Socializing Feral Kittens

January 13, 2012

Paddy may look cute and cuddly, but the last thing she wants is to sit in your lap. Paddy and her littermates Emerson, Elvis, and Dazzle, arrive at RAL from Powhatan Animal Control, and haven't yet had enough postive experiences with humans to entirely trust people.

RAL staff has a plan for these babies, though. At around 10 weeks of age, these babies are just outside the window normally deemed best for socializing feral kittens (kittens under 8 weeks can typically be socialized fairly easily), but with some extra time and attention, we are confident we can bring these babies around.

Paddy, the little tortie, seems to be the ring leader. She's staked out a claim on the biggest, pinkest cat bed and greets everyone who approaches by laying her ears back and letting out a baby hiss. She does love treats, however, and we've been pretty successful bribing her with yummy cat tidbits.

Emerson and Elvis, the two orange kittens, are the most approachable. While it's not their favorite thing, they will tolerate being picked up without too much fuss. We haven't been able to elicit a purr from them yet, but we're holding out hope! Dazzle, the smallest and shiest of the bunch. She can usually be found just behind one of her siblings, hoping to go unnoticed.

The next time you are at the shelter, stop by the kittens' kennel. Speak softly to them, offer them a few treat - we want these babies to know that people are their best friends!