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Cats/Scared kitten

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Expert: - 11/8/2008


Question
We live on an old farm that I purchased approximately 3 years ago which came with feral cats, was not sure and still not sure of how many.  When we moved in I already had 6 cats, one is severely handicapped as he was born with panleukapenia and one has lost one eye and one with asthma attacks.  We love them dearly.  Since then I have spayed and neutered 6 cats.  3 of them are indoor and outdoor cats.  I have found homes for a couple of the kittens that we found in our barn and now have 3 kittens that were found in our barn.  2 are doing beautifully and one is being bullied by one of my older female cats who was adopted from the outside, she was nearly frozen during the winter and only weighed 1lb when I found her huddled up in a corner of an old building outside.  She has rather neurotic behavoir anyways probably due to early experiences.  Anyways what should we do.  Right now we are keeping them separated with the kitten locked up in our bedroom with litter, food and water and toys but he is still pretty scared and I feel this will alter his personality somewhat if we don't do something.  I am, at present, trying to find a home for one or the other but so far not having success.  I read about Back Flower Essence and am wondering how do I use it and if that will help at all.  Thanks for any suggestions you may have.  The kitten is doing well medically as he had some respiratory problems when we found him and he is absolutely beautiful.  
Again, thanks for any suggestions!!

Christina

Answer
Christina,

Firstly I would like to commend you on your "feline-atarian" efforts, it's so nice to know that there are other like minded people to myself out there willing to give any cat a chance. I think that the Bach Flower essences would be a good place to start, particularly Rescue Remedy which is a blend of flower essences designed to calm and reassure. I would suggest that you add 5-7 drops to this kitty's fresh water each morning and see where that takes you...You can find Bach remedies in natural health stores, naturopathic pharmacies, and in some places you can even find Rescue Remedy in mainstream pharmacies in their vitamin/supplement aisle...Rescue Remedy with some gentle, patient introductions to you should work. Bribery in the form of tuna, chicken, salmon, etc is usually also well received. Feel free to keep me informed, you may have more questions down the line.

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Ali

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I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.

Experience

I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.

Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.

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