Hi -- the photo in my avatar is my new feral rescue kitten, Devlin. She was rescued about four or five weeks ago, and was being socialized with some friends of mine, which is how I met her. I brought her home Saturday evening, July 21st, and took her to the vet Sunday morning to start the vaccinations, test her for FeLV and FIV, get her de-worming started, etc. She passed with flying colors and I have her next appointment set up for mid-August.
However. I should have read stuff on the internet about socializing feral kittens before, rather than after, taking her home. Luckily I've done a lot of it right by accident -- she's in a dark closet in my bedroom, about two feet from fresh water, food, and a litter pan -- but I didn't do everything as I could have, most particularly not leaving her alone for 24 hours before approaching her.
She is terrified. She is silent, and quaking, and terrified. She did mew a bit, at first, and she eats well, from my hand, and today, from the food in a dish on the floor, too. But she is basically sleeping or feigning sleep, and has been, since she got here. This is the third day. I haven't left her to it, either -- I've picked her up and petted and cuddled her, and also made her a small sort of pillow cave on my bed -- she seems equally content (or terrified into submission) to "sleep" there as in the closet, but I don't leave her there forever because I am not convinced she can jump down for the litter box, etc. It's hard not to keep checking on her, but I guess this post is asking for advice about whether I SHOULD just leave her alone until she conquers her terror of this new space without her litter mates. She's a lovely kitten, and I have no experience with ferals, so any advice would help.
Maeve66
However. I should have read stuff on the internet about socializing feral kittens before, rather than after, taking her home. Luckily I've done a lot of it right by accident -- she's in a dark closet in my bedroom, about two feet from fresh water, food, and a litter pan -- but I didn't do everything as I could have, most particularly not leaving her alone for 24 hours before approaching her.
She is terrified. She is silent, and quaking, and terrified. She did mew a bit, at first, and she eats well, from my hand, and today, from the food in a dish on the floor, too. But she is basically sleeping or feigning sleep, and has been, since she got here. This is the third day. I haven't left her to it, either -- I've picked her up and petted and cuddled her, and also made her a small sort of pillow cave on my bed -- she seems equally content (or terrified into submission) to "sleep" there as in the closet, but I don't leave her there forever because I am not convinced she can jump down for the litter box, etc. It's hard not to keep checking on her, but I guess this post is asking for advice about whether I SHOULD just leave her alone until she conquers her terror of this new space without her litter mates. She's a lovely kitten, and I have no experience with ferals, so any advice would help.
Maeve66