This was Prince Harry shortly after he was rescued from the
cold along with Norman (who’s now at our Adoption Center) and the rest of his
family. The little guy was very upset and afraid.
But Harry's foster mom has worked patiently with him over the
last three weeks. She’s gaining his trust by using food as an incentive for him
to come close to her. You can see how
much Prince Harry enjoys petting now. And he’s traded in that hiss for a purr!
Bonding with and socializing shy kittens or cats is all about
establishing trust. You can use the technique that offers food as incentive for the cat to interact and seek
affection from you. First, set the
cats up in a small, uncluttered room such as a bathroom or spare bedroom, where they can become accustomed
to the presence of people. As
the cat becomes more comfortable with its new environment, establish a regular
feeding routine rather than leaving food out all the time. The cat will start to anticipate feeding time
and associate you with the good food. The goal is to get the cat to feel comfortable eating in your presence
so you can start to pet it. In time, the
cat will become more comfortable with touch, begin to seek out your attention, and become
friendly and affectionate—even when it’s not feeding time! This process can take a few days or several
months, depending on the cat.
Prince Harry’s foster mom also uses play to draw him out of
his shell. She says, “Prince Harry needs more work... He still requires patience…
but he is hissing and swiping less and seems to enjoy being petted… Next step
is to see if he’ll come out from his hiding spot without food if I sit very
still.”
This adorable kitten is going to make a good little
companion. If you’d like to help by working
with one or two of Prince Harry’s siblings like Tanner or Daisy and Snowflake,
contact outreach@felinerescue.org
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| Tanner |
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| Snowflake and Daisy |
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