Читать книгу Cats For Dummies - Gina Spadafori - Страница 76

Feral kittens have been taught by their mothers to be wary of humans, and it takes some time to counter that training. The younger the kitten when she’s removed from the wild, the better — an ideal age is from 5 to 8 weeks old.

You may end up with a kitten who’s younger than 5 weeks, sometimes because the mother has been killed and other times because that’s when you were able to trap the baby. Your veterinarian can help you determine the age of your kitten. If the kitten is too young for solid foods, your veterinarian can provide you with formula and show you how and how often to bottle-feed.

A wild-born kitten may not react in the same way a kitten who has been born to a pet cat will. You have to know that up front. Your kitten may hiss and spit in fear, and she may well try to bite you if you come close. You must be willing to take your time and help the kitten adjust gradually. Kittens born wild may never be sociable with large groups of people, but many form a tight and loving bond with the one person they trust.

While you’re gently getting a wild-born kitten used to the idea of human contact, he’s thinking of contact of a different variety. Even the littlest cats have formidable teeth and claws and will use them when they think they’re in danger. Cat bites and scratches are not to be taken lightly. Wear long sleeves and protective gloves around feral cats and never try to grab a cat who’s wriggling free. Let him go. (This applies to fully domesticated cats as well.)