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- Jul 28, 2015
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We are guardians for a stray/feral calico cat (some of you may have heard the details), but she started hanging around probably when she first got pregnant, but when we decided she was for sure pregnant, and she wasn't running off all the time, my daughter brought her indoors about 2 weeks before she was due. She miscarried some of the babies, and only one kitten was born to this litter. Theodore. Theo is now 4.5 weeks old and seems to be in good health. He is in that clumsy stage still, but he is curious, and exploring, eating well from mom and graduating to Stage 2 KMR.
We have 2 resident cats. The resident cats, and the momma cat do not get along, at all, not even a little bit. When we bring Theo out, the resident cats hiss at him. They have not been given an opportunity to pounce on him, but they have made it clear they are not interested in befriending the poor little guy... probably because he smells like his mother, and she is flat out mean. If she catches a glimpse of the resident cats, she will do her best to escape whatever is enclosing her and try to kill them. When he is on the floor scampering about and the resident cats are out, they watch him, if he gets to close, they hiss at him, and the look on their faces say they wouldn't mind eating him. We are scared to just "see" what they will do.
We really want to socialize the kitten and get him used to our cats, but we don't want him to have a bad experience and hate other cats as much as him mom does. My daughter has been handling the baby just about since he was born, and momma cat is okay with that, but if I come in the room and play with him, she will chase him under the bed. The first time I go, if momma isn't around, I can call him and he will come running, but if momma is in the room, he will not even come out.
Any tips for socializing him - introducing him to our resident cats, and is it normal for him to hide from humans at this age? The mom has come a long way towards being people friendly. She seems to enjoy human companionship, likes to be petted, just doesn't like to be picked up. She still growls the whole time she is eating, and is very skittish about noises or sudden movements. When Theo is weaned, is she going to be nicer, or meaner? She is not spayed yet... we are waiting till Theo is weaned and they can have their first vet appts together.
We have 2 resident cats. The resident cats, and the momma cat do not get along, at all, not even a little bit. When we bring Theo out, the resident cats hiss at him. They have not been given an opportunity to pounce on him, but they have made it clear they are not interested in befriending the poor little guy... probably because he smells like his mother, and she is flat out mean. If she catches a glimpse of the resident cats, she will do her best to escape whatever is enclosing her and try to kill them. When he is on the floor scampering about and the resident cats are out, they watch him, if he gets to close, they hiss at him, and the look on their faces say they wouldn't mind eating him. We are scared to just "see" what they will do.
We really want to socialize the kitten and get him used to our cats, but we don't want him to have a bad experience and hate other cats as much as him mom does. My daughter has been handling the baby just about since he was born, and momma cat is okay with that, but if I come in the room and play with him, she will chase him under the bed. The first time I go, if momma isn't around, I can call him and he will come running, but if momma is in the room, he will not even come out.
Any tips for socializing him - introducing him to our resident cats, and is it normal for him to hide from humans at this age? The mom has come a long way towards being people friendly. She seems to enjoy human companionship, likes to be petted, just doesn't like to be picked up. She still growls the whole time she is eating, and is very skittish about noises or sudden movements. When Theo is weaned, is she going to be nicer, or meaner? She is not spayed yet... we are waiting till Theo is weaned and they can have their first vet appts together.