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Cat Forum / General Topics / January 2004advice required for abused kittens)
I would like to get some advice. I have a pet store along with my wife. Recently we started helping the local animal shelter adopt out kittens. They just sent us two kittens that are very scared (We have been told that they were abused) We know that it will take some time and lots of loving for them to start trusting us. We are giving them lots of TLC and gentle voices even when they have dug their claws into us. (We feel the last thing that they need right now is a harsh voice) I'm a bit worried since they have not eaten or drank anything in the last day or so. They have gone to the litter pan. The shelter thinks they are about 5 months, but they are very small and skinny they look undernourished. Can anyone give us some advice on how we can help these kittens trust us, and what we can do to make sure they eat and drink something. Thanks Chris >I'm a bit worried since they have not eaten >or drank anything in the last day or so. They have gone to the litter pan. I would try what my wife tried years ago, give the cat some tuna. That always seemed to work. Also be gentle and give the cat alot of TLC and hold it. I had one cat that we got from the Animal Shelter, she was so young my wife essentially had to teach her how to eat. The vet thinks the cat was about 3 weeks old when the shelter was claiming it was 8 weeks old. Have you had the vet check things out? I make it a practice of keeping every new cat separate from all the other cats until the vet checks things out. I would point out the cats may not have been abused, they may just be scared. Maybe they were separated from Mom too early? Maybe they were abandoned too early? -------------------------------------------- "It took us 15 years to McGyver this thing." -------------------------Carter on Stargate To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from my e-mail address. We personal have not had the cats looked at by a vet. We are helping a shelter get them adopted out. We will try feeding them some tuna, they have been getting lots of TLC > >I'm a bit worried since they have not eaten > >or drank anything in the last day or so. They have gone to the litter pan. [quoted text clipped - 20 lines] > To send me e-mail exorcise NO Spam from > my e-mail address. > We personal have not had the cats looked at by a vet. We are helping a > shelter get them adopted out. We will try feeding them some tuna, they have > been getting lots of TLC The shelter should have had a vet looked them over before giving them to you. A thing that might help (and you might have it in stock) is a Feliway diffuser. Also, try different brands of wet food, some cats prefer some textures/flavors over others. Ours love the new Proplan foods with rice.  SignatureVictor Martinez Owned and operated by the Fantastic Seven (TM) Send your spam here: uce@ftc.gov Email me here: pistorLITTER@BOXaustin.rr.com Thanks Victor My wife and I have tried two different brands of wet food, but we are going to keep trying other brands and flavors. And yes the shelter did have a look at them before giving them to us. The kittens had they shots and we examined and they told us they were fine. Signature> > We personal have not had the cats looked at by a vet. We are helping a > > shelter get them adopted out. We will try feeding them some tuna, they have [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > prefer some textures/flavors over others. Ours love the new Proplan > foods with rice. > Thanks Victor > > My wife and I have tried two different brands of wet food, but we are going > to keep trying other brands and flavors. And yes the shelter did have a > look at them before giving them to us. The kittens had they shots and we > examined and they told us they were fine. If all else fails, syringe feed them some KMR. I use it on any of my cats that get sick and stop eating. It gives them the fat and protein they need plus moisture. LT > We personal have not had the cats looked at by a vet. Why not? >We are helping a shelter get them adopted out. Very commendable. >We will try feeding them some tuna, You can try feeding them some tuna, but doing this won't result in a solution. Besides that, the consumption of tuna, apart from occassionally can be very harmful to cats. Do these cats and you a favour, take them to the vet! As a pet shop owner in Canada, don't you have to provide some health guarantee prior to the sale? We haven't taken them to a vet, first of all cause they are not our cats. We are helping the local animal shelter find homes for these animals. Second of all the shelter gave them all their shots and had a look at them and said that they were ok, just very scared. >"As a pet shop owner in Canada, don't you have to provide some health guarantee prior to the sale? We are not selling the animals, we don't provide the health guarantee, the shelter does. We are just providing a cage, food and lots of TLC for these animals. > > We personal have not had the cats looked at by a vet. > [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > As a pet shop owner in Canada, don't you have to provide some health > guarantee prior to the sale? >I would like to get some advice. I have a pet store along with my wife. >Recently we started helping the local animal shelter adopt out kittens. They [quoted text clipped - 10 lines] > >Thanks >Chris My first thought is they would do better in a snug, quiet environment -- not in the pet store. Could you keep them at home or in a separate room where you could visit them? >My first thought is they would do better in a snug, quiet environment -- not in the pet store. Could you keep them at home or in a separate room where you could visit them? We could keep them in a snug, quiet environment, and yes we could bring them home, but how are they going to find homes when they are locked up in a enclosed room away from people. > >I would like to get some advice. I have a pet store along with my wife. > >Recently we started helping the local animal shelter adopt out kittens. They [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > not in the pet store. Could you keep them at home or in a separate > room where you could visit them? >>My first thought is they would do better in a snug, quiet environment IMO the first thing is to get them over being scared. hi Chris.. Kudos to you on doing the satellite adoptions for the shelter! Our shelter has several satellites, and its a great way to get exposure to the shelter. However, scared kittens don't show well. Im very surprised your shelter allowed them to go out and interact with people if there is a risk that in a scared state they might scratch or bite someone. To socialize scared kittens, they need an environment that is quite and calm.. something not going to happen for a long time in a store. Hand feeding treats, and tempting the kittens with play time is very important. Using a fishing pole type of toy. Its major fun for the kitties, and you aren't as directly involved as you would be with some of the others, so the kittens might find this to be "safer" for them. you can't force yourself on the kittens, as they will only retreat more. Being there and letting them come to you to try out the food and toys your offering is the key. Talk to your shelter. See if they wouldn't mind if you took them off display for a week or two to socialize them better, maybe bring someone else in for the duration of the socialization. It would be best for the kittens, best for their new homes, and best for you. If someone handled the kittens in your store, and got bit, there is a chance they could hold you responsible. > I would like to get some advice. I have a pet store along with my wife. > Recently we started helping the local animal shelter adopt out kittens. They [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > > Chris |
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