Socializing my new foster kittens!

Four days ago, I got VERY TERRIFIED BABIES.
They did NOT like this thing called humans.

Socializing tiny kittens takes some patience, but these two are only six weeks– once they stop being terrified, we will be best friends.

Right now though, their life has been totally upended and everything is SO scary and they need a minute to understand this is a good place!

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A post shared by Victoria Elizabeth Barnes (@victoriaelizabethbarnes) on May 26, 2019 at 6:33am PDT

I start them in an extra-large dog crate; it’s large enough that I too can fit inside… this lets them get used to me without being able to run away… I get in after dinner and watch tv with Paul while he sits on the couch because we are romantic.

BTW: we watched Far From the Tree– parents journeying towards understanding their unique children… I really enjoyed it; it is very wise. I had not heard of the non-fiction book that it is based on, but I’ve requested it from the library and am excited to read it.

By day two, the growling was over. But their anxiety and hissing was still a LOT… by day three, PROGRESS! The hissing was perfunctory and only when I had been out of their sight long enough for them to have reset their alarm.

I could hold them and pet them but they were still scared so petting does not register as love; I have not gotten any purring YET… just terrified vibrating.

BUT! They are starting to do some playing… they like the circular ball thing… I tried to show them a string but it alarmed them. WHY ARE YOU THROWING A SNAKE AT US. I was like, right… sorry about that.

Today is day four. NO HISSING YET!!!!
AND!
LouLou is showing signs that she will be an elite-level-champion in the category of belly rub recipient.

The tiny tortoise is LouLou… technically she is King Louis the third; King Louis the second is here… if you go to that post, you will see that BOTH of these babies are twins to that previous crew.

Baby tux is Elvis the umpteenth… my OG Elvis is reincarnated to me frequently.

One last thing— if you have been thinking about fostering, NOW is the time! Shelters are overwhelmed and kittens are being euthanized daily… WE CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

If kittens are too much for you, foster an adult cat! They are nearly zero work and you may end up discovering an old-man lion like Webster.

OR there are ways you can help your local shelter without even having animals in your home! I wrote a post here about ways to get involved with your animal shelter! One of the BEST is TNR– Trap, Neuter, Return. I explain more in that post.

Ok! That is it! I am going back to the fluffnuggets.
xoxo, VEB
Cat Public Relations Specialist