Hello All,
I am new to this site. I have been fostering for our local shelter for five years, so I am an experienced cat caregiver. I usually foster pregnant momma cats and kittens or cats/kittens who need medical care. Our shelter recently seized a couple of pregnant feral cats who delivered in my home. They each have their own bedroom. Door shut and everything they need in the room. One hidy spot (bed) in each room. I am feeling a little defeated. I fear these two feral moms will be my first failures.
One who has three kittens now, still will not eat in my presence. She does eat well, use her litter box, and seems quite content when there is no human in the room. (I have security cameras in each room, so I can watch them without being in the room). I have tried treats, chicken baby food, roast beef, etc., and she refuses to eat in my presence. She basically shuts down when I am in the room, so much so that I could pet her. She is a good momma and is caring for her babies just fine, although they are old enough to wean and I am starting to feed them a little canned.
The other momma is much more aggressive. She has actually gone into attack mode twice. I now use a "shield" (tote container lid) to protect my legs when in her room. She will eat in my presence and is also using her litter box and caring very well for her babies. Again, when there is no human in the room, she seems content. She will care for babes and even play with her toys. She will stay out of her hidy bed/nest now when I enter the room. I always call to her to let her know I am about to enter the room before I go in. Before she would get into her bed when I told her I was coming in. Now, she does not. (I am hoping that is a step forward). However, she hisses and growls as I put her food down (hence, my handy shield as twice she came at my legs swinging).
Luckily, both litters of babies do not seem to be learning their mom's feral ways. Both litters great me at the door and are becoming very well socialized. They crawl on my lap and play, etc. Both mom cats watch us touch/play with babies, so I am hoping that will help.
I use Feliway spray on bedding in both rooms. I feed Royal Canin Kitten Development canned and Royal Canin Calm kibble (hoping this would help).
If anyone has any other suggestions, I would sure be happy to hear them!
I am new to this site. I have been fostering for our local shelter for five years, so I am an experienced cat caregiver. I usually foster pregnant momma cats and kittens or cats/kittens who need medical care. Our shelter recently seized a couple of pregnant feral cats who delivered in my home. They each have their own bedroom. Door shut and everything they need in the room. One hidy spot (bed) in each room. I am feeling a little defeated. I fear these two feral moms will be my first failures.
One who has three kittens now, still will not eat in my presence. She does eat well, use her litter box, and seems quite content when there is no human in the room. (I have security cameras in each room, so I can watch them without being in the room). I have tried treats, chicken baby food, roast beef, etc., and she refuses to eat in my presence. She basically shuts down when I am in the room, so much so that I could pet her. She is a good momma and is caring for her babies just fine, although they are old enough to wean and I am starting to feed them a little canned.
The other momma is much more aggressive. She has actually gone into attack mode twice. I now use a "shield" (tote container lid) to protect my legs when in her room. She will eat in my presence and is also using her litter box and caring very well for her babies. Again, when there is no human in the room, she seems content. She will care for babes and even play with her toys. She will stay out of her hidy bed/nest now when I enter the room. I always call to her to let her know I am about to enter the room before I go in. Before she would get into her bed when I told her I was coming in. Now, she does not. (I am hoping that is a step forward). However, she hisses and growls as I put her food down (hence, my handy shield as twice she came at my legs swinging).
Luckily, both litters of babies do not seem to be learning their mom's feral ways. Both litters great me at the door and are becoming very well socialized. They crawl on my lap and play, etc. Both mom cats watch us touch/play with babies, so I am hoping that will help.
I use Feliway spray on bedding in both rooms. I feed Royal Canin Kitten Development canned and Royal Canin Calm kibble (hoping this would help).
If anyone has any other suggestions, I would sure be happy to hear them!