- Joined
- Dec 28, 2018
- Messages
- 175
- Purraise
- 330
It has been a while since I've had an active colony, and I've never really tried to tame properly feral kittens. Molly's last litter might technically have counted, but since we started gently handling them before their eyes even opened, I can't really apply much of the work I did with them to the current litter I'm working with.
Mama cat has basically tamed already. She (sometimes) comes when called, lets me pet her, purrs when picked up, and is basically acting like a pet cat at this point. The kittens on the other hand....well...let's say gloves were a very, very good investment. They are still so small they can slip through the 2 inch holes in the catio wire, and were showing no signs of taming down as I tried to tempt them with food while they were still able to escape. While I have spent many hours quietly sitting in the catio with food out, often petting mama, the kittens dart under the catio at first sign of humans, and will stay under there until humans go away, even with mama calling for them. I've not managed to stay out there for more than four hours in a row, but I feel safe calling these VERY skittish kittens!
It has been getting dangerously hot, so I finally decided to stop waiting and start catching. Three of the five kittens are currently in a large crate with food, water, litter and a box to hide in. I should be able to catch the last two in the next couple of days. I've been seeing a lot of conflicting advice for how to tame a full litter of kittens. A number of suggestions have been to separate the kittens so they are all in their own crate/cage/kennel, so they bond with people faster. As close as the kittens seem, this feels....mean? They like to huddle together in a multicolored ball of fluff most days, and cry for hours if separated. I also don't really have the funds to buy five separate crates and the accessories needed. They are about 7-8 weeks old, and don't seem to be anywhere near two pounds yet, despite unlimited access to kitten food that they eat ravenously.
Today I left a guided meditation for insomniacs running while I left for work, with a soothing female voice talking and quiet, relaxing music. The crate is visible from my living room, and partially covered with a sheet to let them feel less exposed. I sit in the living room part of the day, talking soothingly to them when they squeak, and have had several sessions of petting and giving treats to mama just outside the crate. If I can tame them down, I have potential homes already lined up for most of them after I get them fixed, but I don't feel comfortable trying to home them while they are this feral. Any suggestions/advice?
Mama cat has basically tamed already. She (sometimes) comes when called, lets me pet her, purrs when picked up, and is basically acting like a pet cat at this point. The kittens on the other hand....well...let's say gloves were a very, very good investment. They are still so small they can slip through the 2 inch holes in the catio wire, and were showing no signs of taming down as I tried to tempt them with food while they were still able to escape. While I have spent many hours quietly sitting in the catio with food out, often petting mama, the kittens dart under the catio at first sign of humans, and will stay under there until humans go away, even with mama calling for them. I've not managed to stay out there for more than four hours in a row, but I feel safe calling these VERY skittish kittens!
It has been getting dangerously hot, so I finally decided to stop waiting and start catching. Three of the five kittens are currently in a large crate with food, water, litter and a box to hide in. I should be able to catch the last two in the next couple of days. I've been seeing a lot of conflicting advice for how to tame a full litter of kittens. A number of suggestions have been to separate the kittens so they are all in their own crate/cage/kennel, so they bond with people faster. As close as the kittens seem, this feels....mean? They like to huddle together in a multicolored ball of fluff most days, and cry for hours if separated. I also don't really have the funds to buy five separate crates and the accessories needed. They are about 7-8 weeks old, and don't seem to be anywhere near two pounds yet, despite unlimited access to kitten food that they eat ravenously.
Today I left a guided meditation for insomniacs running while I left for work, with a soothing female voice talking and quiet, relaxing music. The crate is visible from my living room, and partially covered with a sheet to let them feel less exposed. I sit in the living room part of the day, talking soothingly to them when they squeak, and have had several sessions of petting and giving treats to mama just outside the crate. If I can tame them down, I have potential homes already lined up for most of them after I get them fixed, but I don't feel comfortable trying to home them while they are this feral. Any suggestions/advice?