A question for those who foster

[AvaJoy]

Originally posted by catcrazylady
. . I think some of that is inbred. . . I don't know if there is really anything that we could do any different. I have come to the conclusion that what is taught to them by their mothers in the first few weeks of life can never really be broken. I don't think so anyway. I think they may learn to relax a little but that nervousness and fear is always close to the surface. . . Let's blame their MAMA'S!! It seems to be the thing to do in this day and age anyway, doesn't it???

I agree! Their Mothers taught them to be fearful of ALL humans, so they come to trust ONLY those humans that have shown them kindness, caring, and food. Once someone else in human form is within their midst, the instinctual fear kicks in and they become reclusive or want to flee.

Muskrat (Tortie in avatar) was only trusting toward me, since I nursed her little broken-legged feral self back to health (except for being FeLV+ since I can't make that go away) with lots of care and attention. To this day, she will accept my husband cleaning her box and feeding her, but she will STILL turn on him in a split second, without any hesitation. As for strangers, just the sight of anyone besides him or me and she is in crouched, attack mode. I doubt if I can ever find a home for her, so she must live in the basement apart from the other cats due to her FeLV.

Jen, you do all you can to give these little ones a fair chance at life, so don't feel inadequate . . . feline instinct coupled with the early lessons from mom-cats are virtually impossible to revoke. You have found exceptions to this before, and you will find them again, so don't feel discouraged . . . remember the wonderful feeling when a feral, tamed by your compassion and devotion, finds a forever home . . . it will happen again!