Conference misery::feline_v1

    My suggestion is......to make "hands" a terrific thing to see
    coming!!!  What I mean is, get some real tasty cat treats
    (that they go crazy for) and feed them to each kitten, from
    your hand.  Feed them their dinners, from your hands.  Let
    them know that "good things" come from your hands. Talk to them
    in a chirping kind of voice, you know, "oh, aren't we mommies
    cute little babies, kiss, kiss, kiss, come see me, what did you
    two do today?".....This type of tone seems to help with the fear.
    
    And, give them time.....they have to re-establish trust in humans.
    
    Good luck!
    
    Lynne
    
    

    
    You will need alot of patience.  They've had a rough start in life and
    it will take time for them to trust humans.  When you need to catch
    them, try shaking a can of treats (i.e. Pounce -- I think thats the
    name).  Let them smell your hand before you give them the treat.  Also,
    try putting a shirt or something that has your scent on it where they 
    sleep.  This may help them to adapt quicker.  Best of luck. 
    
    They sound like a couple of cuties.
    
     
    

    I'm not sure there is anything you can do to speed up this
    trust.  This is something you need to earn from them...
    but continue trying....they'll give. 
    
    My latest (Abby-Momma Kitty) must have also been abused
    because she is so petrified of people, noise, and quick
    movements.   In the beginning...she wouldn't even sit in
    the same room with us, with alot of patience I finally
    have gained her trust, but she is still scared of my
    husband.  (he is so gentle with her...but she's scared.)
    
    What I did was insisted that I pat her quite a few times
    a day...I did not attempt to pick her up until she
    was comfortable with the patting.  Next step...try
    picking her up...she was so nervous in the beginning
    that I wouldn't hold her for a long time, now we
    are trying to get her to come and sit on our laps.
    She is starting to...but any noise she hears...off
    she goes.   I still can't hold her for long...but
    we are getting better and she is purring up a storm.
    This is all in four weeks time frame.
    
     She loves me to pat her when I'm on the toilet...
    figures huh!!  I bet she thinks she's safe because
    ..I can't do anything with my pants down.
    
    Keep trying...Sandy
    
    
    

    Lot's and lot's of patience.  My little guy was hand reared and
    associated being held with being force fed and medicated for a very
    long time.  It was so frustrating for me because I just wanted to hold
    him and love him to death but I had to play a waiting game.  Offering
    treats, speaking softly and a few very gentle pats, lying down on the
    floor and talking to him at eye level - finally he started coming to me
    on his own.  There I was lying on the couch and he hopped right up and
    sat on my chest.
    
    He still doesn't like to be held a lot but it gets better as time goes
    by.  Maybe some day I'll be able to hold him for more than 3 minutes
    without him making a fuss!  He's better with my husband - but I'm the
    one who gives out medication and does baths in my house so Richard is
    viewed as the "nice guy".
    
    It just takes time and patience and gaining trust on their part.  Love
    does wonders - 
    
    
    
    Giudi

    It's really early days yet.  Another suggestion is to
    always let them see your hands (i.e., don't reach for them
    when their backs are turned, since it will frighten them).
    
    I used to think that you had to be patient and offer to
    approach the cat and eventually let him or her come to
    you, but I've had to medicate Holly and LB when they were still
    "wild" and it seems to be that holding them gently even against
    their will gets them used to the idea that you aren't going to
    hurt him.
    
    Karen (recent veteran of 14 pills into LB's gullet)
    

    Bob (x-feral)still runs from us, especially Jack.  These days I've 
    been feeding him amoxicillin twice a day for a UTI so he's even less
    thrilled about being picked up.  He does, however, still come to
    me at other times and ask to be picked up.  We just have to do
    it on his terms as much as possible.
    
    There are some cats that just don't like to be handled.  I've dis-
    covered this since having my first litter of scottish folds. The
    brown tabbies(Duggie and CC) and the black and white (Micky) both
    love to be held and are definite lap cats (Fumbi is too, I discovered
    last night).  But the silvers are a different story.  And they've 
    never been abused nor mistreated since they were born.  They just 
    don't like being handled.  It drives me crazy when I go to pat
    Shadow and he cringes!!!!!  If I'd gotten this cat from a shelter I'd
    figure he'd been hit or abused in some way.  Yet, I've had him every
    minute of his life and I KNOW what kind of treatment he's had.
    Now Shadow can also be a little lovebug when he wants to and purrs
    his head off at times.
    
    So, you may have a cat that doesn't like handling and while it will
    have to get used to a certain amount of handling, may never be the
    type that will crawl into your lap.  Only time and patience will tell.
    
    Keep up the good work.
      Nancy

    When I first got Cinnomin, she had been abandoned in a parking lot. She
    would run and hide and acted afraid of me.  I got a can of sardines and
    held one out to her.  She stared at me and sniffed the air for a while 
    then evenually she came over, sniffed my hand, inhaled the sardine and
    let me pet her.  I think there were 4 sardines in the can and I would
    give her 1 a day till they were gone.  After that she would come to me,
    hop up on my lap and snuggle and want to be petted.  She now comes running
    when I call her name, loves to snuggle and play.
    
    Good luck!
    

    Everyone...
    
    Thanks so very much for all of the advise!  So far, I seem to be doing
    everything right.  I've got the cans of Pounce and when I shake them,
    they come around the corner to see me!
    
    I also invested in a "jingle ball" for my Tawny.  Tigger is in to 
    stuffed mice and plays all day with those.  Everytime I shake this
    ball with a bell in it, Tawny comes running.  It's the most hysterical
    thing watching her carry it to the kitchen floor in her mouth and 
    start playing "kitty soccer" with it.  Tigger just sits there and
    watches.  She just takes it all in.
    
    I guess I've just been frustrated a little bit lately because I've
    been doing all of these thing to show them that hands are okay.  It's
    just the initial move toward them to pet them or pick them up that
    seems to scare them.  I've been communicating with the girl who
    adopted the brother of the litter.  She says that he's the same way,
    except that he hisses and growls.  I guess I'm lucky!
    
    Thanks again everyone.  I really appreciate all of the advise!
    
    Diana (Blue Bell, Pa.)