Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
2 New Kittens
About 2 weeks ago, DH & I adopted 2 brothers that are "supposedly" 4 months old. They have been very skiddish - so we've been doing the whole " let them adjust type thing" we have several litter boxes set up and this morning we woke up to the 4th poop incident (outside litter box) - there has also been 1 pee incident on the couch last Thursday.
We adopted the cats from a rescue shelter - I'm sure they are tired of hearing from me, but yesterday I called again and came to find out that the cats weren't actually cats that needed to be rehomed (which is my fault for assuming that a momma kitty had kittens and someone brought them in because it became too much)
Anywho come to find out after the director of the rescue group contacted the Foster mom. The cats were only indoors the week they were neutered (1 week total) other than that they were strays/wild/feral outside an apartment complex.
I don't know what to do. I've had cats my entire life - most recently my cat of over 10 years passed away 3 years ago to kitty cancer so I had finally allowed myself to home a new cat in this case 2 kittens (4-6 months old).
How much time do I give these boys? DH called me on his way to work that there was an incredible poop odor as he was leaving to work - went looking through the house and found very watery poop in the litter box. The poop this morning was very grayish ( and of course I've been googling all morning)
How much time would you give them before you say these wild cats just can't be tamed. I also should note we have a 4 year old daughter that is just completely in love with her cats. She isn't in their face and knows to leave them alone.
Thank you all so much & I'm interested in y'alls thoughts.
Re: 2 New Kittens
A friend of mine "tamed a feral cat that was older than your two kittens. They're not beyond domesticating, but they may take longer than the usual kitten who has been raised inside from birth.
1) Restrict them to a small area with water and a litter box or two. This is how you litterbox train. They're probably just not fully trained on the litter box yet if they did most of their eliminating outside wherever they felt like it. Don't leave anything more than a couple of towels or blankets in there for them to sleep on, just in case they end up pooping/peeing on them (at least they're easy to throw in the washer).
2) Time, time, time! If they're taking well to your presence, they're already a long way from feral. If they're SKITTISH (not skiddish, gah!), then you need to take things slow with approaching them. Start out just quietly sitting in the same room as they are. Let them come to you when they are ready. Sit and read a book, play on your phone, or listen to music and relax. The key is to be quiet and mostly still. They'll get used to your presence and eventually warm up and come out of their shells. Some cats naturally remain more easy to startle than others, and if that's the case, just let them take off when they need to, and enjoy their company when they're comfortable.
3) Clean any and all accidents with an enzymatic cleaner (as a previous cat owner, I'm sure you know this already). GotPee and Nature's Miracle are the most recommended. I just got dog pee out of my DOWN comforter using NM, and had to treat the couch cushions with it when it got soaked with cat pee (long story for another time).
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
LOL well I guess Skiddish would be like a skid mark.
I guess DH was right. We'll send them back to the Bathroom...We let them out after being in there Friday - Monday. Previous to that yes, they had the run of the house.
How long would you suggest leaving them in the bathroom.. it makes me so sad to see them in there. But I guess it's what needs to be done.
Thanks again! I guess PT'ing cats is much like PT'ing a child. It takes some work.
OH & yes, we're using the Nature's Miracle stuff. That stuff is amazing !
Maybe a week? I've never had to do it, so I'm not sure exactly how long it might take. I think if they're consistently using the litter box and not going elsewhere, you can start giving them more freedom. They don't need to be locked in there 24/7. Feel free to take them out for a couple of hours a day when you can dedicate time to interacting with them. Find some interactive toys they'll enjoy playing with (like the long feather wands or such), or let them roll around the room together and stretch their little legs.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6
When litter box training, no. Small is best. You don't want to give them the run of a bedroom, for example, where it's totally possible they'll decide the corner on the carpet is a better spot to go than the box. At least in a bathroom, you've got a hard floor, and cats will almost universally prefer an absorbent/soft surface for their elimination needs over a hard, nonabsorbent surface.
B/w 1/8: betas 17,345, progesterone 25.6