File :-(, x, )
Hmmm Anonymous
So /an/ I just got a kitten today (like.. 20 minutes ago) from some lady who couldnt care for him.

Any way. I'm not too sure whats up with him. He hisses at me when I come by, but he'll let me sit next to him and pet him. if I pick him up he'll hiss about that too, but he hasnt scratched me or any thing.

Is he just scared? or did I pick up an agressive cat? I cant take him back so if all else fails, he'll have to go to the pound (and I'd rather not get rid of him, he's cute)

Pic some what related because it's about how old he looks
>> Anonymous
Sounds scared.

Is it really hissing though? Scared cats that age tend to squeak and squeal more.
>> Anonymous
it's definately hissing at me. when I first picked him up though, he was pretty cool. got freaked out by the car (but I'd expect that) and mellowed down on the way home. he was okay up untill I got him inside the house, then he started to freak all over again

Currently he's on the bed staring at me, but still hisses when I walk by.
>> Anonymous
All cats act freaked out in new environments. Kittens especially.
>> Anonymous
It's scared cause you're new. Just give it time. Any cat you get as a kitten will learn to love you if you treat it right.
Also, some cats NEVER get used to being picked up. I've had this cat since she was a kitten, but she still hates it even though I do it constantly. She whines and tries to escape but she never tries to hurt me. But she can be extremely sweet. In general she's a total scardy-cat.
>> Anonymous
>>180186
Give him as much attention as you can. That's what I did with mine and she loves me now.
I think the issue is some idiots don't realize they have to handle the kitten as soon as they can. If you don't handle a kitten when it's young it will be ferral. They need to be humanized.
Don't scare the shit outta her but do go out of your way to pay attention to her. Mine used to hide under the bed and I had to shove things under there to get her to come out, but after a while she learned when I wanted her to come out and just did it without the hassle, and without fear.
But she is a VERY clingy cat as a result. She's terrified of everyone but me and basically lives in my room 24/7. It might have more to do with the fact that she hates my other cat.
>> Anonymous
I'll definately do that. the trick is getting him from under the bed right now.

Also, he hasnt eatten at all today. suppose he'll eat when he's ready? I had picked him up just before he was to be fed (she had two other kittens at her house as well that she was trying to give away)
>> Anonymous
>>180190
Just leave the dry food near the bed. I doubt there's anything physically wrong.
And really it just takes time. I shoved a stick under the bed enough to scare her out, but over time if I just looked under the bed she came out. And it would be a good idea to chase him out then leave him alone so he doesn't associate being chased out with anything worse.
It's OK to scare him sometimes, just make sure you don't overdo it. If things get too out of hand just leave him alone.
>> ­­
I actually brought home a kitten back in February, he was caught feral... hissed at me all the time, never stood still, and hid in whatever nook or cranny in my bedroom (where we had him confined) that he could find. Now, mere months later, he is the sweetest, most affectionate cat in the world. He still doesn't take well to new people, but rest assured that if you're always gentle with him, give him praise and attention, he will grow to love you, and in a few months you'll be surprised at just how often he fights for your attention.
>> Anonymous
okay..

well I got him out from under the bed and I started petting him. he started to purr for a little while too, got real relaxed and what not.

I had to go check on my mother (she's handicaped) =/ well, he hissed at me comming back but I was able to sit next to him and start petting him again. you guys are really great, and I hope this works out.
>> Anonymous
keep reporting.
>> Anonymous
okay.

how old is the kitten? also.. has she/he been to the vet? it may be that he/she is just scared, but you may also consider that it may be hurt, cats hiss when they are injured..

But I just bet it was the ride on car/new environment/ new person in one day.
>> Anonymous
Pet him a whole fuckton.
>> Anonymous
I've been doing that.

Sometimes he'll get really friendly with me and purr, but then he;ll do a complete 360 and start hissing at me again. but hey, least he's eating now.
>> Anonymous
will do. Thanks again guys.
>> Anonymous
will do. thanks anon
>> Anonymous
Give him his space. He'll warm up eventually, and it's good to handle him early on, but don't force anything on him if it's not important.
>> Anonymous
If he's younger than 7-8 weeks old, he's not properly weaned and needs to be fed kitten formula with a bottle often (you can get this from a vet). He seems older, so he should be fine. Get him a litterbox and put it somewhere secluded he can easily get to (cats like privacy) and put the food and water across the room from the litterbox so he won't accidentally mix litter with that.

Then leave him alone for a bit tonight. Be slow with him. Gently talk to him and gently pet him, but don't try to pick him up or chase him to love on him--he doesn't understand what you want yet. Just be jovial and delicate and don't pick him up too much (pet him wherever he is, but make him feel in control of his surroundings) and in a month or so, he'll be perfectly fine with you. Don't leave him alone too much, and make sure you get wires and cords and possibly dangerous shit out of his reach. If you work a lot, for god sakes, get another kitten about his age, if you can get one from the same litter, that's best. Cats are very solitar, but most get really bored and lonesome, like dogs, if they're alone most of the day because you're at work/school and then they can never fucking adjust to times when they absolutely must be solitary (like in a nice kennel for trip).

Please think of how this kitten must feel. He's a baby, in a strange place, with hundreds of thousands of new smells, sights, sounds, and a new human. He's suddenly away from all his littermates and his mom, and he's scared!

Be gentle with him, but understand that he didn't chose you, and you didn't even chose him. He's going to have to get used to you, and if you're impatient, he's going to say "Fuck you."
>> Anonymous
Think of yourself as his new foster parent, and him as the kid who just got taken away from his mom and dad, and the house he's known all his life. He's pissed off, upset, scared, but it's not really you he's pissed off at. Just give him attention and time.
>> Anonymous
It's 'cause you're a new person, and he's in a new house. For now let him wander or not as he likes, but confine him to one room for the night with food and litterbox in easy to spot places. Let him get used to that first. If you let him wander around the house at night he might get lost and scared, and poop in a corner or something when he can't find his litterbox. Give him plenty of attention and something he can safely play with. Like a little length of rope or string dangled a foot in front of him. Don't leave string out, though. He might try to swallow it. Also, don't look directly at him for too long. Cats often see that as threatening, and that might be part of the reason he's hissing at you.
>> Anonymous
he's feral. work with him. he's scared. constantly pick him up, scratch his head and talk to him. eventually, he'll calm down...

I'm actually fostering (and currently holding!) a feral kitten.
>> Anonymous
>>180510
Well, she (the woman I got him from) said that she found him (and the other two kittens I cuoldnt take) in the alley way. dunno what happened to the mother.

I know I need to work with him, I just dont want him to associate me with something negative.

that and he apparently has fleas and needs a bath..
>> Anonymous
I have a dog that does this too, like our first dog, you can pick him up and he will sit on your hip and go everywhere with u, you can take his food away, drag him around, he never does anything bad. But the other dog will growl and bite (not hard but letting u know he is pissed) even if he is leaning against me on the couch and i try to move him, is it just because he wishes he was as awesome as our first dog?
>> Anonymous
Thought I'd give /an/ an update since you were all helpful :

The kitten is warming up to me rather nicely. He has his moments where he'll spaz and hiss, but for the most part, I can pet and hold him and even play with him.

the new issue is that he wont stop yoweling. He yowels in the morning and every night before bed, when I pet him he'll stop for a while, but I'm guessing he's searching for the other kittens that he hung around with for the while he was at that lady's house.

But he's overal a decent camper. Thanks guys!