How do I socialize a scared, biting 5-week-old rescued kitten?

Kitten behavior is very unpredictable, especially in those which were reared outdoors and have learned to fend for themselves initially, but they do settle down and tame with patience and gentle handling. Be very aware of the kittens body language and cues in relation to handling and petting - rub only the head/shoulders and do not force any petting of the belly/hindlimbs, do not try to hold or corner her if her ears are back, tail is swishing or eyes wide - allow her to come to you and sleep on your lap without any petting and call her often for small meals, petting around the head and shoulders as you feed her to strengthen the bond. Plenty of active play and chasing toys will help expend some of her energy also. http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/cats/tips/cat_communication.html?referrer=https://www.google.ie/

Since the kittens are still under a pound, they are probably only about a month old, so you still have time to socialize them. The most important socialization time frame is up to about 8 weeks of age, and it is important for them to learn social skills from their siblings, so I would recommend keeping them together for another month if possible. Hopefully, the 2 that are more fearful will learn from the affectionate one. Do not force any of them to interact with you (unless medically necessary). Try to make them associate you with good things like food and play. Sometimes you can get feral kittens to be willing to play with you before they would ever be willing to allow you to touch them. Don't give up on the shy baby or the more feral one yet. Continue to try to find a way to interact with them that they like, then build their trust from there. Good luck! Please let me know if that helped. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach and being a good foster parent.

I hate to hear this is happening. There are some things you can do which may help but if Apricot was not socialized with humans as a very young kitten, it can be difficult for her to bond with people. Try hand feeding her. All the food must be picked up (so she may need to be isolated to a bedroom with her litter box...etc. When you come in with the food, sit close to hear quietly and don't look directly at her. Talk softly to her. Hold your hand out with her food. If she will not eat it directly from your hand, put it in her bowl and sit about a foot away from the bowl. Gradually move closer. This will help to create an association with food. Be slow and patient. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

From your description, I wonder if Nala is a feral kitten. A feral kitten is a kitten that is born to a cat who lives outside and is essential wild without very much human contact. The general rule is that if feral kittens are taken away from their mom by the age of 10 weeks that they can get used to humans and become well socialized. If they do not have human contact until after 10 weeks of age, then that can be much more difficult. I would ask your friend where Nala came from and get more information on her situation. In the meantime, I would not push Nala to have any more contact than she is comfortable with. Let her hide and come out when she is ready to. I would also consider adding a Feliway Diffuser ( https://www.feliway.com/us#redirected ) to your house to decrease stress. This is a calming pheromone that will work for a month. I have also had luck with Rescue Remedy ( http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pet/ ) which can be added to the water. I would try to find toys that she can play with herself that do not involve you if that stresses her out. You may find some good ideas on this website. https://indoorpet.osu.edu/cats Good luck! I hope that was helpful and gives you some ideas. Thanks for using PetCoach.

Unfortunately it sounds like you've adopted a cat that was still a bit feral, and it may take a bit of training to resolve this. Get her to sit with you, give her petting and attention and some very high-value food rewards (bits of canned tuna, a tiny lick of anchovy paste) or maybe some brushing or playtime as long as she allows the petting without biting. As soon as she starts biting, withdraw the attention, and leave her where she is. Keep doing this, and eventually she'll get the message that good behavior is rewarded.

Moving into a new home can be very stressful for kittens - since she has only been with you for 4-5 days, it's likely that she's still adjusting and getting settled. It will take time for her to feel safe and comfortable in your home, so I would be patient for now and give her plenty of time to adjust. You can try using Feliway pheromone diffusers around the house to help make her feel more at-ease, as well as a natural calming supplement like Zylkene or Composure if she seems anxious.

It sounds like your kittens may need some socialization training. Here is a link that will help you to socialize your kittens and allow them to be more comfortable with you: https://drsophiayin.com/blog/entry/kitten-socialization/