Search Results

Just thought I'd post here as well. Reading the previous posts on this thread has been therapeutic, but I'm heartbroken right now. I have a colony that currently numbers, all together, around 11, the majority TNRd, with varying degrees of socialization and frequency of visits.  Six of them, I...

Just thought I'd update everyone. I think we're continuing to make progress. Both kittens now let me pet them throughout the whole time they're eating, and don't flinch or run away.  Blackie may, occasionally, let me pet him during non-food related encounters as well, but he clearly still...

Thanks very much for the emotional support, Ginny and Ondine. It really helps me get through this. I am pleased to say that in the few days since my last post, things have definitely been looking up.  They've both come around to almost the point where they were individually before the vet visit...

If this is truly a feral cat with an eartip, why is it in a shelter about to be put down? I thought eartipping was a sign to Animal Control that the cat is part of a managed colony and so to leave the cat be. This is distressing because I hoped that all my outdoor ferals with eartips would be...

I'm back with an update, and it's good and not-so-good news. First the good news: they kitties have successfully completed their vet visit. Vaccinations, neutering (they're both males after all!), the whole shebang. The trapping to get them to the vet was easier than I could have dreamed (and...

In support of your theory, I can report that one of the feral kittens I'm currently trying to socialize had a habit, in the very beginning, of approaching me in  seemingly friendly manner when I first entered the room, but hissing once or twice, before meowing. He has since stopped doing that...

They actually have kind of met before, since the shed kittens were outdoor kittens and interacted with the adults for a couple of weeks before I brought them in (but it didn't go well because the adults would hiss, hit and attempt to browbeat the kittens, especially at feeding time). In fact...

Just thought I'd give everyone an update; I called a couple of local vets and none of them would schedule the initial visit and the spay/neutering at the same time. So it looks like we'll be stuck with two separate, traumatic vet visits. The initial visit will probably happen the last week of...

The more I think about it, the more I feel I should get them neutered now, along with the regular vaccinations/checkup, etc.  I really don't want to traumatize them twice. When I called and made the appointment, they said the vet likes to wait for the kittens to be 6 months, but I'm not sure how...

Unfortunately not, my shed and apartment are two different buildings. The kittens do have some cat toys, a cat tree, and their little shelter in the shed that they are accustomed to and that I can bring into the apartment to provide them with some degree of familiarity. These items all should...

An update: I bought two pet carriers and have been getting the kittens used to being in them by exclusively feeding them in the carriers. They're soft  carriers with openings on both ends, and I have been able to close and zip up the carriers with the kittens inside, eating, and they hardly...

Your Yes, they're in the shed, and your suggestion about waiting makes sense, and if they trust me more getting them into the carrier will definitely be easier (right now just thinking about it makes me anxious). But one pressing factor is that since I live alone, if I ever have to leave home...

I'm grateful for the advice of everyone who's responded. The consensus seems to be that the deciding factor for "active vs passive" socialization is the kitten's age. I would estimate that my kittens are, at this point, closer to 12 weeks, and I don't think the active approach will really work...

Thanks, all, for your suggestions. My instincts tell me not to force it, to keep spending as much time in the shed as I can, talking to myself/them and putting food down, and not trying to interact with them if they don't come to me. The black kitten does seem to have realized that I am the...

i would like to echo what others have stated; all the feral cats that I TNRd did very well. They were often returned within 24 hours of surgery and usually showed up again in 2 days, no worse for wear and seemingly in no pain. I was also afraid at first they would be upset and never come back...

Thank you for your response. So your advice would be not to worry about handling them, even though the "socialization window" is rapidly closing? I do recognize since that they are probably almost12 weeks old at this stage, any such window has probably already closed, but don't want to lose any...

I'm posting here in hopes that other members experienced with feral kitten socialization can give me some advice. I realize there are a few similar threads that already exist here, but I didn't want to hijack someone else's discussion. A little background. I live in a ground floor  apartment...