Helped and now need help!

Good morning every one,

 My name is Donna and at the start of summer I heard kittens in my dilapidated shed, but could not get to them. The mom moved them under a pine tree, then into another shed, and then under a holly bush. One kitten had gone missing. I named the mom Anna and the baby Monnet. Anna started to take food out of my hand. Due to very bad events, I was determined to keep her and the baby safe. I finally was able to get them in side the house. Anna immediately started walking between my legs and purring and wanted to be petted! WOW! She was not feral at all, just alone, confused and scared. She is a great mom to Monnet. I would like to know if people here could help me help her and Monnet with a smooth transition. She eats very well, uses a litter box (!!!!!!), but is leery about the house. I have set Anna and Monnet up in the back room so they can feel safe and come out when they want to. I cleaned it and fixed it up, definitely a cat room, toys, scratch box, cushioned bench under a window so they can lie in the sun, a little rug put on the floor, you get the idea. I am so excited about this! How long will it take before Anna trusts me fully?

~donna 

Franciscan said:

 
Good morning every one,

 My name is Donna and at the start of summer I heard kittens in my dilapidated shed, but could not get to them. The mom moved them under a pine tree, then into another shed, and then under a holly bush. One kitten had gone missing. I named the mom Anna and the baby Monnet. Anna started to take food out of my hand. Due to very bad events, I was determined to keep her and the baby safe. I finally was able to get them in side the house. Anna immediately started walking between my legs and purring and wanted to be petted! WOW! She was not feral at all, just alone, confused and scared. She is a great mom to Monnet. I would like to know if people here could help me help her and Monnet with a smooth transition. She eats very well, uses a litter box (!!!!!!), but is leery about the house. I have set Anna and Monnet up in the back room so they can feel safe and come out when they want to. I cleaned it and fixed it up, definitely a cat room, toys, scratch box, cushioned bench under a window so they can lie in the sun, a little rug put on the floor, you get the idea. I am so excited about this! How long will it take before Anna trusts me fully?

~donna 

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You're doing great so far. Giving them a safe room in the house is a good way to get them adjusted to all the new sights, smells and of course to you. Do you have any other animals in the house? If not, you can just let them relax and adjust on their own

Spend time with them. Play with them. Wand toys like Da Bird are great and most cats love them. Talk to them, read to them, pet them. When you are with them, try to be at their eye level by sitting or lying on the floor rather than standing over them. Looming over them is considered threatening to them as they much smaller than you. Try to avoid direct eye contact as they consider this a threatening move as well. Look at them, blink slowly and then look away. Do this a few times. This is how cats communicate with each other so all cats recognize this as a greeting. Pretty soon, they will return this to you. 

When you go to pet them, do it with an outstreched fist rather than an open hand. Cats also greet each other with head butts and a human fist is similar in size and shape to another cat's head. They will eventually respond by head butting your hand and rubbing their cheeks all over it, making you "theirs". 

Since you are their caregiver, they will associate you with good things (food, treats, play, etc) and they will soon trust you. There's no time frame on how the relationship will build. It's different for every cat. Just relax. Everything will develop the way it's supposed to which is whatever way makes the cat comfortable. There's nothing we can do about that. We just need to let the cat be in charge of the relationship. Once they know that they are, they generally relax too and things begin to progress. My foster cat Henry was in a shelter for 8 years without much socialization and he finally just came out of his safe room after 6 months. There were times when I considered "making" him come out of his room but I didn't and I'm glad I let him make that decision on his own. He's very well adjusted, calm and happy and that's what we want. Since he's calm and happy, my other cats handled his transition from being in his room full time to out in the house with them very calmly as well. They did know him as they used to go in his room to visit but now they are all together 100% and there's still no tension between them

If you don't have any other animals and a relatively quiet home, it shouldn't take so long. A cat tree in the room is also good if they don't have one. Cats love vertical space and the ability to look down on their surroundings. 

Give them treats and lots of praise when they make any progress or behave in a way that you want. Cats don't react to discipline like dogs do but they do respond well to positive reinforcement. 

Welcome to TCS and thank you very much for taking in these lucky kitties. I think this is the beginning of a long and wonderful friendship for all of you.   

The recommendations above are excellent.  The only thing I would add is getting them to the vet.  Mom will need to be spayed and the kitten too.  You will want to get them vaccinated as well as a clean bill of health.

You also can try a feliway diffuser in the room and then out in the house when they are ready.  If the room is near the rest of the house, you can add a screen door.  This way they are still safe in the room, but can see and hear the sounds of the house.  I bought a cheap wooden one from Lowes ($20) and attached it with tension rods so I didn't have to deface the door.  I put a baby gate in the door way for a bit of extra protection. 

Just spend as much time as you can with them and work with them both several times a day.  Mom is definitely a stray,but she may have feral tendencies since she has been out on her own for a bit. 

Thank you so much for rescuing the sweet kitties. 

How wonderful of you to have saved these little lives! Sounds like mom is absolutely a stray or dump - definitely not a feral, but, as said above, they can develop "feral tendencies" (heightened fear reactions) because they've probably had to learn the hard way that not every human can be trusted (she's probably been treated badly by someone or someones). Remember her fear is what kept her alive out there - and what kept her baby alive. So it may take her a little while to fully trust you - but it will come! Definitely spend as much time with both of them as possible - - that's what will help them both learn to fully trust. Just don't forget to get them to a vet soon as possible - mom will need to be spayed (better for her health) and you want to make sure there are not fleas, worms etc (most outdoor kitties do have worms). And they'll both need all their vaccinations. If cost is an issue - check around for low cost vet clinics.

So take your time - make sure they associate your coming into "their room" with good stuff -- always come prepared to play, and bring some kind of food treats (like a little soft food). And do plenty of just sitting and talking to them - maybe read in their room - just be around them. They'll learn to associate your being there with good things, and with affection. The fear reaction will lessen. And you're at a good stage to have the baby learn that people are good - not scary!

But sounds like you're well on your way - and you've truly saved two lives! Keep us posted!

Thank you all for all your helpful put in's. but, I have one question : Anna, the mom cat, will not play. Not even with cat nip! Could it be that she was never able to and does not know how? Monnet, the kitten plays. Also, how long should I wait to bring them to a vet? I do not know how old Anna is.

Anna I think is feeling very secure. She does not run and hide when I walk into the room and while her and Monnet are sleeping, they just keep sleeping while I clean.

Can I put some sort of flea protection on mom now or should I wait? Monnet is still suckling. For now can I de-worm Anna with a store brought brand?

 Sorry for sounding like a new mom.

~donna

Franciscan said:

 
Thank you all for all your helpful put in's. but, I have one question : Anna, the mom cat, will not play. Not even with cat nip! Could it be that she was never able to and does not know how? Monnet, the kitten plays. Also, how long should I wait to bring them to a vet? I do not know how old Anna is.

Anna I think is feeling very secure. She does not run and hide when I walk into the room and while her and Monnet are sleeping, they just keep sleeping while I clean.

Can I put some sort of flea protection on mom now or should I wait? Monnet is still suckling. For now can I de-worm Anna with a store brought brand?

 Sorry for sounding like a new mom.

~donna

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My Henry didn't either at first and while he kinds does now, he still doesn't nearly as much as the girls do. They go crazy for wand toys and he couldn't care less about them. I suspect it might have something to do with the fact that he was not socialized much at the shelter and I doubt any toys were used. He has a few small catnip stuffed toys that he kinda likes but he doesn't really "play" with them. he would put them in his tote but ignore them once they were in there. The girls have a little stuffed cricket that chirps when you touch it and he's actually been playing with that one a bit. not all cats love catnip. a lot do but some don't. 

i'd take them to a vet now. The vet can tell you when Monnet can be spayed but Anna should be good to go now. 

This is the cricket toy that Henry likes but I got it at Walmart and I think it was about $4 there

It can take awhile for them to feel comfortable to play or to even want to play.  She may still be in new mom mode and just not ready yet.  When I brought a feral/stray into my home 2 years ago, he had no idea how to play.  I started with a shoe string partially hidden under a towel.  I would slowly pull it out.  He loved it.  He also just liked me to dangle the shoe string.

I would get them both to the vet now.  The vet can deworm them as well as give you flea meds.  Be sure to take in a stool sample for each of them when you go.  The sooner the better.  You will want to get Anna spayed soon.

Never worry about seeming like a "new mom" here!!! This is a very safe place to open up about worries ---we've all been there in the "new" and "worry" department!!!

Definitely get both to a vet as soon as possible. I personally wouldn't use a store-bought de-wormer or flea treatment....particularly if they haven't been seen by a vet yet (to rule out any possible reactions etc). And depending on Monnet's age -- any medication can be dangerous without knowing specifics on her health/weight/age, etc. Please don't risk it - particularly with the kitten. And if Monette is still nursing, medications can be transmitted through mom's milk --so again, the vet will know how to do things safely. Most worm & flea treatments you buy at the store even have warnings about giving to kittens and nursing moms. How old is Monette? It's very possible she's old enough that she could be weaned & Anna could be spayed (kittens will sometimes continue to nurse past the stage they need to). And you definitely want to have Anna spayed as soon as she can be --you don't want to risk her accidentally getting out & getting pregnant again! And it's a myth that cats can't get pregnant while nursing...so don't let that be your guide. A vet will only spay her once it's safe for her and for Monnette!

It'll be so much better for both to be fully checked out, vaccinated, etc. and they'll feel a whole lot better once they've been worked & de-flead (although they may not have fleas---both most certainly have worms--even if you don't see evidence, almost all cats that have lived outside have them). As recommended - take stool samples from both to the vet when you go.

You've gone this far to take care of them & make them feel safe & loved - take it this last step & get them checked out. And again --- what a wonderful thing you've done for both!!!!