Hi,
I have a feral 3 month old kitten I am trying to socialize. (First time I have ever done this). He is soooo scared! He will let me pet him but he will hiss and be wide eyed quite a bit while I am doing it. He has gotten soooo scared a few times even after petting him for a good ten minutes he was so scared he urinated all over himself! Is there anything I can do to calm him down a bit? Kitty prozac or something?
2006-09-07 05:44:02 · 8 answers · asked by Nicolleta 2 in Pets ➔ Cats
First I would encourage you, if you haven't already, take the kitten to the vet and have his shots updated and have a complete physical exam.
Second you may need to try forced socialization. Take a towel and wrap the kitten in the towel and hold him firmly, not TIGHTLY, for 10-15 mins. Talk to him quietly and pet him. Do this twice a day and you could try it without a towel also. But the towel will help keep you dry. Keep the cat in a quiet room and don't encourage him to hide behind furniture. Make sure he has access to a cat box and food & water at all time. Eventually the kitten will get used to you and will understand that you are his friend.
2006-09-07 05:56:00 · answer #1 · answered by Erica, AKA Stretch 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Talk to your vet. Mine recommended something called Rescue Remedy - you can probably find it in an herbal store. I didn't think it worked very well for our cat. I have a rescued Bengal from a cattery run amok. She was about a year old though so you may have better luck with your kitten.
One thing that I've found as a good incentive are treats. And starting him off with some early positive reinforcement should help a lot. We used baby food (chicken). Put it out on a spoon or finger and make sure to pet him while he's eating it. Don't let him get any until he lets you pet him. And don't replace his normal meals with the baby food - it should only be given as a small amount somewhat frequently. Also - I would avoid Tuna - the mercury in tuna can be bad for the cat. He's really young so if you keep at it, it might work. Good luck - rescuing an animal is hard work and I commend you for giving the kitty a chance.
2006-09-07 05:57:53 · answer #2 · answered by Josh D 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You don't have to go to a drug to help the kitty overcome his fears. Get a bottle of Rescue Remedy (a combination of five Bach flower essences) from a health foods store. People use it so it's not too hard to find. Bottle costs around $20.
You shake the bottle well and put three or four drops on the kitten's fur between his ears. Do this whenever you handle him and continue till you see his problems diminishing.
The RR is totally benign and cannot harm the kitten in any way. And it can be miraculously effective in helping cats overcome fears.
You can also stroke the kitten firmly up from the bridge of the nose between the eyes. You can place your thumbs on both ears and your forefingers underneath and stroke from the base of the ears to the tips of the ears. Cover all the ears surface this way. It stimulates all the acupuncture points in the kitten's body. These are T-Touch techniques developed by Linda Tellington-Jones. She even does this with pythons at the zoo! It is used on dogs of course, horses, bunnies etc.
2006-09-07 06:06:35 · answer #3 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
shop the cats and kittens separated from the feral kitten until you've the kitten appeared at by a vet to ascertain it does not have worms or different issues which would be transmitted to the others. If the feral kitten is healthful, you are able to slowly introduce her to the different cats. because she is extraordinarily youthful, she'll lose her wildness and become domesticated like your different cats.
2016-09-30 10:41:45 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lots of patience and constant interaction with it.
I would suggest lots of play time to establish the relationship and interaction between the two of you.
Keep up the petting and hold it a lot if it will let you. If it's not keen on being held, at least try holding it for the short periods it will allow.
Maybe a call to your vet for some socializing info would help.
2006-09-07 06:00:00 · answer #5 · answered by Dick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I take care of and feed aprox. 20 cats over a now 2 year period and I agree with the other answers regarding patience, gentle speaking tone and holding it when it allows you for a few minutes at a time don't over due it all at once. It as you stated is frightened and it takes alot for a cat/kitten to trust you. It takes time I still have a feral cat that I've fed for over a year and even though she sees me touching and holding her kittens and other cats and kittens, she maybe let me touch her twice, she'll come to eat and drink water but when I approach her, she still runs away from me. Just be patient and give it time to adjust to it's new found friend soon you'll become best buds. I don't agree giving it catnip however, I give it to my inside cats from time to time and it makes them hyper and a few times I've gotten scratched when trying to pet them while laying on scratching pad with the catnip. You can always speak to a vet for suggestions as well. Remember like people, cats each have their own personalities. Good Luck & thanks for caring for one of God's little furry 4 legged angels.
2006-09-10 18:21:11 · answer #6 · answered by RosieAngel 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hand feed him and pet him often-talk with a calm voice. Be patient-it takes about a week to get them to play with you and not be scared any longer. Once you get him tamed you got a friend for life.
2006-09-07 06:06:42 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
try cat nip
2006-09-07 05:47:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋