My 14-week-old adopted kittens won't cuddle. How can I get them to?

It likely has nothing to do with you and is more likely her personality. Often, these shelter kittens come from feral, or semiferal conditions where they learn from their mothers to be wary of people. They can definitely make good progress with forced socialization as a kitten, but when they gets past 12 weeks, they are pretty set in their socialization. Also, some cats are simply not cuddly cats no matter where they were born. It's possible that Tessa will learn to like cuddles more as time goes on, but I wouldn't expect her to completely turn around at this age. As long as you are not doing anything that scares her, or makes her uncomfortable, then this is not your fault. If you keep showing her love and affection when she is around, then she will likely make more progress with being cuddly. I hope that helps and all is well with Tessa.

Each kitten can have its own personality that differs from the "standard" for the breed. In general I find male cats to be more "cuddly" than females but there are exceptions to that rule. Also kittens can have drastic changes in their personality as they grow into adults. So you may look at adult cats for adoption as their personalities are more set. The other consideration is that in a shelter setting it is hard to really judge a cat's personality since there can be strange noises, smells, environment. At the end of the day if this kitten is really "speaking" to you it could be she is meant for you and you can help mold her personality through lots of interaction and play.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! The main thing is trying to get him to associate you with something positive. You can try to find treats and things for him to eat that he really enjoys. You can get him to come out and feed him a treat while you pet him. This will most likely help if you stay consistent and persistent. It is important to note that some kitties are really not very affectionate and while he may become more social, he may never be a kitty who enjoys constant interaction. Good luck and have a good day!

You will have to take your time and be extremely patient with them. You could try to feed them close to you and then slowly move the feeding bowl closer to you after a few days so they get used to being around you and trusting you. You could also try some Feliway spray or diffuser and see if that helps, too. Hopefully with some time they will let you actually touch and pet them.

Congratulations on your new additions! The stress of a new home can affect appetite. Be sure they are warm and cozy. A cold kitten will not eat. You can offer a quality canned food and warm it slight to stimulate the appetite. A teaspoon of baby food can be mixed in if necessary. Be sure to have water out at all times and offer up some dry kibble. You can count the bits to see if they are eating dry food instead of canned. Have them examined by your veterinarian to confirm good health or to treat any pre-existing conditions.

Some cats are simply more affectionate than others. I recommend not forcing any contact, as this can have a negative effect, but continue to offer toys and treats and try to play and interact. Over time Leo may become more affectionate, but he may not. Using pheromones like Feliway in a diffuser or spray may also help him adjust to the new situation. https://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=37240

A cat who was basically feral for 5 months may take quite some time to become more comfortable with handling, and she may never be a cuddly lap cat. It does sound like she is willing to have some interaction with you, so I would continue what you are doing in terms of offering her nice tasty treats when she comes to you. Also feeding her near you if she will eat with you nearby but not touching her (don't want to overwhelm her at first, just get her more used to your presence being nonthreatening). I wouldn't pick her up if it scares her just yet, and I wouldn't force her to meet/be touched or held by new people just yet. I would give her a few more months of settling in. You may also add feline pheremone diffusers (Feliway is my favorite brand) to the house and try calming supplements such as Composure or Zylkene to see if these help relieve some of her anxiety as well. You can find all these products online, or at some vet clinics.