Kittens are Scared of People!

Hi there, my cat had her kittens on August 4th. The Turned one month old yesterday. Today they all climbed out of the nest, I was so excited! Then I realized the kittens were scared of me and my every move! I have not handled them much since they have been born. I have been really busy. Are they going to get used to people? Will they always be afraid and skittish? I am super worried that because I didn't handle them that they won't like people now and won't get good homes! Please Help!!!!

P.S We are getting mama cat spayed within the next couple of weeks!

Start handling them as soon as possible, a kitten's socialising window is easiest between now and 11 weeks, gently pick them up and set them on your leg so that all 4 paws are down, let them lick the  wet kitten food or Kitten replacement milk from your fingers as you touch them from nose to tail. This shoud encourage them to associate you with food which is good. As you move on with them around 8 weeks, start putting small kibble type treats infront of them instead of very wet food, never let the kitten bite your hand. Let the kittens explore you freely, and also if you have friends or family that could visit,one at a time to begin with, this will prep them for living life without the Queen or Mummy and encountering new people. if you haven't handled them at all to this point i'd watch mama very closely, feed her before handling her kittens and stay very close so she can watch you. if mama is stressed kittens will be stressed too!

Another thing to introduce them to is play, human style. Kittens play rough within the litter and can get aggressive through play easily, like with small children, biting hissing and scratching means the toy goes away, gentle pawing and chasing is rewarded.

If you're super worried about the homes they are going to vet the potential adopters, why do you want a cat, have you had a kitten in the past, where will the kitten live, do you have other animals etc. 

Also please check with a vet if mama is ok to be neuteured so soon as if her milk dries up and kittens are stil reliant on mum it could pose problems.

I'm a newbie but noticed you didn't have any replies, just sharing the basic knowledge i have. xx

The more they are handled and loved, the better they will be.  You still have time, they are very young yet.  If you are too busy, maybe you have friends or even neighborhood kids that would like to provide kitten socialization too.  I certainly would if you lived near me! 

They are too young to have mom spayed in a couple oof weeks also.  The kittens need to be off her and done nursing for two weeks before she is spayed.  Just be sure to keep her inside an away from males and then she will not get pregnant again before you get her spayed.  Most of us in rescue will not adopt out a kitten before it is at least 8 weeks of age, and since ours are always spayed/neutered first and that's the youngest they can be don, they are usually 9 or 10 weeks before they leave us.  They are then strong enough to adapt well to the change.  Socially they do better also if they are with their littermates longer. 

Ok I have just been sitting in the room with them hoping they get used to me! When the kittens were born we took them to the vet because there was suspicion that there was another kitten stuck. There were no more kittens but the veterinarian told us to have her spayed when the kittens were five weeks old.  I have handled the kittens here and there especially there first week to monitor their weight but not much since then. Thanks for the advice!

You have plenty of time if you start now. But you must be pro-active - at this age they are very curious and you must use that to get them really keen on exploring you. Pick them up, put them on your lap, let them climb all over you, and try to ignore the little needle claws they will use to hang on! Do not make noises that will frighten them, talk all the time to them in a calm, warm voice, and stroke them, especially on the head and back. The aim is to make them comfortable with being touched on any part of the body by a human. They should also like to be carried, and do this by holding them to you closely, not squeezing but supporting them warmly, and walk round the room, again talking all the time and stroking their heads and faces. As soon as they are eating on their own, you can offer treats of kibble. Play with them with wand toys but beware of letting them play with fingers and hands - if they try that stop at once and redirect them to feather toys or stuffed mice. Otherwise you will get cats that bite and scratch peoples' hands for attention.

It sounds a lot but it is not all at once, and two or three good sessions each day for ten minutes will work wonders. And once you start, you will find it is fun. It is al also a good idea to get as many people as possible playing and handling them, so they are not frightened of strangers. Introduce a friendly dog if you can at some stage too - all this will make them much more adoptable.

Thank you! I will have my sister start handling them! I am going to out of town for the next 2 weeks otherwise I would do it myself...

Good! When I have kittens I end up doing everything in the house with a kitten in one arm. It is amazing how you get used to it.