I have a lot on
my mind these days. For instance, I
had always wondered what I would do if adopters returned the cats for one
reason or another. Then it happened: Parsley and Hermie. Due
to financial troubles and having to move in with someone, their former adopter
had to give them up. I am glad too because they weren't being taken care
of very well. Parsley had terrible mats in his fur, and was very
overweight. This was back in February 2018, and they still are not
re-adopted. They are with Carol, still, being fostered in a warm and
comfy room at her business.
Then there was the ‘tale of the bunnies.
The bunny tail. Three older
kittens were trapped in Walworth, brought to clinic for TNR, but we decided to
take them into my rescue and rehabilitate them.
It’s been a slow process. Two
were ‘adopted’ out – one unofficially – sort of a trial run – and both are in
jeapordy – as of today – of being returned.
Those two are Thumper and Noel.
Noel was the most scared of the three, with Thumper being in second
place, and Bunny the least scared. Bunny
is still in foster, but has someone who wants to try her out and adopt her. The other two have not come around as fast as
the adopters would like. They are still
scared. I am not sure how to handle this
– but it is my policy to have kitties returned to me if it is not working
out. I either keep them for life, or I return them
to the barn they came from.
Below are a few guidelines on socializing feral kittens.
Some come around sooner than others, but I believe they do come around,
but it takes TIME, DEVOTION, and PATIENCE. I am not a kitten expert, nor a socialization expert. I rely on my faithful friend and foster Melissa to do this kind of thing for these babies. She worked with them and then they were adopted.
Time: Do you have the time it takes to socialize kittens?
You will have to commit to caring for them one-on-one for at least a couple of
hours each day, for a period of a few weeks to a month or longer.
Getting comfortable – Follow these tips to make kittens feel
more at home and prepare them for socialization. • Move slowly and speak
softly around the kittens. If you wear shoes indoors, consider slippers or
socks around the kittens. Don’t play loud music or musical instruments. • Don’t
keep the kittens confined away from the household action. Leave a TV or radio
on after the kittens have been in your home for a few days, so they become
accustomed to human voices and sounds. If exposure to other pets is not an
issue, set the whole crate in a busy living room with a TV playing. • Kittens will respond to positive experiences.
Reward positive behaviors and prevent negative experiences like scolding or
confrontations with other pets. • Gauge each kitten’s ability to learn and
become accustomed to you. Evaluate each individually—don’t go by set rules. •
Spitting, hissing and hiding are all expressions of fear; be patient and do not
mistake these signs for aggression.
Socializing with Food – Food is the key to socialization.
Providing the kitten with food creates an incentive for the kitten to interact
with you and forms a positive association, ensuring that she connects you with
the food she loves so much. • You may keep dry kitten food out all day. When
you feed wet food, stay in the room while the kittens eat it, so they associate
you with food and begin to trust you. • If the kittens are very timid, try to
first give them food on a spoon through the cage. • Over time, gradually move
the food plate closer to your body while you sit in the room, until the plate
is in your lap and the kittens are comfortable crawling on you to get to it. •
Pet and handle the kittens for the first time while they are eating, so they
have an incentive to stay put. Start petting around the face, chin, and behind
the ears and work up to petting all over. • Gradually work up to holding kittens,
making sure to reward them with some canned cat food or chicken flavored baby
food on a spoon. Human baby food, especially chicken flavor, is a special
incentive for kittens. (Make sure the baby food has no onion—it’s toxic to
cats.)
Hold the kittens as much as possible. Make sure they are
close to your body so they feel your body warmth and heart beat. This is
especially productive after they have eaten, so they associate you with the food
and the cuddles.
Yesterday was TNR
day for me, and also it was a nasty weather day – with freezing rain, and cold
temperatures. I could not return the two
friendly cats back to the streets after the clinic visit. So, guess who else is in Carol’s care… These two. Limpy - it is believed - may have a degenerative muscle in his leg preventing him to put weight on it, but he was given antibiotic and sent home. Mister, is now Miley, as SHE is microchipped and spayed already, but the owner was unlocatable. I have not made a decision on them yet.
Have a great day.
"Expectation is the mother of all frustration."
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