Wrenly the Semi-Feral Russian Blue Kitten

Wrenly may never be the cat that you walk by, snatch up and cradle, but she has so many other wonderful qualities.

Sometimes when kittens have been living outdoors for as little as 7-8 weeks with no human contact, the part of them that is feral takes a very long time to domesticate.  In some cases they are never fully domesticated and remain what is called semi-feral.

Feral means that the cat is not friendly with people, but often bonds and enjoys the company of other cats.
Semi-feral is when the cat will allow people to come close and receive affection.  The cat may sit in your lap.  But sudden movements or trying to pick up the cat will send kitty running off to hide, generally with evident signs of displeasure.

Wrenly had been in another home for a short while.  She had been found later than her siblings and was not domesticating as they were.   To separate her from her siblings and other cats, she came to me to try a different method of domestication.
By no means am I an expert at working with this type of kitten, but I've had some good outcomes in the past and have some tricks that have been effective.

First day at my home, frightened, hiding and hissing.

First day in my house she went straight to a bathroom where it is quiet.  She has a cat box, food and water, some toys, as well as this little shelter where she can hide on a soft bed with the company of a stuffed animal.  I do not try to pet her.  I only sit on the floor and talk softly to her, well, and take her picture.

Beechnut Chicken baby food on my hand.

Socializing is exhausting.

By the second day and several days after, I use Beechnut Chicken baby food to encourage her to come close and begin to trust me.  You can also use a spoon if you are concerned about getting bit.  As she gets more comfortable with coming close I will try to pet her.  Unfortunately this kitten is very afraid of hands and didn't mind eating off of them, but had no interest in being touched by them.





 Being around me for too long is quite exhausting for her in the first few days.  I leave her be to rest, but it is clear she is becoming comfortable in her bathroom environment.

Bigger room with a window and tall cat tree.

 It was time for Wrenly to be able to run, climb and have a window.  I removed her hiding space and put in a cat crate.  She was eager for cover, ran to the crate and it was easy to transport her to a real room.  At this stage, she is being kept separate from all other cats, except the toy kind. The hope is she will become so lonely and desperate for affection that she will let people pet her and get close to her.

Will touch me and climb on me, but No petting, yet.

It's been more than a week, and still Wrenly will not let me pet her.  I'm feeling a bit discouraged, but continue to try other tricks.  This particular kitten is very playful.  She really likes cat toys.  I soon discovered if I played with the toys on my body, she would climb on me.  She really took to this game, but made it clear, absolutely no touching her with my hands.

Playing on the floor.  Laying flat is the least intimidating position.

 Staying low to the floor is the least intimidating position when working with a feral or scared cat.  
While on the floor my husband was able to touch Wrenly.  Some cats have a preference for men or women.  At this point she seems to prefer my husband.

Off the floor, on a chair, touching me and playing with the camera.

As the days pass, Wrenly identifies me as the person that brings the food, gives her fresh water and plays with her.  I spend anywhere from 30-60 minutes at a time with her, sometimes playing with her, sometimes ignoring her, reading a book, writing or working on my lap top.  After 3 weeks she has decided she wants to be on the chair with me.  And she really likes the camera strap.  On and off my lap, up around my head and then....

Maybe petting isn't so bad after all

 She let me pet her!!!  It was brief, but it happened.  It felt like I was finally making some progress.   For the next two weeks we went from 30 minutes until being pet, all the way down to the first moments after I came in the room.  Sometimes she enjoys it for a brief time, other times she is rubbing and climbing and bumping up against me.




Each day she is a little more confident, and with each day her Russian Blue traits are revealing themselves.   See her ears that are too big.  That's one of the physical traits.  Her paw pads are also a soft almost purple color.  (I'll try to get a picture).  Russian Blues like to be pet.  They like to sit close by.  They Love to play, especially the game of fetch.  They are very smart.  They are social with the people they trust, but are typically shy of strangers.  

Russian Blue Wrenly

Bird watching with her friend.

Wrenly really gets excited when she can play with her big kitty friend.  She bumps noses, rubs on him, walks underneath him and plays with his tail.  Bird watching is one of their favorite activities they share together in the cool of the morning.

Books, paper and pens are an instant invitation to sit in my lap.

Even when her furry friend is around, when bird watching is over, the book I'm reading or the notes I'm taking have a calming effect on her.  Into my lap she comes.  Lots of pets and purrs, even rolling over at times.  Wrenly has come a long way from those first scared days.

I'll keep you posted for the day I can pick her up more than 2 inches from the ground.  She may never see the inside of a Petsmart Adoption Center, but I do hope to find her a home that will be patient with her.  She is affectionate, playful, smart and has the characteristics of a Russian Blue.

Wrenly is up-to-date on vaccinations, she is spayed, and she is micro chipped by Friends-for-Life-Animal-Rescue.

Siamese Mix Markings

It has been so interesting to watch the markings on this Siamese mix become more pronounced and darken as she gets older.  She will be stunning as an adult.

Hudson, as in "Kate", at 4 weeks old

Hudson at 5 weeks old

Hudson at 9 weeks old

Hudson, now Sasha, at 12 weeks old

Post Op Kittens

After surgery, that is, when you get your kitten fixed, a quiet, dim lit, warm and very small space is best.  I use a small bathroom.  Until the anesthesia completely wears off there are many dangers for your kitten such as drowning in their water dish, vomiting and falling.  These three babies just got home.  Since they were frantically biting and licking at their stitches, those little sock like items help them leave it alone.  When you first put them on, the poor things fall over and think they can't move or walk, but they can. 

Annika is certain she can't move.  What a drama queen.

Claudia is testing out a cotton crochet version of post op wear. 

Irene is less than happy about her situation.  It seems the affects of the anesthesia are more the problem than the dreadful fashion wear.

Annika is certain she cannot walk in her post-op shirt. 

Buffy the Photogenic Kitten

Buffy seems to know that she is suppose to look at the camera.  Just some pictures for fun.  Soon she will be going to her forever home.

First day in my home and she took right away to people.

Second day in my home and she was ready to take a nap with me.

Hmmm, which one is dominant, yes, that would be Buffy.

Best sleeping spot.

Do I stay or do I hunt?

First to jump in the roll-a-bout basket and go for a ride.

As soon as those stitches come out she is ready for adoption.

What?  I'm trying to take a nap here.

Something new,  I like it.

You want to put me in this pot and take a picture...OK.

Hey girls, the camera is over this way.

Sleeping Kitten

My sweet sweet boy.  7 months old

Growing kitten

This growing kitten has 2 speeds.  Frantically running through the house and sleep. 

 

The news is a big snore today.

Studying is exhausting.

Blankets, a crochet project and a comfy knee.

Losing Teeth

Missing tooth on one side

Did you know that kittens have baby teeth that they lose and are replace right away?  So don't panic.  Right about 5 months old you can expect this to happen.  Sometimes the tooth is swallowed, other times you may find it about your house, or you may even hear the sound of something hard getting sucked into your vacuum cleaner.  It doesn't seem to have any affect on their eating or behavior, so the whole process can happen and you won't even notice. 
Here's a photo supplied by Rosemary's new family, now named Pepper.  Thank you Breanna McCabe Focus on Bre Blog

Link

For those of you following, Link found his new forever home on Jan. 19.  We miss him, but know he has a wonderful new home.  

Kitten Bath

Zelda found her forever home on Saturday.  We are so happy for her and our home is much more peaceful.  She is just a ball of energy.

Link has done very well by himself.  His opportunity for adoption was cut short this weekend when suddenly he was having digestive problems.  I think this kitten cannot eat canned kitten food.  Now that he is only having dry food and a treat of baby food, he is back to normal.

Tarragon is a big help when it comes to entertaining the kittens.  He also helps with bath time.  He has been such a wonderful addition to our family.

To see the video click here Kitten Bath

Speeding up and calming down

Zelda, 10 weeks old

Zelda, who started off with hissing, growling and even a spit now and then, has finally come to a place where she thinks people are OK.  She settled down on a lap earlier this week and we were all in shock.  Perhaps just a one time thing, we thought.  It's nothing to expect right at first.  There is eating and running, wrestling and climbing.  Once all the energy is spent, then getting close and giving plenty of purrs is in order.

Link, 10 Weeks old

Link, who still is the most calm kitten I have ever known, is starting to get more active.  He plays and teases and wrestles with his sister.  For him, cuddle time comes first.  Then some play and then more cuddles.  Expect to do everything one handed first thing in the morning, because if you put him down he'll circle your feet and give the most pitiful meow until you pick him up, again.

Tomorrow should be their first day to meet the public.  I say "should" because I forgot to reserve a cage earlier this week.  Usually something works out.

What about Link - Adoptable Jan 12, 2013

Link the shoulder kitty.  9 weeks old

Not sure if you want a parrot or a cat?  This little fellow likes to sit on your shoulder and give kissing on your chin and cheek.  He stayed there while I drank an entire cup of coffee.  While the other kittens are zooming around, chasing and wrestling, Link is very content to stick close, preferable right there or under my chin. 

Tomorrow is surgery day.  Then later, vaccines and a microchip.  He could be ready for adoption as soon as this Saturday, Jan 5, but more likely he'll need one more week of recovery.

To fill out an adoption application form and learn more about Friends for Life, click here Friends for Life

Christmas with Kittens

Zelda climbing the Christmas Tree

 There was a rustling of branches and swinging ornaments.  Who should it be, but Zelda, the adventurous kitten climbing the Christmas Tree.  Quickly fetching her from the tangle of lights as she clung to the plastic pine needles, she was no sooner retrieved and brother, Link, was right behind her.   Look... what fun! 
Tarragon, the good kitty, watched them climb, knowing this was forbidden, having been ever so compliant to this point, but the temptation was too great.  Now 3 kittens in the tree.  There was no averting this mischievousness, so as much as I was enjoying my tree and hoping to leave it up until New Years, down it came, 2 days after Christmas. 

Tarragon, our unofficial Christmas package on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Eve Tarragon was no where to be found.  We searched the house high and low, calling his name.  We had even checked for rustling branches on the Christmas tree several times.  Silence, no bounding kitten. We were in a hurry, now running late for Christmas Eve Service and not wanting to leave him to his own devises while we were gone.  Finally spotted, among the gifts, perhaps making himself one of our gifts, our little boy, sound asleep.  We have not completed the paperwork, but before the New Year we hope to make his adoption official. 

Zelda and Tarragon

Look, something new.  Is it safe?  Can we play with it?  These two are like big brother and little sister.  Tarragon loves to make her squeal, then runs off and she chases him down looking for more rough and tumble play.  We keep a close eye on them with the size difference of more than 3 lbs.  He could do some damage to the little girl, but is so gentle, mostly pinning her down and licking her.

Zelda and Trash Tummy

Little Zelda almost 7 weeks old

Zelda, my plastic bag pooping kitten, made a trip to the Vet.  It was becoming clear that she was more than just a feisty girl, but was experiencing pain.  As anticipated, the x-rays could not confirm a blockage, but it did show lots and lots of gas in her intestines, which can result from a blockage.  An enema was ruled out and considered a non-useful treatment, and from here we will work with natural foods and methods to help her pass the rest of the trash in her system, as well as calm down her sore insides.

Diet for weening or troubled tummies.

All hard kitten food is being taken away and only wet foods will be feed 4 to 5 times a day.  Each feeding will consist of Approximately....a teaspoon of pumpkin, a teaspoon of whole milk live pro-biotic yogurt, a Tablespoon of cooked Cream of Rice and a Tablespoon of Beech-nut Baby Food Chicken.  Plus a few drops of fish oil will be added to one of the meals and the rest of the oil will be shared amongst other cats and kittens that day.  This diet should help calm her stomach and help move out the trash.  I will also give her some massages to ease out the gas.

Eventually I will need to add in some canned kitten food.  We have been through a few brands and will try yet another in one of the feedings to ensure she is getting all her nutrients.  Most cat food has only caused her further irritation and diarrhea.

This same diet combination is also very good for weening kittens.  Against popular belief, whole milk works for kittens and it can be used instead of water with the cereal.  Zelda's situation is different and I'm not using  milk with her at this time.

She's playful and eating, so her condition is not critical, but certainly warrants watching.

Plastic in the Poop

The two new fosters are doing well, putting on weight, eating, pooping, all the important stuff.  It took about 3 days for these feral ones to decide that people are ok.  The little boy is very fond on burying himself in your hair.  The little girl likes to nibble on ears, "ouch".  She is a typical torti, with lots of personality and a bit on the feisty side.

Link

The estimated Birthday for these two is Halloween 2012.  That would have made them 5 weeks when they arrived.  Having observed their behavior, watching their weight, the very sharp teeth that eat hard food with ease but still need canned food, and the 5 inch tail are my main indicators.

Zelda

Having spent the first part of their life outside, with little to eat, our little girl must have found a plastic bag that tasted good during her starvation mode.  The other night there was vomit with pieces of plastic, and the next morning her poop was stuck.  Being the designated "mommy cat" I help her out only to discover I was pulling 3 more inches of plastic bag from her behind.  We will keep a close eye on her to see if x-rays are needed, but the hard lump is now gone from her belly and she is behaving like a normal kitten of almost 6 weeks.

The Challenge of Undernourished Kittens

Have you guessed their age yet?  I have an idea, just checking to see if anyone has been learning from the posts.  These kittens are underweight and certainly are lacking in energy, but there are enough other clues.  I had one guess of 7 weeks....that's too old.  Look again at the ears and the tail length.

We need names

Knowing the age lets me know what they should eat, if they can use a litter box, what activity level to expect and a few other needs.  As undernourished feral kittens there are added challenges.   The litter box is a new concept, so one hit the target and the other used a nearby mat.  I definitely have a load of laundry to do today.   For some reason their system is full of poop, so there was black poop, formed normal poop and a couple of puddles of poop.  

 

Today I will focus on keeping them hydrated and warm.  Any food intake will be considered a success.   They desperately need baths, but for now a wet washcloth will have to do.  I'm concerned about them getting too cold and then sick with so little body mass.   So thin and weak, the little girl's meow is broken.  She tried to play with a foil ball and fell over.  Subcutaneous fluids may be needed.  I'll be discussing that with someone more knowledgeable than myself later today.

15 Weeks and an Adoption

Tarragon helping me with my blog.

Please be my friend.

Tarragon is the last of his litter still with me.  He adjusted pretty quickly to being alone by following me everywhere.  I've grown rather attached to the little fellow and we are testing out if he and my very old cat can co-exist.  There's been some hissing on the part of the old Lady, but nothing too serious.  Tarragon rolls over and tries to get close from a different angle.  This goes on for a bit and then he gives up and leaves her alone.  

His stats at 15 weeks are 4 lbs 12 oz, tail length 11.5 inches, very fluffy and eats from any available food dish.

Colby Jack and Pepper Jackie

Rosemary found her new home.  They have named her Pepper Jackie.  This loving home has another kitten that we fostered back in May of this year.  We had named the other kitten Patrick, but now he is Colby Jack.  The two are quickly becoming friends.