What Was I Thinking?

Two weeks ago I took in a feral/stray mom and her six kittens. I didn't really have room for them, you understand, but they had no where else to go. And they needed to be trapped before the babies became labeled "unadoptable" and more kittens came along.

The kittens are about ten weeks old. Two of them are in my bathroom. Mom is downstairs in a good sized room. In the same room are two good sized cages with two kittens in each, side by side. I needed to be able to work with socializing the kittens. I'm still getting a rejecting hiss most every day, but they are hissing less and less. Plus it's only a few that are still hissing. A few are actually starting to purr a bit. And yes, I know purring doesn't mean they are happy... it's more of a comforting thing. But a purr is nicer then a hiss.

Since they are at the magical weight of 2 lbs. I am feeling some pressure with socializing them. I have socialized a number of kittens before but the way I do it takes more time then I feel these babies can afford. Adoptions have slowed down and many people want kittens to be so tiny.

I never realized that a kitten could smirk before this month. I offer you proof although the smirk doesn't show as well in a photo as it does in person.



I think mom is actually a stray that went feral. She was growling at me when I had her and three of her babies in the small bathroom. Protecting her babies, of course. But otherwise she just watches me. I feel bad however because the only places she can hide in the room aren't much cover for her. I'll have to work on that.

Poor babies, it's just so hard to take all that hissing seriously when they are such cute balls of fur.

At Last, She Turns the Corner

I guess it's a way of making sure I know how special I am, how honored, and how humble I should be. Of how she can give it, or can take it away. Or maybe she was just waiting for me to show a sincere effort. After nine months of being under my care the beautiful feral kitty has given me permission to pet her. I admit I took the business of socializing her very, very slowly. I wanted her to feel safe, I wanted her to see I respected her needs.

After having a number of litters this smart feral mom finally was able to be caught. Since she was being friendly to her colony caretaker we thought she would be able to socialize to being with a family. We realized she would probably never consent to being a lap kitty.... but that she might agree to being spoiled by a person. Prior to Lucy's arrival I was taking care and socializing her babies. They moved in when they were about seven weeks old. I took my time socializing them too. Although they were little and therefore considered to be more adoptable I still wanted to be able to take my time and not rush them. I wanted them to be more comfortable with people before they got speutered. And all that went well. Except with the way they scatter to the winds when someone comes over if I didn't have videos of them on my lap no one would believe me. Kinda hard to get them adopted when all a potential adopter sees is their backsides running out of a room. Although it hasn't really been an issue since they are all black and therefore apparently blend in with the walls.

Socializing Lucy was different. I tried to use a feathered wand to pet her with. She's a smart kitty. She knew that the feather's actions were made by my hand. So she'd snipe at my hand, not the feather. Sniper claws, fast and sharp! After after her attack she gave me a look that told me that I was fooling only myself. She also looked insulted at my pitiful attempt to bond with her.

Lucy's grand-daugher moved in so I started working with her on the socializing. And a socialized (spoiled) senior kitty also shared the room. Then one magical day while I was standing and getting their can food ready for them, it happened. Did Lucy really brush by my leg? Could it be? I pretended to be casual about it. Then the next day, again she brushed by my leg. A kitty hug as I call it. This progressed until one day I carefully offered her a pet. She liked it! Now I sit while getting their can food ready. If I am not fast enough with getting Lucy's bowl to her she will get on my lap a bit to reach her bowl for a bite or two. And I can pet her while she waits for her food. Yay!! We are now friends. I earned her trust, and can't let her down.