Re: OT: socializing barn kittens
My crew of born-in-a-brush-pile kitties acted like that at first. They were 7-8 weeks old when we brought them into our house. We had them quarantined in our bedroom, got a positve FELV test, and kept them in there until we could run a confirming test 3 months later, and get our adult kitty vaccinated and boostered. So they were locked in with us a lng time. They hid under the bed for the first couple of weeks, then finally began playing with wand toys. It was a big deal the first time they chased the toy up onto my lap. Even after they came out of quarantine, we shook a treat bag to get them to get them to come back for bedtime. Now they are total mushballs, even Miss Moxie, who was the hissiest, spittinist one of the bunch. If it's possible, I think confinement in your bedroom is perfect, because your in there for long stretches of time every day and your pretty non-threatening while your sleeping. Well, it's perfect for the kittens, anyway. Once they warm up to you and decide 1-4 AM is play time, it gets a little rough... Good luck, Beth On Dec 19, 2007 3:59 PM, Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are > estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost > 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this > man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, > but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so > they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into > the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught > and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to > get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can > be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to > re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on > this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest > "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- > that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen > in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I > have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! > The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and > he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on > me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight > darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through > a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they > are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so > I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). > > Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than > just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're > not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if > you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick > them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball > and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and > don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling > little docile things you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if > you put them on the ground, they would be off and under something and you'd > never find them again. It's like they go into survival mode when you hold > them, so people think they are fun to hold, but really, these little things > are dying on the inside while you are doing it! They never purr when I > scratch them or handle them. They will hiss sometimes when they first see > me or I reach for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore > it. Of course, they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave > them, but we are making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with > feathers, so I can get them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing. > > > *Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting > them to engage with people- and even like them? *I hold them together as > a group all wrapped up in a towel- I thought that would lessen the trauma by > them all having each other. Plus, the farmer's daughter (hee hee!) favored > only one of them and held only that one kitten- so it's more socialized and > easier to hold than the other two. It's actually really sad to see the > effect that that favoritism had on these babies! *I just want to be doing > all that I can b/c if they can't be socialized, they will have to be > released and I will feel like it's partly my fault-- I feel like I can't > fail here. *It would be especially sad b/c these little things are cute > cute! They have those big round "apple" heads and pud
Re: socializing barn kittens
Not to worry about the boy named Sadie. I went to school with a guy named Sadee,...he was a Russian/Italian guy..and it was a family name! - Original Message - From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:11 PM Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens On that note, I was told many times by the initial rescuer of these kittens that they are all females. The vet clinic that did their fvrcps, wormings, etc., marked them as all females. I thought all got spayed yesterday. But since I have had them, I kept calling the black one "him" and "he" and "bud" and "lil guy" and had to correct myself a lot. Well, apparently not b/c I was right. I am one of those people who just gets a sense of sex with cats- even teeny kittens- right away and I am usually never wrong. So that is why this bothered me so much that I was told they were all girls b/c I just didn't get that from the black one. But I went ahead and named them b/c I thought, well the 1st vet clinic said they were all girls But when I went to check the black one's sutures tonight, the belly wasn't shaved and I was like "what the H?" Low and behold, we have teeny little balls that were removed! I was so happy-- mostly just to know that I was right GD it! But I wish I hadn't named them. I had named them: Ladee (sounds like "Lady")- grey & white; Babee "baby"- all grey; and Sadee "Sadie"- my black one! The double ee's are in "honor" of Monkee of course. I thought those were about the cutest names ever and Sadee was my favorite. I thought they would be fun to "market" with those names! Oh well, back to the drawing board. - Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with Yahoo! Search.
Re: socializing barn kittens
If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Marylyn To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Thursday, December 20, 2007 1:22 AM Subject: Re: socializing barn kittens You may want to get a laser pointer (Office Depot, Wal-Mart etc) to use with the little ones. Just be extremely careful with their eyes. Some cats love to chase the dot and, since these are motherless, they need some training in hunting. Like it or not, they may return to a barn and need skills there that house cats don't use. If the male has been neutered at such a young age he will have a particularly rough time. PS: You are doing great. The ones who have come to live with me were grown and feral. I've worked with a lot of semi-ferals and throw-aways. It is difficult but extremely rewarding. Again, check with with Dr. Maier for really good ideas. She does a lot of this work and you already know her. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 9:11 PM Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens They are actually doing really well so far. I have one sitting in my lap right now napping, but when I starting typing on the keyboard, she woke up a little and just follows the cursor with her eyes! But no freak-out or anything. I also discovered the other night that they will nap while I hold all 3 of them together wrapped in a blanket- the "kitty burrito"- while I work on the computer. They love to watch the cursor being moved by the mouse! I would say at this point they are tamer than ferals and I guess that is why I used the term "socialization." Tonight, I've had two of them lick turkey baby food off my finger-- they are such suckers for food- little fatties, so I think that is huge! And the black one, whom I have never heard meow- only hiss at me- meowed at me tonight AFTER I PUT IT BACK IN THE CAT CONDO! Looked right at me and meowed... a bunch of times. So I gave him more baby food- which he ate. On that note, I was told many times by the initial rescuer of these kittens that they are all females. The vet clinic that did their fvrcps, wormings, etc., marked them as all females. I thought all got spayed yesterday. But since I have had them, I kept calling the black one "him" and "he" and "bud" and "lil guy" and had to correct myself a lot. Well, apparently not b/c I was right. I am one of those people who just gets a sense of sex with cats- even teeny kittens- right away and I am usually never wrong. So that is why this bothered me so much that I was told they were all girls b/c I just didn't get that from the black one. But I went ahead and named them b/c I thought, well the 1st vet clinic said they were all girls But when I went to check the black one's sutures tonight, the belly wasn't shaved and I was like "what the H?" Low and behold, we have teeny little balls that were removed! I was so happy-- mostly just to know that I was right GD it! But I wish I hadn't named them. I had named them: Ladee (sounds like "Lady")- grey & white; Babee "baby"- all grey; and Sadee "Sadie"- my black one! The double ee's are in "honor" of Monkee of course. I thought those were about the cutest names ever and Sadee was my favorite. I thought they would be fun to "market" with those names! Oh well, back to the drawing board. ------ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: Re: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:28:48 -0600 When you stare at them you are challenging them. I know it is fun but you need to look at them thru almost closed eyes. You are threatening to them. I found out the hard way. I thought you could stare down a cat like you can some dogs. NOPE. They are CAT. I
Re: socializing barn kittens
Sounds like you're doing a great job!:) -- Rescuties - Saving the world, one cat at a time. http://www.rescuties.org Vist the Rescuties store and save a kitty life! http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect-home?tag=rescuties-20 http://www.zazzle.com/rescuties* Please help Clarissa! http://rescuties.chipin.com/clarissasheart
RE: socializing barn kittens
Best ideas I have would be to let them romp around with the older guys as soon as you can and to just always pick them up, nuzzle and put down-make it a game with them. One thing about kittens-they just love to play! Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 5:31 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Yes! That is exactly what I told my mom! That's the comparison I used. That they make me feel bad about myself b/c of the way they look at me when I come in the room...they look UP at me like I'm the giant from Jack & the Beanstock and I'm there to eat them...and when they scamper away from me...I know I shouldn't let it affect me, but it hurts my feelings. The way they look at me makes me feel like a big, fat bumbling idiot! And it's in such contrast to my "upstairs room" of overly-socialized, babyfied, spoiled boy cats- Yoda, LeeRoy and Possee! I go in that room and they all knock things over trying to get TO me as fast as possible! If I bend over, LeeRoy jumps on my back and lays on it- licks my head, neck, hair- whatever. He greets anyone that walks in the room like a dog- wags his long tail and "talks." Possee licks me to death on the face in the morning; Yoda tries to play it cool with me, but when I was gone Friday into Sat. for 24 hours, when I came back, wow, it was a love-fest...lil nerd missed me and couldn't help but purr and let me hold him. So I'm not used to that terrified look and it does make me sad. I get pouty! I know Monkee's at the Rainbow Bridge laughing is black & white a$$ off at me! caroline _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:09:39 -0500 The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and most playful cat)> He followed him around continuously and played non stop. Then he latched on to my Tucson who just didn't know what to make of him taking over her favorite 'napping' spot. S, I think it does help to be around socialized cats who can sort of show them the way. One other thing-we must look like huge monsters to these little guys. He got more scared if he saw me coming to pick him up than if I just sort of snuck up behind him and scooped him up! It just got to be a game where I'd scoop him up, nuzzle him a bit, and then put him down. but it seemed to work with him. Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org <http://www.findkpets.org/> Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:31 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I hover over top of them! They use the box fine. I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them, LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days we will try that. Supervised of course. caroline _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500 Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up-he'd hiss and curl up just as you described. He'd also run a whole lot faster than me and could get under things! LOL I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn, etc.) were OK,
RE: socializing barn kittens
They are actually doing really well so far. I have one sitting in my lap right now napping, but when I starting typing on the keyboard, she woke up a little and just follows the cursor with her eyes! But no freak-out or anything. I also discovered the other night that they will nap while I hold all 3 of them together wrapped in a blanket- the "kitty burrito"- while I work on the computer. They love to watch the cursor being moved by the mouse! I would say at this point they are tamer than ferals and I guess that is why I used the term "socialization." Tonight, I've had two of them lick turkey baby food off my finger-- they are such suckers for food- little fatties, so I think that is huge! And the black one, whom I have never heard meow- only hiss at me- meowed at me tonight AFTER I PUT IT BACK IN THE CAT CONDO! Looked right at me and meowed... a bunch of times. So I gave him more baby food- which he ate. On that note, I was told many times by the initial rescuer of these kittens that they are all females. The vet clinic that did their fvrcps, wormings, etc., marked them as all females. I thought all got spayed yesterday. But since I have had them, I kept calling the black one "him" and "he" and "bud" and "lil guy" and had to correct myself a lot. Well, apparently not b/c I was right. I am one of those people who just gets a sense of sex with cats- even teeny kittens- right away and I am usually never wrong. So that is why this bothered me so much that I was told they were all girls b/c I just didn't get that from the black one. But I went ahead and named them b/c I thought, well the 1st vet clinic said they were all girls But when I went to check the black one's sutures tonight, the belly wasn't shaved and I was like "what the H?" Low and behold, we have teeny little balls that were removed! I was so happy-- mostly just to know that I was right GD it! But I wish I hadn't named them. I had named them: Ladee (sounds like "Lady")- grey & white; Babee "baby"- all grey; and Sadee "Sadie"- my black one! The double ee's are in "honor" of Monkee of course. I thought those were about the cutest names ever and Sadee was my favorite. I thought they would be fun to "market" with those names! Oh well, back to the drawing board. From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: Re: socializing barn kittensDate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:28:48 -0600 When you stare at them you are challenging them. I know it is fun but you need to look at them thru almost closed eyes. You are threatening to them. I found out the hard way. I thought you could stare down a cat like you can some dogs. NOPE. They are CAT. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis ----- Original Message - From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:30 PM Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Yes! That is exactly what I told my mom! That's the comparison I used. That they make me feel bad about myself b/c of the way they look at me when I come in the room...they look UP at me like I'm the giant from Jack & the Beanstock and I'm there to eat them...and when they scamper away from me...I know I shouldn't let it affect me, but it hurts my feelings. The way they look at me makes me feel like a big, fat bumbling idiot! And it's in such contrast to my "upstairs room" of overly-socialized, babyfied, spoiled boy cats- Yoda, LeeRoy and Possee! I go in that room and they all knock things over trying to get TO me as fast as possible! If I bend over, LeeRoy jumps on my back and lays on it- licks my head, neck, hair- whatever. He greets anyone that walks in the room like a dog- wags his long tail and "talks." Possee licks me to death on the face in the morning; Yoda tries to play it cool with me, but when I was gone Friday into Sat. for 24 hours, when I came back, wow, it was a love-fest...lil nerd missed me and couldn't help but purr and let me hold him. So I'm not used to that terrified look and it does make me sad. I get pouty! I know Monkee's at the Rainbow Bridge laughing is black & white a$$ off at me!caroline From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: socializing barn kittensDate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:09:39 -0500 The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and most playful cat)> He followed him
Re: socializing barn kittens
When you stare at them you are challenging them. I know it is fun but you need to look at them thru almost closed eyes. You are threatening to them. I found out the hard way. I thought you could stare down a cat like you can some dogs. NOPE. They are CAT. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:30 PM Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Yes! That is exactly what I told my mom! That's the comparison I used. That they make me feel bad about myself b/c of the way they look at me when I come in the room...they look UP at me like I'm the giant from Jack & the Beanstock and I'm there to eat them...and when they scamper away from me...I know I shouldn't let it affect me, but it hurts my feelings. The way they look at me makes me feel like a big, fat bumbling idiot! And it's in such contrast to my "upstairs room" of overly-socialized, babyfied, spoiled boy cats- Yoda, LeeRoy and Possee! I go in that room and they all knock things over trying to get TO me as fast as possible! If I bend over, LeeRoy jumps on my back and lays on it- licks my head, neck, hair- whatever. He greets anyone that walks in the room like a dog- wags his long tail and "talks." Possee licks me to death on the face in the morning; Yoda tries to play it cool with me, but when I was gone Friday into Sat. for 24 hours, when I came back, wow, it was a love-fest...lil nerd missed me and couldn't help but purr and let me hold him. So I'm not used to that terrified look and it does make me sad. I get pouty! I know Monkee's at the Rainbow Bridge laughing is black & white a$$ off at me! caroline From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:09:39 -0500 The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and most playful cat)> He followed him around continuously and played non stop. Then he latched on to my Tucson who just didn’t know what to make of him taking over her favorite ‘napping’ spot. S, I think it does help to be around socialized cats who can sort of show them the way. One other thing—we must look like huge monsters to these little guys. He got more scared if he saw me coming to pick him up than if I just sort of snuck up behind him and scooped him up! It just got to be a game where I’d scoop him up, nuzzle him a bit, and then put him down… but it seemed to work with him… Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:31 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I hover over top of them! They use the box fine. I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them, LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days we will try that. Supervised of course. caroline ------------ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500 Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up—he’d hiss a
Re: socializing barn kittens
Ask Monkee to help you.
The Royal Princess Kitty Katt hid from me for months after she had to come live
with me. She was an almost grown feral when she decided to move in with my
parents..long story but I slept on the floor with her (reducing my size
considerably--you might try it with your little ones. Maybe prop yourself up
on a pillow and read aloud to them or just be there with them). Dr. Boswell
suggested I try Feliway and I went thru several bottles spraying me, my clothes
and especially my hands. Everything came together. FYI: Kitty had a right to
really dislike me. I took her to the vet's, cut her nails, pilled her, caught
her etc. And, worst of all, brought in dogs!!!
You can do this. Just remember ferals and barn cats are not born to be pets.
They can easily become pets but on their terms not yours or mine. And, when
they make that decision, they are the most wonderful friends. You know you
have been selected.
If you have men who will
exclude any of God's creatures
from the shelter of compassion
and pity, you will have men who
will deal likewise with their
fellow man.
St. Francis
- Original Message -
From: Caroline Kaufmann
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:30 PM
Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens
Yes! That is exactly what I told my mom! That's the comparison I used.
That they make me feel bad about myself b/c of the way they look at me when I
come in the room...they look UP at me like I'm the giant from Jack & the
Beanstock and I'm there to eat them...and when they scamper away from me...I
know I shouldn't let it affect me, but it hurts my feelings. The way they look
at me makes me feel like a big, fat bumbling idiot! And it's in such contrast
to my "upstairs room" of overly-socialized, babyfied, spoiled boy cats- Yoda,
LeeRoy and Possee! I go in that room and they all knock things over trying to
get TO me as fast as possible! If I bend over, LeeRoy jumps on my back and
lays on it- licks my head, neck, hair- whatever. He greets anyone that walks
in the room like a dog- wags his long tail and "talks." Possee licks me to
death on the face in the morning; Yoda tries to play it cool with me, but when
I was gone Friday into Sat. for 24 hours, when I came back, wow, it was a
love-fest...lil nerd missed me and couldn't help but purr and let me hold him.
So I'm not used to that terrified look and it does make me sad. I get pouty!
I know Monkee's at the Rainbow Bridge laughing is black & white a$$ off at me!
caroline
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens
Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:09:39 -0500
The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and
most playful cat)> He followed him around continuously and played non stop.
Then he latched on to my Tucson who just didn’t know what to make of him taking
over her favorite ‘napping’ spot. S, I think it does help to be around
socialized cats who can sort of show them the way.
One other thing—we must look like huge monsters to these little guys. He
got more scared if he saw me coming to pick him up than if I just sort of snuck
up behind him and scooped him up! It just got to be a game where I’d scoop him
up, nuzzle him a bit, and then put him down… but it seemed to work with him…
Christiane Biagi
914-632-4672
Cell: 914-720-6888
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART)
www.findkpets.org
Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline
Kaufmann
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:31 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens
Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all
day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter
box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing
is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I
bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I
sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny
to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking
I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY
TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls cle
RE: socializing barn kittens
Yes! That is exactly what I told my mom! That's the comparison I used. That they make me feel bad about myself b/c of the way they look at me when I come in the room...they look UP at me like I'm the giant from Jack & the Beanstock and I'm there to eat them...and when they scamper away from me...I know I shouldn't let it affect me, but it hurts my feelings. The way they look at me makes me feel like a big, fat bumbling idiot! And it's in such contrast to my "upstairs room" of overly-socialized, babyfied, spoiled boy cats- Yoda, LeeRoy and Possee! I go in that room and they all knock things over trying to get TO me as fast as possible! If I bend over, LeeRoy jumps on my back and lays on it- licks my head, neck, hair- whatever. He greets anyone that walks in the room like a dog- wags his long tail and "talks." Possee licks me to death on the face in the morning; Yoda tries to play it cool with me, but when I was gone Friday into Sat. for 24 hours, when I came back, wow, it was a love-fest...lil nerd missed me and couldn't help but purr and let me hold him. So I'm not used to that terrified look and it does make me sad. I get pouty! I know Monkee's at the Rainbow Bridge laughing is black & white a$$ off at me! caroline From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: socializing barn kittensDate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 17:09:39 -0500 The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and most playful cat)> He followed him around continuously and played non stop. Then he latched on to my Tucson who just didn’t know what to make of him taking over her favorite ‘napping’ spot. S, I think it does help to be around socialized cats who can sort of show them the way. One other thing—we must look like huge monsters to these little guys. He got more scared if he saw me coming to pick him up than if I just sort of snuck up behind him and scooped him up! It just got to be a game where I’d scoop him up, nuzzle him a bit, and then put him down… but it seemed to work with him… Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline KaufmannSent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:31 PMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: socializing barn kittens Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I hover over top of them! They use the box fine. I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them, LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days we will try that. Supervised of course. caroline From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: socializing barn kittensDate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500 Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up—he’d hiss and curl up just as you described. He’d also run a whole lot faster than me and could get under things! LOL I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn, etc.) were OK, making his way to the food dish and the litter box and the toys—all those things clicked and within a couple of weeks he was ready to go. He got adopted the 2nd day I brought him to the shelter (I made a deal to bring him there during the day and pick him up at night). My only suggestion is to do what you’re doing—handle each of them as much as possible, let them be kittens and find their food bowls and litter boxes, and I bet it will work out… Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline KaufmannSe
RE: socializing barn kittens
The little guy I fostered first latched on to my youngest (and smallest and most playful cat)> He followed him around continuously and played non stop. Then he latched on to my Tucson who just didn't know what to make of him taking over her favorite 'napping' spot. S, I think it does help to be around socialized cats who can sort of show them the way. One other thing-we must look like huge monsters to these little guys. He got more scared if he saw me coming to pick him up than if I just sort of snuck up behind him and scooped him up! It just got to be a game where I'd scoop him up, nuzzle him a bit, and then put him down. but it seemed to work with him. Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 4:31 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I hover over top of them! They use the box fine. I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them, LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days we will try that. Supervised of course. caroline _ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500 Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up-he'd hiss and curl up just as you described. He'd also run a whole lot faster than me and could get under things! LOL I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn, etc.) were OK, making his way to the food dish and the litter box and the toys-all those things clicked and within a couple of weeks he was ready to go. He got adopted the 2nd day I brought him to the shelter (I made a deal to bring him there during the day and pick him up at night). My only suggestion is to do what you're doing-handle each of them as much as possible, let them be kittens and find their food bowls and litter boxes, and I bet it will work out. Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org <http://www.findkpets.org/> Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:59 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: OT: socializing barn kittens My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been a
Re: socializing barn kittens
Try Feliway and CatNap (Dr. Maier has some) to calm them. Use the spray, not the plug ins. Feed them in very small amounts numerous times a day and let them see you and associate you with the food. Watch out for those baby teeth. Don't be afraid but know that they know how to protect themselves and, like any cornered critter, will fight. Get a consult with Dr. Maier.she knows alot about this subject and, as you know, is great. If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow man. St. Francis - Original Message - From: Caroline Kaufmann To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 2:59 PM Subject: OT: socializing barn kittens My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling little docile things you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if you put them on the ground, they would be off and under something and you'd never find them again. It's like they go into survival mode when you hold them, so people think they are fun to hold, but really, these little things are dying on the inside while you are doing it! They never purr when I scratch them or handle them. They will hiss sometimes when they first see me or I reach for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore it. Of course, they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave them, but we are making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with feathers, so I can get them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing. Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting them to engage with people- and even like them? I hold them together as a group all wrapped up in a towel- I thought that would lessen the trauma by them all having each other. Plus, the farmer's daughter (hee hee!) favored only one of them and held only that one kitten- so it's more socialized and easier to hold than the other two. It's actually really sad to see the effect that that favoritism had on these babies! I just want to be doing all that I can b/c if they can't be socialized, they will have to be released and I will feel like it's partly my fault-- I feel like I can't fail here. It would be especially sad b/c these little things are cute cute! They have those big
RE: socializing barn kittens
You've found their Achilles heel -- their appetites! Work it. Meat baby food,
a little roast chickenThey'll learn to appreciate people very quickly at
that rate.
Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: .hmmessage P { margin:0px;
padding:0px } body.hmmessage { FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma }
Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to
force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box-
no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is
going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I
bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I
sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny
to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking
I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY
TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I
hover over top of them! They use the box fine.
I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them,
LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want
to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days
we will try that. Supervised of course.
caroline
-
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: RE: socializing barn kittens
Date: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500
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.ExternalClass EC_div.Section1 {page:Section1;} Fostered a little guy
that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick uphed hiss and curl
up just as you described. Hed also run a whole lot faster than me
and could get under things! LOL
I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my
cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with
them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big
guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn,
etc.) were OK, making his way to the food dish and the litter box and the
toysall those things clicked and within a couple of weeks he was ready to go.
He got adopted the 2nd day I brought him to the shelter (I made a deal to bring
him there during the day and pick him up at night).
My only suggestion is to do what youre doinghandle each of them as much as
possible, let them be kittens and find their food bowls and litter boxes, and I
bet it will work out
Christiane Biagi
914-632-4672
Cell: 914-720-6888
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART)
www.findkpets.org
Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline
Kaufmann
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:59 PM
To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org
Subject: OT: socializing barn kittens
My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are
estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3
lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's
farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after
they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were
noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as
far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me.
So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out
of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to
be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She
doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was
given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess.
But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte!
And these babies are the healthie
RE: socializing barn kittens
Thanks! That makes me feel better! I do leave the TV on their room all day to force them to get used to human voices. As far as food bowls and litter box- no problem (except for the inevitable laying in the litter box!). Nothing is going to stop these little pigs from eating...trust me. Especially when I bring them their wet kitten food at night (wh/ I'm sure they've never had)- I sit in front of their condo and stare at them-- they HATE it, but it's so funny to watch the test of wills going through their heads-- watching me, thinking I'm going to grab them, thinking they really want to eat that food, etc. EVERY TIME, those pigs opt for eating their food- licking the bowls clean, while I hover over top of them! They use the box fine. I haven't mixed them with my older cats yet- I plan to, because one of them, LeeRoy, really likes all cats and is a great cat ambassador. But I didn't want to stress them out so much so soon after their surgery...so maybe in a few days we will try that. Supervised of course. caroline From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: RE: socializing barn kittensDate: Wed, 19 Dec 2007 16:16:55 -0500 Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up—he’d hiss and curl up just as you described. He’d also run a whole lot faster than me and could get under things! LOL I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn, etc.) were OK, making his way to the food dish and the litter box and the toys—all those things clicked and within a couple of weeks he was ready to go. He got adopted the 2nd day I brought him to the shelter (I made a deal to bring him there during the day and pick him up at night). My only suggestion is to do what you’re doing—handle each of them as much as possible, let them be kittens and find their food bowls and litter boxes, and I bet it will work out… Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline KaufmannSent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:59 PMTo: [EMAIL PROTECTED]: OT: socializing barn kittens My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling little docile things you can just hold forever
Re: OT: socializing barn kittens
yeah, what susan just said. i will go and sit in the room with them, too, with some absolutely irresistable toy and make an absolute fool out of myself playing with it, ignoring them all the while. often the temptation to play is just TOO great to resist i won't try to force contact on them (unless it's a situation where they really are close to feral, but we need to be able to tame them JUST enough in case of medical need, when one goes for the welding gloves, and forced-fondling--specially around the ears or base of tail, so they can bite and scratch and hiss all they want til it clicks that, hey, this feels really GOOD). i let them play, and let THEM make the first moves. i will also take a good book in with me, and just become a piece of furniture--understanding that, for some kitties who aren't born housecats, that's all any human will really be. On Dec 19, 2007 4:19 PM, Susan Hoffman <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > You're actually off to a very good start. > > - Keep holding and petting, whether they admit to liking it or not, and > keep the feathery toys handy. > - Keep them in a very small space so you can easily get your hands on > them. > - Add a little meat baby food to your repertoire, especially the chicken, > turkey and ham flavors. You want to follow up petting sessions with a > really special treat. I actually have them lick the baby food off my > fingertips. Gets them even more accustomed to hands. > - Also, whatever space you have them in, play music very softly and/or > leave on a television set to a low volume. Gets them more used to human > voices. > - Patience and persistence > - Also, join the feral cat list at > http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/ and read through the very > extensive files section on taming. > > > *Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>* wrote: > > My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are > estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost > 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this > man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, > but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so > they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into > the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught > and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to > get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can > be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to > re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on > this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest > "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- > that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen > in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I > have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! > The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and > he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on > me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight > darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through > a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they > are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so > I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). > > Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than > just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're > not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if > you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick > them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball > and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and > don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling > little docile things you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if > you put them on the ground, they would be off and under something and you'd > never find them again. It's like they go into survival mode when you hold > them, so people think they are fun to hold, but really, these little things > are dying on the inside while you are doing it! They never purr when I > scratch them or handle them. They will hiss sometimes when they first see > me or I reach for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore > it. Of course, they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave > them, but we are making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with > feathers, so I can get them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing. > > > *Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting > them to engage with people- and ev
Re: OT: socializing barn kittens
You're actually off to a very good start.
- Keep holding and petting, whether they admit to liking it or not, and keep
the feathery toys handy.
- Keep them in a very small space so you can easily get your hands on them.
- Add a little meat baby food to your repertoire, especially the chicken,
turkey and ham flavors. You want to follow up petting sessions with a really
special treat. I actually have them lick the baby food off my fingertips.
Gets them even more accustomed to hands.
- Also, whatever space you have them in, play music very softly and/or leave
on a television set to a low volume. Gets them more used to human voices.
- Patience and persistence
- Also, join the feral cat list at
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/feral_cats/ and read through the very
extensive files section on taming.
Caroline Kaufmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
.hmmessage P { margin:0px; padding:0px } body.hmmessage {
FONT-SIZE: 10pt; FONT-FAMILY:Tahoma }My other issue is that is took in 3
female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got
spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in
Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the
barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started
coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his
daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in
the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the
adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter
cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If
not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the
time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and
number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a
rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest
lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the
7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have
been adopted! The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm
his mommy and he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is
growing on me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling
underweight darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone
through a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho
they are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet
so I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.).
Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than just
generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're not really
wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if you didn't touch
them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick them up by the
scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball and they just kind
of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and don't engage. So
people who don't truly know cats think they are darling little docile things
you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if you put them on the
ground, they would be off and under something and you'd never find them again.
It's like they go into survival mode when you hold them, so people think they
are fun to hold, but really, these little things are dying on the inside while
you are doing it! They never purr when I scratch them or handle them. They
will hiss sometimes when they first see me or I reach
for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore it. Of course,
they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave them, but we are
making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with feathers, so I can get
them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing.
Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting them to
engage with people- and even like them? I hold them together as a group all
wrapped up in a towel- I thought that would lessen the trauma by them all
having each other. Plus, the farmer's daughter (hee hee!) favored only one of
them and held only that one kitten- so it's more socialized and easier to hold
than the other two. It's actually really sad to see the effect that that
favoritism had on these babies! I just want to be doing all that I can b/c if
they can't be socialized, they will have to be released and I will feel like
it's partly my fault-- I feel like I can't fail here. It would be especially
sad b/c these little things are cute cute! They have those big round "apple"
heads and pudgy faces and huge round eyes and they have medium fur that is
really fluffy and poufy- very distinctive looking and I know if they didn't
have "people" issues right now, they would literally fly of
RE: socializing barn kittens
Fostered a little guy that somebody had dumped .. he was a real problem to pick up-he'd hiss and curl up just as you described. He'd also run a whole lot faster than me and could get under things! LOL I just made it a point to pick him up as much as I could. He was around my cats and I think that helped a whole lot cause once he started playing with them and watching what they did, he figured it was OK. I fed him with the big guys and just being around, figuring out that the strange noises (TV, vacumn, etc.) were OK, making his way to the food dish and the litter box and the toys-all those things clicked and within a couple of weeks he was ready to go. He got adopted the 2nd day I brought him to the shelter (I made a deal to bring him there during the day and pick him up at night). My only suggestion is to do what you're doing-handle each of them as much as possible, let them be kittens and find their food bowls and litter boxes, and I bet it will work out. Christiane Biagi 914-632-4672 Cell: 914-720-6888 [EMAIL PROTECTED] Katrina Animal Reunion Team (KART) www.findkpets.org Join Us & Help Reunite Katrina-displaced Families with their Animals From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Caroline Kaufmann Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2007 3:59 PM To: felvtalk@felineleukemia.org Subject: OT: socializing barn kittens My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling little docile things you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if you put them on the ground, they would be off and under something and you'd never find them again. It's like they go into survival mode when you hold them, so people think they are fun to hold, but really, these little things are dying on the inside while you are doing it! They never purr when I scratch them or handle them. They will hiss sometimes when they first see me or I reach for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore it. Of course, they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave them, but we are making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with feathers, so I can get them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing. Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting them to engage with people- and even like them? I hold them together as a group all wrapped up in a towel- I thought that would lessen the trauma by them all having each other. Plus, the farmer's daughter (hee hee!) favored only one of them and held only that one kitten- so it's more socialized and easier to hold than the other two. It's actually really sad to see the effect that that favori
OT: socializing barn kittens
My other issue is that is took in 3 female barn kittens last Sat. We are estimating they are about 8 wks (just got spayed on Mon and all weigh almost 3 lbs). They were born in a barn in Indiana- mom was dropped off on this man's farm and had her kittens in the barn. I don't know too many details, but after they were born, they started coming out of the barn a little so they were noticed by the farmer and his daughter. They were not taken into the house as far as I know they stayed in the barn until they were caught and brought to me. So my contact at the adoption agency obviously wanted to get them fix and out of the bitter bitter cold and wants to see if they can be socialized enough to be adopted out. If not, they will have to re-released to the barn. She doesn't have the time/resources to take on this project right now and she was given my name and number as the newest "kitten rehabber" on the block I guess. But I'm a rehabber of sick kittens- that's my forte! And these babies are the healthiest lil piggies I've seen in a loong time (aw the irony). (By the by, 5 of the 7 kittens that I have nursed through illnesses and fostered since Sept. have been adopted! The remaining ones are Yoda- who shows badly b/c he thinks I'm his mommy and he has no intention of going anywhere...and the little booger is growing on me daily anyway; and Possum (aka "Possee"- my little struggling underweight darling who's finally growing and moving around now that we've gone through a whole thing of Nutrical! He's not caught up to Yoda yet, even tho they are the same age, but there's been improvement. He isn't show-ready yet so I haven't even tried to adopt him yet.). Anyway, I don't know what I am doing with these barn kittens! Other than just generally "forcing" myself on them, I am kind of at a loss. They're not really wild like feral cats or anything, they just would prefer it if you didn't touch them. They kind of go into this panic mode when I do pick them up by the scruff where they will just curl up their body like a ball and they just kind of go to their happy place-- like lapse into a trance and don't engage. So people who don't truly know cats think they are darling little docile things you can just hold forever, but it's not so. I know if you put them on the ground, they would be off and under something and you'd never find them again. It's like they go into survival mode when you hold them, so people think they are fun to hold, but really, these little things are dying on the inside while you are doing it! They never purr when I scratch them or handle them. They will hiss sometimes when they first see me or I reach for them, but it's really baby hissing and I totally ignore it. Of course, they are scared of sounds and some toys I originally gave them, but we are making headway now b/c they love the cat teasers with feathers, so I can get them to engage, but only for the purpose of playing. Other than forced holding of them, what can I do to work on getting them to engage with people- and even like them? I hold them together as a group all wrapped up in a towel- I thought that would lessen the trauma by them all having each other. Plus, the farmer's daughter (hee hee!) favored only one of them and held only that one kitten- so it's more socialized and easier to hold than the other two. It's actually really sad to see the effect that that favoritism had on these babies! I just want to be doing all that I can b/c if they can't be socialized, they will have to be released and I will feel like it's partly my fault-- I feel like I can't fail here. It would be especially sad b/c these little things are cute cute! They have those big round "apple" heads and pudgy faces and huge round eyes and they have medium fur that is really fluffy and poufy- very distinctive looking and I know if they didn't have "people" issues right now, they would literally fly off the shelves at adoption day! They look little bear cubs basically...insanely cute! Suggestions very welcome at this point! thanks, Caroline _ The best games are on Xbox 360. Click here for a special offer on an Xbox 360 Console. http://www.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/wheretobuy/
