Socializing 10 week old feral kitten

ccleme17 · Jul 20, 2015

Hi,

I am a second year vet student, and I've recently acquired an 8-10 week old (not sure yet) kitten that was found in a feral colony. It was originally supposed to be a TNR, but one of my peers decided to keep the kitten in the hopes of socializing it since he was so young. He offered me the kitten since he knew I was looking for one as a companion to my cat, Toby. I have had him for about 4 days, and he lives in my bathroom where he has a large litter box (which he has just now started actually using...), a carrier with towels and t-shirts for him to hide in, some toys, and food/water. I have been spending about 2-3 hours a day with him, sitting in the room, feeding him turkey and wet food out of my hand/off a spoon. When I first got him, he would not let me touch him/hissed and swatted. Now, we have gotten to the point where he will let me hold him (he loves to be stroked and sit on my lap) and feed him and pet him. However, he still seems terrified of everything - when I walk in the room, he immediately runs into his carrier and will not come out - I have to lift him out and put him on my lap. I tried putting him in another room, but he hides under the bed and will not let me catch him - so I put him back in the bathroom. Basically, I wanted to post on here to ask some experts if he will ever learn to actually approach me - he seems to have plateaued in his progress and I am worried that he will always be afraid of humans/never approach me. Also, I wanted to know what the next step should be to help him with this fear/constant hiding?

Perhaps I am just being impatient, but I am very new to this! I think things have been going very, very well so far, but I can't seem to find any guidance on the internet about what to do when they have become comfortable with you holding them, but still will not approach you/let you approach them when they are in a larger space.

Please help! Thanks so much.

StefanZ · Jul 20, 2015

ccleme17 said:
Hi,

I am a second year vet student, and I've recently acquired an 8-10 week old (not sure yet) kitten that was found in a feral colony. It was originally supposed to be a TNR, but one of my peers decided to keep the kitten in the hopes of socializing it since he was so young. He offered me the kitten since he knew I was looking for one as a companion to my cat, Toby. I have had him for about 4 days, and he lives in my bathroom where he has a large litter box (which he has just now started actually using...), a carrier with towels and t-shirts for him to hide in, some toys, and food/water. I have been spending about 2-3 hours a day with him, sitting in the room, feeding him turkey and wet food out of my hand/off a spoon. When I first got him, he would not let me touch him/hissed and swatted. Now, we have gotten to the point where he will let me hold him (he loves to be stroked and sit on my lap) and feed him and pet him. However, he still seems terrified of everything - when I walk in the room, he immediately runs into his carrier and will not come out - I have to lift him out and put him on my lap. I tried putting him in another room, but he hides under the bed and will not let me catch him - so I put him back in the bathroom. Basically, I wanted to post on here to ask some experts if he will ever learn to actually approach me - he seems to have plateaued in his progress and I am worried that he will always be afraid of humans/never approach me. Also, I wanted to know what the next step should be to help him with this fear/constant hiding?

Perhaps I am just being impatient, but I am very new to this! I think things have been going very, very well so far, but I can't seem to find any guidance on the internet about what to do when they have become comfortable with you holding them, but still will not approach you/let you approach them when they are in a larger space.

Please help! Thanks so much.

I will write more a little later on, unless you get lotsa of responses.

Do you have him there as quarantine for your resident? or its just to give him a safe room? Ie, how does the need of quarantintine for your resident? What had you thought so far on this?

Columbine · Jul 20, 2015

Thank you for taking this baby in. Hes lucky to gave found a caring home

These things take time. Patience is key. You've already made amazing progress - be happy!

I think I would stop physically picking him up when you enter his room. Instead, go in quietly, sit on the floor and coax him out with his favourite treat or an interactive toy. He will gain an enormous amount of confidence by being allowed to approach you on his own terms.

Don't try and take him out of his room yet - want until he's consistently showing interest in exploring further. A screen door/stacked baby gates might be a great help - it would allow him to be safe in his room while gradually becoming acclimatised to the sights, sounds and smells of more of your home.

shadowsrescue has a great pic of her baby gate and screen door setup.

4 days is no time at all. I brought a semi feral/stray home in March. It took her a 4-6 weeks to show interest in leaving her room, and until late May/early June to be truly confident in the whole house.

It's not a race. He'll tell you when he's ready to explore.

ccleme17 · Jul 20, 2015

Good advice - I will admit, I am a bit impatient as my first kitten was incredibly social and eager to play constantly. I have had advice from several people saying to just pick him up and spend as much time as possible carrying him around, getting him used to being held, which I have been doing, but as I mentioned before he does not approach me on his own. I will continue to try coaxing him out/just hanging out in the room. I will admit I am impatient to have my bathroom back as well!!

Will try the baby gate as well, as he is eager to meet the other cat - I make him nervous, but as soon as he sees the other cat he tries to dart out of the room to get to the cat. I am assuming this is because he is used to cats, but not humans.

And I originally quarantined him because everywhere I read online suggested giving them a room with few hiding spots so that I could catch him when I needed (for example, this has been helpful because I needed to flea comb him, give him frontline, clean his ears, give him dewormer, etc. - all of which he has tolerated very very well!). Also, I have not had him FeLV/FIV tested yet (going tomorrow) so I definitely wanted to keep him quarantined from my other boy.

Thank you for the advice - I am just very anxious and nervous about the whole situation as it is so new to me, and I am very scared to screw it up! I need constant encouragement, but I definitely think I am making progress

Just getting mixed reviews and interpreting them as I can!

Columbine · Jul 20, 2015

Be sure to make introductions gradual. The last thing you want is a bad meeting. You could start scent swapping now though. These articles explain the introduction process: [article="32680"][/article], [article="29726"][/article].

These might also be helpful: [article="29661"][/article], [article="32735"][/article]

I get the impatience! I was so impatient with Asha, desperately wanting her to settle and integrate quickly. Ultimately, though, it's the cat who sets the timetable - not you

StefanZ · Jul 21, 2015

There is a tip using a burrito wrap. Which you can do easily, as he accepts you take him on your lap. You wrap in alike a burrito, in a soft towel, and carry him at your chest up to a hour.

He feels your body warmth, hears your heart, you are singing and talking sweetly... Its somewhat alike breaing in a horse the american way, but much much gentler and more nice... After a couple of such sessions its done.

This works best with young kittens, but worth a try also with older kittens, and even adults.

If he isnt fond of caressing, you can use a wooden spoon - wooden because it feels warmth, and also almost soft. Another trick is using a human tooth brush, brush his fur. It feels like moms washing him.

shadowsrescue · Jul 21, 2015

Here is a great 3 part video series that goes through the rescue of feral kittens to socialization. It has great tips.

I did use a screen door and baby gate set up, but I would wait a bit before using it. I assume, the kitten would try to scale the screen. It would need to be used only while supervising. I can post the picture if you'd like. The screen door was a cheap wooden one ($20) from Lowes and attached to the door with tension rods. I did not want to deface my door. The baby gate was used for extra protection and in the door way.

Here is the video series

http://www.urbancatleague.org/TamingVideo

Socializing ferals takes time and patience. Lots of time. It's also common to move forward only to move backward again. Just be sure to work with him as much as possible. Many many times during the day. Also be sure the room he is in is completely cat proofed. Cats can squeeze themselves into very small spaces. If he is scared he will try to hide. I always recommend taking the bed up off the floor or placing it flat on the floor if you are using a bed room. Also watch small spaces behind other furniture especially recliners, couches, book cases. Cats are famous for getting into chair cushions and getting down into the springs of the couch/chair.

Just remember time and patience are your friend. Slow and steady.

ccleme17 · Jul 21, 2015

All great advice. He has started to emerge from the carrier when I am in the room (prompted by turkey pieces) and sit in my lap and purr. I purchased two baby gates and stacked them on top of each other so that he could interact with my other cat. He thoroughly enjoys this and cries when the other cat leaves him. My only concern with this is that he is bonding to the other cat and not to me (he still runs when I stand up or walk in the room). Should I minimize his interaction with the other cat so that he gets more used to humans and not only bond to my cat? Or is it good for him to see me with the other cat and have the other cat as a companion?

Columbine · Jul 21, 2015

Its fantastic that the kitten is bonding with your adult cat. Let them get to know each other as you have been. You can't force the bond with you - it will happen in time, and you're already doing amazingly well with little one. He will observe your adult's behaviour with you, and that will help him gain confidence in you faster. Remember - he will always be a cat first. He's learning a new 'language' with all kinds of strange and confusing things. Don't deprive him of the comfort that cat-to-cat relations will bring.

StefanZ · Jul 21, 2015

ccleme17 said:
All great advice. He has started to emerge from the carrier when I am in the room (prompted by turkey pieces) and sit in my lap and purr. I purchased two baby gates and stacked them on top of each other so that he could interact with my other cat. He thoroughly enjoys this and cries when the other cat leaves him. My only concern with this is that he is bonding to the other cat and not to me (he still runs when I stand up or walk in the room). Should I minimize his interaction with the other cat so that he gets more used to humans and not only bond to my cat? Or is it good for him to see me with the other cat and have the other cat as a companion?

This is a good question. Experienced fosters tend to prefer to be alone with the rescued semiferale - exactly by this reason.

While a standing tip for inexperienced whom want ot help out anyway, is to take the help of their friendly resident. As ambassadeur and the positive example.

I think you can proceed as you do, mking sure he sees also your interaction with the resident. You petting him, being cuddled with by him, you carrying the resident around both being amiable with each others.

ccleme17 · Jul 21, 2015

Great, I am glad you both think I should leave them able to interact - they both already love each other and although he is wary of me still, I'm hoping the older cat will help with that.

Thank you all for all the great advice!!

ccleme17 · Jul 29, 2015

Columbine said:
Its fantastic that the kitten is bonding with your adult cat. Let them get to know each other as you have been. You can't force the bond with you - it will happen in time, and you're already doing amazingly well with little one. He will observe your adult's behaviour with you, and that will help him gain confidence in you faster. Remember - he will always be a cat first. He's learning a new 'language' with all kinds of strange and confusing things. Don't deprive him of the comfort that cat-to-cat relations will bring.

Im afraid im in need of help again with this little guy. I have let him play a lot with my other cat, and they have bonded so much that they cannot stand to not be together (they cry for each other all through the night and have started tearing up the carpet trying to get to each other). Also, even though I am always there when they are together, the progress that I made with the kitten seems to have completely disappeared. He is terrified of me again and will not let me touch him, when he used to let me pick him up and set him on my lap and pet him. I am very frustrated and hurt and hoping that you all have some good recommendations?

Columbine · Jul 29, 2015

I'm sorry you feel that things have gone backwards. Remember that animals are not machines, and progress often takes the form of two steps forward, one step back (or, at times, one step forward, two steps back!). Its so easy to get caught up in the trap of expecting progress to be built on day by day, but life just isn't like that.

Touch is a huge deal for a semi feral. Forget about that for now - he'll tell you when he's ready for petting. You may in part be seeing this reaction now because you were so pro active about tough in the beginning - he's just saying he wasn't quite ready and needs a little more time. Let him watch you pet your adult cat, and let him work out for himself that it might be fun to be petted too. Focus your interactions on him being comfortable to be in the room with you, and try engaging both cats in interactive play with a wand toy. Hopefully the kitten will see your adult getting stuck in, and will find the courage to join him in play. Interactive play is one of the biggest tools you have for confidence building, and is a fantastic way to create a bond. He will warm up to you in time - it just has to be on his terms. Hang in there - you will get past this stage.

shadowsrescue · Jul 29, 2015

Do you try any of the tips from the video series? The process takes time and daily work. You really have to commit the time to work with the kitten multiple times each day. Only then will you see progress that continues. Food is your friend. Also try playing with the kitten. Kittens love to play and this can be a great bonding time for the two of you.

Working with ferals is one step forward and many steps back. Yet, with continued work the progress will continue. Don't focus on petting him right now, just concentrate on interacting with him. Use lots of food rewards.

Also do not take it personally that he is not bonding with you right now. Feral cats may always be somewhat aloof. Yet, this is out of protection mode. The kitten is not doing this on purpose to hurt your feelings. Try to work with the kitten multiple times each day. Just short 5 minute sessions.

ccleme17 · Jul 29, 2015

I work with him probably 4-5 times a day for 20-40 minute sessions. We play, i feed him, i've done everything in the videos. However, ever since I introduced him to my other cat, all they want to do is wrestle (and they play very rough, which also concerns me). Neither of them have interest in the toys when the other is around. Should I keep them separated? The kitten is way more confident when the other cat is in the room, but less interested in me.

StefanZ · Jul 29, 2015

Cats can learn from each other. But the learning gets really effective is first when the other cat, the example, is their mom or a dear friend. So, NOW when they are good friends, ifts really first now you can use your friendship with your resident as the big positive example... So dont get discouraged, proceed as you have done, and proceed with using your resident as the good example... This way, you will also get smells of your resident on you, and you too will smell as the kittens new friend.

But, yeah, here you see why some experienced fosterers prefer to be alone with the foster. The end result is the same, but being alone, may get quicker for someone experienced.

ccleme17 · Jul 29, 2015

I just went into the bathroom to play with the kitten alone, and he would not come out of his carrier for 20 minutes. However, as soon as I let my other cat in, he came right out and started playing with me. Will this ever go away? This is a good thing? I'm just a little discouraged because before he met my other cat he would come out when it was just me.

shadowsrescue · Jul 29, 2015

Play with your other cat and have the kitten watch you interact with the other cat. This will show the kitten that you can be trusted and that pets and play time are fun with humans. Keep working and don't give up. I know it can be frustrating, but it will be worth it in the end. Allow the cats to play, but also have human interaction time too.

inklaura · Jul 29, 2015

Sounds like you are doing a great job so far! I would make sure to separate the two cats at feeding time and use that as the time when the kitten MUST be around you. Food is a big motivator for ferals. He needs to associate human presence with good wonderful happy things. I'm all about bribery with treats to let me pet my feral

. Try baby food (chicken) if you haven't already. Hang in there and keep up the good work.

Socializing 10 week old feral kitten

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