Too old to socialize?

kittychick

kittychick

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A friend at the shelter heard I do well with socialization.....and wants me to try to socialize a kitten she's going to trap early this week. The hook is the kitten's 5-6 months (she can't get NEAR it). And we're on and out of town several times over next few months, all having to end when my family visits for Thanksgiving & Christmas.....long 4-5 day visits where kitten would be kept, so it would have to be gone by midnovember. My gut says tgis is stupid. I love socializing kittens, but know this is ALOT of work for chances are very little reward (6 months)in what's probably too short a time? That kitten can get re released back to colony & she wants to try ......do I be honest with her and tell her at that indoor socialization at that age is beyond a crapshoot ---/and to top it off my situation makes me far from ideal? It's definitely not good timing for us work-wise but I'm willing to help. I just feel that chances are we're going to just spend weeks terrorizing. Thoughts on all sides?
 
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kittychick

kittychick

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I should note - no human interaction aside from seeing my friend feed -will not allow touching or nearness. Runs at slightest look. Never been touched or picked up. Other kittens from litter had varying degrees of socialization -outgoing ness & have all been brought to shelter/several adopted. But this one is wild as can be.

I just know from socialing in past -there are accept ups, but this one really worries me due to starting age/fear level....number of times I'll have to be gone on weekend, plus end date of 2 months. Is kitten better out living life it now (now neutered)than terrify it for 2 months then let it go in really cold weather?!?!??!im really not sure :(
 
StefanZ

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I do agree, its too a tight schedule here.  In this here case, you cant NOT rely nor hope on a quick socialization -  Thus  its better she is TNR, and proceed to adapting to her live outside.

To have 2 months inside, and then let her out  its wrong.  It could be OK with an older and seasoned, whom can all the tricks and ropes of being ferale.  But isnt not fair to a taken inside still young, losing a couple of best months in her live, and released out.

Nay, either find another fosterer, with more  long term possibilities, who with your advice and support may do it - or take a TNR.

Who knows, if God so will, once spayed she may become easier to adapt once in the time...

That is my gut feeling.
 
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catwoman707

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@kittychick  your instincts are telling you what you already know, it sounds like the dilemma is more about not giving a young cat at least the chance, but we all know about socializing a 6 month old and how it goes.

Even at best if you are able to eventually get her to eat from your hand while caged, it takes much longer to actually tame a cat this age.

AND the biggest part here being, she will really only tame up to the one person working with her, which takes a very long time in itself, let alone taming to all humans and becoming social enough to adopt out.

What I would do with her is, try to relocate her to a farm or ranch where over time will begin to trust and be okay in the presence of that family, at a distance yes, but that's really your best bet here.

Unless of course someone else would like to give it a try, but they will see the same thing here.

She has had NO human contact, so the chance of her losing her strong feral streak is basically nil. 

So I agree too with @StefanZ  that it is better for her future to not work with her for 2 months and have to return her, but leave her where she is and what feels natural to her now.

Sad but true.
 
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kittychick

kittychick

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This breaks my heart but I know it's true. Now my friend is saying she WAS handled as a baby and is not true feral. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with my friend - I hate to sound harsh but I put the animals first 99.9% of the time, and this is one of the first times my family wants to come visit. I can't tell them they can't because I'm socializing a kitten. and unfortunately that's what it would come to. Unless this would go 2-4 times faster than I'd ever imagine ----I think our only option is true TNR or I start and my friend finishes working with her at her house. Not ideal, but if I can't talk her into tnring, perhaps the only option. pLUS if she realizes how much work she has on HER hands not just mine it might change things entirely. In other words, we have to have a serious talk this week before catching. You all sense my (understandable) hesitation -particularly this time of year, with travel on our part & family coming in. We all know how much time & consistency socializing demands. Plus we have 2 huge projects coming in late November/early Dec that mean even less time available to work.

Bad time all around.

Why do I feel ill end up doing this anyway? Do I have sucker stamped on me somewhere? ;)
 
catwoman707

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kittychick said:
This breaks my heart but I know it's true. Now my friend is saying she WAS handled as a baby and is not true feral. I'm going to have to have a serious talk with my friend - I hate to sound harsh but I put the animals first 99.9% of the time, and this is one of the first times my family wants to come visit. I can't tell them they can't because I'm socializing a kitten. and unfortunately that's what it would come to. Unless this would go 2-4 times faster than I'd ever imagine ----I think our only option is true TNR or I start and my friend finishes working with her at her house. Not ideal, but if I can't talk her into tnring, perhaps the only option. pLUS if she realizes how much work she has on HER hands not just mine it might change things entirely. In other words, we have to have a serious talk this week before catching. You all sense my (understandable) hesitation -particularly this time of year, with travel on our part & family coming in. We all know how much time & consistency socializing demands. Plus we have 2 huge projects coming in late November/early Dec that mean even less time available to work.

Bad time all around.

Why do I feel ill end up doing this anyway? Do I have sucker stamped on me somewhere?
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Absolutely, I would have a serious talk with her, and like you said, maybe once she sees she is going to be putting in some serious work on this, and how difficult and time consuming it really is/will be, she might reconsider, instead of you doing all the work! 

No, you don't have sucker stamped, but you have a soft heart as all us rescuers do, we realize our efforts change lives :) 
 
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kittychick

kittychick

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Thanks @catwoman707....I always feel SO guilty if I'm not putting the kitties above all else. But I know app 8 weeks isn't much. And used to be I'd give up having my family come, or not go home for the holidays.....but I'm realizing I can't stop living bc I'm socializing. And that everyone who asks me to socialize does ask that of me ---/not in a mean way - I've put myself out there that way. So yes - a talk. Sooner....much sooner rather than later. Thanks for the encouragement!!!!
 
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