help for shelter kittens to become people kitties

About a month ago we adopted two 4 month old kittens from the shelter.  During this month they have adjusted very well to us/ having lots of toys/the run of the house/and to our older cat.  Because they had no human contact except once a day being put in a cat play room for twenty minutes while their small cage was cleaned-then caught and returned to the cage-they are very adverse to human hands getting near them.

We would love to be able to pet them – pick them up –check their eyes,ears,paws etc.  They stay just out of reach and run the minute they see a hand getting near them. If we stroke them gently when they are asleep-they wake immediately, leave & hide before we have gotten even a few inches of touch. They follow us around-love to be near us-sleep part of the night at the foot of our bed but will not let us touch them.

Has anyone else had and solved this problem or have any tips to help us complete their adjustment to being people pets?   

Are you able to touch them while they are eating? Will they eat wet food from your finger? Have you had any successful moments where they at least sniffed your hand?

I sit on the floor beside them when I feed them and I have been moving my hand closer each meal-when I get too close they move back a little ways and as long as I keep my hand still- they come back & finish.  The little boy cat will eat a small piece of cheese from my husbands fingertip the little girl bats it on to the floor & then eats it.  Today she rubbed on my leg while I fixed their food-a good sign I hope.

jeanrs said:

 
I sit on the floor beside them when I feed them and I have been moving my hand closer each meal-when I get too close they move back a little ways and as long as I keep my hand still- they come back & finish.  The little boy cat will eat a small piece of cheese from my husbands fingertip the little girl bats it on to the floor & then eats it.  Today she rubbed on my leg while I fixed their food-a good sign I hope.

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The fact that they will allow you near them while they eat is great. It honestly sounds like they are making good progress pretty fast. It will take a few months but I think you will have kitties that are at least friendly to you and your household family members. They seem like food motivated kitties so that will definitely help you. I would reduce the amount you feed them during eat visit and increase the frequency of your food visits. I would also increase the length of time you are in the same room as them. They will get bored of hiding so much and become more interested in what you are doing (like waving a cat toy around). Feather cat wands are great, but I have also had great success with toy mice filled with noise balls. My kittens come running when they hear me rattling a mice. The rattling mice are great because a cat who likes to play with them will be triggered to play when they hear that sound.