Scared kitten

I adopted a new kitten 2 weeks ago. He is now 14 weeks old. Ever since I
have got him home he hides under the bed and runs away if I go anywhere near
him. The only time I can get anywhere near him is when my other cat is
around. Fortunately they got on from day 1, my older male cat tolerates him
well, even though at times he gets annoyed with the kitten. When I do get a
chance to touch him he loves it and he will sit on my lap and be really
cuddly, but these episodes are few and far between.

What can I do to make him tolerate me being near him without him running
away scared? It seems to be getting worse not better!

Just let him take things at his own pace. The best thing you can do is ignore
him, it indicates calm acceptance. Never look him in the eye and, if you do,
blink. Do you know anything about the kitten's background? Was he born to a
feral mother?

Take a look at case history 2 he
http://www.fabcats.org/behaviour_kitten.html

Here's another link:
http://www.catactiontrust.org.uk/ind...N_position=2:2


AK wrote:
I adopted a new kitten 2 weeks ago. He is now 14 weeks old. Ever since I
have got him home he hides under the bed and runs away if I go anywhere near
him. The only time I can get anywhere near him is when my other cat is
around. Fortunately they got on from day 1, my older male cat tolerates him
well, even though at times he gets annoyed with the kitten. When I do get a
chance to touch him he loves it and he will sit on my lap and be really
cuddly, but these episodes are few and far between.

What can I do to make him tolerate me being near him without him running
away scared? It seems to be getting worse not better!

--
Message posted via http://www.catkb.com

"AK" wrote in message
...
I adopted a new kitten 2 weeks ago. He is now 14 weeks old. Ever since I
have got him home he hides under the bed and runs away if I go anywhere
near
him. The only time I can get anywhere near him is when my other cat is
around. Fortunately they got on from day 1, my older male cat tolerates
him
well, even though at times he gets annoyed with the kitten. When I do get
a
chance to touch him he loves it and he will sit on my lap and be really
cuddly, but these episodes are few and far between.

What can I do to make him tolerate me being near him without him running
away scared? It seems to be getting worse not better!


A friend of mine who fosters keeps kittens like this in her bathroom.
She says it works like a charm to get them used to her and to people
in general, because there is no place to hide, and they get used to her,
errr, smells and sounds. She does not approach the kittens, just talks
softly to them and lets them approach her. I cannot imagine this would
be a bad thing to do for a day or two. With ferals she does it much
longer.

I went thru the same thing when I first brought my two cats home. It just
takes time. My suggestions would be to hold out your hand when you get close -
let him smell you. Use your hand with food if you use dry food - let him see
it's you that's putting it in the dish. Eventually he'll come around
sometimes it just takes a lot of time and special attention. Now I have a cat
that loves to snuggle and cuddle whenever he can.

--
Message posted via CatKB.com
http://www.catkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx...ealth/200607/1

"cybercat" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine who fosters keeps kittens like this in her bathroom.
She says it works like a charm to get them used to her and to people
in general, because there is no place to hide, and they get used to her,
errr, smells and sounds. She does not approach the kittens, just talks
softly to them and lets them approach her. I cannot imagine this would
be a bad thing to do for a day or two. With ferals she does it much
longer.

I must admit it has been a lot worse since he has had free run of the
house........and many places to hide. I kept him in a bedroom for the first
few days, and even though he hid under the bed I could coax him out if I sat
there long enough.........sounds like I need to confine him back to the
bedroom and start again until he's 100% more confident with me.

"AK" wrote in message
...

"cybercat" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine who fosters keeps kittens like this in her bathroom.
She says it works like a charm to get them used to her and to people
in general, because there is no place to hide, and they get used to her,
errr, smells and sounds. She does not approach the kittens, just talks
softly to them and lets them approach her. I cannot imagine this would
be a bad thing to do for a day or two. With ferals she does it much
longer.

I must admit it has been a lot worse since he has had free run of the
house........and many places to hide. I kept him in a bedroom for the
first
few days, and even though he hid under the bed I could coax him out if I
sat
there long enough.........sounds like I need to confine him back to the
bedroom and start again until he's 100% more confident with me.



When my friend told me she had kept a feral kitten in the bathroom
for something like three weeks I gasped! She said, "Why do people
think that is so cruel? It works, just look at her now." And the cat,
by then grown up, adored her and was great with the volunteers and
other cats too. They are major creatures of habit, so you can train them
to a certain extent. And don't forget, they are little Drama Queens too.
Maybe it is just instinct and a small forebrain that makes them tend
to overreact at times, but they do. Examples: hiding from you as though
you are going to kill them just because you make them nervous because
you are new; and that ridiculous thing my cats have always did, where
they stick their heads over the dry food dish WHILE you pour the food
in, as though this is the last food they will ever see even though you FEED
them EVERY day.

Yes, that's what you need to do. Confine him to the bedroom with food,
water, and litter box. Gradually let him get used to you (ie. sit quietly
while he eats, etc). As he gets more comfortable, you can increase his
space.
Gail
"AK" wrote in message
...

"cybercat" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine who fosters keeps kittens like this in her bathroom.
She says it works like a charm to get them used to her and to people
in general, because there is no place to hide, and they get used to her,
errr, smells and sounds. She does not approach the kittens, just talks
softly to them and lets them approach her. I cannot imagine this would
be a bad thing to do for a day or two. With ferals she does it much
longer.

I must admit it has been a lot worse since he has had free run of the
house........and many places to hide. I kept him in a bedroom for the
first few days, and even though he hid under the bed I could coax him out
if I sat there long enough.........sounds like I need to confine him back
to the bedroom and start again until he's 100% more confident with me.

On Sun, 16 Jul 2006 00:04:26 +0100, AK wrote:
"cybercat" wrote in message
...
A friend of mine who fosters keeps kittens like this in her bathroom.
She says it works like a charm to get them used to her and to people in
general, because there is no place to hide, and they get used to her,
errr, smells and sounds. She does not approach the kittens, just talks
softly to them and lets them approach her. I cannot imagine this would
be a bad thing to do for a day or two. With ferals she does it much
longer.

I must admit it has been a lot worse since he has had free run of the
house........and many places to hide. I kept him in a bedroom for the
first few days, and even though he hid under the bed I could coax him
out if I sat there long enough.........sounds like I need to confine him
back to the bedroom and start again until he's 100% more confident with
me.

I brought kittens into the house (along with the semi-feral momcat) two
weeks ago and it's been a re-education for me about what kittens do/don't
like. They do not like being picked up over a certain distance from the
floor. They do like lots of things to explore and play with ... paper
balls, ping pong balls, a short climbing post to get on top of their cage
(left open after 2 days), boxes and bags, and a human to drag a string for
them to chase. For about a week, I didn't stay long in their room; then,
I went in, sat down on the floor and let them approach me.

On Friday, I cat-proofed another room and let them into it. They were
wary at first and do still return to their room to eat/sleep, but
they're ok with me in the new room too. There is some new stuff in that
room for them to climb on, explore, and play with.

I agree with your decision to take a step back. Establish whatever room
you want to be "home" to him and provide him with some "toys", a place to
sleep, and the "necessities" ... a litter box and water and feeding
station. Sit down on the floor and play with him at a distance that's
comfortable to him; he will soon come to you.

And of course, some extra attention for your other cat too. Sounds like
he's being better about this than a lot of cats would be.

"Ann" wrote in message
news
I brought kittens into the house (along with the semi-feral momcat) two
weeks ago and it's been a re-education for me about what kittens do/don't
like. They do not like being picked up over a certain distance from the
floor. They do like lots of things to explore and play with ... paper
balls, ping pong balls, a short climbing post to get on top of their cage
(left open after 2 days), boxes and bags, and a human to drag a string for
them to chase. For about a week, I didn't stay long in their room; then,
I went in, sat down on the floor and let them approach me.

On Friday, I cat-proofed another room and let them into it. They were
wary at first and do still return to their room to eat/sleep, but
they're ok with me in the new room too. There is some new stuff in that
room for them to climb on, explore, and play with.

I agree with your decision to take a step back. Establish whatever room
you want to be "home" to him and provide him with some "toys", a place to
sleep, and the "necessities" ... a litter box and water and feeding
station. Sit down on the floor and play with him at a distance that's
comfortable to him; he will soon come to you.

And of course, some extra attention for your other cat too. Sounds like
he's being better about this than a lot of cats would be.

Although he is on dried food I took a little tinned tuna in with me to the
bedroom..........it took him a good 30 minutes to be persuaded out but he
went crazy when he tasted it and sat on my lap licking my fingers for 20
minutes more. We also had some play time. Clearly tuna is great stuff! I
guess the secret is not to rush him.

As my other cat is fine with him and the kitten adores him I think I will
let them play in the bedroom for short periods......but I don't want him
bonded to my big boy and ignore me.

I am amazed at my older cat, he is a Bengal and very territorial.....always
fighting outside, so for him to take to the kitten has been a
godsend..........the kitten is the most washed kitten ever born!!

"AK" wrote

Although he is on dried food I took a little tinned tuna in with me to the
bedroom..........it took him a good 30 minutes to be persuaded out but he
went crazy when he tasted it and sat on my lap licking my fingers for 20
minutes more.

That's a great sign! Now is a great time, when he is in a mood like that,
to gently handle his feet--all of them. This is so that he will get used to
them being handled, so that later you can trim his claws. Not just for
your furniture etc., but to keep them from tripping him up, snagging them.
I would handle his tail too, so he will not turn into the kind of cat that
goes for you if you touch his tail!