hello all! I hate to sign up to this wonderful forum just to immediately post for advice but I need some help : (
I have fostered two pairs of kittens before, the first two were 5 weeks and the other two were 8 weeks. they were all done through an org, so they got the trapping, vet, etc handled and I just raised them. it was such a delight to see them go from hissy spitters to purring cuddle monsters! now, I've trapped 2 kittens as a courtesy to a coworker, but I'm completely on my own this time and they are older.
I took the first one I trapped to a low-cost feral clinic and they aged him at about 3 months, maybe 3.5. I've read the socialization "cut-off" to be 4 months, or even as low as 10-12 weeks. this is now day 3 of the first kitten being here, and day 1 for the sibling. they aren't hissy or aggressive (yet) but they won't eat if I'm in the room and will mostly just curl up and stare at me. I have picked up the first kitten in a blanket and held him while stroking him gently on the head, but he just shakes. they won't even lick the baby food I got them.
my coworker really wants to adopt them both, but she hasn't dealt with feral cats before. so my question... should I keep trying to socialize them myself before handing them off since I have (very slightly) more experience, or should I give them to her now so they can become acquainted with her faster and avoid having to adjust to another new home? or are they too old to be socialized and I should just TNR? I worry because their sibling sadly passed away outside before we could trap them. if you do think I should socialize, I'd love some tips for older kittens with this temperament if possible!
these are the little ones:
I have fostered two pairs of kittens before, the first two were 5 weeks and the other two were 8 weeks. they were all done through an org, so they got the trapping, vet, etc handled and I just raised them. it was such a delight to see them go from hissy spitters to purring cuddle monsters! now, I've trapped 2 kittens as a courtesy to a coworker, but I'm completely on my own this time and they are older.
I took the first one I trapped to a low-cost feral clinic and they aged him at about 3 months, maybe 3.5. I've read the socialization "cut-off" to be 4 months, or even as low as 10-12 weeks. this is now day 3 of the first kitten being here, and day 1 for the sibling. they aren't hissy or aggressive (yet) but they won't eat if I'm in the room and will mostly just curl up and stare at me. I have picked up the first kitten in a blanket and held him while stroking him gently on the head, but he just shakes. they won't even lick the baby food I got them.
my coworker really wants to adopt them both, but she hasn't dealt with feral cats before. so my question... should I keep trying to socialize them myself before handing them off since I have (very slightly) more experience, or should I give them to her now so they can become acquainted with her faster and avoid having to adjust to another new home? or are they too old to be socialized and I should just TNR? I worry because their sibling sadly passed away outside before we could trap them. if you do think I should socialize, I'd love some tips for older kittens with this temperament if possible!
these are the little ones: