Scared feral rescue cat

[katemary]

And another update. Mum cat has just vomited twice and one vomit had a worm in it. I guess I know what to do! Will contact the shelter about worm treatments or just get something myself. Any tips on deworming the mum who is quite feral and doesn't let me touch her?

 

[Sarthur2]

Yes, worms may be the culprit. For mom, you’ll need a pill that can be crushed and mixed into her food.

 

[Meowmee]

Okay he's just vomited. Maybe it was vomit the first time. Then he went straight to the toilet and did a liquid poo. I'll contact the shelter.

I hope the shelter will help and get him checked out etc. You are dong a great job

 

[katemary]

To update you- the shelter gave me some worming meds. Tux has been fine since then and she's gained back the weight she lost already!! What a little trooper.

 

[katemary]

Hi again everyone, thanks so much for your advice for my first time fostering! The babies are 8 weeks old and I'm starting to arrange the vet work etc with the vet and will be saying goodbye soon! I'm a bit worried about one of the 6 kittens who still has no interest in me and is scared of being touched. Three of them love to crawl all over me and love cuddles, two will come onto my lap every now and then for a nap and will tolerate pets but one is still very scared of my hand and runs away whenever I try to pet her. I try to give her attention and play with her (she will play with me with toys), but it's hard with 5 others! Any tips on amping up her socialisation or could this just be her personality? I'm worried she's 'less adoptable'.
Thanks for any advice.

 

[Joelle and the kittens]

I think spending one-on-one time with the skittish kitten will do a lot to improve her socialization. I ended up doing this by accident as a consequence of having to take one of my feral foster kittens back and forth from the vet multiple times, and she became friendly MUCH earlier than her brothers and to this day is far more comfortable with strangers than they are. After we realized how much more handleable she was we started taking one or two kittens at a time from the kitten room to my bedroom to interact with them more personally and that really helped.

 

[Whenallhellbreakslose]

Hello there. I just stumbled upon your thread. Thank you for fostering these kittiens. I agree with what the above poster said about spending more one on one time with that kitten. It may be that kitten is more shy than her siblings and needs more attention than the others. So spend time engaging this kitty in play. Play is one of the best ways to get a shy kitty to break free any of inhibitions. Out side of play keep trying to nature this kitty so she feels more secure. Please keep in mind that this kitty has her own personality and she may never be a lap kitty or like to be held like her siblings, but you can bring her out of her shell a bit by daily interaction. Just be patient and met this kitty where she is at.

 

[katemary]

Another question. Something bad has happened. The two boys were booked in for desexing yesterday and the vet said to keep them separate overnight. When I brought them back in to the room with the girls and mum, nobody recognised each other and they were all growling and hissing. I tried the towel technique but it hasn't worked. Worst of all, now some of the girls who never left each other are hissing at their sisters, it's like they no longer recognise anyone. The boys are going to their forever homes tonight. I feel just terrible that their last day together is so stressful. It's been three hours with no change. And I'm really worried that the girls won't recover. I've got them for two more weeks - will they get back back normal soon? Should I take the boys back out now? Any help is much appreciated. One of the girls is hiding and hisses and growls at anyone who comes near

 

[StefanZ]

Another question. Something bad has happened. The two boys were booked in for desexing yesterday and the vet said to keep them separate overnight. When I brought them back in to the room with the girls and mum, nobody recognised each other and they were all growling and hissing. I tried the towel technique but it hasn't worked. Worst of all, now some of the girls who never left each other are hissing at their sisters, it's like they no longer recognise anyone. The boys are going to their forever homes tonight. I feel just terrible that their last day together is so stressful. It's been three hours with no change. And I'm really worried that the girls won't recover. I've got them for two more weeks - will they get back back normal soon? Should I take the boys back out now? Any help is much appreciated. One of the girls is hiding and hisses and growls at anyone who comes near

Its stressing for them. Peculiar smells, they become high strung, and it causes others become high strung too... It will be better with time.

When the boys leave, it should calm down at your place. But warn the new owners the boys are a little excited now. And also, a little sore after the incision. Even if the incision usually heal quickly, a day or two and they are almost as usual.

If you cant isolate them all, (even having in each other transporter); talk soothingly as much you can, and put on calming music...

Have on Feliway diffuser if you have it. Or Dr Bachs rescue remedy is good too - IF you happen to have them...

 

[katemary]

Its stressing for them. Peculiar smells, they become high strung, and it causes others become high strung too... It will be better with time.

When the boys leave, it should calm down at your place. But warn the new owners the boys are a little excited now. And also, a little sore after the incision. Even if the incision usually heal quickly, a day or two and they are almost as usual.

If you cant isolate them all, (even having in each other transporter); talk soothingly as much you can, and put on calming music...

Have on Feliway diffuser if you have it. Or Dr Bachs rescue remedy is good too - IF you happen to have them...

Do you think I should remove the boys now? I just thought they should all spend their last day together! But I can take the boys back out if you think that will be better for the girls?

 

[Sarthur2]

Clearly, the boys need to be removed if they haven’t already. They smell like the vet. That’s what’s upsetting everyone.

 

[katemary]

I've removed them and the girls are still a bit off but mostly better. I know it's probably silly human sentiment but I just thought they should spend this last day with mum and free to play in the room they grew up in, not all copped up somewhere strange. Didn't anticipate the smell related aggression affecting them all so badly and thought it might go away once mum accepted and groomed the boys (which she did). Anyway thanks for the help.

 

[Sarthur2]

Your intentions were good, but you did right to remove them so everyone can relax a little.

 

[katemary]

One of the girls is still hissing at her sisters if they get too close. The other three seem fine and have been snuggling up together with mum. Do I just need to give her time? Anything else I can do? Should I get the blanket she's been lying on and rub it on the others or something?

 

[StefanZ]

One of the girls is still hissing at her sisters if they get too close. The other three seem fine and have been snuggling up together with mum. Do I just need to give her time? Anything else I can do? Should I get the blanket she's been lying on and rub it on the others or something?

Yes, you can try with this.

 

[Sarthur2]

This should all go away in another day or so. Just leave them be.