Need Help! I just adopted a brother and a sister kitten (7 months old), how do I make them more comfortable?

Well, you're doing the right thing by showing affection and making sure their comfortable, so just be patient.

Ask yourself these: Is your home too busy or too noisy? Are you trying to pick them up too much?

You've got the right idea about giving them a space of their own for the moment, although I don't recommend having food, water and litterbox too close together. Keep the litterbox in the closet, but move the food and water out into the bedroom, if you don't mind. Maybe they feel the space is too small.

Above all, show them that they are safe and let them take it at their own speed. My parents had a puppy that was thrown out of a car and she made her way to my folk's house. For awhile, the poor thing was terrified to go in the car, but my parent's were patient and gradually, the dog got used to it. Now, you just mention the word "Bye bye" and she's off.

Try playing some soft music when they're in their room. Maybe take some time to sit in the room with them, just to let them get used to you.

Good luck.

Just keep doing what you are, and spend time in the room with them without trying to pick them up. Try reading or watching TV or be on the computer. Talk to them; use their names. In a few days pull a string across the floor and see if they are interested; if not, don't push it. Consistent love and care will make them more comfortable but some cats just don't like to be picked up. We have one of the most loving cats, very attached to us, she's lived with us almost 5 years, and she still doesn't want us to hold her. We feel most honored when she comes on her own to sit on our laps, or even just lays close enough to touch us so we can pet her. She also wants to be petted in a few certain ways. However, if we're involved with an office job or an outdoor job, she's right there to help us out. Each cat is different, and the fact these two were outdoor cats will make it harder but with time, and treats offered by hand, they will come to love you and show it as much as they can.

Cats are cats, not humans. They don't know what brothers and sisters are, let alone incest. There is nothing wrong with what they are doing. It may be gross to you but that's what you have been raised to express. Keep in mind that our forefathers all believed in incest. Relatives married all the time in the old days. It was a way of "keeping the family name" or keeping the blood line pure. They didn't know back then that their children would be mentally or physically retarded through their inbreeding, neither do your cats. As for going into heat together, why would they? There isn't an exact date that they have to go into estrus on. Each cat is different, as will be there cycles. I'm curious though to know why you have so many un-neutered/spayed cats. Are you trying to breed them? Did you know that in it's lifetime a female cat can have over 100 kittens? You're asking for trouble, lol. When can you start liking them again?!?! SHAME!!! How could you not like them? Your love should be unconditional. I don't mean to offend you but that sounds a little immature. You don't like your cats anymore b/c they had sex with each other while in heat and are therefore not living up to your expectations? Please remember they're cats, not humans and the rules do not ap[ply to them. If you don't want them having sex with eachother and, more importantly, want them healthy - please get them fixed. I understand it's hard b/c you have so many to look after but it really is best. Cats live a longer, healthier life when fixed, especially females. I've read that having multiple litters drastically reduces their life span. So please love your babies - no matter what. And do remember that they won't always live up to your standards, as you've been taught the human societies polictically correct one.

Your intentions are the very best and unfortunately it is difficult to communicate that to kittens who are frightened in a new home. You are doing everything RIGHT. It's hard to accept they are still resistive to your wonderful efforts on their behalf.

If you get a $20 of Rescue Remedy from the health foods store you CAN help alleviate their fears and make things easier for them. You simply shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the fur between their ears as often as you can. You can also put the drops on a small cloth and put the cloth where they are hiding out.

Rescue Remedy is a great thing to have around the house when you have animals. Since you are treating two kittens you can pick up an amber treatment bottle along with the RR. You just put a couple of droppers of it in the bottle and then fill with filtered water. That will make it go farther and should have some left to keep around the house.

You can go to http://www.spiritessence.com/ and read about using flower essences with animals. Dr. Jean Hovfe has a combination of remedies there called "Scaredy Cat" which I would highly recommend. You have to wait for that to be mailed to you from CO.

Cats thrive with routine and theirs was disrupted. You are not doing anything wrong. In fact, keep doing what you are doing. Try sitting on the floor in their room. Pick them up and put them in the litterbox. Play and talk with them. They will do just fine in a few days and start adjusting.

Keep their stuff in your bedroom until they start venturing out.

Don't worry about the litterbox useage, when cats are scared they tend to not eat/drink which in turn mean they will not use the litterbox. Don't fret all will be well in a few more days.

Enjoy your new babies...

cats will always be skittish and avoid you for the first few days. If they do venture uptairs (they will hide in the basement or where ever you dont go often) let them smell your hand first. Dont try to pet them untill they rub against yur hand. Or untill they look like there comfterble in there home. Put their litter box near where they are hideing. And make sure they know that thats where they should go (put them in the box, when they walk out put them back in... just do it a couple times). If your litter box has a cover take that off for now. Later you can put it back on, but you may need to cut off a corner of the flap.

You just need to give them a lot of time. Being that they were living outdoors with no real human contact they may be even a few months before they are comfortable. However, they are really young so they will adjust. Just be loving with them and let them come out of their shells on their own terms..they may never be super cuddly but they will adjust and get used to you and your home. Good luck. And good for you for giving these cats another chance at a good life!

You did fine by keeping them in a small, quiet room, but when you bring kitties to your home for the first time, it's best not to bother them for a few days. Especially don't invite your friends over to pet them and such, this will make them even more frightened and stressed. Just give them a few days to settle down, check up on them to see if they have enough food/water. And if they're hiding, let them. Fishing them out doesn't help.

They'll turn around eventually. Good luck and thanks for adopting!

PS: Make sure you have them spayed and neutered =)

You are doing the right thing by allowing them to get used to their new surroundings slowly. It sounds like they might have been mistreated by their former owner and just don't know how to accept the new situation just yet. Give them 2-3 weeks to adjust and very soon they will venture forth on their very own. Until then just continue with your slow treatment of love,petting them and talking to them.

I have had cats my whole life and have fostered some abused strays too. First I would not pick them up if it makes them uncomfortable. Instead, just pet them and encourage them to sit in your lap with treats if that works. I would also purchase those litter boxes with the lids and maybe one of those carpeted cylinders with a whole in them. Those type of enclosed spaces have made my shy cats more comfortable. I would also recommend putting all of their things in a low traffic area of the house so that they are not disturbed by extra noise. Good luck, they should come around eventually.