One week ago I decided to foster 4 8 week old feral kittens. They were brought to me from an area an hour and a half away in the back of a truck. (That area has no TNR programs and the state "humane" society there is a kill shelter). A man had been feeding the mom and then the kittens and needed help. The shelter I volunteer for said they would help but all fostering homes were filled. (We're all volunteer, home based.) Although I failed at my last attempt at fostering;( I kept them), I agreed to help.
My first attempt was two ferals, trapped at 41/2 months old and very sickly. Unsocialized still at 6 months, I decided to foster them. One was scared to death and her brother (her protector) was quite aggressive, attacking if you came too close to either of them. A year and a half later they are very loving cats BUT bonded only to me.
I have never had kittens as young as these new fosters. They seemed to accept me pretty fast. No one was aggressive, just some hissing. At this point they are still caged and all will eat baby food from my fingers. They hiss when I try to pet them, but will play and eat when I'm with them. I know the next step is to pet/touch them and then start to pick them up but ... I seem to have hit a roadblock. Ideas? I feel I am under pressure because I know they are more adoptable the younger they are. And yes, they are scheduled to be neutered/spayed.
My first attempt was two ferals, trapped at 41/2 months old and very sickly. Unsocialized still at 6 months, I decided to foster them. One was scared to death and her brother (her protector) was quite aggressive, attacking if you came too close to either of them. A year and a half later they are very loving cats BUT bonded only to me.
I have never had kittens as young as these new fosters. They seemed to accept me pretty fast. No one was aggressive, just some hissing. At this point they are still caged and all will eat baby food from my fingers. They hiss when I try to pet them, but will play and eat when I'm with them. I know the next step is to pet/touch them and then start to pick them up but ... I seem to have hit a roadblock. Ideas? I feel I am under pressure because I know they are more adoptable the younger they are. And yes, they are scheduled to be neutered/spayed.