In April of last year a cat showed up in my neighborhood and ended up having three kittens on my back porch. I initially thought I should try to find homes for the kittens, but they really weren't adoptable because mama cat hid them for a couple of months and they were quite wild when she brought them back around. I finally had to trap them so I could get them spayed/neutered and get them shots.

So now I have a family of four cats. They're also very attached to each other. I'm attached to them too, in spite of the fact that I can't even pet the three "kittens".

I didn't get to in time to socialize them. It took three years, but they eventually warmed up to us and became quite affectionate. It could happen!

They're about 19 months old now, and they obviously like me, but they're too timid to let me touch them. They'll let me walk right past them, within inches. Mama cat is very tame and affectionate.

Every night when I go to bed there will be several of them on my bed. I try to quietly slide in, but the only one who will stay is the mom. I have, however, woken up in the night to find one or two of the others there.

We just have an understanding at this point.

I guess I'll hold out hope. I do enjoy their company, and they're a lot of fun. Expensive, but fun.

We used to rescue ferals many years ago. Ended up with a set that stayed with us (we moved cities and they were too sick to adopt at the moment).

This was about 16 years ago.

The youngest of the feral set came in with she was about 4 months. Wild as she could be. She came in because she was hurt by a neighbor's dog and needed some minor vet work.

Long story - she was skittish and was basically only interacted with two other cats. However, these two cats have since passed on. She is now a snugger and will come to us. They basically raised her and showed her she could trust.

Also, she never said a word for the first 13 years. The first sound she ever made when we came back from the vet after having to say goodbye to the first of her two partners. And it was the saddest sound ever. Similar when the other cat passed as well. Now she tries to meow and greet me when I get out of the shower and we have a 10-15 minute snug session. The meow is a very rusty thing, but it's the sweetest sound knowing how rare it is.

Give time, love and trust. Sometimes that is all you need.

And fur babies. 😻

Poor orphans. I wonder if there were others in the litter besides the two? Cute kitties. Some animals are better mothers than some humans, I think.

but a couple of days after we got number two off the street his big brother took over and they slept together and played together like brothers ever after. Miss them both.

Glad babies found their fur-ever home.

Her sisters have long been adopted (together, happily) We are still trying to socialize this poor kitty. She will at least stay visible when we are in the same room.

Like one of the cats above, she has bonded to one of our senior cats. He is 17 and she is dopey in love with him. If she is cuddled with him, we can pet her.

I have never had a cat that took this long to socialize especially with other cats around to emulate.

At least we finally got her to the spay/neuter clinic

She is jet black except for a little white crest on her chest and 3 white tips on her toes