You may try some Feliway spray or the plug in to see if they will calm down a little. Maybe try enticing them with yummy treats or feathery toys. Poor babies, they sound so scared.

 

Have feliway, they are way past the point of interest in toys or treats. No interest in food at all. :?

At least I was able to get them to eat once they started licking it up. Watered the wet food down a bit so it was warm and so they are getting lots of water.

They are beautiful - all white with blue eyes, one DSH one DMH. Both seem to hear well / respond to sounds.

 

The poor babies! They just need time. Be calm and soothing around them, make an effort to spend time with them alone and pet them softly and just talk or read quietly to them. And keep feeding them watered down wet food as you are.


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Thanks - glad I'm not missing anything.

I was worried about the food part as one didn't eat much - the older one ate about 1/3 of a can of Wellness once I got her started with spoon feeding but the other barely licked at it. Just tried Almo Nature tuna which is pretty much kitty crack for my boys and it worked. Took a while but she started licking it up and then ate out of the bowl. So each have at least 1/3 of a 5 oz can in them. I got them to return slow blinks as well, so that seems promising. I'll try to get more Almo Nature - I usually use it as treats only because it is just muscle meat (no bones / organs) but if that gets them eating then it is better than nothing!

I called my sister last night and spent about half an hour on the phone with her in their room so they could get used to my voice so I'll keep trying to do that.

Thanks for the suggestions and support.

 

The poor critters. They must be so scared.

I don't really have any advice. I just wanted to say good for you for stepping up to help these two.

 

I think those cages in pet stores can be scary for most cats with people poking at them and dogs coming in, etc. I was reading notes of a rescue locally that pretty much described the process from the cats point of view and it made me very sad. If these cats weren't used to living with people no wonder they are scared to death. I am sure you can break through but I wonder how you will be able to get them adopted out.

 

but I wonder how you will be able to get them adopted out.

They will stay with us until they can comfortably go into the pet store environment or until they find loving homes. They are ready for adoption health-wise, so they are on the website available but must go to quiet homes with no young children and the page is very clear that they will need lots of TLC and lots of time to settle in as they are extremely shy. So if potential adopters want to meet them, we will have them come here to meet them and I guess the kitties are here until they are comfortable enough to go back to the pet store or until they find forever homes.

It could be a long commitment. Poor things.

 

Sounds like the pet store is not a good option. I don't think I would do that to them again. Poor things - strange people tapping on glass, kids screeching in delight, lights on almost all (if not all) the time. Just the whole "on display" thing with no place to hide would be terrifying. If you can post them on social media or Craigslist that would probably be better. Sorry I can't be more help. I hope they get adopted soon - preferably to a quiet house. Thank you for taking them in and caring for them.

 

We can't do anything outside of the rescue group and all potential adopters have to go through them. Gia and Hilayna ate on their own last night, wet food disappeared, so that is great. Both mostly just sit in a hidden spot and don't move, but if they are eating on their own then I'm not nearly as worried - it doesn't seem like depression / giving up on life. Now we just keep spending time with them and talking to them quietly and calmly. I can deal with very nervous kitties but the whole not eating for a while and not moving just staring at the wall was very concerning. I only had to spoon feed twice each and now they seem to be eating on their own when things are quiet.

 

such a great news! they are stunning! thanks so much for taking them in. poor kitties, i am sure they will bloom soon.

 

Great news! I have so much respect for people who foster like this. I would burn out in a week, lol. When our newly adopted cat had a rhino and was breathing laboriously I didn't sleep for two days because I was always checking on her, "you are still breathing right!?!?!".

 

I've had similar experiences with ferals and semi-feral fosters. It's not uncommon for them to go into "shut-down" mode when they're initially brought in. The Toronto Feral Cat Coalition have a TNR recovery centre with banks of cages in which we recover the cats after surgery until they're healed enough to be released, and it's not at all unusual for the cats to hunker down in the back and seemingly not move a muscle for hours. Sometimes they look as if they haven't moved from a position for days, but food and water still slowly disappears, and poop still accumulates in the litterbox (or wherever), so they are moving around--just not when people are around to see them do it.

When I first brought two of my colony cats home to socialize (Autumn, the 2yo tortie and her kitten, Ramona) they initially stayed in a large dog crate in an old bedroom. During the day they would often hunker down together in their cat bed and keep a wary eye on anyone who entered the room, but on the few occasions that I slept in the room with them I would hear them padding around, using the litterbox and playing once the lights went out and they thought I was asleep. If I shifted at all, the noises eminating from the dog crate would abruptly stop for the next 5 - 10 minutes, until they decided it was safe to carry on.

Like you're doing with your foster kitties, I hand-fed Autumn and Ramona, which helped a lot in establishing trust--keep doing what you're doing; it can take quite awhile for fearful cats to learn to trust new people, but they will eventually start to come around, once they realize that you mean them no harm and are able to provide them with the things they need.

 

Again - thanks all. Good to know the 'giving up' isn't uncommon, unfortunately.

The little ladies are doing well - sleeping in the litter box a lot, but of course that is where they smell themselves and feel safe so until they start to feel comfortable here that is to be expected. I'm sure they will start to associate the walk in closet with 'their territory' in a few days so hopefully they will feel safe beyond the litter box. I was going to give them the bedroom, but for now the closet is lots of space. Once they are comfortable here we will expand the territory.

Both are coming out and eating a bit in front of me. Zero aggression, purring lots but I know that purring can be a self-reassuring measure when nervous. Such pretty little girls, I'm trying to spend lots of time here and they are eating a bit and napping with me here so we should be making some progress. Lots of long, slow blinks with these ladies as well, so they really want to love and trust someone - they just need to know that it is ok.

 

Keep them in a small room, like a bathroom, with feliway going and a place to retreat to. Keep up the good work of hand feeding or sitting by a bowl while they eat. Go to the feral cat section of Cat Forum. Under stickies is taming or socializing kittens and feral cats. There is a wonderful 3 part Utube by the Urban Cat League on working with feral kittens to socialize them. You will find a lot of techniques to bring your guys around. Keep us posted. Bless you for taking these challenging fosters in. You will change their futures to be bright futures.

 

I would add to put them in a bathroom or a half bath, but use baby gates (stacked - cheap from thrift stores) to confine them. That way they don't feel isolated - unless you think they WANT to isolate themselves.

When I need to isolate someone (when Missy has UTI flare up or someone has diarrhea, I will put them in the half bath with baby gates. It is near the kitchen and I walk by a hundred times a day plus they can hear what is going on. I think it helps.

 

Still concerned that they aren't eating enough. They aren't eating food left out, I need to get some on their faces and then they will start to lick it up. Made a kind of slurry with Natures Variety Instinct raw and bits of raw chicken liver and that got licked up, but they still aren't eating very much at all. The slurry seemed to go over better than watered down canned food, so I'll keep offering that.

Hilayna is still just hiding in the litter box, hard to spoon feed her in there.

They are in my walk in closet. So small space, have feliway. Thanks for the comments and advice! At least they are eating some.

Just noticed the half bath suggestion - I have two cats plus another foster and my boys want to play with everyone. So I'm not sure the baby gate would work, my brats would try to play and then eat their food. They are in the closet, so they hear what is going on... hopefully that is enough.

 

I think the chicken liver and raw slurry was the perfect idea. Two meals of it down, with them only starting off the spoon and then eating / lapping it on their own. Both are snuggled in the litter box still (it's all cleaned out though, so not as gross!) and instead of just lying listlessly, staring straight ahead we have purring and grooming happening!! Both ladies are purring away and grooming each other as I sit and waste time online and listen to music. I'm so happy, it is so reassuring to see normal kitty behavior and to see them actually look content and satisfied.

 

It's great to hear you're making progress with the kitties. They are gorgeous. The color of the eyes is just amazing. I'm sure they won't have any any trouble finding a loving home once they get settled.

 

Oh wow, beautiful cats. I do hope they stay together.

 

Beautiful babies and great to hear progress


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That is so wonderful! They're making remarkable progress due to your patience and kindness. It just goes to show that love goes a long way. It makes me a little teary-eyed. <3

 

Me 2 just wasn't sure how to express it


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Thanks all. It is really nice to have people to share this with! I'm sure everyone on here would do the same if they had the means and opportunity.

I'm so happy - we've had such a good day! Raw food was definitely the trick, these ladies know what is healthy for them (and likely don't really recognize conventional cat food as 'food'). They have eaten 3 pretty good meals today, from almost nothing for the past couple days. They are even coming out of the litter box to eat:

I was so pleased! Little Gia came all the way out and came up and sniffed me and then even accepted chin scratches. Hilayna just put her head and front paws out to eat and they both went back to the litter box soon after eating, but were purring and grooming each other so I'm very, very happy.

And they are very used to other cats and seem to like kitty company. My boy Aries came to check things out and tried his very best to get them to play:

When that failed, he sampled their food and then gave them a few licks on the head and cuddled with me for a while.

They are still skin and bones under the fluff, you can feel every rib and backbone, but I'm so happy to see them eat the raw slurry with bits of liver so readily. Very glad we are passed the point of giving up and not responding. Thanks for all the comments and suggestions!

 

This is greaaaaat news.....I Love Aries trying to be so sweet and loving...I like the names you picked you are a good foster mama) HUGS to you doll!!


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They are stunningly beautiful! I would take the cover off the litter box and set it else where for them to go feel safe in. That way they dont have to hide in the litter box. You are making good progress. Well done!

 

Sorry for the many updates... but I'm so happy right now!

We've had such a good day. They were eating pretty well and seemed less afraid so I thought it might be nice for them to have a bit more area to explore. So I closed the bedroom door and opened the closet door to allow them all of the master bedroom. I brought the other three cats in here because these little strays seem to like other cats company and I figured it might help to see content, unafraid kitties. It's been a kitty party in my room for a couple hours now.

The timid little ladies have been exploring quite well, although every time I'd open the bedroom door to come in they would make a mad dash back to the closet.

Now, I'm sitting on my bed spending time in here and the younger lady, Gia is playing like a little kitten with my boys, racing up and down their cat tree. Hilayna slowly made her way out of the closet, sniffed around and then came up to me. I scratched her chin slowly and after 10 mins she jumped up on the bed and is now on my lap, purring and making it hard to type (true cat-like behavior!!). They are both very, very skittish and timid, but I think having kitty friends has really helped.

Very proud of my boys, they are super friendly with new cats and just wanted to play with them. Even just hearing / seeing my boys and Venus eating seemed to pique the ladies interest and draw them out to see.

 

I look forward to the updates and ecstatic they are making progress))) keep updates flowing...


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Great update! its just so wonderful knowing everything is ok. All of you fosterers are great! You have some great boys too, when most people are having problem introducing new kitties, you have every reason to be proud.

 

Keep the updates coming! No need to apologize for them, if everyone else is like me we are right there with you, looking for the updates and pleased when there's been progress! I love reading about your special crew.


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