Taming 6 week old KittensQuestion:Hey! I recentally got two six week old wild kittens, and I'm having a little touble taming them. I've tamed six or seven kittens before, and it usually took around one week. The thing that always worked was baby food, but these two just don't like it..Right now they're in loose a large shed, and I haven't been able to catch them to put them in a smaller cage. What else (besides the baby food) can I use to help tame them? I'm not sure if they're males or females, so I haven't been able to name them yet. Right now I'm calling them "Kitty" and "Cat" creative, huh? Answer: I would try some salmon or shrimp, but not the canned kind. If you can catch them and keep them in a wire kennel then that would help a lot with the socializing. Then whenever you walk past the cage be sure to talk softly to them and offer treats. I have had a lot of success with this. Answer: Sarah; after you have caught these two wiley ones get them to the vet for a thorough exam, shots, ect. Then, as blackwater said; place them both in a large wire cage that can hold a small "kitten" litter box, food ,water and bedding. We have tamed feral cats and kittens. We place the cage in a busy (but not overwhelming such as a kitchen) area such as your living room. This way, the kittens will get to experience all the sights, sounds, and smells of a normal household. Also, they will learn very quickly that they are safe from the dog or other cats of the house. This was a tip given to us by a very savvy cat lady who has nursed umpteen feral kittens and it has always worked. Of course, you visit , talk and hold the kittens alot. Good luck... Answer: One tip I was told: Just get right in there (with thick gloves) and snuggle the heck out of them! I've had fostered 20 FERAL kittens in the past 2 years and it works! Put lots of toys in there, show them how to play. Remain calm, they can sense you emotions. Be patient! Good luck and keep posting! Answer: When I was little, I had great luck with fishing poles with cat toys tied on the ends. The feral kitties got so excited about playing that they didn't realize they were getting closer and closer to me. Good luck! Answer: One tip I was told: Just get right in there (with thick gloves) and snuggle the heck out of them That is the method I use. I think they are just so cute when they are that small and they hiss and bat at your hand. Its so funny and even cuter when they arch their backs and act like big bad attack cats Corner them and just snatch em. Its a nice time of year, because you will probably have a coat on Answer: When I was little, I had great luck with fishing poles with cat toys tied on the ends. The feral kitties got so excited about playing that they didn't realize they were getting closer and closer to me. Good luck! We're using that same tactic in socializing our ferals (~5-6 months old now) except we've been using one of those laser light toys and they love it! Answer: For me, once I am able to get them into my house, seeing that I have other cats I usually put them in quarantine after a trip to the vet (typically one of my bathrooms.) I prefer the softer approach as opposed to the aggressive approach. If they won't let me touch them, I sit with them and talk to them and feed them by hand until they come around to me, it has always worked very well. I'll go in and sit on the floor usually some what near where the cat is sitting and I'll read a book out loud for a while. I do this with both wily strays and ferals. Many of which have grown up to be wonderful affectionate companions to their adopters. I've actually gotten request from people who want to adopt a cat that has been specifically raised by me, eh eh. So I guess I must be doing something right. Answer: I prefer the softer approach as opposed to the aggressive approach. If they won't let me touch them, I sit with them and talk to them and feed them by hand until they come around to me, it has always worked very well. I'll go in and sit on the floor usually some what near where the cat is sitting and I'll read a book out loud for a while. I use this approach when I have new barn cats that show up at my farm. They are usually a bit wild when they get here. It takes time on the older ones but they do warm up to you eventually, but they still dont like my husband who doesnt go out there much. I picked Tigger once before she was ready and she slashed my palm. A week later she was ready for a quick hold and pet and now she is quite the cuddler...as long as she wants it. Answer: Yes barn cats always make me think of one thing... Suki! A small 5-6 week old female calico that the local humane society adopted to my family when I was a older teenager. I had to call them back after a few days of her wild and vicious anticks to say "What's wrong with this cat?" Only then did they say "Oh yeah... we think she was a barn cat..." Very kind of them to inform me after the devil kitten had mamed my hand over a slice of pizza. (We had to lock her up while we ate for our own safety.) Answer: AngelZoo...poor you. I dont think my barn cats are that bad but I am sure they lack manners. Did Suki ever calm down? It does take some of them a long time to trust anyone. Then again, there is Barney who just loves attention, but likes to spray on anything new. YUCK (even tho he is neutered) Answer: She did calm down to a certain level but you would always have to be weary when she would come to you looking for attention as she would always seemingly have an alternative motive. I only stayed with her when she was very young, I moved out soon after that and only saw her a couple of times as she got a bit older. Answer: Hey, everyone! Thanks for taking the time to answer my question. I'll be sure to try the things y'all suggested! Answer: I've been rescuing and taming kittens since 1981 and one of my favorite tools is a peacock feather! Nothing works quite like a peacock feather. These are soft and floaty and a good way of getting them used to touch because during play you can actually use the feather to "pet them" with the feather. The hardly notice that your hand is attached. First off however, you've got to get them into a small room. A bathroom works best I think, because a bathroom doesn't have furniture to hide under like a bed or chest of drawers. It's important to have access to the kittens when trying to tame them. If they are still on the loose and you dont' have a trap to trap them do you have a pet crate? Wedge the door open and start putting wet food in for them. Use something smelly. Temporarily you could feed them something fishy though I woudln't recommend doing it for too long since fish is too high in magnesium which isn't good for them. Once they are used to going in to the back of the crate you can shut the door on them when they are comfortably eating. You may have to sneak up on them as they eat (from behind the crate so they don't see you). I do it in stocking feet so they don't hear me coming either. Once you have them here are some more excellent tips to help you tame them http://www.stanford.edu/group/CATNET/resources.html I wouldn't suggest just grabbing them up, as one person suggested. Kittens have incredibly sharp little teeth and they can bite hard and really do some damage. Good luck with this! Answer: Like mscritter says, if you don't have a cat trap use a carrier. The kittens I caught were feral and in my yard. I am unable to get close enough to close the carrier door without them escaping. MY METHOD: I have a carrier used for only trapping kittens. There is a garden brick (weighs ~ 20#) that sits on to so the cage doesn't budge from the weight of the kitten when it freaks out realizing it can't get out. The trap consists of a kite string or twine tied to the door, the string goes thru the first hole in the side where it closes. I open the carrier door. I place it facing my house, put a small amount of canned kitten food in the back of the carrier. I hide quietly in our florida room until a kitten walks in it, then (hiding) I pull the string and the door closes (but does not latch). While pulling and gathering the string, I walk closer to the cage, then latch it. You must continue pulling while walking because the kittens will try escaping thru the now-closed door. I hope this helps. For more info, check out: http://www.feralcat.com/trapinst.html |
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