OK, that was unexpected...

After catching, vetting, and releasing Fluffy, I decided to try to trap the new, younger tabby who has been showing up.

I got a tabby...one who is about 8 to 10 weeks old!!!!  We have not seen this kitten before.

The kitty is scared, but she let us touch her without hissing. She is now in the cage with all amenities. We will be working on her socialization. But I don't think she's feral.

We will check for "lost cat" posters and online. If she escaped and got lost, I have no problem giving the kitten back. But anyone who would let a kitten that young out, when there are raccoons, owls, and coyotes, doesn't deserve to get her back. So we aren't going to advertise a "found kitty".

Do you have any links to resources on taming/socializing scared kittens, I'd appreciate it. I will do more looking online tomorrow. Right now I'm kind of in shock :-)

I always say whenever I put out the trap, "you never know what you will end of with"!!!  Here is a great series of videos on taming/socializing feral kittens.  It starts with the rescue of the kittens and then shows some wonderful tips.  I used these tips when I worked with a 7 month old feral. 

http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo

kalynnda13 said:

 
I got a tabby...one who is about 8 to 10 weeks old!!!!  We have not seen this kitten before.

The kitty is scared, but she let us touch her without hissing. She is now in the cage with all amenities. We will be working on her socialization. But I don't think she's feral.

Click to expand...

I myself Think she IS feral.  Her letting you touch her is a strategy of survival.  Often seen at the vets offices, for example.

Anyways, you ARE going to foster and socialize her, so it is just to work on it!

Look at other threads here too...

Good luck!

Trapping is often a surprise!  After having trapped possums, skunks and raccoons, I almost never expect to find the cat I wanted in the trap.

This is one lucky little kitty.  Thank you!

Update: The kitten is a "he", though the vet couldn't feel the testicles. He's 3 months old, FeLV and FIV negative, and in good health (no fleas or ear mites). He is definitely very scared, and will not eat in our presence. But he was also showing some curiosity, which is nice to see. I did tell him he won the Kitten Lottery with us.

Right now he's sleeping off the adventure and the shots he got :-)

Now we just have to come up with a name...That's always hard.

Thanks for your support.

Update:

His name is Kismet (meaning fate). I don't think he's feral, or if he is he's an exceptionally friendly one. He is still scared initially, and will hide or hiss at me. But once I start stroking him, he purrs up a storm and will even flop over for belly rubs!

We brought the cage upstairs so he can start meeting the other cats, and they him, in a safe and monitored environment. He can get away to the back of the cage if necessary (it's against a wall). Some of the cats have hissed, but one gave him licks on the head. I don't expect it to take long with the cats. Getting him to not hide in rooms...that might take longer :-) 

We'll start playing with him in the bathroom this week. The only place he can hide in there is behind the toilet, and we'll try to block that off. Hopefully he'll start to enjoy the space. He definitely wants to explore, but then gets scared and goes and hides. (Yes, we had to dig him out twice so far.)

All in all, things are going very well.

I'm heading out for a sister's vacation later this week, but my spouse will be home. When I get back I'll work on trapping the two remaining ferals.

Kalynnda