Last summer I began feeding a mom and her kittens. The mom was a semi-feral and all but one of her kittens was very afraid of people. One kitten would watch me from the hill. The mom brought her kittens to my deck to feed them. This one kitten would watch me through the sliding glass door and was the only kitten that allowed me to pat her, hold her and she actually fell asleep in my arms. Unfortunately, when I was ready to trap her she disappeared.
Now, a year later, this kitten is a mom and today, for the first time, brought her kittens to my deck. One of her kittens is almost a carbon copy of her mom in looks and it seems in curiosity. This kitten is extremely curious and in a matter of minutes of sniffing my hand through the door, walked in. She immediately began purring as I scritched her head and then flopped onto her back and let me rub her belly. When I tried to move my hand away, she grabbed it and wouldn't stop licking me.
The other 2 kittens aren't as brave as her, but definitely show signs of curiosity. They both have sniffed my hand through the door. I know that another woman has been feeding them and I think she said that they have tried to come inside, but she's very allergic to cats and can't let them in.
I'm hoping to gain their confidence enough so all I have to do is open my door and all 3 will come inside. When the friendliest comes inside the other two come very near the opening and look in. I'm also hoping to get the mom, but she has become more weary and will only let me pat her when she is very hungry. The kittens are self-sufficient now so it wouldn't be too much of a hardship for them. They are a late litter and are probably no more than 4 months old. If it's a bad winter, they will have a hard time of it. I'm hoping that the cat shelter I foster for will be able to have them altered and vet checked and that they will have room for them. Right now, all the cat shelters are to capacity. If all are healthy I could always foster them until they're adopted. I think they will come around quickly from what I've seen so far. I think even the mom will come around as she lets me pat her on occasion. Of course, the only place I can put them is in my bedroom. Can you say "lack of sleep"?
I managed to get some photos of them tonight. They're not good because it was dark outside, but good enough to distinguish their colors. One girl (I think) is buff and white, like her mom. She's the friendly one. One is all orange and the other looks to be a dilute torti, very pretty. Actually, they are all very pretty. All are small with petite faces.
Here is a pic of all 3.
Now, a year later, this kitten is a mom and today, for the first time, brought her kittens to my deck. One of her kittens is almost a carbon copy of her mom in looks and it seems in curiosity. This kitten is extremely curious and in a matter of minutes of sniffing my hand through the door, walked in. She immediately began purring as I scritched her head and then flopped onto her back and let me rub her belly. When I tried to move my hand away, she grabbed it and wouldn't stop licking me.
The other 2 kittens aren't as brave as her, but definitely show signs of curiosity. They both have sniffed my hand through the door. I know that another woman has been feeding them and I think she said that they have tried to come inside, but she's very allergic to cats and can't let them in.
I'm hoping to gain their confidence enough so all I have to do is open my door and all 3 will come inside. When the friendliest comes inside the other two come very near the opening and look in. I'm also hoping to get the mom, but she has become more weary and will only let me pat her when she is very hungry. The kittens are self-sufficient now so it wouldn't be too much of a hardship for them. They are a late litter and are probably no more than 4 months old. If it's a bad winter, they will have a hard time of it. I'm hoping that the cat shelter I foster for will be able to have them altered and vet checked and that they will have room for them. Right now, all the cat shelters are to capacity. If all are healthy I could always foster them until they're adopted. I think they will come around quickly from what I've seen so far. I think even the mom will come around as she lets me pat her on occasion. Of course, the only place I can put them is in my bedroom. Can you say "lack of sleep"?
I managed to get some photos of them tonight. They're not good because it was dark outside, but good enough to distinguish their colors. One girl (I think) is buff and white, like her mom. She's the friendly one. One is all orange and the other looks to be a dilute torti, very pretty. Actually, they are all very pretty. All are small with petite faces.
Here is a pic of all 3.