Taming A Fur Lined Razor Blade
We’ve had an approximately 5 week old black kitten running around our area for the past two weeks. Momma cat finally found him and took him home however 2 days ago he was back. Rod almost drove over him in the driveway.
Our dogs being the helpful souls they are "found" him for me – hiding under a stack of pallets at the end of our house. Of course this was when we were having one of the more violent thunderstorms rumbling through here.
I grabbed one of my traps, put a bowl of water outside the trap and a bowl of canned cat food inside the trap and placed the trap into a large trash bag. I surrounded the trap with the pallets to keep any other animals from getting to the kitten whenter or not he gets into the trap.
Two days ago the little Tazmanian Devil cat was brought into the house and placed in a large cage in the family room. Inside the cage was a fluffly blanket for kitty to lay on, bowl of kitten milk replacer, bowl of dry food, a bowl of canned food & a litter box. He’s a bit too young to be able to survive just on dry food but it is there for him to try out. The entire cage was then covered, a radio placed next to the cage & a lamp. Other then to check on food, milk & clean litter the fur lined razor blade is left alone for the next 12 hours. Of course we get the growling, hissing & swiping with all the claws he has. Always amazes me how one so young can be so mean.
Yesterday we received much less growling, hissing & swiping. I am now pestering the kitten with my presence and chattering. By the days end he allows me to pet his back end while eating.
This morning I was allowed to pet the entire length of the kitten. I no longer get growling & hissing but I am "talked to". He is no longer crouching at the far back of the cage when I approach. This morning he was sitting at the front of the cage and "friendly" greeted me when I went over to him.
