Kittens

[Bexxie82]

I just got a 12 week old partially blind kitten as it's owner was going to have it put down and I couldn't bear to let him do that. However, it is very scared and spits and scratches very badly, not letting anyone go near it. Any ideas on how to handle it, and how long it will take for it to calm down?

[divegirl]

Hi, I have two kittens, one 10 weeks and one 8 months....they are beating the *carp* out of each other as I type...lol What you are experiencing is pretty normal kitten behaviour. I thought it would be all bundles of fluff and happy purring....how wrong was I? Just give him time my eldest kitten took a week to come out from behind the tv and my younger one although more sociable is not nearly as afectionate as the older one was [when it eventually came out of hiding] and is now. Talk gently to him, never touch him without verbally 'warning' him of your presence eg don't walk up behind him and touch. Handfeeding is a good way of gaining a nervous animals trust... believe me, half a cod fillet and you'll have a friend for life!
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

Lisa x

[lilynmax]

my kittens are now 9months old and we got them when they were 5 weeks old - to be honest for the first month probably they were very unsure of everything - one minute they wanted to be with us because everything they needed came from us, the next they were just sticking together terrified of everything - including us! Now they spend almost all their time beating each other up and letting us pick them up as and when with no problems. Basically, it just takes time to settle in, and with yours having sight problems it may take a bit longer than normal. just be patient and very caring and let it grow to trust you.

[kaylamay]

alot of tlc and patience. I rescue strays and ferals and i have found that they just love baby food, the pure meat variety. I live in America so i buy Gerber baby meats usually the veal or lamb flavor and i just dip my clean finger in the jar and let them lick it off. Now all they have to hear is the "pop" of the sealed lid opening and they come a runnin' and i'm usually mobbed. I've had even the most scared and nervous kitties eventually let their curiosity overcome them and come over for a lick and that is all it usually takes. I talk to mine all the time in a gentle high pitched voice which they seem to respond to favorably. Good for you on rescuing this little sweetie from a sad fate. Blind animals have a right to live too and usually do very well.
Mikala