Now Working with 1 Feral Female Kitten

[kaylughhh]

So, I originally had 3 feral kittens but was able to give the 2 boys to a friend to finish taming them.

I now have the 1 female that I plan on keeping as my own.

I assume that she's just adjusting to not having her brothers because she isn't very comfortable with me touching her anymore and still hissing. Or going into the separate cage in order to move her to play in the bathroom.
I'm thinking of moving the playpen I have her in into my room so she can be around me more and feel less lonely. And hopefully with time, be able to let her actually out into my room.
She's still meowing for food but is more hesitant to eat in front of me. And I've just finished playing with her and she's now meowing (that a good sign?).

 

[tabbytom]

I'm thinking of moving the playpen I have her in into my room so she can be around me more and feel less lonely. And hopefully with time, be able to let her actually out into my room.
She's still meowing for food but is more hesitant to eat in front of me. And I've just finished playing with her and she's now meowing (that a good sign?).

Yes, the more time she spends with you and watching you will definitely help her gain confidence. If you plan on doing this, make sure your room is cat safe. Plug up any hiding holes and leave the playpen opened so that she can move in and out and use it as her safe place to retreat. This way it gives her more freedom and get her to explore the room.

It’s good that she’s meowing for food as she knows food comes from you. You can encourage her to eat in front of you by sitting on the floor and feeding her with your hand. It may take awhile for her to get use to it. Keep doing it till she finds it comfortable to eat in front of you. Also you can try moving her food around to get her to come to you.

It is also a good sign that she is playing with you and a good sign that she is meowing. Not sure if she wants more food. The more time she spend around you the better. Get her to do things you want her to do and not the other way round to break up her will.

Remember, love, patience and routine rules the day. Do keep us posted.

 

[kaylughhh]

Yes, the more time she spends with you and watching you will definitely help her gain confidence. If you plan on doing this, make sure your room is cat safe. Plug up any hiding holes and leave the playpen opened so that she can move in and out and use it as her safe place to retreat. This way it gives her more freedom and get her to explore the room.

It’s good that she’s meowing for food as she knows food comes from you. You can encourage her to eat in front of you by sitting on the floor and feeding her with your hand. It may take awhile for her to get use to it. Keep doing it till she finds it comfortable to eat in front of you. Also you can try moving her food around to get her to come to you.

It is also a good sign that she is playing with you and a good sign that she is meowing. Not sure if she wants more food. The more time she spend around you the better. Get her to do things you want her to do and not the other way round to break up her will.

Remember, love, patience and routine rules the day. Do keep us posted.

In regards to getting her used to being handled, petted, or picked up, should I be more aggressive or go at her pace?
I feel like I see different opinions and advice.
Like scruffing her and holding her in a towel or let her come to me with the help of treats.

 

[Mamanyt1953]

I'd let her set the pace. You want her to associate you with ONLY good things! And putting her where she will have maximum exposure to you under loving conditions is only going to help. Don't be too distressed about those steps back. She's gone through a LOT of changes in a short time, and cats are SO dependent on their routines! She was just getting used to being in a house when her brothers were suddenly gone, and she was alone. As tabbytom said, time and patience!

 

[tabbytom]

In regards to getting her used to being handled, petted, or picked up, should I be more aggressive or go at her pace?
I feel like I see different opinions and advice.
Like scruffing her and holding her in a towel or let her come to me with the help of treats.

Yes, agree with what Mamanyt1953 mentioned. She has come so far and do do set her back. Her only trust is in you as she you are the only person there with her.

Just go slow and you'll see the progress. No scruffing no towels, nothing to betray her trust in you.

Cats like to head bump each other when they meet. You can do that too by forming your hand into a fist and just present it to her. She may sniff your fist and if she dies that, it's a good sign and if she does not, it's ok, give her time. Hide a treat in your fist will help too.

Every cat is different. Some cats warm up very fast and some take ages and that is them. work at their pace and not ours. You've already won half the battle so don't give up.

 

[kaylughhh]

Yes, agree with what Mamanyt1953 mentioned. She has come so far and do do set her back. Her only trust is in you as she you are the only person there with her.

Just go slow and you'll see the progress. No scruffing no towels, nothing to betray her trust in you.

Cats like to head bump each other when they meet. You can do that too by forming your hand into a fist and just present it to her. She may sniff your fist and if she dies that, it's a good sign and if she does not, it's ok, give her time. Hide a treat in your fist will help too.

Every cat is different. Some cats warm up very fast and some take ages and that is them. work at their pace and not ours. You've already won half the battle so don't give up.

Thank you for the advice and kind words
I definitely feel that if I'm diligent about keeping all of our interactions positive then she can progress quickly. She'll have a set back but bounce back pretty quickly when food or playing is involved.

And she purrs so loud when playing on the blanket I have for her.

 

[tabbytom]

And she purrs so loud when playing on the blanket I have for her.

Good sign!

 

[Meowmee]

Thanks for helping these kittens I think bringing her in your bedroom is a good idea. How old is she? She has been through a lot and now she has lost her brothers so that is obviously going to affect her.

I would just take it slow and keep doing what you’re doing, etc. usually purritos are only for young kittens when they first come inside who are still hissing etc. and don’t want to be touched. You can purrito them and feed them with a spoon.

 

[kaylughhh]

Thanks for helping these kittens I think bringing her in your bedroom is a good idea. How old is she? She has been through a lot and now she has lost her brothers so that is obviously going to affect her.

I would just take it slow and keep doing what you’re doing, etc. usually purritos are only for young kittens when they first come inside who are still hissing etc. and don’t want to be touched. You can purrito them and feed them with a spoon.

She is now 15-16wks old. I haven't been able to get her into my room yet since she won't let me pick her up and she won't easily go into a separate cage for me to move her. But I'm working with her in the small area that I currently have available.

With the help of Churus I can get her more comfortable with being touched or handled as I was able to before getting rid of her brothers.

And while she did regress a little because of not having her brothers, she's slowly going back to where we were at when I had all 3.

Currently purring up a storm on her blanket while playing after breakfast.

 

[Meowmee]

She is now 15-16wks old. I haven't been able to get her into my room yet since she won't let me pick her up and she won't easily go into a separate cage for me to move her. But I'm working with her in the small area that I currently have available.

With the help of Churus I can get her more comfortable with being touched or handled as I was able to before getting rid of her brothers.

And while she did regress a little because of not having her brothers, she's slowly going back to where we were at when I had all 3.

Currently purring up a storm on her blanket while playing after breakfast.

What a cutie I love black cats. My Wizard was an all black cat.. plus a locket. I would just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m sure she’ll come around in time. I mean, you could try the purrito if you can get her to let you do it. She looks pretty small.

Some dvm do that for fractious stressed cats too…how on earth they do it I don’t know. I watched a video demonstrating how to do it perfectly calm kitty. Quinn would never let me wrap anything around him. I remember I got this grooming bag to try and clip his claws because he doesn’t like doing it. He wouldn’t even let me put it on him. He just squirmed his way around it.

 

[kaylughhh]

What a cutie I love black cats. My Wizard was an all black cat.. plus a locket. I would just keep doing what you’re doing. I’m sure she’ll come around in time. I mean, you could try the purrito if you can get her to let you do it. She looks pretty small.

Some dvm do that for fractious stressed cats too…how on earth they do it I don’t know. I watched a video demonstrating how to do it perfectly calm kitty. Quinn would never let me wrap anything around him. I remember I got this grooming bag to try and clip his claws because he doesn’t like doing it. He wouldn’t even let me put it on him. He just squirmed his way around it.

I'm actually a veterinary assistant so I'm very experienced with spicy cats.
But she definitely puts up too much of a fight for me to try to purrito. She does submit fairly easily when she's wrapped up but I feel like scruffing her just makes her more scared of me and my hands.

I'd probably try it when she gets more comfortable with my hands and then I'll want to make her more comfortable with being held as best I can.

 

[kaylughhh]

With the help of Churus I can get her more comfortable with being touched or handled as I was able to before getting rid of her brothers.

And while she did regress a little because of not having her brothers, she's slowly going back to where we were at when I had all 3.

Little update, we are now working on getting used to my hands with the help of Churus. She prefers for me to just pet her chest but I am able to pet her whole body when she's really distracted by the Churu. She'll even glance at my hand touching her and go back to the treat. She purrs for the Churu and doesn't stop purring even though I'm touching her which I take as a good sign.

I feel like her hissing is getting more toned down too.

And lately she's been REALLY looking me in my face. She'll hear something that makes her nervous and I feel like she looks at me to know if she's safe. I slow blink and tell her that she's ok.

Still very skittish but her last vaccine appointment is coming up!!! So I need to figure out how to get her in the carrier as smooth as possible. Hoping I'll be able to pick her up a little bit so I can just put her in the carrier.

 

[Meowmee]

Little update, we are now working on getting used to my hands with the help of Churus. She prefers for me to just pet her chest but I am able to pet her whole body when she's really distracted by the Churu. She'll even glance at my hand touching her and go back to the treat. She purrs for the Churu and doesn't stop purring even though I'm touching her which I take as a good sign.

I feel like her hissing is getting more toned down too.

And lately she's been REALLY looking me in my face. She'll hear something that makes her nervous and I feel like she looks at me to know if she's safe. I slow blink and tell her that she's ok.

Still very skittish but her last vaccine appointment is coming up!!! So I need to figure out how to get her in the carrier as smooth as possible. Hoping I'll be able to pick her up a little bit so I can just put her in the carrier.

That is great progress.

Did you try just leaving her carrier open and put treats in it etc.? Maybe she will get used to going in there and it will be easier. I did that with my guys recently because Xena was getting very anxious about the carrier and it helped.

 

[kaylughhh]

That is great progress.

Did you try just leaving her carrier open and put treats in it etc.? Maybe she will get used to going in there and it will be easier. I did that with my guys recently because Xena was getting very anxious about the carrier and it helped.

I was thinking of doing something like that. Like putting her food in there so she'll get comfortable going in it.

It just takes up so much space in the already small space I have her in but I'll make it work!!

 

[Margot Lane]

That lil face is precious.

 

[tabbytom]

Still very skittish but her last vaccine appointment is coming up!!! So I need to figure out how to get her in the carrier as smooth as possible. Hoping I'll be able to pick her up a little bit so I can just put her in the carrier.

She's a cutie!

Yea, I agree with Meowmee , open up the carrier and let her explore. Put in toys and her stuffs in it. When I got a new carrier for my boy, I did the same thing. I left it out for hm to explore and play in it.

 

[kaylughhh]

I'm kind of speechless
Spent about 3-4hrs with her tonight
She cuddled and let me pet her on and off for about an hour
I wish I could post the video that this pic is from, the purring and her looking up at me is just the cutest thing.

 

[Meowmee]

I'm kind of speechless
Spent about 3-4hrs with her tonight
She cuddled and let me pet her on and off for about an hour
I wish I could post the video that this pic is from, the purring and her looking up at me is just the cutest thing.

Aww, warms my heart to hear She is adorable, such a beauty. You can post a video if you go to your profile and click on media and then add video and you can upload it.

 

[tabbytom]

I'm kind of speechless
Spent about 3-4hrs with her tonight
She cuddled and let me pet her on and off for about an hour
I wish I could post the video that this pic is from, the purring and her looking up at me is just the cutest thing.

 

[kaylughhh]

Aww, warms my heart to hear She is adorable, such a beauty. You can post a video if you go to your profile and click on media and then add video and you can upload it.

Ive clearly not explored this website enough but the video is posted
Check the album name to see what I've named my baby
Was gonna hold off for a big reveal but this is also fitting