kitten update - and request for advice! (Full Version)

All Forums >> [Casual Banter] >> Polls and Other Random Stupidity



Message

LadyEllen -> kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 11:39:31 AM)

Well, theyre now big boys and girls, mostly nearly ready to make their way into the world!

Stormy, Misty and Chubby (aka the Chubster) have already gone to their new home with my ex, and are settling in well. Meanwhile, Stripy and Mini are about to go to their new homes this week too, leaving me with Leopardy and Blackberry and their moms.

Pepper's babies include Stormy - an average little boy, grey like his dad, and Misty - an average little girl, with grey from her dad and white from her mom - and picture perfect cute! Chubby Chubster (my son named him!) is one of Tess's babies - a black and white boy and just brilliant - clever, sociable and very special - the sort of cat who'd make a good dog!

Stripy is one of Tess's girls - another average little girl, black with ginger stripes all over her. Leopardy is another of Tess's - another clever, sociable baby with a streak of a beasty in her that matches her wild appearance! Mini (so called as he looks like his aunt Pepper with black and white in the same places!) is a clever, sociable, fearless little boy - the biggest of all seven babies and the strongest and quickest and a lovable little monster!

And then, there's Blackberry - Pepper's third kitten, black all over and fluffy. I'm quite worried about him because he's absolutely petrified of me and everyone else but his mom, aunt and cousins. He plays and runs and jumps (when he gets chance as he tends to stay and watch if the others are playing) when I dangle a toy, but if come near he cowers and yowls and runs to hide. We took them all out for a walk in the garden over the weekend (except Mini as he wouldnt have the harness on!) and they all explored except for Blackberry, who cowered at the door to get back inside.

Its quite odd that theyre all so different in character - their moms are sisters and theyve lived together in the same place from birth.

Anyone got any tips for socialising little Blackberry?

E



GreedyTop -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 12:01:34 PM)

E.. if you do some searching, there should be some helpful info HERE

And glad to hear everyone is doing well!



LadyEllen -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 12:03:08 PM)

Thanks GT - I'll take a look. I did a Google for "shy kitten" and got a heap of stuff, but its all stuff that I'm doing or have done, you know?

E



subtee -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 12:29:09 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: LadyEllen

Anyone got any tips for socialising little Blackberry?

E


My blackberry is demanding and requires much attention. It's "purr" is relentless, day and night. It loves the physical touch, but you have to know what message it's trying to get across in order to "address" it properly and "push all the right buttons." It is truly feline in that while it depends upon me to sustain it's energy and vitality, it really doesn't care if I loathe it; it caterwauls and runs its little interior motor at will.



sirsholly -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 1:02:39 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: subtee

it caterwauls and runs its little interior motor at will.


generally at 3am...



parttimehotty -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 1:11:51 PM)

That's the issue I had w/my last 2 fosters...........1 young adult, 1 older kitten.
Kitten was part of a litter of 4...3 were absolutely SOCIABLE/while she was absolutely NOT! She cowered, hissed, groweled whenever I approached her as well as the young adult. The young adult was more understandably that way, but the kitten, not a clue why she was/her sibling weren't.  I ended up having to adopt them out as barn cats after 9 months of trying to socialize them.
Try forcing yourself on the kitten by putting her in a cage and making her accept your touches. That worked for some in my rescue group.



angelikaJ -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/20/2008 3:40:18 PM)

Perhaps socialising with Pepper when Blackberry is near and engaging her in play...and things that will make her happy and relaxed. (purring)...kittens learn from their mothers.



pahunkboy -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/21/2008 11:27:06 AM)

..hiding - well that is his comfort zone.  keep cubby places for him to hide, while at same time toys that entice him to explore.    sorta like no rocking chairs in roomw a long tail



soul2share -> RE: kitten update - and request for advice! (5/21/2008 4:44:28 PM)

My cat Boo is somewhat the same, but not quite as bad....I've had him for 4 years, and it was a good two before he'd even come over to me for loving.  He'd only sleep on my bed if there was already one of his brothers up there.  I always called him my little independent kitty!  He still isn't too keen on being held....but that all came about because when I got him, the neice of my roommate wouldn't leave them alone when she'd come over......she'd holler for them, and grab the first one she could and squeeze them, holding on even when they were trying to escape.  Boo learned after the first 2 or 3 times to run like hell for the basement eveytime the door opened.  Only after it appeared that the newcomer was a "friendly" would he sneak out of his hiding place.  Has anything like that happened with Blackberry?  Smooch just learned to live with it, the other two boys were hiders too.

I think Angelika has the right idea......just keep playing with Mom, and hopefully, Blackberry will learn that you're NOT going to eat him up or otherwise main him.  It is amazing how different in personalities the same littermates can be....Smooch, who is Boo's brother, is my little lover...all you have to do is say his name, and he's purring away!  KB, while not a littermate, is more human than most cats I've ever seen, but he was raised with a dog, and picked up some of his habits.  KB runs from NO ONE......and he lets you know that you are in HIS house immediately!  Fortunately, his brothers haven't picked up any of his bad habits!

I hope all works out with Blackberry.....try some patience and time, and he will probably decide that the funny looking two legged animals are family also.  I'd just go about my business, and not force the issue.  Engage him in play with the dangly toys like you have, but let him decide to come to you.  It just could be all the noise and excitement from all the folks coming and going have him a bit disconcerted.



Page: [1]

Valid CSS!




Collarchat.com © 2025
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Spam Policy
0.0625