As if by magic...

[PaysForIt]

...Houdini appears.
http://www.jennykenwright.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/houdini.jpg

Hmm, any advice on raising half feral kittens?

[PaysForIt]

We've made a small 'cage' for him from the outside of a chest of drawers, if that makes sense.
I'd rather not let him have free reign in the spare room just yet and the cage is way to small for any length of time.

[K & L]

You got him!!!:D I just love you! He??is so cute. Are you keeping him or sending him with mom & siblings? So how'd you finally get him?

[slick]

Oh I'm soooo glad!!! He certainly looks very cute but scared. Tell us more details please.

[PaysForIt]

We went as soon as I got in from work, he was there with 3 other older cats. One we think is from an older litter and is feral, another is the father and a third I'd not seen before.

Just went in and scooped him up ;)

[PayItForward]

Didn't Steve do well. :D

I am so pleased she survied the night alone.

[PaysForIt]

A top down view of the pen...
http://www.jennykenwright.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pen01.jpg
It's not much I know :(

Me being "brave", getting him out of the box. With my special Kitten Proof(tm) gloves...
http://www.jennykenwright.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pen02.jpg


I gave up on trying to pick him as he spat, like a small explosion, every time I got close. Kind of funny to watch as rocked backwards with the force of it.

Decanting him into the pen...
http://www.jennykenwright.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pen03.jpg

In situ...
http://www.jennykenwright.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/images/pen04.jpg

[PaysForIt]

Oh and he got stuck as I tipped him out, on the lip of the carrier. So I reached towards him and he "exploded" and fell out ;)

[PayItForward]

I should add that the crisp box has a nice blanket in it.

[emily_the_spoiled]

Congratulations on catching Houdini!!!

When I read the thread yesterday I was a little worried, but figured he would be okay for a night (because it isn't cold outside). But I am so happy you managed to catch him.

Are you going to take him to join Mom and the others?

[jenluckenbach]

Hurray!

[PayItForward]

Are you going to take him to join Mom and the others?
I don't know. :confused:

As I am away for the weekend and Steve is working nights. The earliest we could take her to the shelter is Monday. (Shelter won't collect animals.)

My first thought is don't we HAVE to return her to mum. Isn't that the best thing to do, for her sake. :(

Then I think she is so cute and we fought the brambles for hours looking for her. Maybe we could keep her ? :)

I suppose it depends on how things go over the weekend with Houdini & Steve. (Oh and if we wanted to keep her, she would have to pass all her blood tests, we won't hurt our kitties)

[PayItForward]

Advice is welcome.

I know someone (K&L?) said a kit this old 7 weeks can eaten soft kitten food and water but does she need her mum's milk at this stage ?

I just hope she eats tonight, as ALL shelters are closed until tomorrow.

Any suggestions to persuade her to eat (she may of ate some food we put down put it is very hard to tell.)

[jenluckenbach]

At 7 weeks she would not NEED mom's milk, but if you are worried there is canned kitten replacement milk available. You could soften the food with that instead of water. And if worse came to worse and she does not eat on her own you could eye dropper it into her. You might also try canned kitten food.

[K & L]

Usually mom cats start weaning them between 4 to 5 weeks. There's always milk supplements you can buy at pet stores if she doesn't seem to eat.

http://www.care-for-my-cat.com/html/weaning.html

[emily_the_spoiled]

Do you have access to Pet Store this weekend? Usually these places will sell kitten milk replacement formulas, so that Houdini would be able to supplement the kitten food with some milk. But he should be okay with the diluted kitten food.

You might also want to try playing soft classical music in the room where he is. As they say ... music calms the savage beast :D (and he might qualify)

Good luck and I suspect that he will worm his way into your household in very short order :D

[PayItForward]

Good news, she has eaten.

I have spent the last hour sitting near her box ignoring her. She only hisses if I move suddenly (So i won't do that again)

She has soft kitten canned food diluted with water to a mush.

I took a clean poop scoop with a long handle and scopped some food onto the thin end and slowly presented it to Houdini.

She hissed and then lickled the ladle handle clean. So I fed her about 6 ladle fulls. She hissed at the approach & removal of the ladle but she ate the food and even got her little teeth into the handle to get a big lump of meat.

I've left her to settle and will feed her again in a hour. Just to make sure she is eating something. I'm sure she'll find the food bowl shortly.

We were thinking of taking her down to the vets to check her over tomorrow morning. (I am only leaving at dinnertime)

[Prairie Purrs]

Bravo! Good work catching the elusive Houdini! I can just picture the little one hissing and eating. :D

[ChrisH]

It is all so great, what you and Steve have done, and are doing, for this litttle kitty and her family, bless you both!
Sorry that I don`t have any advice or suggestions - not that you need any it seems, looks like you are doing just great! :)

Hugs
Chris

[slick]

Yipeeeeeee!!!! She's eaten!!!!!!! I'm sure she's so scared at any little sudden movement. You guys do good work! Love to you all.

[Uabassoon]

Houdini is so cute!

[NoahsMommy]

What wonderful news!!!! :) She's a little cutie!!!

Hemoine was seven weeks old last Saturday and the woman was feeding her Science Diet Kitten. She had had Hermoine for three days and said that when she approached her, she's freak out. She said she even had her hand covered with a towel because Hermoine would attack her. (Hermoine, her siblings and their mother are/were feral). She said that after a few days (three?) Hermoine was a totally different cat. :) She is a huge lover girl already.

I hope that gives you hope for this litte thing. She's still very young and will learn humans are wonderful soon. :)

Can't wait to hear more about her. How is she doing now?

[NoahsMommy]

Originally posted by emily_the_spoiled
You might also want to try playing soft classical music in the room where he is. As they say ... music calms the savage beast :D (and he might qualify)
YES, YES, YES!!!! Play classical music for her....it helped with Micah's last trip to the vet and calms Hermoine as well. :)

[PayItForward]

Continues http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthread.php?s=&threadid=28016

[kimlovescats]

Congratulations on catching Houdini! What an adorable baby!!! Since Houdini is still so young, it shouldn't take very long for her to get used to you!!! GREAT JOB! More pics when it's "safe"!!!!;)

[moosmom]

Great job!!

Kittens that young are easily socialized. Sounds like you're doing all the right things!! Keep us posted.

[BastetsMum]

Congrats!

Glad to hear Houdini is being looked after!

[Steffi N]

Good work rescuing Houdini and earlier Fleur and the two other kittens. Houdini is really cute and I'm sure she will feel at home soon. Please keep us posted and I hope her mommy and siblings (adorable too) find good homes soon.

[marysmerrycats]

I got Charlie and Patches at 8 weeks and they were already eating dry food...

congratulations! she is a very cute kitty!

[smokey the elder]

Good job! Kittens that easy are very easy to socialize, but you need some Personal Protective equipment.:)

If you have a sweatshirt and leather gloves, this is good for kittens. Using the gloves, pick up the kitten and hold it up to your chest near your heart. Your heart beat starts to calm them down.

What I do is I cradle the kitten with one arm, and if I think it's safe I'll use my teeth to pull off one glove and (carefully!) pet the kitten.

Mouse (foster) was a 12 week old terror and within 7 days was a purring mushpie.

Good luck!