Kittens are approx 16 wks old and we've had them for a month. They will come to us to take food out of our hands but wont let us touch them. Some people have suggested cornering them, getting them in a towel and carrying them around. What does everyone think? I tried this with one of them all it did was scare him. Do we wait for them to come to us? Will they ever?
2007-01-12 23:55:41 · 14 answers · asked by Louise W 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
I dont think scaring them to death will help really! Im surprised they're both like it because kittens are ususally curious and playful by nature. I think you should just wait it out - with a piece of string in your hand! Once they realise you're not going to do anything to scare or hurt them and all you do is feed and play with them, they'll probably come to you.
2007-01-13 00:02:06 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
My eldest cat was a stray and she was only about 7-8 weeks when we rescued her (she will be 3 later this year). She was very scared of everything and I'd say it took the best part of 6 months to get her used to us. The key word with cats is always patience. Continue to try to stroke them but never force them or they will be even more scared. Spend time playing with them everyday for a short while. all you need is a shoe lace! Also establish routines with them such as feeding them at such time etc... Read everything you can about timid cats and you might find other tips. Do not get discouraged. For a long time I had this horrible feeling that my cat would never like me but my efforts were worth it as she is now the cuddliest thing.
2007-01-13 00:17:18 · answer #2 · answered by Jess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would never corner a kitten as it would frighten the life out of them. In my experience with cats (and I've had a lot) I would continue to feed them and when the food etc is in a bowl and you are serving it to them give them a sneaky, reassuring stroke every meal time. After that little by little, every night, sit in the same room as them but wait for them to come up to you, and they will as they are curious by nature. I wouldn't ever recommend forcing them into liking you and they will come round in the end but it will take time.
2007-01-13 00:07:57 · answer #3 · answered by Victoria M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'd probably do like you did, get them to take food from your hand or a pile and pat them while they eat, they should come around either way just by picking them up and patting them. Our cat had kittens just the other month and 2 weeks and the still run from us most the time. lol.
2007-01-13 00:03:34 · answer #4 · answered by queenmab666 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Forget the towel, that will just freak them out more. Sounds like they haven't had much human interaction from birth. Like someone else said, get down on their level. Pet them while they are eating and they will associate both with the love you are trying to give.
One of my kitties is really cool: jet black & shiny, very healthy and muscular. I have had him since he was about 6 to 8 weeks but he will never be a lap kitty and has always been aloof. He was born and raised in a garage with little human interaction until I got him.
You should spay/neuter in a couple of months. PLEASE.
2007-01-13 00:12:58 · answer #5 · answered by mickeyg1958 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have had my kittens for about 2 months now... and one of them was very loving and wanted to play and lay on me all the time the other one didnt she would never come to me or anyone else for affection she liked our dog better. Once she saw that we were safe and wouldnt hurt her from watching how we played with the other one she started coming to us a little at a time. She comes when she wants to be loved and she runs when she doesnt.. lol just like people they are different. But they will come to you as they learn to trust you and get used of you..
2007-01-16 22:29:03 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOTS OF LOVE!!!!...and attention. I have 2 cats, got them when they were only 8 weeks old. One of them was VERY shy at first. Just show the kitten a lot of attention, be careful of fast movements at first, but other than that just give it some time, she'll come around.
2007-01-13 00:07:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
ok, first of all DO NOT COVER THEM WITH A TOWEL - this will only make them far more likley to stay away from you. i have a cat that was very nervous and the best thing to do is to ignore them, it sounds strange but cats are naturally very attention seeking animals - if you ignore them they will eventually come to you. something that i found works is stroking them gently while they are eating from your hands, this may take a while but eventually they will see that you are not a threat and then they can begin to trust you.
2007-01-13 10:41:17 · answer #8 · answered by snottercat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Be sure not to make any sudden movements or scare them. Calmly go up to them and just let them sniff your hand. Try pulling a piece of string along the ground for them to chase. Keep busy and ignore them and they will want attention and come up to you.
2007-01-13 00:15:44 · answer #9 · answered by lokii147 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
wait for the kittens to come to you. Anything else will probably scare them off. The same thing thing happened with our cat when we got her, three years on and she even sleeps with us during the night!
2007-01-14 06:42:17 · answer #10 · answered by future_millionairess 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋