Hi. I recently (3 days ago) adopted two kittens from a shelter. Their mother was feral and she was trapped and released while the babies were out in a cage for adoption. Male and female (twins) both are fixed. We have been keeping them in a large play enclosure with litter box, toys, food and water.
So here is the problem…
Male hisses every time we approach him. He might do it once or several times. Almost immediately he will allow us to pet him. Whole body, we can tough his head, face, paws, tail and stroke his whole body. Yesterday day 2 he started purring. But the hissing!!!
Female does not hiss and will also slow petting.
she tends to be more playful and purrs very loudly but absolutely will not be picked up.
I have tons of scratches on my hands from trying to hold them. Both will eat treats out of my hand.
Did I adopt them too old? Will this behavior change? Is it just they they are new and scared? The shelter said “they’ve come a long way” but now I’m worried about what they really means. The hissing is very worrisome and I hope they’ll grow to be loving lap cats.
So here is the problem…
Male hisses every time we approach him. He might do it once or several times. Almost immediately he will allow us to pet him. Whole body, we can tough his head, face, paws, tail and stroke his whole body. Yesterday day 2 he started purring. But the hissing!!!
Female does not hiss and will also slow petting.
she tends to be more playful and purrs very loudly but absolutely will not be picked up.
I have tons of scratches on my hands from trying to hold them. Both will eat treats out of my hand.
Did I adopt them too old? Will this behavior change? Is it just they they are new and scared? The shelter said “they’ve come a long way” but now I’m worried about what they really means. The hissing is very worrisome and I hope they’ll grow to be loving lap cats.