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scared kitten
- Thread starter catifyed
- Start Date
Exactly, how old is he / they? What you do and foster depends in part on his age.
Apparently,, you [edit] cant just catch him. You must work out some other approach... But lets take it up stepwise.
EDIT
Oops, it should be cant, NOT can. Although you literally can, but you shouldnt...
Apparently,, you [edit] cant just catch him. You must work out some other approach... But lets take it up stepwise.
EDIT
Oops, it should be cant, NOT can. Although you literally can, but you shouldnt...
Last edited:
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This is the way a good rescuer friend does it - who has socialized MANY cats over the years.
You may need to cage this little guy.
If he is nursing - you'll have to cage mom, too. (You'll need a bigger cage!)
Don't get one TOO big, as you will need to access him in the cage.
You can use this technique – ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WORK WITH HIM IN THE CAGE. If he's left alone in there too much - he could get even worse.
The best way to "socialize" a feral cat is to keep him in the cage until he is able to be handled.
This can be weeks - or months! But, you end up with a friendly cat - who can experience love from people.
And, you can - and should - allow the other cats/kittens to play with him through the cage. He needs to socialize with them too.
You may want to put a small corrugated cardboard box in the cage - which he may like for climbing, sleeping, or hiding!
The best place to keep the cage – is in a room that is “lived in a lot” – by you, family, friends. So, he becomes used to the sights and sounds of people.
Keep the litter box in the FRONT - near the cage entrance - so you can access it without being attacked - or letting him out. If he's afraid of you - he'll MOST LIKELY stay at the back of the cage when you change litter.
THE SOCIALIZATION APPROACH:
You should feed him ENTICING food by hand in the cage (Through the bars at first!). Use something really tasty - like Roast Chicken, Tuna Fish (Not often for Tuna!), at first. But, give him some catfood too in the cage - so he doesn't refuse catfood later on - and - because he is a kitten, he needs to eat MANY TIMES A DAY. Young Kittens need food ALL DAY LONG, as their stomachs are small - and cannot hold enough food in one feeding - to nurture them properly)
You soon should be able to feed him with your hand INSIDE the cage.
As he becomes less frightened - start to touch him gently. Pet him more and more as he & you get more comfortable with each other,
And, while he's in the cage - play with him. The best bet to start with, I think - is a Cat-Dancer (The plain one with cardboard ends is like best). I have not found a cat yet who can resist this. And - it will work through the bars. And - he will learn to play WITH YOU. The other kittens & mom – will probably join in too! (Don't hang toys by strings in the cage. A kitten could get the string wrapped around his throat - and strangle)
When he is comfortable with being petted - and being picked up - he's ready to come out!
But, I would keep him limited to one room at first if you can (the room the cage is in) - so this scaredy-cat can get used to his new environment slowly. You may want to keep the cage there, too, with the door kept open. The mom & other kittens should be in that room too.
And, it's possible that just keeping him in a cage - will make him feel more secure.
Many frightened cats - when introduced into a new home with other animals - feel safer in a cage - because they have their own territory where no one can "attack" them.
Cats do not necessarily look upon cages as "prisons". They can be "Safe Havens'.
GOOD LUCK, Jackie Page
This is the way a good rescuer friend does it - who has socialized MANY cats over the years.
You may need to cage this little guy.
If he is nursing - you'll have to cage mom, too. (You'll need a bigger cage!)
Don't get one TOO big, as you will need to access him in the cage.
You can use this technique – ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WORK WITH HIM IN THE CAGE. If he's left alone in there too much - he could get even worse.
The best way to "socialize" a feral cat is to keep him in the cage until he is able to be handled.
This can be weeks - or months! But, you end up with a friendly cat - who can experience love from people.
And, you can - and should - allow the other cats/kittens to play with him through the cage. He needs to socialize with them too.
You may want to put a small corrugated cardboard box in the cage - which he may like for climbing, sleeping, or hiding!
The best place to keep the cage – is in a room that is “lived in a lot” – by you, family, friends. So, he becomes used to the sights and sounds of people.
Keep the litter box in the FRONT - near the cage entrance - so you can access it without being attacked - or letting him out. If he's afraid of you - he'll MOST LIKELY stay at the back of the cage when you change litter.
THE SOCIALIZATION APPROACH:
You should feed him ENTICING food by hand in the cage (Through the bars at first!). Use something really tasty - like Roast Chicken, Tuna Fish (Not often for Tuna!), at first. But, give him some catfood too in the cage - so he doesn't refuse catfood later on - and - because he is a kitten, he needs to eat MANY TIMES A DAY. Young Kittens need food ALL DAY LONG, as their stomachs are small - and cannot hold enough food in one feeding - to nurture them properly)
You soon should be able to feed him with your hand INSIDE the cage.
As he becomes less frightened - start to touch him gently. Pet him more and more as he & you get more comfortable with each other,
And, while he's in the cage - play with him. The best bet to start with, I think - is a Cat-Dancer (The plain one with cardboard ends is like best). I have not found a cat yet who can resist this. And - it will work through the bars. And - he will learn to play WITH YOU. The other kittens & mom – will probably join in too! (Don't hang toys by strings in the cage. A kitten could get the string wrapped around his throat - and strangle)
When he is comfortable with being petted - and being picked up - he's ready to come out!
But, I would keep him limited to one room at first if you can (the room the cage is in) - so this scaredy-cat can get used to his new environment slowly. You may want to keep the cage there, too, with the door kept open. The mom & other kittens should be in that room too.
And, it's possible that just keeping him in a cage - will make him feel more secure.
Many frightened cats - when introduced into a new home with other animals - feel safer in a cage - because they have their own territory where no one can "attack" them.
Cats do not necessarily look upon cages as "prisons". They can be "Safe Havens'.
GOOD LUCK, Jackie Page
Last edited by a moderator:
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #4
Aha, so they are outside kittens? How old are they?
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