Need help with foster cat and kittens please

[DcatAnnie]

Before Easter I was asked to foster a cat and two 8 week kittens that were strays as no one could take them and they were going to be euthanised (not uk). I have fostered once before an adult cat that went well.

All cats were very very scared at first. The rescue gave me a cage for the kittens and they were all kept in a seperate laundry room. Mum cat was hiding but has gradually come round and is semi friendly. I have recently allowed her into the main house and she has been sleeping in my bedroom. Unfortunately on the weekend she weed and poohed on a blanket on the sofa. Her tray was clean I am not 100% if she could find it although I had left it in the usual spot in the laundry with the door open. This has made me nervous so when she leaves my bedroom I am following her around. I have let her outside a couple of times, it seemed like she was keen but she now seems scared to go out. She also seems less friendly so I must be stressing her out a bit.

The kittens are warming to me only slightly. One still hisses at me, both try and run away and hide from me. They seem most active during the night when we are in bed which seems to be a barrier to taming them. They don’t seem to play at all. During the day they are sleeping in their hammock. I do pick them up and cuddle them before feeding and also just stroke them in their beds they tolerate this. They will approach me for treats and one of them purrs when I feed them. They are now 11 weeks old and I feel like I am failing them and am worried they will never be re-homed unless they become friendly. I also feel like it’s so unnatural for them to be in a cage and they must be so bored.

I am going to call into the refuge tomorrow as have a chat but does anyone have any ideas that I could try? Has anyone fostered stray kittens that have come good and how long did it take?

Bump for you. And we need pics!

How big is this cage you refer to? Kittens need be socialised to normal household noise - the TV on, people walking around, cooking sounds & smells. They need a scratching post and space to run & jump, ideally a windowsill to look out at for stimulation.

My sister has fostered cats & kittens for the RSPCA for over 30 years. She's helped re-home some very nervous and almost feral ones. Her advice to fosterers is to ensure the kittens have access to a big space & to play with them as much as you can with all sorts of toys - wand ones are great. Sit on the floor and let them play on and around you. Handle them as often as you can, ideally when sleepy & relaxed not all zoomy & excited. Try cat treats to entice them out and see you as a good thing.

As for the cat going on the blanket maybe she was a bit unwell and couldn't make the litter tray- cats get stomach upsets at the drop of a hat. Or as you say she forgot where it was. Unless it happens again don't worry much about it. If it does, perhaps try a different type of litter. As for going outside, just encourage her with toys and treats, she'll do it in her own time. Play with her too, it's a bonding thing and helps them feel more secure in their surroundings. She may be quite young herself still and she needs to learn how to react to humans. It just takes time. I would stop following her around so much, just stay in one place and 'supervise' if you feel it necessary. Watch Jackson Galaxy videos on YouTube abut nervous cats.

Also try Feliway if you haven't already, it's calming and works for most cats. Catnip & Valerian is great too,