Please please please help with 2 new kittens

kildare_mum

We have adopted two beautiful new kittens (2 sisters). They are about 5 or 6 months old.

In their last home they were mostly outside but came in also from time to time and were handled by children etc. They were (I am led to believe) well socialised.

They have been with me now for over a week. They still will not come near me. They hide all the time. They have managed to break the clips under our kitchen units and hide in there all the time. They will eat in the evening but only when i leave the room. I have had many cats before but they have come round quicker than this.

They cry to get out the whole time. They howl at the back doors and windows. Every time we go out we have to be careful that they don't escape!! They are really unhappy.

We want the cats to be inside / outside cats. It is really distressing to hear see them scared and upset the whole time.

Am i expecting too much too soon? If i let them out, I think they will never come back! I am happy to keep them in for as long as needed but am I just torturing them?

Any help at all would be great!

planetX

Hi - don't let them out yet, you may lose them. You need them to bond with their new home and with you before even thinking about that.
They obviously aren't very well socialised, and it's going to take a little longer with 6 month old cats than it would with tiny kittens. Do you have anywhere safer and quieter than the kitchen to put them for a few days - even a utility room, somewhere where you can have more access to them. You could always try feeding your way to their hearts - some chicken or fish might work wonders. Dangly cat toys too:D

are they neutered? they're old enough to come into heat

Raminahobbin

Unfortunately it sounds like the cats are completely feral- where did you get them from? If it was from a farm or somewhere similar, it's highly likely the people (who probably don't bother neutering their cats) were just getting rid of some of the cat population that exploded around their yard from the kitten season.

As the cats are still pretty young you should be able to get them to come around eventually. (If you can be sure they are the age you were told they are- do they seem quite small?)

It's not going to be easy, and it will take a long time. If you can't do this, they try re-home them with someone more experienced. There's a re-homing thread in this board you could put up some info.

If this is something you think you can commit to, then you'll find patience and lots of time spent sitting in the room with the cats, reading or just being quiet will work. Start by putting the food out for them at a distance and move closer and closer to the food over time. I managed to sort-of tame some feral young cats outside my apartment by just being around when feeding them. After a couple of months, I was able to pick one of them up for a few seconds, but not the other. The cats were brought to a rescue once they were semi-tamed.

kildare_mum

I am going to persevere! I knew there was no quick answer! I am in no rush so will keep them in for a couple more weeks and see how we get on!

They are beautiful. I think they are definitely kittens so that will help. Not neutered yet because I thought it was too early. Perhaps I should think about it. Would it help?

Raminahobbin

kildare_mum wrote: »

I am going to persevere! I knew there was no quick answer! I am in no rush so will keep them in for a couple more weeks and see how we get on!

They are beautiful. I think they are definitely kittens so that will help. Not neutered yet because I thought it was too early. Perhaps I should think about it. Would it help?

Spaying is a definite- once they come in to heat, which will be soon, if there are any tom cats outside, they may start hanging around and your cats will get more restless. My semi-feral cat was eventually content enough to stay inside for a 2week stretch, but as soon as she came into heat it was impossible to get her to relax. She was climbing the walls big time!

planetX

they may be in heat now - the behaviour you describe, howling at doors and windows is exactly what you'd get from a cat in heat. Please have them neutered before letting them step outside even for a second.