A few days ago a feral kitten got into my car (windows were rolled down partially). It was very difficult but I managed to get him into a carrier.
He is really wild - I took him to the vet and she had to chase him around the room. He was hissing and spitting and freaking out. Finally she cornered him and was able to pick him up by wrapping him in a towel. He relaxed right away and she was able to examine him. She said he is about five months old. She gave him shots and worm medicine and he needs to come back in two weeks for more worm medicine and to get neutered.
He usually hides under the bed, though he comes to out eat and he uses the litterbox fine.
My question is... is he too old to tame? A few times I've been able to pick him up using the towel technique and when I pet him he starts to relax and even purr. Then the second I put him down, he hisses at me if I move towards him! This morning I tried to pick him up using just my hands and he bit me and scratched me.
A couple of times he has jumped on my bed to look at me, but won't let me get near him. He has also started mewing and checking things out but mostly he hangs out under the bed. As soon as I lift the dust ruffle to look at him he hisses. I talk to him a lot to try to calm him down.
I have two female cats. The 15-year-old likes kittens and doesn't mind him or hiss at him at all. He seems fascinated by her and I've tried to show him how I pet her and love her. My other cat hisses and growls so I've kept her out of my bedroom.
Am I doing all the right things? Should I just let him hide under the bed as long as he wants to?
advice appreciated...
Need advice about older feral kitten
Re: Need advice about older feral kitten
Sounds like you are doing everything right so far...it takes time...but 5 months is not too old to tame him...just lots of patience!!
You might want to read the link to the left column about introductions at this link: http://www.cathelp-online.com/qinfo/intro.php
Have fun with your new boy...give him loving when he will let you, and let him come to you...let him see that it is you who puts the food out and gives love to the others...and he will come around...
Does he have a name yet? Maybe calling him softly by a name repetitively will let him know that it is he that you are talking to...
You might want to read the link to the left column about introductions at this link: http://www.cathelp-online.com/qinfo/intro.php
Have fun with your new boy...give him loving when he will let you, and let him come to you...let him see that it is you who puts the food out and gives love to the others...and he will come around...
Does he have a name yet? Maybe calling him softly by a name repetitively will let him know that it is he that you are talking to...
Re: Need advice about older feral kitten
Another thing to try immediately is kitty treats. IMO crunchy is best - my cat (and dog!) like Whisker Lickin's Tartar Control... chicken or tuna... that way I don't feel guilty about them having treats, in moderation of course. Every time you look under the bed or wherever the new cat is lurking, offer him a treat. Also give treats to the other cats if they are present. This begins to set a ritual. Wish I had a pic of my cat and German shepherd sitting on each side of their person, waiting turns at treat time; but if it will post, below is a pic of kitten Q a few days after I got him, with my wonderful deaf white cat Xanth - who is now at the Bridge.
Q was born outdoors to an outdoor mom; they were not entirely feral but had never been indoors. I brought the kitten indoors when he was about 4 months old; he looked around, ignored the resident cat, checked out the chow feeder, used the litter box and then found an observation perch, just as though he had always been an indoor cat... That's why he is Q the Cat from the Continuum: like he said, "All right, I'm going to be a pet cat for a couple of decades!"
Q was born outdoors to an outdoor mom; they were not entirely feral but had never been indoors. I brought the kitten indoors when he was about 4 months old; he looked around, ignored the resident cat, checked out the chow feeder, used the litter box and then found an observation perch, just as though he had always been an indoor cat... That's why he is Q the Cat from the Continuum: like he said, "All right, I'm going to be a pet cat for a couple of decades!"