Wild Kittens

So, I occasionally foster kittens for a great group called Lucky Paws Rescue. I've done it twice and it's been pretty easy. Our hospital also houses kittens and then we display them up front to get our clients to adopt them. Unfortunately, the kittens at the hospital get really stressed with all the craziness and noise and barking dogs, hissing screaming cats, etc. So they get diarrhea that doesn't clear up, we need to medicate, etc. This gets expensive for the rescue group and they don't want to use us anymore. We decided to try to foster these kittens in our own homes to get around them having to stay at the hospital. I volunteered to be one of these homes since I've done it before and it's pretty easy.

So, Janet brings in the 4 kittens I am to foster. We examine them, deworm them, give them their first vaccine, and test for FeLV/FIV. They check out great. Yes, they hiss at us in the cage, but they've just been torn from their mom and they're scared - it's not uncommon.

I get them home, let them out in the guest bedroom and I don't see them. They hide under the dresser and hiss at me anytime I come in or get near them. Hissing kittens are not scary - it's kinda cute, but this isn't a good sign for them. No one wants to adopt a hissing unhappy kitten. I realize they have not been socialized and unfortunately, they are kind of old to be starting this process! Generally, they need to be socialized by 4-5 weeks of age or they become feral (wild). These guys are at least 7 weeks old!

So I try to catch them again to take them to the hospital so they can get used to people. I just don't have time to socialize all 4. Mostly because it's best to separate them so they have to rely on humans for any sort of companionship. So I catch 3 and bring them back. I still have one that is living in Greta's old crate so that he can't hide from me. He's bi-polar, I swear. When I open the cage door, he hisses (at least he's not growling anymore!), but the second I get ahold of him and start petting him, he purrs like crazy and gets all relaxed and happy. It's hilarious. I put him back, he hisses.

I hope for his sake that we can get them used to people or they're never going to find a home! Anyone want a kitten???? :)