I had a VERY close encounter with little Spooky Jr, today

[Siwsan]

He just sat there while I slowly approached, and got to within MAYBE 2 feet, or less. I thought about grabbing him but I was a little worried about getting bitten or scratched, and I don't know where I'd put the little fuzz ball, right now. He/she looks too small for neutering.

I might put a leather glove by the door, and I'm wondering if I should buy a medium size kennel cage, just in case.

Argh!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Walleye]

1. It's definitely a problem, but I kind of envy you your embarrassment of riches of kitties

[Siwsan]

2. The kittens are already coordinating an escape plan from the new pet play pen

They are scaling the mesh sides but there's an overlap at the top so I'm not TOO worried. And, I can always zip the top closed. Which I do when I run errands.

And Sophie seems to have begrudgingly accepted the intruders, which is a relief.

I'm spoiling them rotten. To say that are now habituated to humans is an understatement. I might have found homes for everyone and it will break my heart when I lose Squeaky, Sootie and Smoky.

[femmedem]

3. I don't think it is too late to tame him if you catch him.

He's somewhat acclimated to you already; it's not like taming an adult who has never had a good experience with humans.

I have one lap cat who was a feral kitten whom I'd fed since she was a young kitten, but whom I didn't catch until she was about five months old. It took her a long time to purr and she is still quieter than the other cats, but she sits on the couch with us every evening, cupping Mr. Femmedem's hand in her paws.

[Siwsan]

4. I did see he needs a good clean up. I'm going to work on this, that's for sure.

To be honest, with my anxiety issues, I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed, like I'm getting a bit over my head with this situation, right now. It's all new territory, so I'll take deep breaths and focus.

It does look like Skittish's kittens are becoming a lot more independent. Maybe if I can get Spooky Jr somewhat habituated, the others will be less nervous.

[femmedem]

7. You've already done great, and if that's all you can do, you did more than most people would have.

I only mentioned it because you sounded sad about the prospect of giving away the other kittens, and I thought he might be a keeper.

[Siwsan]

8. It will be hard but I'm just not a multiplicity cat person

Two is my comfort zone. I could do three but that would be stretching it. My vet said 3 is the optimum top number. Any more and you could be asking for trouble. I have a friend who has, at times, had between 6 and 14 cats. It's just too much, for me. The house always smelled like a litter box because it was so hard to keep up on things, the furniture was shredded and there was cat hair EVERYWHERE.

But, who knows. Maybe I'll turn into one of those serial, cat foster moms. It's hard to feel sad when you look at a kitten's face and it's harder to feel sad when you are cuddling one. And it's easy to feel happy when they go to a good home.

[GPV]

5. You know what our wild kittens fell for? Fishing for them with long grass. No kidding!

[Siwsan]

6. When I saw him, again, he sort of resorted to past hiding behavior. Just not as 'frantic'

I'm going to keep up the whole passive approach thing.

It's so funny how they will all be standing on the step, noses practically on the door window, waiting for me, but when I start to open the door they scatter. Not as far as before, but still scatter.