My cat had kittens a few weeks ago and one of kittens is terrified of every thing. It is so hard to catch the little guy. When I finally did he started biting and scratching the crap out of my hands. Pls help
This is the way a good rescuer friend does it - who has socialized MANY cats over the years.
You may need to cage this little guy.
If he is nursing - you'll have to cage mom, too. (You'll need a bigger cage!)
Don't get one TOO big, as you will need to access him in the cage.
You can use this technique – ONLY IF YOU HAVE TIME TO WORK WITH HIM IN THE CAGE. If he's left alone in there too much - he could get even worse.
The best way to "socialize" a feral cat is to keep him in the cage until he is able to be handled.
This can be weeks - or months! But, you end up with a friendly cat - who can experience love from people.
And, you can - and should - allow the other cats/kittens to play with him through the cage. He needs to socialize with them too.
You may want to put a small corrugated cardboard box in the cage - which he may like for climbing, sleeping, or hiding!
The best place to keep the cage – is in a room that is “lived in a lot” – by you, family, friends. So, he becomes used to the sights and sounds of people.
Keep the litter box in the FRONT - near the cage entrance - so you can access it without being attacked - or letting him out. If he's afraid of you - he'll MOST LIKELY stay at the back of the cage when you change litter.
THE SOCIALIZATION APPROACH:
You should feed him ENTICING food by hand in the cage (Through the bars at first!). Use something really tasty - like Roast Chicken, Tuna Fish (Not often for Tuna!), at first. But, give him some catfood too in the cage - so he doesn't refuse catfood later on - and - because he is a kitten, he needs to eat MANY TIMES A DAY. Young Kittens need food ALL DAY LONG, as their stomachs are small - and cannot hold enough food in one feeding - to nurture them properly)
You soon should be able to feed him with your hand INSIDE the cage.
As he becomes less frightened - start to touch him gently. Pet him more and more as he & you get more comfortable with each other,
And, while he's in the cage - play with him. The best bet to start with, I think - is a Cat-Dancer (The plain one with cardboard ends is like best). I have not found a cat yet who can resist this. And - it will work through the bars. And - he will learn to play WITH YOU. The other kittens & mom – will probably join in too! (Don't hang toys by strings in the cage. A kitten could get the string wrapped around his throat - and strangle)
When he is comfortable with being petted - and being picked up - he's ready to come out!
But, I would keep him limited to one room at first if you can (the room the cage is in) - so this scaredy-cat can get used to his new environment slowly. You may want to keep the cage there, too, with the door kept open. The mom & other kittens should be in that room too.
And, it's possible that just keeping him in a cage - will make him feel more secure.
Many frightened cats - when introduced into a new home with other animals - feel safer in a cage - because they have their own territory where no one can "attack" them.
Cats do not necessarily look upon cages as "prisons". They can be "Safe Havens'.