I just got a new kitten a little over a week ago. His mother was a pet, but he and his siblings were born outside in a barn. All the cats had been moved out there until they could be found new homes because the lady's son ended up being allergic to them. So, I brought the kitten home, and for about the first 4 days, he hid under the couch and cried CONSTANTLY. And LOUDLY! Well, now he no longer cries, and he will come out from under the couch, and look like he wants to come over and play with me, but he is just too afraid. Everytime my daughter or I try to touch him, he bolts right back under the couch. Because the couch is too heavy for me to move, I can't get him out. My boyfriend came over and lifted the couch one day, and I got him out, and held him for a little bit. As I held him he purred and snuggled for a minute, but then he got nervous again and wanted down, so I put him down. He took off and hid. I haven't been able to touch him since. I don't want to force him, because I don't want to scare him worse, but I'm afraid he'll never come around, even though he has made amazing progress in just about 10 days. Any advice?

My sister had adopted 2 feral kittens and the rescue people told her to feed them and sit on the floor by the food and wait quietly. So that they had to come near her to be able to get to the food. She was supposed to only feed them like that and take it away unless she was sitting there with the food near her. That is how they had been working with them at the shelter up until she took them home but I am afraid her life is just too busy to do that for long and she didn't do it consistently because they needed to eat more often than she could do it. Nine months later and she can still barely touch the female and the male is still really skittish. So you really have to work at it until he comes around if you want the kitten to be a lap pet eventually. I do not recommend forcing them by moving the sofa though. It will just makle him feel like he is not safe anyplace and he will fear you even more.

I agree with MaxandAllie-don't ever try to force the issue. The kitten will warm up to you on his own good time, whether that will be 1 week, 1 month or 1 year.

I have a feral cat living in my basement. She's been in the house for several months now, and only in the last week or two has she been brave enough to come to the top of the stairs and look around. She lets me pet her if I approach her very slowly, but I can't pick her up. But that's ok with me-I'm just happy that she is inside the house and safe.

She's an adult cat, though-about 4 years old. Since yours is a kitten, you probably won't have as hard a time taming him. Buy some toys that he can chase-dangle things for him to bat around. Let him know that your presence means fun things happen. (And kudos to you for taking him in!)

Well, the past few days he has made amazing progress! I went away for a few days and it seemed like he actually missed me! He didn't eat well while I was gone, but the night I came back he ate nearly his entire bowl of food! Well, the way I've been working with him was to just talk to him gently, get down on the floor and just be near him, without trying to touch him. I'd also wiggle my toes and stuff while he was out looking at me, and he'd act like he wanted to play, but was still nervous. So I kept at it, and eventually he finally came over and started batting at my feet while I wiggled my toes. Eventually while I was on the floor talking to him gently I reached out slowly to try to pet him, and he seemed nervous at first, but then started to purr! After a few times of this, I eventually picked him up to pet him, and he purred them too! I'm trying to not over do it though, since he still seems skittish at times, but he is definitely making progress, since 2 weeks ago he wouldn't even come out from underneath the couch to peak at us!

Sounds like things are going great. You are handling the issue very well. Just keep doing what you are doing, don't force him, and let him go at his own pace. And keep us posted!

One thing you might try, find some kitty treats that he finds increadibly yummy (for one of my friends this turned out to be fish food flakes. Go figure!). It could be something as simple as a little tuna from time to time. A little bribery never hurt!

Well, now my kitten (Milo is his name if I haven't said so yet lol) is definitely starting to warm up to me, you could even say he's starting to bond to me... Now whenever I'm standing in the kitchen or living room, he's constantly at my feet doing figure eights around my legs, rubbing up against them. When I'm sitting on the couch he comes over rubbing against my hands looking to be pet, and he even climbs up on the couch with me! The first time I did this I was like "Wow! What's gotten into you?!" But I was super happy... He's turning out to be a real sweet heart! LOL He's still quite terrified of my daughter though... But I'd be scared of her too if I was a little kitten...

I'm so happy for you. It sounds like it's realy working out with your kitty. I don't blame him for being scared of kids either. They kinda scare me too. LOL My friend lectured her 5 year old daughter for days before they came over to meet my kitties about "how we treat Sandy's cats". She was SOOOO cute with them and so gentle. But even then, my Bailey ran and hid under the bed.

Cats and kids can definately be a bad mix. My boy Stormie runs and hides from my 4 year old son. Wiggles, on the other hand, just kind of gets this look like "Ah, crud" and tolerates all his torments. HE isn't mean to her or anything, but he picks her up by her middle and carries her around kind of draped over his shoulder with her feet dangling. Or he'll pet her stroking up instead of down. Once he tied my robe tie around her middle and "took her for a walk" somewhat against her will. She just tolerates it. She is so patient with him! Poor dear. You can tell she's annoyed because she lays her ears back a little, but she never acts out against him. She just lays there and lets him haul her around.