Introduction: this test requires that the cat’s owner has never used their hand as a toy for their cat. If that has happened, their cat will instinctively want to attack it. I am referring to a test to assess cat … continue reading…
This is a quick note and no more because there is not a lot of information about this due to a dearth of studies. However, the presence of a mother cat during the socialisation of her kittens can have a … continue reading…
We hear a lot about positive reinforcement in socialising feral and stray cats. Positive reinforcement is a way of training cats and it can be used to train a cat to trust a human and people in general at which … continue reading…
This is an awesome FIV senior TNR cat story. He’s a great looking, jowly, beat up, male cat with a huge heart full of love that never had a chance to shine…until he was saved. And when he got the … continue reading…
A woman’s lifelong project. Socializing a blind feral cat. And what a project; which had an interesting beginning full of love and generosity.
continue reading...What does raised underfoot mean? It means to raise kittens in your home, literally under your feet, as a process of socialization to prepare them for their new home and owner.
continue reading...This is a slightly sad story of a feral kitten who found his way into a couple’s backyard 18 years ago. The husband wanted to trap, neuter and return the cat to whence she came but his wife fed the … continue reading…
Kittens should be weaned at fourteen weeks. The current recommended weaning age is twelve weeks. I am told that kittens can be weaned as young as eight-weeks-of-age in the United States. Early weaning increases aggression and stereotypic behaviour in cats. … continue reading…
Another photo of my semi-feral rescue cat who I am fostering. He is snoozing and becoming domesticated. I have cared for him for about 6 days. He hid under the sideboard for about 3 days when I first got him … continue reading…
Here is a straightforward video (made on an iPhone 4s) showing Gabriel on my lap and letting me stroke him. He purrs. He is still nervous of being touched. He’ll forget I can be trusted and flinch sometimes if my … continue reading…
Play is important in socializing feral kittens. It makes them forget their fears and allows the person to touch and interact with them. This is a mini-breakthrough as far as I’m concerned. The power of prawns is the way to … continue reading…
The power of cooked prawns 😉 . Gabriel was hiding very effectively this morning. It took me 15 minutes to find him and an hour to get him out from under the sideboard using cooked prawns. I blew the scent … continue reading…
A kitten that does not encounter a human until his or her 9th week or later is quite likely to be anxious when near people for the remainder of his life. Scientists have come to the conclusion that cats need … continue reading…
Humans will understand this condition. You are stressed and very frightened. You feel physically sick. That is were it nearly always ends. Although not having any clear outward signs of being stressed, a small percentage of cats who lack confidence … continue reading…
