New kitten is for sure a runaway.
When I feed my outdoor cats, I always call for them. I think it's the first step into actively trying to socialize them to humans.
When I went to feed them today, all of the cats were on the back porch waiting for me....... including the new kitten.
While still inside, I meowed to get their attention. The one cat that is the most socialized and I can pet him anytime, came up to the door and meowed back. I do that for a little while to get him to vocalize quite a bit. With him vocalizing, it brings all the other cats in closer. All the cats began to realize that, with this activity, food will shortly come. One of the two black kittens will start to meow now when it hears the other cat meowing.
I am making progress with the new kitten. Just a couple of days ago, it would run when seeing me in the window. It didn't do it until I opened the door today.
When I open the door, most of the cats retreat away. I keep meowing and talking to them. The tom and one of the kittens stayed in place. I leave the door open and let them see me get their food from the storage bin by the door. I put the food out for them and call them. I back off, but stay outside. Hunger is a very good "Socializer"! The hunger was just too much and the two little black kittens came up to eat while I was still outside. So while they were gobbling away, they got petted.
So after a bit of petting of the kittens, I went back inside and watched from the window. All the cats, except for the little one, came up and began to feed. The little one came out from its hiding spot after about a minute or so. It's very cautious coming up to all the cats feeding. It tries to slowly come in to feed, but ALL the adult cats give it a glance and it retreats. It tries another angle, but the tom hisses and swats the kitten a couple of times. I step outside and pick the tom up by the scruff of his neck, lightly shake him and tell him NO And then set him back down and went inside.
Everyone soon came back to the feed bowls and began eating without any fuss. That just confirms that the little kitten came from somewhere else. Even if it came from the neighbor , which is more likely where it came from, that still a little trip for such a tiny kitten.
The little thing sure has an appetite though!
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