Monday, March 14, 2016

Hanging with the kittens


I'm still working with Wryn and Sprite and getting them used to me and things.  It doesn't take them long to get over the 'OH NO!" reaction they initially have, Wryn more so than Sprite, when I walk in the room or when I do something 'new' like pouring out some dry food, or getting out a plastic bag to scoop the litter boxes.

This weekend I went down and played with them for a while.  I was clicking my fingernails on the ground, which most kittens love, but these two were very concerned about.  Fortunately, Sprite decided to give me the Paw o' Doom to try to get it to stop.


I have to say, getting your foot slapped by a wee baby kitten is a freakin riot.

I then lounged on the couch and covered myself in the afghan, and then this happened.


Yup, Sprite climbed up on me for a nap. Wryn thought Happy Bear was a better place..


But then I think she got a little lonely and this happened..


She wasn't coming up, but she would lay on the blanket.

She is so skeptical, it is fascinating watching her and getting used to her personality. For example, she spilled the water bowl and the water spilled out and it must have splashed on her feet, because she ran away, went a fair distance away, then turned around and hid behind things in the room looking at the water bowl as if she expected it to vomit water all over her all over again. She slowly walked back over towards the bowl and the water spill and still looked at it like it had betrayed her. I had no real idea what happened, but because I was watching her I knew something was wrong and thought maybe we had a fly in the room, so I got up and saw all the water. Even after I wiped it up, she was quite skeptical about the water bowl - as if expecting it to spit on her.

I have heard several different experts in the field of kittens talk about kitten personalities. I've heard that kittens get their personalities from their father. To me this would explain why kittens who have had little to no human contact are very friendly and outgoing, and why kittens like Wryn - who were born to very friendly mothers are so fearful. I've also heard that while we young feral kittens can be tamed sometimes, when there has been feral cats that go back several generations, it can be hard to tame them.  I can only take this information and wonder about Wryn and Sprite's father.

22 comments:

  1. I've heard that kittens get their personalities from the father too. It always makes me wonder because you never get to see what the father is like.

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    1. I know.. that is the frustrating part of fostering. I so wish I knew more of the back story.

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  2. This is interesting! My human was almost positive I got my temperament from my mother, since she has had several "dads" and the kittens have always been very well tempered. My half brother, if anything, has a better temperament than I do - different dad. But it could also be that we are all very well socialized from a very young age.

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  3. We have heard that kittens several generations feral are difficult to tame... and we suspect that may be part of why Ashton is so cautious of humans. It's an interesting theory about fathers, though. It would be an interesting study to learn more.

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  4. These pictures are adorable! It'so interesting and fun to watch a kitten's personality grow. I would definitely be interested in reading more research about that.

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  5. I have not heard this theory before, about the dad personality. I recommended reading about cat personalities at Pam's blog http://www.wayofcats.com/blog/ and read about 'cat types'. Both kittens are adorable!

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    1. I've read a lot of Pam's blog. After fostering for 14 years, there isn't much over there that I don't already know :)

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  6. I don't think it is that simple, getting personality from the father. I have two cats, half sibs, same father. One is bold, the other is shy. The shy one is older and bigger.

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    1. oh it is definitely a lot more complicated than what they are born with. there is a lot you can do - and I have done - to mold a kitten's personality. Without the work I've done, these two would have been feral for certain - despite having a very friendly and outgoing mother.

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  7. I don't think it is that simple, getting personality from the father. I have two cats, half sibs, same father. One is bold, the other is shy. The shy one is older and bigger.

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  8. no matter how they got their personalities, they are adorable and we hope they find families that give them time to blossom :)

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  9. It is curious, and I wonder what would happen if it were just Wryn in the room.

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    1. I fear she would cower in a corner and revert back to the cowardly little kitten she was.

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  10. Looks like you still have lots to do, many weeks of work on these two while I bide my time....and enjoy the show,

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  11. I had never heard that about them getting their personalities from the father--that's fascinating! I bet it is so rewarding to see the kittens open up and begin to trust.

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  12. We're sure you don't mind having these two around a little longer getting used to humans. :)

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  13. They are so cute and I get that you have to take it slowly with them, I hadn't heard that about kittens getting their personality form their father

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  14. Oh they are simply so adorable. A few more weeks and I bet they would be so accustomed to you, you'd have to pry them off. Hopefully they find their forever homes soon with someone who will be patient and allow them time to overcome their fear and shyness.

    My Saku came to me when he was 3 months old (my daughter moved home). He took some time to warm up to me and even now the cuddling has to occur when he wants it. Yet he craves my son's attention. He is who is is and I love him with all my heart.

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  15. They are such cuties :)

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  16. They are so lovely

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  17. It's a fascinating thought -- a little bit nature, a little bit nurture maybe? Hmmm...

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    1. there is a whole lot of nurture that can be done to change the nature of a kitten's personality. Just as I did with these two. They were very fearful and skittish when they first showed up, but are blossoming very nicely since I have continually pushed them past their comfort zones

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