Topic: Advice needed re: stray anxious stray kitten (Read 5937 times)

kathleen21 · « **Reply #25 on:** April 14, 2011, 21:39:31 PM »

Hi

Yes - mum has been spayed. I would love to get them inside on a permenant basis; but not sure if thats going to be a go-er with my other half who has never expressed any interest in being a human to a cat. And has spent £1000s on leather furniture! But, he is happy for them to come in and out visiting when we are home and for them to have a permenant home in our "out house type thing". I am hoping he will change his mind in long term ...

While I have got you knowledgeable cat people here - they both are both sneezy and snuffling - I have taken Mum to vets who said its cat flu but as she doesn't have a temperature and is eating that she didn't need antibiotics. Told me to keep an eye on them and if it got worse then I could go and get the antibiotics. They aren't getting worse - but they not getting any better either ... is there anything I can give them to help their little immune systems along. They both still eating and generally playing - but still sneezing and snuffling.

Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ · « **Reply #24 on:** April 13, 2011, 19:06:14 PM »

She is yep, back in the first post. Was such a long time ago, I'd forgotten. Should have checked back, sorry *hug*

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #23 on:** April 13, 2011, 18:41:01 PM »

I think mum has been caught and spayed Steff

Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ · « **Reply #22 on:** April 13, 2011, 18:21:05 PM »

I'm glad Gill answered about the bells, as I have no idea. All mine are chipped and indoor cats so they don't have collars

My two feral kittens were scared by my OH's voice to start with and still are a little bit. Now that they are in the house, they are a lot more settled and has gotten used to the normal household routine and noises. They even come downstairs when we have visitors!! They are very much bonded with me though and follow me round like a shadow but I was effectively their mum for the 3 months I had them in the shed.

If you were able to borrow and trap and get them set up in the house, it would definitely speed up the taming process as well as stop anymore kittens being produced by mum or created by son

I understand that not everyone is in the position to do something like this but if you do want to, we will all help with advise. I'm not a rescue and had no experience with ferals before but someone told me about this little family living behind a hotel and I couldn't just leave them. I went every evening to feed them and check out the situation for about 2 weeks. Borrowed the trap and a pen from CP...and the rest is history :D

Gill (sneakiefeline) · « **Reply #21 on:** April 12, 2011, 23:48:43 PM »

Cats learn to move without the bell ringing so two no more use than 100s lol.

Only the birds can help by keeping a better lookout and of course they are nesting and stuff right now.

Does she eat the birds or is it just hunting for fun?

Maybe a toy like da bird may help if you can play with her.

kathleen21 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 12, 2011, 21:46:48 PM »

Hi

Only for visits at the minute - kitten still getting v freaked out when you try and close the door to keep him in. So, they got a house outside where they are dry and warm and coming in for visits on an evening or during the day when we are about. Hobbes (the kitten) still v nervous around my partner (I think the deep voice scares him) and he runs away whenever he is around - but will happily potter about me when I am on my own. As long as there is no touching!!

Its going to be a long haul. But I suppose for strays - they do have somewhere warm and dry; food; toys; healthcare - and humans who want to be friends - so it could be worse!

Thanks for asking and caring though ...

While I'm here - any advice on how to minimise mum killing birds - we are averaging 2 a day at the minute - even with a collar and two bells. ... Now I know how they survived before finding us!!! Will the 2 bells harm her hearing in anyway?

Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ · « **Reply #19 on:** April 12, 2011, 17:50:37 PM »

Hi Kathleen, any update? Have you managed to get them inside?

Liz · « **Reply #18 on:** March 23, 2011, 21:55:24 PM »

meet the Clan kittens Charlie, Echo and Pagan - guess who is the feral!!!!

kathleen21 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 23, 2011, 21:17:55 PM »

Thank you v much for all the advice - and for those of you who have explained what intensive socialisation means ... as I have said - I am a newbie to cats ... though have always wanted one since being a little girl - so got my own way eventually!!!

I am amazed at the resilience of these little cats. Calvin (Mum) actually found a hole in the wall of our house where an old air brick has crumbled away and moved herself and her kitten under the house - so we actually had them under our floorboards!! She cleverly found somewhere warm (all the heat of storage heaters) and dry. They couldve been there for a couple of weeks before we spotted them and started feeding them. I think its amazing how she found it. We have a v high garden fence and so its not the type of garden that cats routinely pass through ... She's a clever little thing!!

I would love to get Hobbes to vets as soon as poss - to get him neutered and to make sure his general health is ok after being outside during the winter. As its going to be a way off before I can handle him (shame - I'm desperate to be friends ... he looks as though he has the most gorgeous coat to stroke) - possibly a trap is the way to go?

Liz · « **Reply #16 on:** March 23, 2011, 21:01:41 PM »

ou could try putting an open cat box with a bed in it so he gets used to the idea it can be a nice place to sleep - we have 3 with no doors in various locations as some of my domestics like to sleep in them

StreetKatzRescue · « **Reply #15 on:** March 23, 2011, 20:47:57 PM »

Hi Kathleen I don't know where you are based and if you have any cat rescue groups nearby but they may be able to lend you a kitten trap and/or give you some assistance. Kitten traps are not automatic and so are not so clanky and scary although, to be fair, all trapping is stressful. A large towel or blanket to cover the trap calms the cat - a bit like covering a parrot cage to silence the bird

Personally, I would strongly suggest you have Hobbes neutered asap. In my experience, it calms hormones down and, while all cats are different, many semi-ferals tame down brilliantly with their fosterer/owner in due course. The younger the better though. Keeping Hobbes indoors for a few weeks or longer would be a good option - you don't have to take time off work but confine him to one room with litter tray etc and radio on so he gets used to voices. Lots of toys on rods/wands are good to interact with scaredy cats - saves your fingers!

As others have said, Calvin, who seems tamer, can be vaccinated as she seems ok to be handled. (Initial vaccinations are in 2 stages, 3-4 weeks apart.) Bearing this in mind, if Hobbes is not going to be easily picked up again, probably no point in doing an initial vaccination at the time of neutering if he won't make the second stage... Best to wait until he is tamer.

Feliway plug in is a great idea. There is also a Feliway travel spray which is good to spray in cat carriers. I'd wait on the Felifriend spray for now - it's brilliant but it doesn't sound like Hobbes is ready to be handled so perhaps it's a bit superfluous for the time being.

Sounds like this pair have landed on their feet. Pics pls!!

Feline Costumier · « **Reply #14 on:** March 23, 2011, 20:47:41 PM »

When we say intensive socialising, it doesn't need to be a full-time occupation

I worked full-time when I did it, as does Steff

It's more about giving him long periods of time around people and their day to day noises and letting him really see that humans are actually rather lovely

Liz · « **Reply #13 on:** March 23, 2011, 20:35:33 PM »

Trapping can be traumatic for kittens especially ferals - I have 30 odd living in my home they range from nice to very nasty and do regular trapping to keep the ones who turn up here under control - we seem to have a sign here and I get about 4 a year some decie they want to stay on the inside and others go happily back outside and live in our single garage and wendyhouse where they get food and shelter and heat pads

If they are eating wet food another idea is Zylkene which takes the edge of the ferals and also some rescue remedy in the water bowl will help to

Feel free to look at the Clan cats on the forum and you will see some of my clan members

kathleen21 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 23, 2011, 19:47:38 PM »

Thank you very much for the advice so far.

I would have to give some thought to the bringing him inside for an intensive period - it would take some re-organisation of life and home and couldn't happen immediately as would need to book time off work ... but is not out of the question ...

He will come in and out at the minute following his mum and did fall asleep on the chair today - so Im figuring he must feel comfortable to a certain level??? I think I will get one of the feli-away plug ins to put in lounge anyway - it might have some benefit when he is pottering in and out. Today he was watching me stroke his mum while she was sitting on my knee - and he had such a perplexed look on his face. Bless him ...

A friend has suggested a feral trap as a way of catching him without forcing him into a box to enable us to get him to the vets ... any views on this option?? I dont want to do anything to break the little bit of trust he has in me so far. Its taken lots of several very cold weeks with the door open to get this far!

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #11 on:** March 23, 2011, 19:35:04 PM »

If you are able to go down the 'take him inside' route to try and socialise him then a Feliway plug in will be a wise investment. It's basically an odourless plug-in that releases calming phermones. One of my cats is overly sensitive and can be quite nervy/jumpy with new things and noises. With a Feliway plugged in he becomes a different cat and his confidence increases ten fold. I've found the plug-in very effective but the Feliway spray less so.

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/feliway-products-c-1/feliway-diffuser-pack-incl-feliway-diffuser-and-feliway-vial-p-334

I've never tried this but there is also a product called 'Felifriend' which is a spray that you rub on your hands...

http://www.vetuk.co.uk/feliway-products-c-1/felifriend-spray-bottle-25ml-p-5

Dawn F · « **Reply #10 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:49:15 PM »

if he is neutered he might tame a bit easier anyway??? not sure but thinking aloud!

Rosella moggy · « **Reply #9 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:48:07 PM »

to Purrs

Well done for looking after these two

I'm also inclined to let others with more experience comment but would lean towards getting him inside too to try and socialise him more.

Have you got any fishing rod toys to play with him as playing is a great way of interacting with cats ...

Dawn F · « **Reply #8 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:29:37 PM »

vaccines can be done anytime

Steff - Petsearch Bedford HQ · « **Reply #7 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:28:55 PM »

Hi Kathleen

I am not an expert but did rescue my own feral family in November last year with help from the experts on here. I'm not too sure exactly what to advise in your situation, part of me is thinking you could do with trapping him, taking him to the vets to have everything done and then keep him inside(maybe with mum as she is friendly with humans and he will copy her) for some intensive socialisation. Starting off by keeping them in one room and spending quiet time with them, handfeeding etc maybe with the aid of some rescue remedy, feliway, kalm aid, zylkene or a combination of these. Or if you should just carry on as you are and gaining his trust by hand feeding, although it could a long time and in which time he might will sexually mature etc and you may never get him to the point where you can get him into a carrier if he always remains semi feral and outside.

One of the feral kittens I tamed down (and kept along with his brother) still does not like being picked up so I had fun getting him in the carrier for the vets at the weekend but at least he was contained to one room so it only took about 30 mins!!

I hope that helps for now, maybe think about which is a viable option for you and then we can advise further

Good on you for caring about them too :D

kathleen21 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:26:47 PM »

Thank you for the advice ... so far he will come into the lounge which is accessible from his hiding hole in the garden - but i have to leave the door open and if I go towards the door while he is in - he will fly out again quickly.

Re: the vaccinations - will they still work on Calvin = the mum who is about a year. Or is it something that can only be done when kittens?

Feline Costumier · « **Reply #5 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:21:41 PM »

I'd be very tempted to bring the little guy in, pop him in a room with all of his bits and pieces and get a Feliway plug-in on the go. As Helen says, intensive socialisation. I "tamed" two feral kittens myself and the intensive approach was used, only took a couple of months for them to be total cuddle bums, if still a little jumpy.

You are doing a wonderful job though. Don't forget about vaccinations too

kathleen21 · « **Reply #4 on:** March 23, 2011, 18:09:50 PM »

Thanks to Dawn and Helen for the encouragement .. I can't believe how these little creatures have taken over my life.

Anyway, I think the observation that Hobbes is semi-feral is accurate - given our garden has a huge fence that he still he can't over; I suspect he was born here or Calvin carried him in when he was tiny. So I think me and my partner are the only humans he has ever seen.

I really want to be friends with him and get him to the vets with the least trauma possible ... so look forward to hearing from the feral and stray experts out there??

Tiggy's Mum · « **Reply #3 on:** March 23, 2011, 17:43:56 PM »

to Purrs

I'm no expert but it seems that the stray kitten is semi-feral as he missed out on the human socialisation stage when he was a young kitten. As you say Mum sounds to be more like a stray pet so she is the easy one!

It sounds like little Hobbes might need some intensive socialising as the longer you leave it the more chance that he won't be able to be 'turned around'. Hopefully the feral experts amongst us will be along shortly for some specific ideas on things to do to try and bring him round.

Thanks for caring for them both, they're both very lucky

Dawn F · « **Reply #2 on:** March 23, 2011, 17:34:46 PM »

you sound like you are doing a great job to me - there are several stray experts on here so I'm sure someone will be able to offer advice - welcome by the way!!

kathleen21 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 23, 2011, 17:15:05 PM »

Hi

I am new here and am quickly becoming a cat owner of a stray cat and kitten who have moved into our garden. We have been feeding them for a couple of months. Mum (Calvin) is about a year and the kitten (Hobbes) I estimate about 4 months. Calvin is friendly and appears to have been domesticated at some point. She will let me stroke her and will sit on my knee. Because of this we have had Calvin to the vets, had her checked out and spayed. She is happy to come and sit with me in the house for a couple of hours but then gets stressed and wants to be off exploring - she must have been a stray for a while with her kitten to look after so think she has got used to being out and about - poor thing .. she really is a sweetie?

However, Hobbes is quite a freaked out and anxious kitten. Although he is much better than he was and is slowly coming into the house and having a sniff around and lie down when he is with his mum. Thats taken about 2 months. He wont let me stroke him and if I reach out to him - he bats my fingers as if I am playing with him. He is very jumpy and you have to move v slowly and quietly around him. He runs away to his hiding hole at the slightest thing that freaks him out.

He seems healthy enough - he eats well .. plays all day - but I would really like to get him to a vet as soon as poss to make sure he is OK. I would also like to get him neutered when we've established if he is old enough. But I dont want to freak him out more and loose the progress we have made by trying to manhandle him into a cat box.

Any advice on how I can befriend him more so he will let me touch him? Also, just in case anyone is worried about them - they have somewhere warm and sheltered to sleep and are getting well fed. We are working on a long-term plan to keep them in a purpose built cat house outside until they are ready to move in.

I love cats - but have never had them before - so am learning quickly ... I want to my best for these little strays that have adopted me - so any advice on how to make friends with Hobbes welcome.

Author Topic: Advice needed re: stray anxious stray kitten (Read 5937 times)