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Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)/kitten run away even when i slightly move

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Expert: Dear Tabbi - 8/1/2008


Question
hi, i have 2 kittens (brother and sister) and one kitten the black male is getting alot better with people and not being afraid when we move or pet her and the calico refuses to adapt to inside life and runs away into her room and hides when she hears us and wont eat while were around or be playful or anything. we managed to get her ears to perk up from the defensive pulled back look but she looks deppressed if shes being held or shakes even. there about a 2 months oldand they were the only 2 in the litter. any help?

Answer
Chris,

It sounds like you have feral kittens. They have a natural inbred distust of humans and it will take a lot of patience and time to tame them down. At 8 weeks, it will take a month or more.

Let the kitty SLOWLY get used to you. Don't try to touch her until she is ready. Just spend time in the same room and put food down and sit quietly while she eats. She will tame down as she gets used to you, your movements, your voice, etc. Calicos AND ferals are ususally one person cats. She may be friendly to you but not ever to anyone else. That is normal.

They will not be like normal housecats. Ferals do not like to be petted very much or held. But they still can be loving and affectionate.

Brothers and sisters may be from the same litter but have different fathers so their personalities and temperments may be different and they won't act the same.


Just go very slow with her and don't rush her and she will come around. Everything is new to her and she is scared. Be patient.

Tabbi  

Cat Training and Behavior (Domestic and Feral)

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Dear Tabbi

Expertise

My expertise is in helping people understand their cat (or cats) and their behavior. Questions are welcome even if you don't have a cat....just a question about them. Hopefully my experience, suggestions, and comments will be of help to you...and your cat (or cats). Looking through my past responses to questions will give you additional information and/or answers too. Domestic Cats = cats (no matter what breed) who are tame or not wild, or abandoned cats who were pets that became wild, but can be tamed again. Ferals = cats who are born with one or more parents who were wild stray cats. They usually have had no interactions with people. They have an inbred distrust of humans and are difficult to socialize. They are skittish, hide, and are afraid of people. They take a lot of time and patience to work with them. A lot of kittens from shelters had a feral parent.

Experience

Since I was a child, over 45 years, I have been owned by a LOT of cats and kittens of almost every temperament, behavior, and personality. I have had experience with neurotic, disabled (including blind), stray, and 'problem child' cats and kittens. (A few normal cats too!) Plus all the things a lifetime of owning cats and research has taught me. I also have experience in feral cat behavior (which is different from domestic cats), and some experience with feral colonies that includes colony feeding and feral cat TNR (trap/neuter/release).

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