Oh Danny Boy! “There are older kittens in the office that desperately need socializing.” I know you work well with the shy and timid ones, could you spend some time with them?”, the volunteer coordinator asked me. Of course, these are my favs — kittens that need socializing — so I jumped right on that band wagon! As it turned out, there were four of them – three boys and one girl. Josie, the girl, and Powder, Luigi, and Danny were the three boys. They had been with another rescuer, but the rescuer never spent time with them. So………..the window to “easily” socialize kittens had passed. Kittens that need socializing is best accomplished before they turn four/five months old. They were already six months old. Now, instead of running downhill, they were climbing uphill pushing a boulder to boot. This is the part where I sigh….
These Babies Were In Tough Shape – These Kittens Needed Socializing!
I first introduced Danny to you in my post, “When Good Intentions Go Left of Center”.
He and his siblings were so incredibly scared, it was sad.
In the picture above, that is Danny with his sister Josie. Josie was a cute little button and was adopted first. Danny, however, was the shyest one of the bunch. Even though I already had a full house here, I decided the best thing for him would be to bring him to my house. In our spare bathroom that we had built for my father, there was no tub. Just a tiled floor that angled toward the drain. It was the perfect spot for a large cage there. I put a board over the top and created a second level so he could climb, should Danny become so bold. It was the perfect setup for kittens that need socializing. Now I could work with him one-on-one in a small space, and there would be no reason for me to “chase” him. (That only frightens them more.) The space was small enough that he didn’t feel overwhelmed, and that I could slowly socialize him.
Danny Making Progress Quickly
Danny naturally used the condo as his “protection” from the place he was now living. Another change! The poor lil’ guy. I had deliberately put that condo in there for him so he would have a place to hide when he first got to my place. It turns out that condo would do way more for him then I had initially anticipated…
At first, Danny would crouch in his litter box to eat (yuck!), but eventually he would stay in his condo which allowed me to spoon feed him and pet him at the same time. This technique helps him associate human hands and petting with his favorite thing in the world — eating! In the video below, usually I pet him while my other hand feeds him, but alas! I don’t have a camera crew, so someone had to hold the camera. Haha. That condo allowed me to touch him, pet him, rub his paws — basically it became his “safe” place, yet at the same time, he was “trapped”. Danny had no choice but to accept my love.
Danny quickly made progress. That condo turned out to be his life saver, and soon he was purring and making air biscuits! After that day, you could see something had clicked with Danny. He wanted to trust me. He bloomed after that day, rubbing on my legs, playing, and accepting love.
I Knew The Time Would Come…
Danny was doing so well so fast, we all felt like it was time for Danny to return to the shelter and increase his chances of finding his forever home. His other two brothers were still there, and there was a chance that maybe a potential adopter would adopt him with one of his brothers (they ended up all going to different fur-ever homes). I was happy to have heard on the day he was adopted that “Danny has left the building”! All the time and effort which goes into these kittens that need socializing are sooooooo rewarding when you get that email. You know the one — the one says in unwritten words — you saved this animal, and now time to help the next one.
