Fostering hoarder kittens!

Ooh, what a fun thread. Keep posting, Becky, I'm fascinated.

Well, I was wondering about when do I let them out of their room. Nice kitty wears a blue collar now, so I call her Blue, and the more scared kitten has a red collar, so she is Red. (I don't know why I can't come up with names we are happy with!)

So Friday I let the big kitties in to play with the kittens. When I opened the door to let them out, Blue followed them out slowly, and spent maybe 5-10 minutes exploring the house. Then something scared her, and she ran back in her room. Red stayed in the room, although I had kept the door open for Blue to come back.

Yesterday was a wild birthday party for 10 y/o dd, so the babies were put back in our room in a carrier, so they wouldn't be scared by the noise. Today I went to church, then to the airport to p/u ds. So basically they have been largely ignored for 2 days. Eating off a plate rather than out of my hand.

Tonight, after the big kitties went in for playtime, the kittens wanted to follow them out. So I let the kittens loose, and they both came out. Festie and Blue are like crazy girls. Blue runs behind the couch, Festie runs over it chasing her. Part of it is those collars for the kittens-they have bells on! I almost think Festie thinks Blue is just this great jingly toy. It runs, it bats back if you bat at it, it likes crinkle balls!

So Blue is running around having a jolly time, stopping back in the kitten room frequently as if it is home base in a game of tag. Red moves around a little, but mostly is hiding under the sofa table or behind the couch. So here it is 11:30pm, way past my bedtime, and Blue continues to jingle around the house.

I guess they will just grow up to be wild nighttime playing girls! I'll go put another litter box in the front room for Red, just in case. Silly kittens!

Well, I was wrong. Red was hiding in the bedrooms, down the 30 ft hallway. So when I left the living room, where the computer is located, to go get another litter box, I saw her peeking out of ds's doorway, only about 5 ft from the kitten room doorway.

So I backed off and watched. Blue ran up and down the hall, in and out of bedroom doors, including the kitten room. Red just watched. But finally she ran out and up to Festie, about 3 ft from her. Then she turned sideways as if to say, chase me too! But then she ran into the kitten room, followed by Blue. I said goodnight and closed the door! (Had already put down fresh food and water, etc.)

Well, maybe Red will calm down and start interacting with the cats, and then us. Anyhow, I'm off work tomorrow, so will let them out again. (May be running to Michigan to p/u a newfie puppy from a shelter-oh won't that complicate things! LOL!)

Well, they have been out all day. (No new puppy .) Blue played with me a lot this morning, and they both kitties slept all day. I think they were under dd's bed. Blue ate with the big kitties, but Red didn't come to me in their room. DD tried calling her for food from under the bed, but she didn't come out. The food is gone now, hopefully she got some before one of the grown cats inhaled it. (2 cans of food for 3 cats and 2 kittens.)

Now Blue is running around the front room, playing alone. She even batted at the TV for a minute, after noticing the picture. She is curious, and playful, and although she shys away from me at times, is willing to approach for food or the feather toy. The big guys leave her alone, although Sugartoes growls at the babies. But I have seen enough interaction to feel safe leaving the babies free. My hope is that Blue will get in bed with dd tonight. That is always a sign that a kitty is tame-jump in bed with dd, where Garfield and Festus often sleep.

I guess I need prayers and vibes for Red. I can't really cage her separate from Blue. She is more afraid of everything, so maybe it is partly personality differences. Maybe she will calm down in time. I really need to get some more Feliway for her!

So Becky, could you expect Blue's outgoingness (or lack of fear) to sort of "rub off" on Red? Or does it not work that way? I hope Red can overcome her instincts...

What a lucky kitten to find someone like you to take it in and give it a loving home. Gongrats on the new baby!!

Originally Posted by kluchetta

So Becky, could you expect Blue's outgoingness (or lack of fear) to sort of "rub off" on Red? Or does it not work that way? I hope Red can overcome her instincts...

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Honestly, I think it works the opposite way more often. Cats pick up "scared" vibes from a litter mate. Red has been consistently quieter, more shy, more frightened. I don't know what her chances are of becoming comfortable in the house. Yet if she was trapped at 5 weeks, I'm not sure she could ever be an outside cat. (I have plenty of "people shy" outside cats here.)

Blue does run to her sister sometimes. Gives away her hiding spot, to tell the truth! LOL! And after I logged off last night, Red did come out and go into the kitten room.

On one hand, I am afraid I won't give little Red every opportunity to become a tame pet. I don't want to miss anything. On the other hand, maybe she just needs more time. I just don't want to look back and think "if only I had spent more time doing this or that..."

Beckiboo -

One of the litters of kittens I rescued and then
found homes for were sort of feral - tame mom, but born
in garage with no known owner. The owner of the
garage wanted me to take, so at 8 wks we grabbed
Momma - who went to Arlington Animal Welfare
League. I volunteered to take the litter home
at 8 weeks, and socialize / adopt.

The little guys were mostly
very friendly, but one little calico kitten was terrified.

She would huddle under the sofa and shiver, hiss and
not warm up to anyone...neither playtime nor food worked
with her.

Then, when I was pulling my hair out at how to get
her to become a love bug something wonderful happened...

My big kitty Sheba, a purrr ball if ever there was
one (who didn't on *principle* LOL like those damned kittens!)
sat down next to me, and not noticing the callie was in my lap shivering - turned on her purr motor. And when Shebs purrs, you can hear it across
the room, LOL!!

I put the little kitten down next to
Shebs (who was so into her purring with eyes closed
she didn't notice) and volia, little kitten stopped shivering
turned on HER own purr motor, and as I gently stroked her,
nestled down next to Shebs!!

After that - she was completely unafraid - she began to
purr everytime she was held, play fearlessly and
became totally a love queen. I found her a home
with a little girl who was very lonely (her Dad was in the service
and always away) and needed her love. She became that little
girl's beloved pet - Princess!!

So, IMHO kittens that aren't socializing can learn from
adult cats - if there are any around - who are warm
and loving and comfortable round people....esp.
if they purr loudly, LOL!

I know my feral Maj. Grey is closely watching my
interactions with Lexi girl (who is completely at
home with me) outside and inside (he watches through
the sliding doors...).

He is getting much bolder, less
afraid and ready to stick around and even, GASP
come in the house. All because I think he's seen
me interacting with both Lexi and Diablo outside.

Cats do learn from each other, and I think it goes
both ways - fearful and/or outgoing....
and in, and knows there's nothing to fear.

I do hope the other kitties will model good behavior for them. Blue sat and watched today as Garfield gave me kisses. I had Red in the bathroom with Festie and I a few days ago, and Festie was talking to me and engaging me in a game of fetch. So hopefully she will get the hint and see that I am on the good team.

She did sneak out into the front room a few minutes ago, but when she saw me she left. If all she needs is a good role model, hopefully she will find it in my other cats, and her sister Blue.

That is encouraging though, that your shy kitten ended up adopted. My fear is that Blue and Red will have to stay here forever because they don't become "good pets". While I don't mind adding a kitty or two, it would eliminate my ability to foster if I have too many cats here. (I know lots of people can tolerate a lot of cats, but I'm just not that way. I already see that the outside boy Will is getting less attention since the babies came here!)

Beckiboo - I suspect with my callie kitten that it
was the "purr" that did it. Probably that little
kitty heard Shebs and thought it was her Momcat
since they often use purring to let kittens know
they are there... then the kitty was reassured
and relaxed. In my experiece the callies are either
great love balls or total scaredy cats... seems to
be all or nothing with them!!

But I suspect letting them see the big guys
is a good thing... esp. if the big guys are
gentle with them.

My Diablo was odd - he once fostered a
young black male kitten - even to the point
of suckling it, and purring for it!! LOL. Guess
some cats hve a mother instinct...

Well, nobody here is mothering these babies, but at 11 weeks old, they are kind of teenagers anyhow. Festus plays with Blue, chasing and batting. Often I see them doing the same thing-like they will both stop running and wash their faces. Very cute. Sugartoes just growls at them if they get too close. Garfield whacks them at times, but he will do parallel play. If I am playing with Blue with the feather toy, he will join in and play too. But where Festie is playing with the kitten, Gar is playing with the toy.

Tonight, after no food all day, I saw Red and Blue in the kitten room as if looking for a meal. So I went in, and of course Red ran across the hall to another bedroom. But I got out dry kitten food, and called "here kitty kitty" as I always did when feeding them canned food out of my hand.

As Sugartoes pigged out on one plate of kitten chow, the babies came in and ate. Then I was able to engage Red in play with the feather toy, from behind a chair so I was barely visible. She even flopped on her back and played with the feather toy. I saw that as HUGE! She was relaxed enough to really let loose and have fun. Blue and Garfield were in on the play a little.

Then Blue and Festus played chase in the living room. Blue is all over the middle of the room, jumping on the couch, just all over like a crazy kitten. Then Red girl came in, and she and Blue have been wrestling, chasing, and playing together. Now, after about 20 minutes, Red is sitting about 8 feet from me, behind the coffee table, watching me. I have to lean back to see her, but she has a clear view of me. (Now, after watching me for about 5 minutes, she went to the TV to watch a commercial!) She is almost doing what Blue did last night. And Festie is watching both of them, probably trying to see when she can jump in on the game of chase.

So whoever has been praying for my little girls, I want to thank you. I do believe those prayers are starting to work for little Red. I know some people call it vibes, others say it is TCS board magic...but this girl is out from under the bed, having fun. Thank you.

Yayyyy Beckiboo!! See - they learned from the big boys, LOL!!

They sound like SOOO much fun! (But work too, LOL!!)

Ohhh sounds as if they are coming along nicely! I love reading about their progress!

Wow, Becky, that's HUGE!

I'm not sure that 12 week deadline on taming cats is true. Several of the feral cats outside in the gardens of the apartment building I live in, stayed very fearful as long as they were being trained by mom.

Once they were on their own at about five months, they became very affectionate and two were adopted to homes. The third was equally affectionate, but she disappeared before I could find a home for her.

That is good news, that the deadline is not really 12 weeks. I do believe that the earlier they learn to trust humans to better it is. I am very encouraged by the progress so far. I don't think they have to be fully tamed by 12 weeks, but do believe that the sooner they tame the better.

I came home early from work today because ds was sick at school (he's feeling ok now. Curled up in a chair watching TV, with Festie cuddled up keeping him warm.) I found Blue sleeping in dd's bed. After lunch, I tried to give her a piece of meat, but she wouldn't take it from my hand. But when I dropped it on her plate, she and Red ran up and munched it.

These babies are too sweet. When they are relaxed and playing, they are so adorable.

That 12 week rule is a load of garbage, IMO. It will take longer and more patience to socialize an older feral, but it can most certainly be done.

I'm glad these two kittens are starting to act like kittens, and relaxed and playful kittens at that.

Well, Blue is all over my house! I have the dog blocked to one end of the house, so she doesn't accidentally frighten the kittens. My dog Misty is VERY SAD about this, but I feel it is necessary for a short time. Well, Blue has gone down to "the dog zone". I found a little poo on the bathroom floor. We have 2 litterboxes in the bathroom, but something startled her or whatever. This morning she was eating out of the big cat's bowl. And she got on the table and tried to eat dd's breakfast!

She still scoots away if you move towards her, but she approaches us looking for food or play. This morning she and Garfield followed me as I dragged a shoelace. (I like to teach shy kitties to move towards me, and the shoelace or other toy is good for that.)

I didn't see Red this morning, but she came into the "kitten room" for dinner last night. In fact, she stuck her nose in the plate Garfield was eating off from, and he sat back and let her eat. It was pretty funny to see him sit up on a carrier and twitch his tail because he was a little annoyed. Then Blue started playing with his tail. So he turned around to stare at her, and Red started in on his twitching tail! Poor Uncle Garfield, isn't used to all these babies!

I haven't closed the kitten room door for a few days. They spend their days sleeping curled up on dd's bed.

This morning, Blue rubbed against Festus in the hallway, and started purring. Then when I fed her, she rubbed against me and started purring. So I pet her for a bit, then as she started to eat the purring stopped. So I picked her up and cuddled her a bit, and sure enough, she began to purr again. Oh happy day!

She and Red were rocking and rolling like a couple of crazy girls last night. They were playing and running around the front room as I sat at the computer. Red remains pretty shy, but no longer seemed terrified. Next weekend Blue will go to an adoption show, and if a very special person choses her, she will have a new home. Otherwise, she can go stay with other tamer kittens while we continue to work with Red. My plan is to take Blue and Festus, so Blue won't have to be alone in a cage at the show. Poor Festus will miss her when she is gone, because they have really become friends. I know that will be tough on them both, but hopefully this little girl will find a happy home.

I will print out the info on taming ferals for her new family, so they will understand how crucial it is to care for her gently. And I plan to ask the agency if they will microchip Blue and Red, just in case they ever get lost. (A former feral girl of mine was adopted and lost, and I think if she had been microchipped she might turn up in time.)

Thanks all for your ongoing support of these girls. I must say it was very sweet to have Blue cuddle and purr this morning. She is so ready to become part of a very special and caring family!

P.S. I posted a few pics of them in the picture forum. Although the last pic is of them in the cage, they don't really go in it much anymore, except to use a litter box that is still there!
http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71874

Originally Posted by valanhb

That 12 week rule is a load of garbage, IMO. It will take longer and more patience to socialize an older feral, but it can most certainly be done.

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I totally agree that the 12 week rule is wrong. I have living proof of that. My Blackie showed up at about a year old and within 6 months she was a loving sweet little ball of fur. Then there was Sweetie My Mom started to work with her when she was about 6-9 years old and got her to eat out of her hand and play with her but it took about 5 years. Then I moved here and I could pet her after about a year of trying. For the last few years of her life (she just died a couple months ago ) she LOVED being petted!!!! She would prefer attention to food!!!!