Taming 5mo Old Kittens

[Getfuzzy77]

Hi Everyone! This is my first post here, and I need some help taming my 2 5mo feral kittens. I have been lurking and reading other posts/articles and have read a lot of good ideas. Just need some feedback on techniques that have worked for you to get Gerald to relax and get comfy with humans.

Back story-
They were spayed/neutered, tested, and provided their first round of shots around March 20th. They have been inside since they were trapped and seem to be adjusting well. They come out during the evenings and go bonkers with their toys/cat tree! However, they hide whenever they hear us coming (or even walking around the creaky old house). Sometimes we catch them relaxing in the cat tree, but we can’t get within a foot without ears down and eyes as big plates. We have kept the cat carrier (minus door) in the room and they use it as their safe place. We have tried sitting in the room a few times a day for 15-20 minutes to get them used to us. We have tried luring then out of the carrier with treats and wet food to no avail. One will come to the front of the carrier but will play cute and pretend to fall asleep. As soon as we leave they go for the food or snacks we left behind. Nothing will get them to budge. We have definitely seen the 1 step forward, 2 steps back. One day they are fine with us in the room, and the next they are squished in the back of the carrier. Once they get their booster shots we will be taking the carrier out of the room. We have tried petting them (with heavy duty gloves) but they are very much in defense mode and swat, hiss, and growl.

So my question - do we let them come to us (which we are afraid they will be comfortable the rest of their lives keeping their distance from us), or do we continue trying to push the envelope and pet them? They are very curious about us, but will not move more than a step with us around.

Also, we have only had them for 12 days. They were with a friend, and hid under her couch for two weeks before we got them. They have stopped trying to climb the walls or jump through their the window for the most part. We have tried not to make them frantic. The shaking and heavy breathing have stopped for the most part unless we get too close for comfort. Since they are older, how long will they take to come around? I know it varies by cat, but I am hoping to not spend a year or more taming them.

 

[Spookymoo]

It sounds like you're doing the right things, 12 days isn't long! Staying in the room is a good idea so they get used to you, and bribing them with treats is always a winner!

When I'm socialising slightly older kittens I do the same, let them get used to me being in the room first and I also talk to them (reading a book out loud is a way to make it less boring!). I also use treats and food and do it gradually, so firstly let them eat it when not there then I'll stay in the room but far back so they feel safe enough to eat and go closer when it's been a success. Once they'll eat when I'm fairly near I'll use spoons etc to see if they'll take the treat and move to hands when they'e comfortable.

Another good thing to try is playing...most kittens can't resist. Using a long stick based toy or feather is my go to.

Regarding time it really is dependent on the cats sorry! However each time you score a small victory it'll feel fantastic (although be prepared for some set backs, cats will be cats!) and when you do win them round well you'll see for yourself how great that feels!

It's great to see you giving these little guys a chance, and I wish you lots of luck in the socialising process.

 

[Getfuzzy77]

We have tried playing with them. They are intrigued but will not come out of their hidey hole. We can pet them with the end of a long wand and they don’t react. I even tried a laser pointer and they just stared at me. Lol We will try again with the wet food. We tried withholding dry food from them for most of one day so they would be hungry enough for wet food. No avail. They seem to be as stubborn as we are! Their mama taught them well. They were solely nocturnal for the first week we had them. Lately they have been spending more time outside the carrier during the day, so i suppose that’s a plus.

 

[tabbytom]

Getfuzzy77, welcome to TCS

Thank you for adopting these two lovely kitties and for giving them a warm and loving fur-ever home

Agree with what Spookymoo suggessted. To add on, first, you may want to leave a clean used shirt and leave it with them. This is to let them get use to your scents. Once they get used to your scents, they will feel more comfortable with you around. Always talk to them by calling their names in a soft assuring voice and announce your arrival before you enter the room, not in a loud voice but with the same soft loving voice. This is to get them ready to receive you instead of you coming into the room suddenly and giving them a shock.

Keep the routines running, which is very important. Visit and play with them as much as you can and also let them associate you with food. Approach them slow and low (make yourself as small as possible) so that they don’t feel threatened.

If there are some more people besides you in the house, get them to do the same. Get them to feed, play, talk and read to them so that they can get use to all of you.

12 days isn’t long, it may take weeks or months but key here is lots of love, lots of patience and routines and always remember the one step forward and two steps back. Win their trust and we hope both you and the kitties make good progress.

Feel free to ask questions and please keep us posted

 

[msaimee]

You have made fantastic progress in just 12 days!,It's wonderful that you have provided them with a cat tree, I have two in my house, and one of them is in the safe room that I use when socializing a new cat. It provides them with height and cubby holes to hide in, but you can still see them and try to interact with them. Also provide them with cat toys, they tend to love the ones filled with catnip. It takes a lot longer than 12 days to socialize feral kittens. It may take several weeks. Patience and consistency is the key. The last feral kitten I took in was about 4 months old, and it was 5 months before I could pet and handle her. She bonded with my other 4 cats long before she bonded with me. I've had her over two years now, and she is the most loving and affectionate of my five cats. It takes a lot of patience to socialize feral kittens, but it is very well worth it. Keep doing what you're doing, and be patient. It also helps to be relaxed in their presence, and to let go of some of your expectations and timetables for them. Cats are very perceptive and can sense when we are stressed. In addition to talking softly, many cats respond to soft singing. I have a special song I made up for each of my cats. They each know their songs and will come to me when I start singing them. Thank you for rescuing these kittens and giving them a beautiful life. Six months from now, when it is winter and cold outside, and your cats are snuggled up on your bed, you will be very happy for rescuing them. At least, that's how I feel about mine.

 

[Getfuzzy77]

Thank you, everyone! We had a break through yesterday - they ate their treats in front of me and one of them played for a bit! I pushed two treats over to them with a long wand cat toy and they at them in front of me. I decided to see if I could get them to play with me, and one of them did! I was able to sit about 3 feet from them, and coax the playful one away from it's hiding spot for a few moments. At least, until it realized I was still sitting there and retreated. It was a great step forward!

Unfortunately, we tried taking them to the vet this morning for their booster shots. It didn't go well. The waiting room was very crowded and someone had their very hyper dog running around and barking. I'm sure it terrified the poor kittens more than they already were. The vet attempted to grab one of the kittens (the more feisty of the two) and it freaked out on him. He decided to not push it, since it might traumatize them and they may never forget the experience. He gave us sedatives to give them next time we wanted to bring them in. He told us to give them time and try to socialize them more before trying again. Since it's a booster shot and they are not around any other animals, it's not critical for them to receive it right away. The kittens have since been returned to their room and are back in their tree watching out the window. Hopefully they will forgive us for the traumatic experience we won't take too many steps backwards.

Really excited about yesterday, but also a little defeated from the vet today. I certainly don't blame them for being scared out of their minds, but hoping they will continue to progress.

 

[tabbytom]

Great to hear that they are slowly coming out from hiding and gaining confidence. Keep doing what you are doing and don’t give up.

As for vet’s visit, I usually don’t stay in the clinic. I’ll hang around outside the clinic where it’s quiet with no dogs barking and sniffing and running about till my number is called.

Get a carrier with an open top. It’s easier to load them in and also easier for the vet to reach them if they refuse to be carried out and you can hold them still while the the vet still can do certain checks and vaccinate or give them an injection.

Leave the carrier out so that they can play in it and get use to it.

 

[msaimee]

Even if you have a carrier without an open-top, most carriers have plastic screws around the sides which can be removed so that the top can be taken off. This is what I did with one of my feral kittens during a vet visit. Another option is to stay in the car with the cats and ask the vet tech to call you when it's time for your kitties to be seen. Hopefully your kitties are over theur upset. Cats tend to be forgiving about vet visits. Research and ask lots of questions about the sedative that was prescribed, there are sometimes risks involved, you want to be as well informed as possible. It sounds like you are doing a great job

 

[theyremine]

Relax and enjoy the journey! With time, patience, and love, you will be successful. My little black clowder is made up of 4 former ferals. Trapped at 5 to 7 months, each one socialized at his/her own pace. It may take several months or even longer, but one day, you too will be sitting with a cat purring in your lap and it will feel so good because of that special journey you shared. Thank you for loving and caring for "older" feral kittens.

My vet has actually given one of mine her shots right in the carrier. Just opened the top and examined her in the carrier. I do use the Sherpa carriers as my cats seem more relaxed in them.

 

[surya]

I spent some time socializing some three month old kittens. I'm sure it depends somewhat on the kitties personality, but I found it best to let them come to you and not force anything on them. Lot's of playtime is good and it sounds like you are doing that. Whenever I fed them, they were required to be petted, so they associate that with food. Lot's of treats to be rewarded for being friendly during playtime. My two kitties loved to play with this circular cat scratcher toy, like this:
Bergan Star Chaser Turbo Scratcher Cat Toy, Color Varies

I would be on one side spinning the ball, and they would hit it with their paws when it stopped on their side. It was fun.

 

[Getfuzzy77]

That you for the encouragement, everyone! I looked at top load carriers, but many of them did not have good reviews. The vet put on thick gloves and went for the first kitten. As soon as he set it on the scale, off it went into a corner!

They seem to be getting back to normal, slowly. I have tried giving them treats, but they just sniff and look at me. I have tried playing, but they aren't interested. They seem to be most content in the corner behind the cat tree. They still come out to play night and still make quite a ruckus. We put tint on the window in their room the other day, since it gets pretty hot in there when the sun shines in. They enjoy watching birds and activity outside, so we didn't want to put a curtain or shades up. Anyway, they were a little frightened, but didn't try to cimb the walls or run from us any time we moved.

We still get hissed at if we are within a foot or 2 and move our hands too quickly. I haven't tried to see how close I can get my hand before they swat and hiss. I have tried petting them with the end of a cat toy wand (it's about 2' in length). They sniff it, and tolerate the nose boops, but ears go down if I try to pet their head or back.

They are so adorable, I just want to pet them and love on them, but I know it will be months before that is even possible. I'm hoping they will start to come around a little more. I also don't plan on using the dog sedatives at all. They seem too large for the kittens to swallow right now, and we would need to handle them regardless, which is not an option right now.

 

[marmoset]

Don't worry too much about the bad first experience at the vet. My last group of rescued kittens had one was wild and bit the tech through the gloves and she pooped and peed all over. They were about 3 months old and got trapped from outdoors- maybe closer to 4 months at that point and had been with me for about three weeks.

A few months later, after a lot of work and one on one time with the fearful kitten she was fine with the vet. She's now at our no-kill shelter and doing nicely. She doesn't approach new people but is certainly happy when they come to her and offer pets. She is even more sweet because she took extra work and is now used to long periods of attention and she will seek it out.

Older kittens just take more time. Some are easy and some are going to hold-out.

 

[Getfuzzy77]

We had a breakthrough last night! The feisty one (who apparently is the hungriest kitty I've ever seen lately) got up to eat treats I put down while I was sitting there. Big step forward! Usually they wait until I leave before they eat the treats. This one actually got up and walked a few steps over to the treat and didn't keep an eye on me the whole time. They are still unsure about us when we first walk in - most likely because the floor boards make a lot of noise. They are becoming more active during the day and eating throughout the day instead of solely at night.

My only concern is the other kitten getting enough food. We have 2 food bowls out, and the other kitten does not show any aggression towards the other if it goes to eat. I'm hoping it's just a personality thing where it is more shy and not as active as the other. They both play with each other, and we have seen it eating. It just doesn't eat nearly as much as the other.

 

[Getfuzzy77]

Hi Everyone! Now that we have had the kittens for about a month and half, I figured I would send an update, and perhaps ask for a little advice.

The kittens seem much more relaxed around us, so definitely a plus! No more hissing, shaking, and heavy breathing. They are mostly relaxed in the evenings when we break out the toy wands and they get riled up running around the room to catch the toys. They are also obsessed with the moving thing under the blanket! They disregard me sitting next to it, and will even run around the room to pounce on it. I tried playing with my hand with the boy, but he plays with his claws out so that was a mistake on my part. I have been trying to get them used to being touched by the end of the toy wand. They're in play mode, though, so everything is a swat or nip.

My concerns: They are very food motivated, but will not come out during the day to eat when we refill their bowls. They will empty their bowls by 9pm and we feed them again at 7am, so they are on a schedule. However, the male will come out and eat wet food or treats during our play time at night. Just not during any other time. Usually when I get up to leave, they will run and hide in their corner or under their cat tree. After play time last night, they stayed where they were and didn't seem very concerned I was standing up and moving around the room (across the room from them anyway - 4-5' away). My question - how do we get over the hump of them being too scared to come out during the day (they have started playing during the day, but I am at work so I can't join in the fun). They are perfectly content in their corner and will nod off to sleep while I'm in there. No amount of coaxing, wet food, or treats will get them out of their safe place. Toys won't even entice them during the day.