Question:
A couple of people have suggested that I take Dougall in his carrier and place him outside by the live trap to entice the other kitten to come close. I still haven't caught the little guy and I'm starting to feel desperate. What do you think of this suggestion? If I'd known there were two, I would've borrowed two traps and done it that way. I'm leery of stressing Dougall out by moving him around like that.

Someone actually suggested today that I should let Dougall go back outside to be with his mother and sibling!!!!! WTH?!?! Sure, just let him go live rough and die within a couple of years, if he's lucky to even live that long


Answer:
How is he adjusting now? If he seems to be coming around somewhat, I wouldn't want to chance taking a step back by putting him back outside (in the carrier)..
If he still seems as wild as ever.. I can't see that it would hurt any.. it's worth a try.
As for that other person.. ignore her! You are at least trying to give the kitten a chance. The time frame for socialization is up to 3 months.. if you can socialize him before that time, he has a chance to be a relatively normal cat.. maybe a bit skittish.. after that time, he may never be a 'normal pet'.. maybe be ok with his owner but runs & hides if anyone comes over or if he hears a loud noise.
People that don't know much about animals tend to anthropomorphic..


Answer:
That's how Hamish and Isobel are - they hide when visitors come over and loud noises frighten them. Hamish gets freaked out even when I'm moving boxes around and making a bit of noise. Isobel was young enough when I found her that she wasn't wild, but she bonded to me and takes awhile to trust new people. You can tell that Aoife and Bruce were never feral - they're all over visitors the minute they walk in the door

Actually, I had the best time with the kitten this evening. I was trying to get his interest in a couple of toys but nothing worked until I put two straws together and started running it along the floor and wall of the carrier, and waving it slowly in the air. He was well interested and even made a couple of swipes at it and bit it gently a couple of times. Then I used the straw to push a couple of treats over to him, which he ate. Then I got cheeky and scratched the top of his head with the straw. He tolerated that, so I stroked the side of his face with it. Well, he LOVED that and started doing the lovey-eyes thing - even closed his eyes completely. He actually forgot himself and nearly did the tuck-head-in-and-flop-on-side thing. But he caught himself up and didn't do it. After awhile he got bored with it, turned his back on me, stretched leisurely, and turned around to lay behind the litterbox. It amazed me that he turned his back on me - he must be relaxing around me! He would never have turned his back on me two days ago!

So I don't think I want to risk setting him back by taking him outside, especially if it won't guarantee I'll be able to trap the other kitten. He's beginning to act like a kitten and I'd hate to ruin that.

I'm guilty of being anthropomorphic as well, because I'm obsessing about how these kittens are missing each other, remembering them calling to each other on Sunday morning, and it's making me feel miserable and guilty that I haven't been able to reunite them yet. But realistically if they didn't see each other again they would prolly forget each other very quickly. And chances are they wouldn't go to a forever home together, anyway.


Answer:
Originally Posted by Banshee
I'm guilty of being anthropomorphic as well, because I'm obsessing about how these kittens are missing each other, remembering them calling to each other on Sunday morning, and it's making me feel miserable and guilty that I haven't been able to reunite them yet. But realistically if they didn't see each other again they would prolly forget each other very quickly. And chances are they wouldn't go to a forever home together, anyway.
Alot of people do this.. you're certainly not alone..
It sounds like you are making awesome progress with the kitten! Way to go!


Answer:
Thanks Sue! Another major breakthrough this morning with Dougall! I'm going to start a new thread to give updates on the kitties


Answer:
Hi Banshee, maybe that will work to put him out in the carrier - and hope they'll come around, it's worth a try ,the other kittys might go in to the trap easier for you. How about trying some chicken that is warm to try to entice them with? It's really hard to catch some of them they are just afraid of these things, and I can't really blame them. We have some on our stops that will not go in to a havahart no matter what, they're smart and they know what it is. Be nice if we could explain to them wouldn't it?




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