On May 14, 2:09=A0pm, "Mike the Brewer" <mike_t...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> "tension_on_the_wire" <tension_at_h...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>
> news:15193ded-ae59-489b-982f-8515692f8ef2@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> On May 13, 4:21 am, "Mike the Brewer" <mike_t...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > "Robert Bodling" <robertbodl...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote in message
>
> >news:481dcf8b$0$30213$4c368faf@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> > >I was out in my back yard last night cutting down the overgrown tall
> > >grass
> > >and weeds and found a couple new born kittens (looks to be a month or
s=
o
> > >old, old enough to run and scamper around) hidding in the tall grass
an=
d
> > >managed to rescue one of them that had tried to escape and got caught
i=
n
> > >the 2"x3" (or so) wire we have around the base of our fence (due to
the=
> > >fact that we used to have a dog in the yard trying to escape). The
kitt=
en
> > >is real fisty and as my son calls it, "a kitten from hell, a demonic
ca=
t"
> > >(hisses and lashes at every movement around it [presently caged in a
ca=
t
> > >carrier]). Some told me last night that when a human handles the
kitten=
,
> > >the mother cat will abandon it and let it wonder around and die.
Would
> > >this young kitten return to it's family and be welcomed it we let it
ba=
ck
> > >out in the yard this evening after we managed to finish mowing the
tall=
> > >grass down and cleaning up the back yard?
>
> > > Secondly, if this kiten was born in the wild, can it be house
trained
> > > and
> > > would it be tame enough to live inside with humans?
>
> > I would like to tell my own story here:
> > A female cat which appeared to be wild came around and I started
putting=
> > food down for it. It came at regular times to feed but would run off
at
> > the
> > first sign of a human. It had three kittens in the grass and I
observed
> > them
> > until it took them under next door's shed. However it left the female
> > kitten
> > and did not return by dusk, so I took this in and reared it
successfully=
,
> > feeding it with an eye-dropper and Lactol milk powder mixed with
water.
> > I am told I was very lucky to succeed, gently "topping and tailing "
> > regularly using a damp sponge. After about 3 weeks it's eyes opened
and
> > eventually she grew into lovely, but small, longhaired cat and lived
for=
> > about 13 years.
> > As for the two tom kittens, I saw them running around after about five
o=
r
> > six weeks. I took a cardboard box which I sealed and cut out a hole
just=
> > enough for them to get through, put some cat food in and placed it on
th=
e
> > garden. I watched from a distance and when the kittens had both
entered =
I
> > sneaked up and put my hand over the hole and brought them indoors.
> > They would not come out for three days but tempted by food just
outside
> > the
> > box and the presence of the female kitten who was now running around,
th=
ey
> > eventually became tame and domesticated. I had the two toms neutered
and=
> > they too grew into fine cats...very loving and responsive to humans.
> > Endnote: There were two more tom kittens the following year and after
> > catching and domesticating those I was able to find homes for them
> > locally.
> > The mother was around for several years and in that time I managed to
ge=
t
> > to
> > the stage when she she would eat from a bowl while I held it out, but
th=
at
> > as far as it went....as soon as I lifted my thumb on the edge of the
bow=
l
> > she would spit and back off.......At least I was able to give her a
sour=
ce
> > of food......which was all she needed.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> I've heard of feral mothers who identified persons as qualified and
> willing to take care of their babies and would bring them serial
> litters over the years. =A0Sounds like this mother may have acquiesced
> to eat from your bowl as a token of gratitude, but beyond that line
> she would step no further. =A0Nice story, thanks.
>
> --tension
>
> Yes, I think that must be the case, I have noticed over the years that
cat=
s
> are very
> perceptive and intelligent.
> My old ginger tom, adopted from a cat charity, seems to know every word
I
> say to him
> and responds accordingly. Likewise I have come to interpret some of his
> noises and body
> language and am usually able to give what is asked for.
> One of the party pieces is when he is apparently dozing and I say "Lash
yo=
ur
> tail Ginger"
> his tail promptly goes whipping up and down on whatever he is lying on !
> Cats are truly amazing.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -
Too funny. My current pair are both quite attuned now to a small but
distinct human vocabulary. More delightful is the precision they are
developing in terms of teaching me their own language, telling me what
they want with their own cat vocabulary. They only meow when they are
actually trying to tell me they want something, and they will bodily
lead me to where that something is, whether its the bathroom for a
fresh cool sinkie-drinkie, or the litter box needing a clean, or the
front door for outside, or lately, to one of Muezza.Glorio's latest
deceased prisoners of war (mostly birds these days, although last week
he brought home someone's hamster). But they don't bother doing that
until I have verbally asked them what they want and made it plain that
I heard that summoning meow. If I mention the word hungry or treats,
or even ask someone else to say it, so that there is no personal body
language interfering, they still start clamoring and running for the
kitchen before I even got up from my seat. There's definitely a
comfortable feeling of bi-directional communication in the house now.
I get more head butts these days as a result, yay!
--tension
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