How to integrate rescued kittens into the rest of the house?

tatiana2 · Oct 14, 2015

The kittens we rescued early Aug are ready to be introduced to the rest of the house. They have been confined to one room all this time. Due to them being semi-feral and the family taking a vacation, we have not yet let them loose in the rest of the house. We have brought them out and sat one at a time on our laps in other parts of the house. But we have not just let them roam the rest of the house. I am very concerned they will just hide under a couch or get in some place it will be hard to get them out of. They are roughly going on about seventeen weeks old so at least they are not real tiny anymore.

We had Franklin out and I set him down and he smelled around a bit and then went under the couch. (Sigh...) How do I do this big transition? The four of them have been doing well in the one room but it is time for them to come out. Two we are keeping and two will go up for adoption but they all need to learn to be somewhere other than under the couch. I am also afraid they might wedge themselves somewhere where we cannot find them. I have no idea where to start. Our house has a very open floor plan. We can at least close the other bedroom doors but the rest of the house has no doors.

I also don't know how to teach them where they can be and not be. (For example, the kitchen counter and tables we eat on are off limits) I have never started with kittens that I have had to do all the training with before. I am not sure using the water spray bottle method is the best for these kittens... Or is it? I am feeling a a bit lost as to how to proceed.

msaimee · Oct 15, 2015

Are there other cats or pets in the household? If not, then let them out. If you have two floors, perhaps get a baby gate between the floors and let them begin by exploring just one floor. They are 4 months old and capable of jumping the baby gate when they're ready to explore the entire house.

There's nothing wrong with cats hiding behind or underneath furniture. They're too big to get stuck or lost anywhere, and they will come out and explore within days or a few weeks if not pressured to do so. I have a feral I took in over two years ago who prefers to stay upstairs, and who frequently sleeps under my bed, and she has a content life. She does not need the run of the entire house. The key is patience and allowing these kittens to progress at their own rate. Whoever adopts any of them needs to be educated about the socializing process of feral kittens--these kitties may someday become lap cats, or they may not--so expectations need to be addressed at the start. And yes, it's possible to love a cat who is not a cuddly lap cat--these cat still be wonderful companions with the right human owners.

I would recommend play therapy--this is how I socialized the two feral kittens I took in 2 years ago. Get a wand toy and interact with each of them each day, preferably a few times a day. Get catnip toys and spread them around the house. They are kittens, and kittens can't resist play--they will soon come to see that the house is a place where there are toys and fun.

It takes a long time to train kittens and cats not to jump on kitchen counters, and some will always do what they want to do when you're not around. The thing is to outsmart them. Try leaving a shallow cookie pan with water on it on top of the kitchen counter. They'll learn to not jump up there after getting wet a few times. Get them a variety of scratching posts (the ones with catnip in them are best) so they learn early on to scratch on the posts and not the furniture. Eventually they'll likely outgrow these kinds of habits. But it all takes patience.

It sounds like you've done a great job taking them in and socializing, so the key is just to remain patient during this next phase of their journey. Let us know how it goes.

tatiana2 · Oct 16, 2015

Are there other cats or pets in the household?

No, not now. My last cat died in 2013.

If not, then let them out. If you have two floors, perhaps get a baby gate between the floors and let them begin by exploring just one floor.

We do have two floors but the gate we have is at the top of the stairs since the stair style would not accommodate at the bottom. We could shut the doors upstairs for awhile. I do worry about them jumping over the banister of the upper level onto the stairs. I am going to put our toddler plastic over the poles of the railing so at least they cannot jump through.

They are 4 months old and capable of jumping the baby gate when they're ready to explore the entire house.

Is there a danger of them crawling inside recliners and dangerous places like that? Or not so much anymore now that they are older?

I also wonder how to handle them at their wild times while we are sleeping. We took almost everything out of my husband's office (hence, the urgent need to get them out of this room) and put them in there instead of his things. We can hear them tearing around there a few times a night. I don't want them to rip the house apart and break things while playing while we are sleeping. How do I deal with that?

There's nothing wrong with cats hiding behind or underneath furniture. They're too big to get stuck or lost anywhere, and they will come out and explore within days or a few weeks if not pressured to do so.

They are doing really well in the room they are I now, very friendly. They come to greet you at the door and are finally feeling comfortable enough to vocalize when I bring their food in. They were quiet about it for weeks or would just purr. It would also be nice to catch them when needed to move them if company comes over or my 6 year old has a play day at our home.

I have a feral I took in over two years ago who prefers to stay upstairs, and who frequently sleeps under my bed, and she has a content life. She does not need the run of the entire house. The key is patience and allowing these kittens to progress at their own rate. Whoever adopts any of them needs to be educated about the socializing process of feral kittens--these kitties may someday become lap cats, or they may not--so expectations need to be addressed at the start.

Yes, I did read a website on adopting out feral kittens, to be sure and not hide the fact they need to be handled differently by perspective adopters. I already talked with one woman I was glad I was upfront about it with her. She lost interest when I told her they may take longer to adjust to a new home.

And yes, it's possible to love a cat who is not a cuddly lap cat--these cat still be wonderful companions with the right human owners.

I miss my Ragdoll of almost 16 years terribly so we are getting a Ragdoll kitten to add to our family. Would it help our little ferals to have a kitten in the house that is more tame and socialized?

I would recommend play therapy--this is how I socialized the two feral kittens I took in 2 years ago. Get a wand toy and interact with each of them each day, preferably a few times a day.

Either my son, myself or my husband plays and cuddles each kittens daily in the room they are in now. It has been hard to discover what they like best. They do seem to like the little balls, but mostly jumping all over things and play wrestling. I have noticed they could not care less about catnip at their young age. I called and asked our vet and he said they were too young to get any interest for it yet. Have you had different experience with it with young kittens? We have a couple of cat trees in the main level but they want to jump off those into places they should not. What is the best way to handle that?

Get catnip toys and spread them around the house. They are kittens, and kittens can't resist play--they will soon come to see that the house is a place where there are toys and fun.

It takes a long time to train kittens and cats not to jump on kitchen counters, and some will always do what they want to do when you're not around. The thing is to outsmart them. Try leaving a shallow cookie pan with water on it on top of the kitchen counter.

okay. We used to use a spray bottle for one cat that was really naughty about counters and stove tops. Would that work too for these kittens? We finally had to buy a Scat Mat for one area she would not stay off of by the stove. We were afraid she would get burned.

They'll learn to not jump up there after getting wet a few times. Get them a variety of scratching posts (the ones with catnip in them are best) so they learn early on to scratch on the posts and not the furniture.

We have some scratching posts in the room they are in now. Only one seems to scratch on other things in that room. So I hope it will not be a problem. When I see him on the wrong thing, I tell him no and carry him to an okay place and move his paws like scratching.

Eventually they'll likely outgrow these kinds of habits. But it all takes patience.

It sounds like you've done a great job taking them in and socializing, so the key is just to remain patient during this next phase of their journey. Let us know how it goes.

Thank you for posting. I have really needed help, with these kittens. We have had two other shelter cats but neither was this feral.

msaimee · Oct 16, 2015

Since you have two floors, perhaps it would be good to transition them out of the one room by allowing them free access to the upstairs only, for a week or two. If you're able to catch them, you could give them some supervised time downstairs for a bit each day, too.

I don't know about your kittens, but at 4 months, my feral kitten Harry was big enough to not get lost or stuck anywhere in the house. He did manage to crawl through an opening beneath my bed box spring and would hide inside the box spring when I had visitors coming over, and it was months before I figured out where he went, lol, but he was perfectly safe there. When scared, cats will hide--but they will always come out when they're ready. You've had these kitties two months now so they're comfortable enough to not get lost or stay hidden indefinitely.

Kittens under the age of one, even non-feral ones, are rambunctious. At two years of age, Harry, and my other young male cat aged 3, are still rambunctious, tearing through the house, sometimes breaking and knocking over items. They are mostly settled down during the night, but Harry still runs around like a crazy cat very early in the morning. Luckily I get up at dawn, anyway. All I can say is that one day they'll settle down and be lazy cats who sleep all day, and you'll miss their activity and mischief.

Are you keeping both kittens? If so, I would wait on introducing a third one until these two are settled into your house and family. Introducing a third kitten could cause more anxiety and conflict.

The problem with using a spray bottle to keep a cat off a counter is that they will learn to jump on the counter when you're not around with the spray bottle. My cats have mostly outgrown jumping on the kitchen counter, but when I occasionally see paw prints there, I used Clorox wipes to clean off the counter. I have a cat tree they like to climb by the window, which is much more interesting to them than kitchen counters. But cats will be cats, so you won't ever be able to completely control their behavior.

The fact that these kittens are friendly to you now indicates they're on their way to being completely socialized. Once they're neutered, they'll be even more domesticated (I got Harry neutered at 4 months). A lot of what you describe is normal kitten behavior.

tatiana2 · Oct 17, 2015

MsAimee said:
Since you have two floors, perhaps it would be good to transition them out of the one room by allowing them free access to the upstairs only, for a week or two. If you're able to catch them, you could give them some supervised time downstairs for a bit each day, too.

I am thinking I will only let one or two out at a time for awhile since all four together can get wild. Maybe it will help them to depend more on us too instead of each other.

I low about your kittens, but at 4 months, my feral kitten Harry was big enough to not get lost or stuck anywhere in the house. He did manage to crawl through an opening beneath my bed box spring and would hide inside the box spring when I had visitors coming over, and it was months before I figured out where he went, lol, but he was perfectly safe there. When scared, cats will hide--but they will always come out when they're ready. You've had these kitties two months now so they're comfortable enough to not get lost or stay hidden indefinitely.

It is obvious these kittens are not very comfortable out of their room. I notice an obvious change when I bring them out of their room. Although, the most social one seems more curious to explore. I want to build some shelves along the wall like Jackson Galaxy does for them to have safe places. I think that will help with feeling safe with my six year old. He has been with cats since he was born and he does pretty good but he is still an energetic little boy and I want to make ways for the kittens to,"escape" into other areas of the house if he gets a little loud and wild. Although the most sociable one like to explore.

Kittens under the age of one, even non-feral ones, are rambunctious. At two years of age, Harry, and my other young male cat aged 3, are still rambunctious, tearing through the house, sometimes breaking and knocking over items. They are mostly settled down during the night, but Harry still runs around like a crazy cat very early in the morning. Luckily I get up at dawn, anyway.

These are the most wild just before daybreak and at daybreak, we are not early risers. I am hoping they will do less jumping on items (save cat trees and couches) and more just running in the square footage of our home. You are right about them just being kittens. Ours were 15- 16 when they died. Two died in 2011 and one died in 2013. It has been awhile since our family has experienced the rambunctiousness of a kitten.:lol3:

All I can say is that one day they'll settle down and be lazy cats who sleep all day, and you'll miss their activity and mischief.

Yes, how true. But I also miss the routine of an established cat who still has the unpredictability to make me laugh. I miss my little friends of so many years. Both ages are special in their own way. I do like the kittens love for a new toy when Our older cats would often say "ho-hum" to many new toys.

Are you keeping both kittens? If so, I would wait on introducing a third one until these two are settled into your house and family. Introducing a third kitten could cause more anxiety and conflict.

There are four! We are keeping probably only two. My husband is arguing for three and my son wants to keep all four. I have to pick the ones I think will do the best with the unpredictability of a young child. Some are better with that than others. And it is best for both our family and the cat to be in the home(s) where they are the most comfortable. The other kitten will not be able to be adopted till End of Dec or even Jan so I should hope these others would be acclimated enough by then? I really want them all to still be young and more accepting of each other. The older they are, the harder it is to bring in an outsider.

The problem with using a spray bottle to keep a cat off a counter is that they will learn to jump on the counter when you're not around with the spray bottle. My cats have mostly outgrown jumping on the kitchen counter, but when I occasionally see paw prints there, I used Clorox wipes to clean off the counter. I have a cat tree they like to climb by the window, which is much more interesting to them than kitchen counters. But cats will be cats, so you won't ever be able to completely control their behavior.

Two of our other ones needed a spray bottle once or twice and that was the end of it. Our naughty cat could have gotten a bucket of water on her and still gone up. That was the one we had to use the scat mat for. I guess I'll have to see then how they respond. One I think would be almost too frightened by it.

The fact that these kittens are friendly to you now indicates they're on their way to being completely socialized. Once they're neutered, they'll be even more domesticated (I got Harry neutered at 4 months). A lot of what you describe is normal kitten behavior.

tatiana2 · Oct 20, 2015

One of our previous cats was very naughty and pee'd out of the box a lot. We took great pains to clean her spots as best as possible but I am sure a sensitive kitty nose could pick up old leftover odors. We are planning on moving in a couple of years and were thinking of replacing the carpet then so we would not have to put up with all the toxicity of out gassing of a new carpet and padding. (I am very chemically sensitive and it is also not healthy for pets) So I am not sure if the kittens will get confused by the old pee smells. They have been 100% perfect in using the box in the room they are in now. I would hate to lose that.

Do you think if we show them the box locations out of the room that would take care of this or will they be too tempted by the smells? You should know that even if we replace the carpeting, there is no guarantee there will be no more smells of pee since some residual smell could be on furniture and walls even though items were sprayed with cat pee deodorizer as diligently as possible.

ondine · Oct 22, 2015

If you haven't used a good enzyme cleaner, do so. Soak the spots well and blot them dry. The cleaners actually destroy the enzyme in the pee, thus eliminating the odor. If you have used one, the spots shouldn't smell to the kittens.

You could also try putting a pad under the litterboxes, to hide whatever smell there may be left and to catch anything the kittens may deposit.

Hopefully, they won't though.

tatiana2 · Oct 22, 2015

Ondine said:
If you haven't used a good enzyme cleaner, do so. Soak the spots well and blot them dry. The cleaners actually destroy the enzyme in the pee, thus eliminating the odor. If you have used one, the spots shouldn't smell to the kittens.

You could also try putting a pad under the litterboxes, to hide whatever smell there may be left and to catch anything the kittens may deposit.

Hopefully, they won't though.

We have cleaned as best as we can, but we are talking about a cat who sometimes would not use her box at all. I spent hundreds of dollars on her trying to do different things to stop the issue and constant vet visits. There are probably places she went we did not find. There are probably places we did our best but there is still scents. We used enzyme cleaners on every mess we found. She has been dead for two years and this fall, I found a pee by a closet on the hinges that had gotten missed. Unless we get all new carpet, probably a new underpayment, new furniture and re-paint the walls, we are not going to get rid of all the odors and that concerns me.

Please help me understand what putting the pad under the litter box of the existing kittens would do. Sorry, I am confused. These kittens have never missed the box.

How to integrate rescued kittens into the rest of the house?

tatiana2

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msaimee

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