I have posted about my two new kittens before. They came home on 16th December, so we have had them a month. We have another cat, so they have been slowly introduced to the household, and as yet haven't had free run of the house. At first they were in my bedroom, and I spent lots of time with them. One of them is the runt, and she is a tiny little thing of a kitten. She was the more confident one from the get go. At first they would both hide under my bed, and I could get little one out with toys, and play with her. Bigger one wouldn't come out if I was playing, but would come out to play with her sister if I ignored her and gave no eye contact. Any eye contact resulted in her running away to hide.
Eventually bigger one would come out for treats, but absolutely not let me handle her or touch her. She would take treats from my hand and run straight off. The only time I could ever stroke her was if I found her in their bed, as it is a little covered dome and I could pick it up and then reach in to handle her. The rest of the time there was no chance.
In the meanwhile little kitten was growing in confidence, and was allowing me to pick her up and stroke her, and was generally getting used to her new home.
After Christmas I brought them downstairs, and put them in a large playpen type thing to get them used to the big open space (it's a big through living/dining room). This helped me being able to handle her more, and I thought we were making progress. After a few days, they were let loose in the room, and this is how it has stayed since. Big kitten is still very very reluctant. I have managed to touch her twice without her running away immediately, she still can't do any eye contact, so it had to be done steathily. Both times I have managed to slowly get her on to my chest and stroked her and actually had her enjoying it and purring away (a first!). But these have had days between them, so it isn't changing how she reacts overall. She still runs if you look at her, she will not be picked up if she can help it, and the only surefire way to handle her is if I find her in the cat bed/hidey thing. She will come and sleep out both on the sofa near and on the chair, but she clearly isn't sound asleep, as any slight movement and she is ears up, eyes open, ready to run. If I get up to do anything, she legs it. She will still allow me to play with her, and will take treats, but she is so obviously anxious through it all.
Does anyone have any advice on how to help this kitten who is clearly struggling with the transition? I have no idea how I will ever get her to the vets for her injections, as I won't be able to get her in the carrier!!!
Her sister has fully adapted and is a bolshy little thing! She loves strokes, cuddles, any kind of affection and she is all over it. She loves to play, and will be the first to pounce or run.
However!!! She has maybe become a little too bolshy! To the point she is becoming a problem when food is around. She wants it all. Doesn't matter what it is, she is determined to get it. So far she has managed to get cheese, supernoodles, pringles, a chicken leg, and last nights pièce de résistance, had to be removed from a fucking birthday cake!!!! We try to shut her out when there is food, but she is bloody difficult to catch or chase out!! She won't be distracted with her own food, or treats! Nope, she will fight for the right to eat human food! She is absolutely under sized for her age, she is half the size of her sister, but she is gaining weight, and I have spoken to the vet who is happy with her. I've never had a cat (and I've had many over the years) who has been into human food like this, so this is a new one on me! Does anyone have any tips on how to deal with this? I did ask the vet about worms, but he said she doesn't sound like she has worms... so 🤷♀️.
Pictures included! First one is big kitten asleep on me from the first of the two times I've been able to get her to me to hold. She clearly loved it as she relaxed and slept... so why are we having such difficulty the rest of the time?!