Cute Animal Thread
- Thread starter Colonel_Angus
- Start date
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Today is two weeks since we adopted these little cuties. They are getting more and more bold, especially in the mornings...but they are still easily spooked and run and hide at a creaky floor or other noises. I haven't played drums since we brought them in, but at some point they will need to experience that.
MsLoganHenney
Active Member
When I foster skittish kittens I usually play the radio for them, usually keep it on an NPR type station that has more talking and less sudden noises. I’ve found this helps them get used to different human voices even if a person isn't actually in the room. That way when we are in their space they aren't jumping and running away at every noise we make, because they got used to a quiet house.
tvham
Well-Known Member
Ha, if that was a cat there's no way Polly would be that calm!
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Wow, cool, that's an excellent idea. Thank you!When I foster skittish kittens I usually play the radio for them, usually keep it on an NPR type station that has more talking and less sudden noises. I’ve found this helps them get used to different human voices even if a person isn't actually in the room. That way when we are in their space they aren't jumping and running away at every noise we make, because they got used to a quiet house.
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
@MsLoganHenney
We are dealing with a couple things that we could really use some advice on...I'd love your input since it sounds like you have some experience with feral and/or skittish kittens. If you're comfortable with that we can chat here or I could DM.
We are dealing with a couple things that we could really use some advice on...I'd love your input since it sounds like you have some experience with feral and/or skittish kittens. If you're comfortable with that we can chat here or I could DM.
Mather
Unknown Member
Please tell me this is a friend's farm that will not eat him in the future...
Tys1
Well-Known Member
Why did you have to go and remind me how delicious duck is.
Now I feel terrible. Alas, the person taking him in spent all evening yesterday building him a home and picking up some chicklings to keep him company until it's big enough to be introduced to her adult ducks. Ducky will be in good hands
Mather
Unknown Member
You started with "alas".... You trying to hurt me?Why did you have to go and remind me how delicious duck is.
Alas, the person taking him in spent all evening yesterday building him a home and picking up some chicklings to keep him company until it's big enough to be introduced to her adult ducks. Ducky will be in good hands
MsLoganHenney
Active Member
Sorry I missed your message. Doing a BTS weekend with some friends.
I’ll help where I can. What are your questions?
ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Well, one of them peed outside the box, in a different room. That was three days ago and we haven't seen it happen again, so we hope it was just a moment of stress. Our hunch it was the boy. (Zyggy)I’ll help where I can. What are your questions?
The other thing is, Zyggy has gotten less and less trusting with us over three weeks instead of the other way around. He comes in the room when his sister Penny does, and plays a little, but he won't let us pet him, and we definitely were able to pet him within two days of him getting here so that seems odd.
He's eating well and all that, so we just have to assume he had some kind of reset and that our being patient will pay off.
These are feral cats, about 5 to 6 months old, born outside to a feral mother, so we knew it would be tricky...and that's certainly true so far.
I guess my question is - do you have any tips that will help them (and especially Zyg) settle in?
MsLoganHenney
Active Member
Fair question! It can definitely be frustrating when feral/skittish kittens don’t progress or in this case go backward. I have a few questions:
- Do they have free access to the whole house?
-- If they do, I would try to limit them to a room if possible. I usually do that with my fosters. Unless I use a large enclosed playpen for them in a common area. The reason is you want to get them slowly used to you and your household. The smells, sounds, and routine. This will also give them fewer areas/space to run away or hide. I’m not saying trap them in a corner and force attention on them. But it’s hard to interact with them if they leave the room as soon as you enter. Plus, less likely to have accidents as they learn the layout of the house, and forget where their litter boxes are.
- Do you give them any treats or canned food?
-- Food is a great tool to use as a motivator and reward for cats too. So they only get them when you're in the room with them. At 6-ish months, they don't really need a free flow of food (unless the vet says they do to gain weight, etc). So mealtimes can be a good opportunity to help them associate you with something good (yummy food giver).
Which leads to the next question...
- How much one-on-one time do you spend with them?
-- For the socializing part, it depends on what works best for the kitten. I will usually sit down on the floor and hang out with them in their room after I feed them. I usually leave a radio on during the day (hide the cords from kitten teeth!) for reasons I already stated. I will also talk to them or read a book out loud so they are used to my voice too. I also use play as another chance to get them out of their shell. Wands are good for kittens that want to play but are shy about getting close. Grooming with a soft brush or old toothbrush helps too. If they are really spicy then a kitten burrito is going to be your friend and safety for both you and the kitten. Wrap them up and pat that bum! Not sure about the science but it works! Also still groom them and offer treats when wrapped. I also like to use the friendlier kittens as an example of “I'm not going to hurt you or eat you” but the main focus should be the feral kitten.
- Do you have any dirty laundry?
-- This might sound weird but I always use this for worse cases. I use a worn shirt or pillowcase of mine and place it either next to their food bowl or in their favorite bed. Cats are all about smelling stuff. The same way we want to get them used to our voice, presence, and touch - our scent is just as, if not more, important. That positive association making and familiarization are small actions with a big impact. I know some think “they’re in my house, my smell is everywhere” but our body scent is different from the variety of scents our homes can contain.
Here are some other resources that I used when first learning about fostering spicy kittens.
(1)
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(3)
I hope this is helpful! Remember to be patient with yourself and them. They’re learning too. Finally, keep in mind each kitten has their own personality. The sister might be naturally more friendly and affectionate and the brother takes a little longer to warm up to people. Good luck! Let me know if you have anymore questions.
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ranbalam
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the thoughtful and thorough reply. Sometimes I think that I am way overthinking this, then other times I worry because...well, I guess it's my nature to worry about animals. And I've never been through this...my wife had cats when we met so they were already fairly normal house cats when they moved in...although the female was tricky for awhile back then now that I think about it.
The laundry idea is a good one, or maybe a couch blanket, that was my wife's thought.
We noticed it's changing every couple of days. This morning Zyg was all around my wife's feet purring as she did morning stuff before work, and he acquiesced to some petting...other times we can tell he wants to come close but his instincts make them him pretty jumpy still. Both of them actually, because our house is old and noisy.
Speaking of noise...at some point I need to hop on my drum kit, haha...I don't want to terrorize them but that will be something they'll have to get used to. Luckily if they are on the top floor, it's a ways away from my kit in the basement studio.
Thanks again for this...I'll check those vids out too.
Now they do. We kept them in our office on the main floor for the first week, then gave them room to roam. They have taken residence under the guest bed upstairs and stay up there for large parts of the day.
They seem to eat overnight most of the time, so we leave a bowl of kibble, then treats in the morning or before bed, which are the two times they are most active. Wet food every once in awhile, but they don't seem to love it.
Just a little time here and there. We try to let them make up their stubborn minds, as far as when they want to hang out. The wand toys are perfect we noticed, because they can stay away cautiously but still play.
The laundry idea is a good one, or maybe a couch blanket, that was my wife's thought.
We noticed it's changing every couple of days. This morning Zyg was all around my wife's feet purring as she did morning stuff before work, and he acquiesced to some petting...other times we can tell he wants to come close but his instincts make them him pretty jumpy still. Both of them actually, because our house is old and noisy.
Speaking of noise...at some point I need to hop on my drum kit, haha...I don't want to terrorize them but that will be something they'll have to get used to. Luckily if they are on the top floor, it's a ways away from my kit in the basement studio.
Thanks again for this...I'll check those vids out too.
