Help with new kitten

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Frank Pittel - 07 Jun 2004 00:27 GMT

After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
a kitten from a freight yard after the mother was killed. As far as I can
tell it's an adorable 3 month old kitten. Unfortunatly after I got home
with it, it ran off and hid and I haven't seen it since. I know it's still
alive only because it's eating the food I leave out for it and knows to use
the litter pan.

I know that the best thing to do is leave it alone and with time it'll
come around. Unfortunatly I am going away on vacation in a week and the
best I've been able to arrange is to drop it off with friends for the
week I'm gone. Anyone have any ideas how to get this non-socialized kitten
to come out long enough for me to catch it??

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Sunflower - 07 Jun 2004 06:56 GMT

> After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
> kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> week I'm gone. Anyone have any ideas how to get this non-socialized kitten
> to come out long enough for me to catch it??

Either set a humane trap for it or arrange someone to come into your home to
provide fresh food and water and to clean the litterbox. If you don't have
a friend who'll do it, a petsitting service is surprisingly reasonable.

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Frank Pittel - 08 Jun 2004 01:08 GMT

: > After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
: > kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
[quoted text clipped - 14 lines]
: provide fresh food and water and to clean the litterbox. If you don't have
: a friend who'll do it, a petsitting service is surprisingly reasonable.

Any idea where I can get one of the traps at a reasonable price? Having someone
come by to feed him is not an option for me. On the positive side I did see him
last night and heard him running around this morning. :-)

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JoJo - 08 Jun 2004 03:22 GMT

Your local shelters should be able to help you.

Once you have time to start socializing - start hand feeding "good" things.
You may have to hold hand out at a distance, but can gradually move in
slowly. Or put "good" food in bowl sit in floor with it close by and see if
kitty comes out. Only way I could get my one to come close to me. Now she
will suck up to me (nose and cheek rubs) but runs from my dad, he never
tried to work with her.

Good luck!

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Frank Pittel - 08 Jun 2004 04:41 GMT

: Your local shelters should be able to help you.

I have to admit I haven't thought of going there to ask. I'll do that after work.

: Once you have time to start socializing - start hand feeding "good" things.

I would love to be able to do that. Unfortunatly the little thing is better at
hiding then I am at seeking. :-) As I said in my original post I would normally
let it go but I'm going on vaction for a week and need to get it to a friend. I
of course can't leave it alone all that time.

: You may have to hold hand out at a distance, but can gradually move in
: slowly. Or put "good" food in bowl sit in floor with it close by and see if
: kitty comes out. Only way I could get my one to come close to me. Now she
: will suck up to me (nose and cheek rubs) but runs from my dad, he never
: tried to work with her.

I've tried that and he seems to be more stuborn then I am patient. :-( On the other
hand he feels secure enough to eat (and at an average of 1.5 cans of food a day
he eats well) and last night I heard him chasing something around for hours. I even
managed to get a look at him and he's as cute as I remember!!

: Good luck!

Thanks I've got the feeling I'm going to need a lot of both luck and patience with
this one.

: > After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
: > kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
[quoted text clipped - 10 lines]
: > week I'm gone. Anyone have any ideas how to get this non-socialized kitten
: > to come out long enough for me to catch it??

Signature

Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------
fwp@deepthought.com

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Frank Pittel - 10 Jun 2004 22:27 GMT

Just wanted to mention that I've been making good prgress in the last couple of days!!
While he still runs from me when I move towards him and spends most of the time
hiding. I have gotten him to the point where he lets me pet him and has even let me
pick him up. :-)

I started by cutting off his food which for him wasn't such a hardship as he was
eating better then a can of food a day!! After about five hours I was able to
tease him out of hiding by bouncing a cat toy with a bell by a string. After
about ten minutes he couldn't resist any more and started to pounce on the toy.

I then offered him cat treats. At first he was far to afraid to come near me to
get the treats. After a minute or so hunger took over and he took the food. With
time he allowed me to pet and scratch him and finally I was even able to pick him
up..

: Your local shelters should be able to help you.

: Once you have time to start socializing - start hand feeding "good" things.
: You may have to hold hand out at a distance, but can gradually move in
: slowly. Or put "good" food in bowl sit in floor with it close by and see if
: kitty comes out. Only way I could get my one to come close to me. Now she
: will suck up to me (nose and cheek rubs) but runs from my dad, he never
: tried to work with her.

: Good luck!
: >
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
: > week I'm gone. Anyone have any ideas how to get this non-socialized kitten
: > to come out long enough for me to catch it??

Signature

Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------
fwp@deepthought.com

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Frank Pittel - 30 Jun 2004 15:21 GMT

: After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
: kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
: alive only because it's eating the food I leave out for it and knows to use
: the litter pan.

: I know that the best thing to do is leave it alone and with time it'll
: come around. Unfortunatly I am going away on vacation in a week and the
: best I've been able to arrange is to drop it off with friends for the
: week I'm gone. Anyone have any ideas how to get this non-socialized kitten
: to come out long enough for me to catch it??

A few new items. Brought the little kitty to the vet a couple of days ago
and found that it's now ~10 weeks old. Meaning it was only a couple of months
old when I got it.

A couple of days ago I got the best thing to get the little guy out of his shell
and out of hiding. I went to the local animal shelter and got another kitten!!!
After about an hour they were playing like they knew each other for ever. Now
all I have to is remind myself that contrary to the way it sounds they're only
playing and not killing each other!! :-)

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Keep working millions on welfare depend on you
-------------------
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Hope Munro Smith - 01 Jul 2004 17:33 GMT

> : After had cats for most of my life I'm not sure of how to deal with a
> : kitten that was just given to me. A conductor of the train I ride rescuded
[quoted text clipped - 22 lines]
> only
> playing and not killing each other!! :-)

Yay, nothing like another kitten to solve all your problems!

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