CATS PROTECTION

We have taken on the two cats Kirsten posted in the needing a home section a couple of weeks ago. They are a young mother (approx 12 months) and her 14 week old kitten. They are a lovely couple of cats and we are really enjoying having them around the house. The first question is how long should we keep them indoors to imprint themselves on the house and get the idea that this is now their home?

The other question is how we should get the mother cat to be a bit more sociable... The kitten is great fun and likes nothing better than to play with anyone in the room. Mother though has been living outside for most of her life. She is not at all aggresive but is very nervous and spends most of her time hiding. She has come out a couple of times in the past week to sit with my wife for a few minutes then gone back behind the sofa. She will now sit a couple of feet away from us but if we make any move she runs away to hide again. I realise that she has had a bit of an upheaval in her life and will need a lot of time but I hope she will get less nervous around the family. At the moment we are very much leaving her to her own devices but is this the right thing to do? Should we be trying to get her used to being handled? I am worried that we spend so much time with her kitten that she is somewhat left out, but as she chooses to hide away what can we do to persuade her that we are her family now?

Graham

Hi,

Not a vet or anything but have found food treats to be a great help as a Feliway plug in is also great.

Try to play and give treats best not to hold her and make her feel trapped,  She does not understand you want to help and it will take time.

just have a nice play time on her terms if at all. I also found to ignore and they tend to come out of interest but every one is different.

She is showing trust just to spend time in your home even though it may not seem like it

The young one will want to play while she is on red alert which is natural.

So nice that you care she wil take time and may never be a cuddle kitty but you have given her and her kitten the best life they could have .

Fed and watered with a cuddle.

Regars

Gilian

Regard

Gillian

Thanks Gillian - have ordered some Feliway of the web - managed to get it down to £19 as opposed to the £33 that a local shop wanted...

Anybody got any thoughts on the first question - how long to keep them inside for?

Graham

Hi again,

The Feliway worked great for us we got a kitten who screamed 24 hours a day.

He was so upset in a new place with 2 adult cats.

I plugged the Feliway in in the room they sleep in and the next morning silence.

He settled after that andas  it lasts 4 weeks we did not need another.

We always wait untill are cats are 12 months before letting them out as then they look grown up because if they are small someone may think ( ahh homeless kitten I will have it ) and you dont see it again.

They also have more chance with other cats and dogs.

The mother should be ok to go out after about 8 weeks but all cats are different ,

my husband always tells me when you let them out they may not come back that is the thing with cats.

I have a special whistle noise I make at meal time etc and if I want our cats in I do the whistle and they come running in !

The mother of course has a past you dont know about so it may be a risk you will just have to take letting her out but I would wait untill she feels more like it is her home.

I hope the Feliway works you got a bargain I paid £35 at our vets.

Gillian