them out of their bedroom into the rest of the house this weekend----

Regards to all

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

This is great news - good for you!  As each day passes, they will get more and more used to you and their home.  This is such an exciting time for your all.  Thanks for the update!

ps - you might be right about the baby food. 

Hi all

A little informtion that may help those who have trouble getting feral kittens to eat--

We find that our kittens go crazy for Mio 9 cat food(Ahi Tuna with Chicken)--in fact,they push us away from their food dishes----

Regards to all

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

The very best of luck with your kittens, it sounds like they are doing great! Keep us posted!

Hopefully they'll continue progressing as they were before. I just set back one of our kittens we're socializing by medicating him a few days ago - and he's yet to completely forgive me. He's not feral - just terrified - but it reminded me how frustrating setbacks are - particularly when you know you have no choice! 

We had a huge setback with our last "true feral" kittens we worked with - they'd gotten loose in the very large bedroom where we keep them (we normally block it off so they only have access to a very small section when we're working with them initially). We tried to coax them back into the area - but no luck. We ended up having to throw a towel over one of them to retrieve him! And poor guy - he and his brother had been with us for about a month at that point, and it set them both back - but the towel-trapped kitten really regressed. It seemed as though he became even more frightened than when we brought them in (which I didn't htink was possible....he wouldn't come out of the cat carrier we had set up as a "den" for them---he actually cowered in the back corner of it, facing into the corner of it. No matter how quietly we entered the room, that's where he was, just terrified. Coming out only in the dead of night to eat and use the litterbox. There wasn't even evidence of play for a long time. But slowly - both he and his brother - and I do mean slowly as in weeks!! - - began to trust us. So you can imagine I was terrified when we had to take them for neutering! And sure enough, there was definite regression for a bit. But in a relatively short time, they started sneaking nearer to lay on my lap! I think I said it before - I'm not kidding myself, I'm sure it was 99% the body heat that helped make them feel better as they were recovering. But eventually they became the biggest sweethearts and found a lovely home together. We actually just went to have dinner there a few weeks ago - and Pip and Izze are doing SO well! They even came out to check out guests at this party - and if you'd told me 6 months before that what started out as two totally terrified feral kittens would be sniffing 12 strangers at a loud party - I would have told you you were crazy. 4 out of 5 of our indoor kitties wouldn't even consider that! So...know it can turn around. It's just always got to be on "their time" ----- which is the hardest thing to accept. 

Know that you're doing an amazing thing that not many people would undertake! Bravo!

Thank you so much for your note.

We have had the same experience as you----the kitten(shadow) that just walked into his carrier for the Vet visit ,is really coming around--allowing us to stroke him and purring at times into the bargain---Muse,the kitten that we had to catch with a towel ,is still skittish although she lets us close to her---No Touching allowed----

Both the kittens do love to play with us and have regular rough and tumbles with each other--

Now we are letting them out of their room into the house--so far they find a dark area to sit in--but thats ok with us--

They seem to be very afraid of sudden noises<even slight--which I am sure is a throw-back to their caution in their previous life--we hope his will improve by them being in the house and realising that noises wont hurt them

Our current battle is with fleas and as we cannot handle them,we are using Capstar and have ordered Program as an ongoing treatment--

As we cannot handle them--we are assuming that the scratching and licking is because of fleas--although it may just be that they are long hair and do a lot of cleaning/preening----well the flea tablets wont hurt.

We totally cleaned their bedroom yesterday and there was not much indication of fleas

Other that that ,they are the cutest kittens------------

Regards to all

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

Hi everyone

Here is a happy update concerning our 2 feral kittens Muse and Shadow.

At last the steps back are far smaller than the steps forward

For the moment we are trying to control the flea thing with Capstar although it does seem to make them off-color for a day or so.(they cuddle togeather

with their heads tucked into each other--and strangely,will allow stroking with purrs from both kittens).

We allow them the run of the rest of our small cottage most of the time--and they are quite the adventures---a couple of breakages are accepted as part of the learning curve for both  the humans and the kittens.

We can hear lots of playing going on during the nights and all their food and most of their water is gone in the morning.

------and then a long days sleep ready for the next evenings fun.

One thing--they are totally religious about using their litter boxes,especially now that we are using Tidy Cat.

Whether they let us handle them a lot or not,they are the most adorable kittens-------

Regards to all

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

They sound like they are settling in.  Good job!

Pictures of our 2 feral kittens Muse(ta bby)shadow(chocalate)---they are so cute and play all night long----days are kept for recharging batteries.

As you can see,they are totally  devoted to each other even if,most of the time,they wont let us pet them----I think they think its some sort of game,as they will flash past us,daring us to touch them

Regards

Tony and Kat Wynne-Roberts

They are ADORABLE!!!! And it does sound like you're making progress! I forget who on this site said it  - but I loved that someone said "If nothing else, ferals teach us patience...and that everything in life is not in our control."

And I know when I'm ready to scream because I can't touch or pick up a kitten I'm working with, it never fails that's when I look up and see them in a position like yours - snuggling together - and I remember that it's worthwhile because, if nothing else, I saved them from short, tough outside lives and gave them lives in the lap of luxury where they can snuggle and run and play all they want!!!! You've done a good thing - and they're rewarding you, if in no other way, by at least letting you in on their love for each other! And darn ain't that cute!!!!!