New (rescue) kittens, very skitty any tips? [Edited by MNHQ to correct typo]

[DeathMetalMum]

Two new kittens came on Thursday. Back story found five of them in our garden mum was semi feral, taken in by cats protection (they were about 6/7 weeks at the time) for a few weeks and we have adopted two of them. Two days before they were brought to us I had a message saying they are still a bit shy but they were happy to bring them still. Dp and I had quite a clear schedule DC at school still etc so we thought it was the best time. She also said that the others in the litter had been moved to a different
fosterer. First time kitten owners.

Very shy first few days but dp and I have spent a lot of time playing with them over the last couple of days, and they seem to be tearing round the living room in the evening when it's quiet. Sally will come and feed us the tray while were around even when DC are around. Jack is a little more apprehensive but seems to be improving. Thing is they dont seem to like us touching them, if we go to stroke them or go too close they scarper, they come back very quickly to play but still very cautiously. Is this normal for new kittens? Is there anything we should be doing?

Hmm made a mistake in my title I meant skitty not kitty.

You should be really proud with what you have done, just keep on reassuring them and eventually they should come out of their shell. Cats are often shy when they first get adopted, but with love they will love you back Good luck

Very, very normal and it could take many, many weeks. The best tip is to get them to eat out of your hand. Offer particularly nice food when they are hungry and sit on the floor while you offer it. Eventually they should start to climb on to you to eat the food and it should improve from there.

I would keep them in the smallest possible space in the home for a few weeks to get them used to you and to give you the best chance to get close to them. When they are skittish and not used to humans from an early age, they really need a lot of hands on attention to become more comfortable with being handled. In my experience they don't just adjust if left to their own devices, they need a lot of "forced" handling in order to understand how good it feels to be touched and fussed.

Wrapping them into a towel for a "purrito" or having them inside an igloo cat bed so you can touch them without them running away are both great.

I agree one hundred per cent with viccat's advice

Is your camera broken? Difficult to give advice without pics.

:D

Yeah pics those the rules

You're doing really well and their behaviour is absolutely normal. I am very experienced with feral kittens and you need a lot of patience. Don't try to force it - just carry on doing what you are doing and be gentle and loving around them. I suggest trying gentle strokes with a wooden spoon or, better still, a feather stick and give them a chance to get used to that before you try to stroke them by hand again.

Jack and Sally looking almost like twins. Both currently tearing round the living room causing mischief. Sally has improved a lot starting to come and sit on our knees, let's us stroke her etc. Jack still work in progress, we dont have a 'small' room really but we're ensuring we make plenty of contact, he will now take food from our hands, and seems to be improving daily.

We have an igloo but they've completely dismissed it in favour for a spot behind the sofa near the radiator.

They are adorable. I used to buy my cat covered dog beds, cats like dog beds.