New feral kittens

We have two new kittens in foster care, two males approximately four months old. They were trapped last weekend. Their mother is a tame, abandoned pet who has been cared for by an elderly woman. She's pregnant again and we'll be also be fostering her until the kittens are born, then having her spayed.

Anyway, the two boys are as different as night and day. One is a typical feral kitten. He hisses, spits, growls and can't be handled yet. The other is timid but we've been able to pet him if we take it slow. He's very talkative, head butts your hand to get attention, purrs and prances around. These kittens are from the same litter and, according to the woman who had been feeding them, have never been handled before. I'm just amazed at the difference in personalities and that the one can be so tame. Could this be genetic?

These kittens are from the same litter and, according to the woman who had been feeding them, have never been handled before. I'm just amazed at the difference in personalities and that the one can be so tame. Could this be genetic?

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Ah..the old nature versus nuture discussion. I have a brother sister from the same domesticated litter and one of them is a spitfire: doesn't want to be picked up or touched when she isn't interested, will wiggle free if you do try to pick her up and loves to do her own thing...then there is my clinger: has to be near me, LOVES being petted (can't get enough of it really) and has no problem with being picked up. I do believe that kittens from the same litter can exibit quite different personalities.

Katie