Please help... I think we need to rehome our kitten :(

[andreaaa]

Hi hope you are all well

We have a problem with our kitten tbh she is pretty evil! We have had her now since May when she was 6 weeks old. She was wild when we first had her but we thought she would settle in. We had her spayed so she could go outside but she hates the outdoors so we let her stay in, which is fine.

The problem is she seems to hate people, everyone that is apart from our 7yr old Callum. She bites, scratches, attacks from behind the sofa or under the table. She has destroyed 2 carpets and headbutts doors :s

I've had cats before but have never known anything like this! She has scratched my little girl this week, right next to her eye and I have to keep her away from everyone. She hates being stroked or touched, she even constantly attacks our dog!

I am at the end of my tether and i'm not sure what else to do. Do you think I should rehome her? My little boy is going to be so upset

 

[lauramumof2]

Awww hun, I dont think ferral ones ever really settle down. Would she live outside? We had salem who was a ferral kitten and he stays at my mums, well out her back door. The closest he gets to the house is the cat bed at the top of their stairs and he has cubby holes outside and the thickest waxy coat. He likes a clap but if you get too friendly he swipes you.

Could this be what your cat is needing??

 

[Misslarue]

Hun not sure what you should do, maybe over time she will calm down But obviously if shes hurting your daughter thats a no no.
Leaving her mum and siblings at 6 weeks is so young as kittens learn skills and social interactions/behaviours from their mum and siblings and it seems that this has effected her, as far her social skills at least. (We kept both our cat's litters until 12 weeks as preferably recommended, although it was very tiring! ).

Maybe give the cats protection league a ring, they can give you lots of advice on training etc and also re-housing help if need be. Good luck hun
http://www.cats.org.uk/

Also found this
Socialisation
Kittens which leave their mothers at a very young age may later develop socialisation problems, ideally kittens should be at least 8 weeks old (preferably 12) before they leave their mother. Kittens learn from the mother about the social interactions between cats and humans. You should always see the kittens with their mother; this will also give you an indication of the mother’s temperament (which can be genetically passed on). Kittens from a pet shop or breeder which have had little human contact may also develop behaviour problems. Without this early contact between humans and cats they may grow to fear or distrust humans and thus become very independent. This can lead to a kitten with aggression problems.

The first few weeks (up to 12 weeks old) of your kitten’s life are very important and they should be allowed to meet as many different people, encounter different environments and situations as possible. This will decrease the likelihood of you having a cat with behaviour problems such as nervousness.

 

[clairescunny55]

my mums cat was wild, she is 13 now and still a bitch lol, she never once liked being stroked or loved

 

[sarafet]

andrea - maybe try feliway (google it) or maybe she would be better with another cat around?

also, could she be in any pain?

x

 

[Summer]

I had a look online about ferral cats and come aross this for you. Hope it is of some use.

Many people confuse between feral cats and stray cats. First, I’m going to explain the different of both types of cats. Stray cats are usually that once had owners and were abandoned or became lost. They are the product of a person’s irresponsibility. Irresponsibility could be defined in two ways when it comes to stray cats, which is, dumping a cat to fend for itself and/or ignore to spay and neuter their cats. Feral cats are cats that were probably born to wild parents and/or are wild in nature. Feral cats have had no human contact (usually unapproachable by people) and are very complicated to tame.

Because feral cats are difficult to discipline, thus making them undesirable indoor pets, there are many rescue organizations that are dedicated to the trapping and spaying and neutering of feral cat colonies. Many times, these organizations trap the cats, have them spayed and neutered and then release them near where they were originally found. Then, they dedicate themselves to providing food to these colonies.

Feral cats are all over the place. You can find feral cats in rural or farm areas, abandoned buildings and even parks and alleyways. You might catch a glimpse of them, but chances are that you would not be able to catch them easily. After all, they have not been around humans so any contact would make them shy away from you. If you have feral cats in your neighborhood, you may wonder whether these animals can be kept as pets.

Taming a feral cat can be a difficult proposition simply because they are not accustomed to humans. Depending on the level of their interactions with humans, some cats might be classified as semi-feral, total feral or even a converted feral cat. Depending on what your cat is classified dictates your potential success in socializing it. In addition, it takes a lot of time, love and patience to tame these cats.

If you find a cat that is has been feral for a years, chances are that there is little to no chance of socializing it. With no human contact at all, these cats are overly independent and would never depend on a human for food or companionship. You might have better success with a cat that is semi-feral. In these instances, they have had some limited human contact. A converted feral cat would probably have the best chance at a normal life as someone’s pet. These cats were once domesticated, meaning that they probably started life as a pet and then was abandoned. The converted feral cat will more than likely eventually respond to human interactions such as love and affection.

If you want to attempt to tame a feral cat, remember that it can be hard work reaching out to the feral cat and getting them to trust you after being on their own. Sometimes, your efforts will not pay off for months, especially with older cats. If your attempts are a success, the rewards are well worth it because a strong bond can develop and loyalty and love is the reward.

If you believe you have the time and the love to attempt to tame a feral, there are some things to remember. First, these cats see you as an intruder and are very likely to spit, hiss, bite and claw. This is a normal response as they are defending themselves against a perceived predator – you. If they manage to get in a few bites or scratches, you should apply first aid immediately. After you have successfully trapped a feral cat, your very first step is to get it to the vet for spay or neuter and to check for any diseases it may carry. This is a necessary step and an absolute must if you have other pets in the house. After you have arrived home with your cat, you need to let it adjust to you and the surroundings by giving it a small, safe place to stay. Allow the cat to stay in a small bathroom or laundry room, where it does not feel overwhelmed. You will need to take time every day to spend time with the cat and allow the cat to adjust to you.

Remember, not all feral cats can be socialized; however with love and patience, your time and efforts may be worthwhile. link to site. http://www.thecatzine.com/2008/11/how-t ... feral-cat/

Another useful link. http://cat-chitchat.pictures-of-cats.or ... ttens.html

 

[andreaaa]

Just wanted to say thanks so much for your help, I have started making her go outside every evening now and she seems a bit better so we will wait and see how things go.

Thanks