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She has 7 kittens and she keeps them in the garage. 4 are 6-weeks and the 3 more skittish kittens are 8-weeks. If she let them out of the cage, they would tear up everything. She can't have them in the house. If she lets them run free, the neighbor's dogs will get them.
I got them home. The 3 kittens that are 8 weeks old were hopping around a lot in the cage, and reaching through the bars. I released them in the bathroom. There were 3 motors running. I picked them up. They were a little squirmy, but not biting or scratching.
Actually, the only problem I had was one of the 6-week old Siamese kittens. They were very playful. They tried to climb up my legs.
I second Shelbygirl's advice for shy kittens. We adopted a ~4 week old kitten that showd up at our place. He was so afraid that he would cram himself into tiny spaces and we would spend hours looking for him. We found this advice on the Internet: put the kitten in a room with no hiding places, sit nearby doing some quiet activity, and ignore the kitten. Within an hour, the kitten started making approaches and retreats. Within a day, he was letting us pet him. Now he's an extremely affectionate 6 month old cat.
She has 7 kittens and she keeps them in the garage. 4 are 6-weeks and the 3 more skittish kittens are 8-weeks. If she let them out of the cage, they would tear up everything. She can't have them in the house. If she lets them run free, the neighbor's dogs will get them.
Kittens tear things up. It's what kittens do. It's how they learn. If she can't have them in the house, which is where they belong, what on earth is she planning to do with them?
Keeping maturing kittens in a cage is going to have serious longer term effects - both physically and mentally. Playing, running, leaping, climbing, etc. are all essential to a cat's physical development. That's why Mother Nature preprogrammed them to do it. It wasn't just to drive their caretakers nuts; it does have a purpose.
Quote:
Originally Posted by STLCardsBlues1989
I got them home. The 3 kittens that are 8 weeks old were hopping around a lot in the cage, and reaching through the bars. I released them in the bathroom. There were 3 motors running. I picked them up. They were a little squirmy, but not biting or scratching.
Actually, the only problem I had was one of the 6-week old Siamese kittens. They were very playful. They tried to climb up my legs.
I'm now thoroughly confused. If this is the case then why are they being scruffed to be handled?! Skittish? What you describe is being called "skittish"? Good grief.
She's going to give the kittens away once they are old enough (if she can. Nobody seems to want them). If they were not in the cages, they would have to go directly to the pound. She can't let them go or they will disappear, grow up, and have more babies. These kittens' mommas were strays anyway.
She would take them to a shelter, if one would take them. We're trying to have a little more time to find homes for them so hopefully they won't have to go to the pound.
And before someone says "Take them to the ASPCA" that would be fine, if we had an ASPCA. We don't.
OK, I think I understand the situation a little better now. Rural areas are extremely difficult, I know.
In a perfect world, the general public would care and rescues would have resources. We live in a far from perfect world and fair play to you for trying to make at least your corner of it a better place.
OK, I think I understand the situation a little better now. Rural areas are extremely difficult, I know.
In a perfect world, the general public would care and rescues would have resources. We live in a far from perfect world and fair play to you for trying to make at least your corner of it a better place.
Dad is clearing space in the shed for them. It's not heated, but it will keep the wind off of them.
I brought them in individually. The older, gray kittens didn't care to play, but they weren't wild at all. They didn't claw or bite. They didn't care to play much. They just wanted to be held.
The 6-week old kittens actually scratched me a little bit. They haven't figured out how to play without using their claws. But none of them drew blood. They were very playful.
I think I actually like the gray kittens better. They're a bland color, but they're very fuzzy and seem like they would be good cats to cuddle with, and they don't claw you while they're playing.
There are 3 8-week old kittens. 2 are long-haired and gray. One is gray and white (like a tuxedo cat, except gray and white).
The 6-week old kittens there are 2 Siamese and 1 black and white kitten.
All female, I think.
Last edited by STLCardsBlues1989; 10-04-2009 at 02:11 PM..
I think it is cute you are getting your Dad involved (again). I think he is an ol softy
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