Advice please

I was hoping you all could give me some advice I just adopted 2 - 5 month old domestic longhairs littermates, male & female. They were born in the garage and kept their their entire lives not really socialized basically just being fed...the person who we got them from said that they are sweet once they get to know you but still very shy

Sorry for the awful pictures they were still slightly damp from their bath and since they're still so scared I wasn't able to get a good picture but here they are, as yet unnamed...



Today is the first day with us and they seem absolutely terrified...they didn't even put up a fight when I give them a bath which I had to do considering they were so scared they soiled themselves in their carrier on the way home.

So my two questions for you is how do I go about litter box training them as well as getting them used to the idea of being a pet and comfortable with us?

I feel so bad for these poor kittens right now they are curled up in the bathroom behind the toilet and have been there for hours huddled together.

I have them in the bathroom for now until we get their fleas & ear mites under control and the start showing interest in the litter box is this the right thing to do?

The female is terrified so much so she isn't eating the male is eating and it seems slightly friendlier but not by much. They both are under weight but not worryingly so.

We also have a nearly 17 month old daughter so the kittens will have to get used to her as well.

Thank you for any guidance.

For the time being, they are OK in there.  Its common rescuers have their quarantinge in the bathroom.  Easy to clean, and its often their only spare place...

However, if there is place, you may try to make it more cozy there.  Have some type of cat igloo (an sideturned cardboard box, with a nice fleece or filt to lie on). 

Have a litter of course. Best a non clumping litter, to be sure they dont happen to taste on the litter.  Kittens alike children may dot it, and you dont want clumping litter inside them.

You can sprinkle some Kitten attract litter on the surface.  Dr Elseys is the most wellknown, but there are other brands too.

Scratching post...

Come in often with food, preferably at regular interwals, so they know its you whom come with food.

Do talk a lot, in a low freindly voice, making friendly noises too. Its a natural cat language.  Dont look diretcly in their eyes, look at the ear instead or something.  Dont raise the hands above, them. 

Good they boy is more daring - work through him, he will be the example for his sister.

You can have some goats milk as supplement. Or a more conventinal  kmr, if you so wish...

DO NOT have a radio with human voices on, not before they have landed.  But you can have on calming, relaxing music on.

Later on, you go along the principe one room extra at a time... So they feel safe and sound the whole way.  You can prepare say a high climbing tree, so they have some retreat place if they find your little dau too eager and too clumsy.  But many cats gets quite attached to small children, so lets hope for the best!  Just learn her not to shout with them - children have often piercing voices...  And of course, no drawing in the tails nor whiskers.  A little rough caresses they usually stand with, if they feel its made with love.

Tx for adoping them!

Hi and welcome to TCS! Thank you for giving these sweet siblings a home 

Their behavior is actually better than what I would have expected from semi-feral kittens, so that's a great sign. It's very natural for them to be afraid and they need some help, a lot of patience and time to adjust. The good news is that with some TLC - which looks to me like you're giving them already - they're young enough to relax fairly quickly.

Stefan gave you some good advice and you can also find more ideas and tips about how to help them adjust in these articles. The last two are about shy cats, which yours may end up being or they may not. Either way, it's a good idea to understand how to approach shy or timid cats, whether it's their nature of a temporary phase.

How To Help A New Cat Adjust  To Your Home

Bringing Home a New Cat

16 Top Cat  Experts Share Tips For Dealing With Timid Cats

10 Must-Know Tips For Happy Living With A Shy  Cat

I hope more members can chime in with success stories about cats who were very frightened when they were adopted. It really is a common thing and hopefully things will improve soon. Do let us know how it goes!

Time is your friend. Even the most socialized kittens will act like these are in a new environment and all the scary changes. Food is a great way to get their acceptance, yummy treats and toys go a long way too. If you can spend several minutes, several times a day,  just sitting quietly with them and telling them how beautiful they are, that would help. Toddlers are very loud, make too quick of movements and are just plain scary to cats, so monitor every interaction there when that time comes. You would hate for your daughter to grab one and get scratched. If they grow up together that will be good for all.  I agree with a cat tree for them to have a place to get away when they need to. 

Right now they ARE absolutely terrified, please remember that, It will take weeks for them to calm down. Litter box acceptance should be automatic, I have had feral kittens use one with no prompting at all. They will give you many years of love, and teach your daughter the love of another too. You will be blessed for giving them a home, this bad time will pass, just give it time. All the luck and keep us posted!

Beautiful kitties!  Thank you so much for adopting them.  Everyone is right - they are frightened just because of the changes.  Cats hate change.  When you think about it, it makes sense - to them it is dangerous and it can be.  So they are understandably wary.  Spending time with them, keeping a routine, is the best way to get them used to the new digs.  Move slowly, make no sudden moves.  Voice cheerful and light.

The fact that you weren't eviscerated while bathing them is good!  It shows they are a bit docile.  They could have reacted quite differently, so that gives you an idea of their personalities..

Dr. Elsey's makes a Kitten Attract litter that stinks but that works like a charm.  You probably won't need it but get some if they seem confused about what to do.

Introduce your daughter slowly - but give them a couple of weeks to get used to the new home, first. One thing at a time is the best way to ensure they'll fit in well.

Once they are fixed, the girl may warm up.  Girls are a bit more stand-offish anyway and you have a calico girl.  Calico and tortoiseshell cats have "tortitude."  They are regal and often sit in the background and observe.  They can be very vocal, too.

Please keep us posted.

now is a perfect time to crate train too. if you have a crate, and room in the bathroom, make them a cozy bed in there to sleep.  if they get used to the crate being a "safe" place, will  make it easier in the future when you need to take them to the vet.

They are so cute! Thank you for opening your heart and home to them.  Other posters have excellent suggestions; cat behaviorist extraordinaire, Jackson Galaxy, has facebook and YouTube pages as well as his Animal Planet series, "MY CAT FROM HELL" and several books.  He is very good at solving any kind of cat-related matter! so you may want to look him up and share your kittens' story on his social media.

Just one little, hopefully un-needed story.  I was born into a home "with cat" and my "big brofur" was 3 when I came along, very much loved.  His personality was extremely sweet, patient and gentle.  Kids being blank slates, do not come with built-in gentleness and knowledge, so I reached for his very fluffy tail once, which must not have been comfortable for him.  My mom, always kind, gentle, compassionate and wise, taught me Life Lesson #1:  She pulled my hair, not extremely painfully but enough to cause discomfort.  Then she told me, "See?  That's how it feels for him when you pull his tail!!"  Much more than telling me not to, this lesson made me KNOW not to do to my beloved cat what I would not want done to me.  Kids certainly do need to be taught kindness, compassion, gentleness and personal responsibility, and much better for them to get it from watchful parents/family members than to have to seek it elsewhere, if they even know to do so. 

May your beautiful kittens have long, happy, healthy and LOVED lives as part of your family!

You did a wonderful thing, bringing those beautiful babies into your home. I need to ask a few questions to get a real handle on your situation. You said the kittens were born in a garage, and lived there. Didn't they have a litter box there? I would hate to have to search for messes to clean up. You might contact the original owner and ask about what kind of box they used and what kind of litter. Anything you can do to give them something familiar, the better. Have you had cats, or any pets in the past? Is that your only bathroom?

The suggestion of making their bed in a carrier is excellent. Another question. lol Do you have a pet carrier? If so is it big enough for them to sleep together, comfortably? They need to have the chance to sleep, to hide together, to support each other.

The fact that you care enough to come here and ask questions means you are going to be an excellent caretaker of these babies!You've cleared the first hurdle, with room to spare.

Cats love anything soft, especially plush. If you've got something like that, use it to make their bed with. It will remind them of when they were with their mother and warm and comfortable, and it will ease their fear and help them relax. It really does take time as others have said, and they have all given you great advice. Thanks for taking in those pretty little kitties.

Thanks for saving those cuties!

A bit of advice.   As you begin to socialize yours kittens, perhaps you can also begin to prepare your little girl to meet them.   In my role as a volunteer at a shelter, I came across a family with a child about  3 years old who wanted to adopt a cat.   They had prepared him by giving him a stuffed toy cat and teaching him  how to approach the "kitty" and how to pet the" kitty".   They told him the visit to the shelter was his chance to practice on a real kitty.   When he met the cat that they had applied for,  he was very gentle and calm and the cat immediately took to him.   One happy little boy got to take one happy kitty home.   I know your daughter is younger, but perhaps this might give you some ideas.   Good luck!   

What sweet kitties!  How kind of you to rescue them!

I would say please supervise all contact  between your 17 month old daughter and these kitties.  When you can't supervise them, put the kitties in another room.  Toddlers don't understand how to pet cats and can get too rough with them.  Then the kitty might rightlfully defend himself.  I'd give the kittens an escape route to get away from your daughter too if they are not in the mood to play, like a cat tree or those wall mounted steps that Jackson Galaxy uses quite a bit.  Some cats like to go high.  Others not so much.  So an escape route will help them limit their contact at their own pace.  Cats don't like being told what to do!  I've seen little girls worry kittens to bits because of constant activity and no way to escape.  This won't foster good relationships with children.  Kittens really need their sleep.  

Ginny said:

 
What sweet kitties!  How kind of you to rescue them!

I would say please supervise all contact  between your 17 month old daughter and these kitties.  When you can't supervise them, put the kitties in another room.  Toddlers don't understand how to pet cats and can get too rough with them.  Then the kitty might rightlfully defend himself.  I'd give the kittens an escape route to get away from your daughter too if they are not in the mood to play, like a cat tree or those wall mounted steps that Jackson Galaxy uses quite a bit.  Some cats like to go high.  Others not so much.  So an escape route will help them limit their contact at their own pace.  Cats don't like being told what to do!  I've seen little girls worry kittens to bits because of constant activity and no way to escape.  This won't foster good relationships with children.  Kittens really need their sleep.  

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Good and sound remarks and advices.  Still it must be said: suprisingly often it goes nicely, and they becomes the best of friends.  Cats - and kittens - understands in some way, infants are kittens them too.  And what are kittens doing?  They wrestle with each other, they attack, bite in the tail etc... It may hurt some, but everything is done in best friendship.

I presume it is the rationale why they do often accept a rough cuddling by children, while they never would tolerate from an adult human...

As long the cuddling IS meant as friendly cuddling, and isnt overdone, they often / usually do accept it...

VERY well put and I agree 100% -- the kittens are fragile and need protection from kids!  Supervision is key. 

VERY well put and I agree 100% -- the kittens are fragile and need protection from kids!  Supervision is key. 

The way I got my kitten to accept me at first was by play. Use some type of string or a toy on a string so they don't have to be so close to you at first. Then gradually bring the toy closer to you. Sit on the floor while doing this. Once they realize you are fun and not a threat, things should get better quickly.

Absolutely, supervising both species is definitely an important thing we wouldn't want anyone getting hurt regardless of who's at fault...

Thankfully the kittens have taken to the litterbox the male has been named Oliver & the female will now take canned food only while being held though...she is painfully painfully shy. He is able to come out while we are in the same room but nither are friendly yet, but I am pleased thus far.

They still show no signs of aggression at all.

they both seem to trust our Daughter must of all getting with in a foot of her & Oliver will eat with her next to the bowl. (part of me wonders if a child was part of their life previously)

she is always supervised with them & is only allowed to pet them while we are holding them.

The ear mite treatment seems to be working & I haven't seen a flea since the 1st day. Oliver has grown alot already I would not be surprised if he were a 18lbs. as an adult She isn't eating enough to go through a growth spurt yet but we are working on it.

I could use help in naming her.

Our Veterinary appointment is for the 4th.

We will be fixing him first since I would like her to be at a healthier weight before putting her through surgery. Thankfully no one seems to be spraying yet.

I've been shopping for cat condos Amazon, I lime a few...is their any you guys recommend?

She relly likes sleeping in the sink. She got scared again while I tried to take a picture...this girl really needs a name already

Omg she looks so much like one of my client's kitties.  She's a very shy girl named Kissy.  I love her!  

Just let them eat so that they wont be afraid anymore

,for they feel that they were important and loved. Time goes by they will not going to be frightened.   

Anyone have an idea why the female only eats canned food & why she will only eat while being held?

My cat eat canned food and he is a male. Maybe your cat don't like what was inside the canned food.