Hi to all I am TNR certified have taken care of a colony of 6 cats and in May 2014 started caring for 2 male feral kittens from same litter and did TNR had them vaccinated & tested for feline leukemia which was negative on both. In June 2014 I rescued, bottle fed and gave a 2 week old kitten a forever home and he is a joy! This past Aug 2015 I trapped and took in and are in the process of socializing these same two male kittens who are now over a year old they are brothers so we wanted to try to socialize both of them to hopefully give them a forever home. One cat is extremely friendly even on the outside he meowed, came up to me let me pet him including his belly and while eating at the feeding station he also all last winter wanted to come inside he would come up to me backyard door and when it opened try to come inside he broke my heart.At that time I did not have the set up to bring them in but we did set up shelters for them and they used them when they needed to.
After we trapped them this past Aug and brought them to the vet had them checked revaccinated and treated for intestinal parasites and giardia in one which is now negative they are both healthy. They were also given revolution which helped get rid of any fleas they could have had. In our heated garage they are together but in separate travel pens with their own litter boxes, food bowls, toys and beds. The friendly cat is socializing well playing with his toys, using the litter box which they did on the very first day I put it in their pens yeah!!!.One is very social to me rubs my hand, continues to let me pet him including his belly, gives love nips is just a sweetheart. I tried to start slowly lifting him up to show him it's ok to be picked up but if taken too high he gets scared and it's hard doing this while he is in a travel pen so he is not ready for this step yet. The other cat only lets me pet him with a feather toy he will smell my fingers if my palm is face up but gets timid hisses or hits me with his paw if I try to pet him with my open hand and I believe this behavior comes from when he was being bullied and hit by one of the feral females who got territorial around the food station in my yard. When outside at first he was letting me pet him while he ate but she destroyed all that and he became timid towards me too.
I am being very patient with him I know and have read that some ferals may never be friendly or lap cats. It's hard to tell with him because with the feather toy being petted he loves it it's the open hand he is afraid of. He did play and chase the same feather toy last night. I have tried to show him how to play with small balls and a toy that has a track and ball inside it but he doesn't get it yet. I also give them treats and try to feed them same time every day. I keep their pens very clean including their litter boxes. One good thing in my favor is the weather in NY has been mild and the space heater we bought keeps the garage very cozy for them. Right now I can't bring them inside my house atleast not yet but the garage is clean and heated and is better for them there then outside for now & they are comfortable.
I know things cannot be rushed and I have to take things slowly the first cat is progressing well and is so sweet that I really believe that once he is truly socialized and meets my other male cat crossing fingers they get along. I am just nervous about the second cat and how he will be but I know I have a long time to go before he meets him. The brother ferals have been together since birth that is why we trapped both of them hoping to socialize them and give them a forever home. I just need some advice on how to proceed with the not so friendly feral what more can I do to get him to trust me I also give them both treats too. I have talked to several people who have male cats several in fact that get along I just want to do the entire process the right way. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so long just a lot to explain. Thanks!
After we trapped them this past Aug and brought them to the vet had them checked revaccinated and treated for intestinal parasites and giardia in one which is now negative they are both healthy. They were also given revolution which helped get rid of any fleas they could have had. In our heated garage they are together but in separate travel pens with their own litter boxes, food bowls, toys and beds. The friendly cat is socializing well playing with his toys, using the litter box which they did on the very first day I put it in their pens yeah!!!.One is very social to me rubs my hand, continues to let me pet him including his belly, gives love nips is just a sweetheart. I tried to start slowly lifting him up to show him it's ok to be picked up but if taken too high he gets scared and it's hard doing this while he is in a travel pen so he is not ready for this step yet. The other cat only lets me pet him with a feather toy he will smell my fingers if my palm is face up but gets timid hisses or hits me with his paw if I try to pet him with my open hand and I believe this behavior comes from when he was being bullied and hit by one of the feral females who got territorial around the food station in my yard. When outside at first he was letting me pet him while he ate but she destroyed all that and he became timid towards me too.
I am being very patient with him I know and have read that some ferals may never be friendly or lap cats. It's hard to tell with him because with the feather toy being petted he loves it it's the open hand he is afraid of. He did play and chase the same feather toy last night. I have tried to show him how to play with small balls and a toy that has a track and ball inside it but he doesn't get it yet. I also give them treats and try to feed them same time every day. I keep their pens very clean including their litter boxes. One good thing in my favor is the weather in NY has been mild and the space heater we bought keeps the garage very cozy for them. Right now I can't bring them inside my house atleast not yet but the garage is clean and heated and is better for them there then outside for now & they are comfortable.
I know things cannot be rushed and I have to take things slowly the first cat is progressing well and is so sweet that I really believe that once he is truly socialized and meets my other male cat crossing fingers they get along. I am just nervous about the second cat and how he will be but I know I have a long time to go before he meets him. The brother ferals have been together since birth that is why we trapped both of them hoping to socialize them and give them a forever home. I just need some advice on how to proceed with the not so friendly feral what more can I do to get him to trust me I also give them both treats too. I have talked to several people who have male cats several in fact that get along I just want to do the entire process the right way. Any advice is greatly appreciated. Sorry this is so long just a lot to explain. Thanks!
