Just before Christmas our outdoor adopted stray momma cat that has been
visiting us for a few years brought her three new kittens over and placed
them under our tool shed.
This was not the first time she has done this.
Last year she brought only one kitten and it grew up under the shed only to
be another skiddish cat fearful of humans.  It has tamed down but will only
let you approach and pet it when it is hungry.

Anyhow, I decided the three new kittens would not suffer the same fate as
their older brother.
After a lot of trial and error I was able to capture all three kittens and
learned something new.
Young kittens will hiss and spat but they don't bite. I guess it is
something they must learn.
Not so with momma cat, she has learned how.
She ran up and gave me a hiss and a good smack when I was trying to grab
hold of the third kitten.

The three new kittens were brought into the house and placed in a steamers
trunk in the front living room.
The momma cat threw a fit for a while but after I let her in to inspect and
feed her kitties a few times she seem to accept the new arrangements.
She now comes in three of four times a day to tend them but always wants
back outside.

http://home.stx.rr.com/n5wrx/Momma3.jpg

The kittens have grown so much in the last week or so and quickly learned
how to get out of that trunk.
They have learned how to jump and climb.
I placed a litter box in the room and was amazed to see them using it right
away.
They seemed to know exactly what it was for.
They now run free in the living room.
Yesterday the sun came out and they discovered shadows.
Something they had not seen before.
It was funny watching them play and pounce on the dark thing that kept
following them around.

Momma cat has also changed.
She is still very protective of her kittens and will still place herself
between me and the kittens and watch me with a careful eye.
She no longer hisses and I think she is accepting me as a surrogate parent.
She never wanted in the house before and would never let you pet her on the
head.
She has become a lot more friendly and less fearful and skittish.
She seems to enjoy being petted now and will lay down and close her eyes and
curl her paws while you pet her and scratch behind her ears.
She does not know it but this week she is going to the vet.
Poor momma, no more kitties, but I dont want this to happen twice a year!

I make it a point to hand feed the kittens something every day and see that
they get at least an hour of being petted and handled. They are now to the
point they will not shy away when I approach them and will walk over to me
and sniff my hands.
They will relax when you pick them up and no longer kling to your hands or
your clothing for dear life.
These kittens are going to make some very nice pets for someone.

Anyone want a really cute kitten?

Willee