Hi,
I am fostering a kitten, who is 5 months old. She was 3 months old when someone traped her, and surrendered her to the shelter. Than an employee adopted her and has worked on tamming her. She is tammed, and loves to be held and will purr. But if she is not in a cage, its impossible to find her, she will hide all day long and all night, only coming out to eat and use the litter box, but she will only come out when you are not there. I have had her for 2 weeks now and I still can not let her have free run of the room. Is it too late for her to trust humans? Do you think I will ever be able to let her out of the cage and have free run, and than come out and see me?
2007-12-24 09:30:39 · 5 answers · asked by animluv 5 in Pets ➔ Cats
Kittens should be gently handled by humans from a very early age for them to be friendly and comfortable around humans. Since your kitty was trapped and you only had her 2 weeks she most likely will be standoffish for sometime. She will eventually come around but it will take time and she mostly likely will not come around if there is a lot of noise or other people around. If you work with her and talk in a friendly voice she will learn to trust you. Don't force yourself on her, let her make the move on her own. This will take time but you will succeed.
2007-12-27 05:12:06 · answer #1 · answered by catlady 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is HOPE!!
I have adopted 2 feral (wild) cats, and each of them started out hiding all day except to eat and poop.
Yes, they need time to adjust. Sounds like she has been moving around alot (after she was rescued). You are the 3rd person to have her (trapper, employee then you) and like a foster child, kitty doesn' t feel secure, and might think things are going to change again.
If you are only "fostering her" and will be adopting her out, she will be up for more change soon. That, unfortunately, doesn't help. Try to keep things very calm around her. Use a soft voice, coax her out (from under the bed, or the closet where she's hiding) with a piece of tuna or chicken, and give her positive reinforcement.
Whenever you call her (with a food treat) and she comes out, give her lots of love while petting her and holding her close to your heart so she can hear your heart beat. Kittens are often soothed by a heartbeat.
Don't yell around her, or make sudden movements.
You may also want to give her a towel or blanket with her own scent on it (from when she lays on it) and then put it on your bed when you go to sleep. Bring her up there, and she will "recognize" her own scent as belonging, and this will allow her to feel secure that it is "her space". good luck.
2007-12-24 09:39:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It would take longer time if the cat isn't used to people. We took in two separate male strays, neither of which could be handled at first. It took me 3 years to get close enough to touch one,and he was moved indoors and became very comfortable there once he got to know our routine and house rules. He was able to be handled safely after a few weeks indoors, the more he trusted us the easier it was for him. They like to know how we react so they can base their reactions on something.
The other was smoother to handle, he was badly injured and was recuperating in our basement for a month before being introduced upstairs. Food was the way to his acceptance of us. That got him turned around.
Fear of their lives is what affects their behavior. If you're consistent about what you do when around them,and aren't loud, they adjust to that. Be patient. Use a special food call when you bring something nice to her bowl. Make an effort to give her something special twice a day in the food bowl, like a tablespoon of canned food, or baked chicken. Once she knows you're doing a callf or her, that starts the interaction process.
2007-12-24 09:43:13 · answer #3 · answered by Elaine M 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will take time. I got a kitten at 2 weeks and had to feed it by bottle and help use the sand box. He's very loving and quite a character now. I also kept it in a cage when we 1st got it so it wouldn't get stepped on by accident. You need to spend more time with your cat so it get more familiar with you. Learns to trust you and bonds with you. It will take time so be patient. Always talk in soft reassuring tones and give it plenty of love.
2007-12-24 09:51:12 · answer #4 · answered by little_leo45 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It will take a long time for her to be comfortable. Think 2 or 3 months.
2007-12-24 09:38:23 · answer #5 · answered by Abolir Las Farc 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋