The Joys of Fostering - Part 3

This picture says a lot about the joys. The black and white one on the left is naughty Katie. She is younger than the other two and does have a bit of a temper. But I'm reacting to her little little tantrums with love rather than punishment and she's getting much, much better. It's easy to forget that she's been on this planet for just a matter of weeks and hasn't has the benefit of a mother cat to give her the security she needs from this big scary world. I had the good fortune to spend many, many happy hours in the company of mother cats and their kittens growing up on our farm. I learned that mother cats are very patient and indulgent with their kittens - more so than mother dogs. My theory is that mother dogs have to teach their puppies the value of obedience early on. Not so with mother cats. Sure, there are basic things like not leaving the nest but after that kittens are indulged until they get older. Only when they really push Mom beyond her limits do they they get pinned down with a maternal paw. Even that act of displeasure usually ends in a grooming session and purrs all around. When kittens start to annoy Mother cat she simply gets up and leaves. Mother cats really don't start showing anything like true physical aggression towards their kittens until they are well over 4 months old and ready to strike off on their own. My point? Physical punishment of kittens is wrong and ineffective. Thumping on the head, shaking, or scruffing only confuses them and associates the person punishing them with fear. Gentle, annoying but non-painful techniques like blowing in their faces or using a squirt bottle can help distract and refocus their attention without causing fear. Note: I'll be away from my computer for the next week. Back soon with more pictures and news from the shelter.