Feral cat Berkeley socialization and gentle boundary pushing - May 2, 2024

Berkeley is making so much progress with our gentle boundary pushing! Our goal is to make it less stressful for her when we visit by offering her high value treats and getting her used to eating and being touched in front of us. Our approach is informed by a thorough analysis and observation of her unique individual characteristics and instincts.
APR 29, 2024: Feral mama Berkeley gave birth to four beautiful kittens! Mom and babies are doing great so far - yay! Scroll down for weight chart.
APR 21 2024: Feral mama-to-be Berkeley has eluded us for more than a year! We were FINALLY able to trap her using our remote-triggering robo-trap. She's pregnant, and will give birth for the last time in our care. Because she is feral, we will take a very specific approach to her pregnancy, labor, and raising her final litter of kittens in order to minimize her stress and maximize her + kittens well-being. If you see something that doesn't make sense, please ask our mods why we're doing it!
Weight chart: bit.ly/4bbt4MQ
We livestream our rescued cats, 24 hours a day, uncensored, to raise awareness about the realities of cat overpopulation in a way that inspires compassion. Watching Berkeley give birth for the last time is a great way for parents and kids to experience the “miracle of birth” without letting their own pets give birth and further contributing to overpopulation.
Meet the 200+ cats in Berkeley's feral colony, and follow our progress: TinyKittens.com/bramble
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[@fefnireindraer144]

"Dont come any closer, dont come any closer.... oooh nom nom nom" 🥰

[@essaboselin5252]

"I will eat the yummy squishy food only after I let it know who's the boss!"

[@ejtappan1802]

Berkeley says, "You know... it's really hard to stay mad and keep growling when you scritch that sweet spot behind my ear." LOL Adorable how she continues to growl while gobbling up the goodies.

[@ferisera]

So much appreciation for Mark-that's so much extra work, and it's so kind! Really glad Hibbing has been spotted, and way to go, Berkeley! Little mama is doing really well.

[@jml6263]

She's a gorgeous kitty. So glad the rest of her life will be free of the stress of continuous pregnancy. Also glad these little guys will have a good life ahead of them.

[@debmacie1612]

I absolutely love the transition between “ hoomin, I will eat your face off”, to “hoomin, where is my Churu and do not stop scratching me”. And the fact that Shelley’s reaction is the same for both cat attitudes. So amazing.

[@ashvanes484]

Come on Berkeley! Choose the indoor life! this looks like solid progress. She was enjoying the skritches for a good portion of it.

[@WingsDragonfly]

I am gobsmacked! What amazing progress for this funny hissy girl. So helpful that she can relax as you talk about your day.

[@briandelaney9710]

“I hate you ! Give me my food!” Oh Berkeley. She’s so gorgeous

[@melissasaint3283]

No matter howa y times you see it, its so heart-warming and magical to watch an exhausted feral defending him or herself have the moment when they start to realize, "oh!.....you.... love me?"

[@kaitykaity]

It’s so funny to hear her growl at the same time she’s eating.

[@gbp3504]

I had to watch it with no sound, so I turned CC on. Between Shelly's sentences it showed "[Music]". The "music" was Berkeley's growling! 😂🥰

[@Jeanne52573]

Hoping Berkeley sheds her feral card, she is a gorgeous, funny cat 😻

[@CraftinginSilence]

To be fair, I think I'd hiss too if a disembodied blue hand was coming at me. LOL

[@Dessamator]

She reminds me so much of Sugar Plum. She started quite the same way. But things turned out so good for her in the end (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡ R.I.P. Spoon. You served Shelly as well as you could (⁠ ⁠◜⁠‿⁠◝⁠ ⁠)⁠♡ Thank you to Shelly and everyone else for loving and caring for these lovely kitties. Even if they might bite your butt (⁠≧⁠▽⁠≦⁠)

[@user-ow3qn9ul8s]

The patient interaction with a feral mama cat by Shelley is admirable . Hope beautiful Berkeley will eventually accept with purrs the loving care given to her. Thanks for sharing videos of the prov

[@Tonys_Gabagool]

I love how shes forcing herself to stay pissed while at the same time enjoying the petting scratches lol

[@anniekinsmishkamouse7575]

So amazing how the Bramble people have become protectors for the cats too. Mark sounds very heroic and compassionate. Good job Mama Berkeley. It is fine if you want to go back home. But it would be helpful if you could trust hoomans a little bit more.

[@SaintSeja]

11:57 she doesn't know if she wants to growl or purr... That's so interesting! I'm impressed!

[@october7th]

Lol mama looked confused because she was eating and enjoying the food and getting scratched and she was enjoying it until she remembered and then she looked like she was enjoying it while hissing. I think she’s confused but progressing good job Shelly!

[@LindaRae.]

Kudos to Shelly and to all the TinyKittens HQ helpers! Such loving dedication in the face of so much initial rejection. The creamy ginger kitten is an eye-popping size! Two or three more days and he could be as big as Mama Berkeley.

[@letolethe3344]

I'm so sorry for your loss, Shelly. I am glad you feel free to talk about it and process it with us.

[@CatBuchanan]

Berkeley gave a **blep** for Shelly. Then started to switch tasks while Shelly was in the room and talking. What a good mama!

[@auntiej1961]

Sassy mama but she is taking a few steps closer ...adorable babies!

[@Sylvia-Storm]

“ You’re not talking me around that easily misses” 😂

[@user-wk6gc8bl6g]

This cat is so beautiful and she's a good Mama

[@nixipixie9989]

lol! The scratches and the food spoon at the same time is genius.

[@tarody3953]

That's pretty aggressive Churru eating, Lol. Grrrr, chomp.

[@jennyruiz1952]

When that blue hand appeared, I nearly choked on my tea 😂

[@Full-of-Cattitude]

Ferocious but adorable! And her kittens are beautiful little chunky monkeys. Love to watch em! 😻😻😻

[@Giulia-mn8kg]

The blep on the thumbnail had me rolling 😂

[@tracybrennan4194]

Hey! Back away! Growl! Oh…dang kids are hungry. I better eat. 😂❤ Also…very cute how she combos the growl with the “nom nom nom” sounds. 😂

[@Vilexxica]

Reminds me of Growly Noms Stella 🥰

[@chezmoi42]

@@Vilexxica Me too! I think she may have been my favorite TK mama of all time, (OK, also Chloe and Ramona.)

[@river8760]

Great job Berks! Shelly is so patient and kind. ❤

[@nixipixie9989]

Of course the green collar is trying to make his escape during all of this in true green collar fashion.

[@cogitatorcat2306]

Berkley “stop menacing me with delicious things!”

[@nursem65]

She's doing so good! She's got plenty of time to become an indoor fur-beauty.

[@tltfaas]

Shelly writes a book "How to tame a feral cat by using spoons, huge toothbrushes and tiny, scratching plastic hands!" I could get that book published every day of the week!

[@marymiles9922]

Hiss...nom nom... hiss 😆 Yes, mama, they're good people! ❤

[@ldysilverwlfownedby3cuties587]

Pretty momma and babies 😻 It is okay sweetie, enjoy your treat!

[@shalimar1657]

YAY Mark!!! Thank you!!❤

[@rogertemple7193]

Berkeley is very beautiful and her kittens very are cute i hope that Berkeley will eventually become more friendlier as time goes by thanks for the updates here.💞😸😻😽😺💞

[@marimellssa1129]

This is so good. I thought Berekley had her feral cat laminated so that it could never be torn up. There might be hope! She is so darn cute

[@StelViri]

Mama's beautiful and look at her lovely little goobers 🥰 you do wonderful work, thank you all 🥰

[@ldysilverwlfownedby3cuties587]

Tongue blep! 🥰

[@Full-of-Cattitude]

I definitely saw that too- very cute! 💕💕🐱

[@marcylw1739]

Just fascinating to watch the conflict going on inside of her. I honestly didn't think you'd stand a chance of socializing her. She's so beautiful I was hoping she would choose luxury, but really thought she wouldn't. You're amazing.

[@1MChantye]

Momma Berkeley is growling at the hand that feeds her, lol. Pretty kitties and momma

[@amierikke6225]

She enjoyed the chin scratches! She was leaning into them for a moment there. This is progress! Doing so good. I know TKHQ will respect her decision, feral or house kitty will be ok.

[@letolethe3344]

Berkeley's a lovely singer. Her growly voice would make a lovely duet with Hoshi's.

[@nah8875]

Berkeley is so funny 😂. I love this Sassy and Grooty Mama.

[@sisofaMarine11]

Soo cute!! She's such a scawy kitty! She's such a good momma. I have a question though.. how long will it take until you know whether or not she can live a happy indoor life or if she would be better returned to the colony?

[@lillibellsservent]

Thank you for all you do! This is amazing to see❤

[@fionamclean3107]

I think Shelly is watching the feed to see where Bevs mouth is when manouvering the food stick! Complicated!

[@christinamatzen4214]

She reminds me of our old Grandma cat we took in for her last year. She was almost blind and all the way deaf and when she ate she would growly nom like that. I think she was warning our other cats to stay away while she was eating because she couldn’t tell if they were sneaking up on her while she ate.

[@criz5991]

She looks alot calmer. She's happy with her lil babies (: I just raised a litter from a stray mom

[@eltello773]

Jejeje she sounds like a motor boat ❤

[@lynnedanieli2537]

Absolutely beautiful and amazing ❤🐈❤😺❤

[@Valdagast]

*growl hiss nomnomnom*

[@fazsicle]

Berks I'm afraid you've only made the Shelly even more determined 😹

[@rogerkreil3314]

Well she is warming up to you a little bit! 😀

[@amberace]

Shelly you do amazing work!

[@suegordon4578]

This is great to see. BUT HIBBINS!!I fell in love with her. Are you able to video her if she comes in? Hoping she is alright Shelley and thankful for the update. I don't know how you do what you do. ❤

[@AmyLSacks]

Those growls basically mean, "Curse you, crafty Biped! For I cannot attack you without risk to my precious babies! Not to mention these tempting stick foods!"

[@margaretk5783]

Go mama go! ❤️❤️

[@baykittygirls9520]

Mark is amazing!

[@janmots2829]

Berkley: "What is this? (hiss!) Suspicious fuds! (hiss!)" Kittens: "Mommy, what's that delicious smell?" Berkley: "It's nothing sweetheart, eat at the milkbar."

[@angelaw.325]

So so pretty.

[@galenklassen8634]

Beautiful kitties

[@margaretk5783]

Sweet girlie❤️❤️

[@belair344]

Cute babies

[@rollingstopp]

the duct tape ..lol she reminds me of grumpy moggy shes got sweet little kittens.. good too hear about Hibbing''smiles

[@NineLivesburra]

Stay away from me, human. Hiss, whap, hiss, nom nom nom, hiss, whap, hiss, yummy but you still don't come closer, ooh I am so conflicted 😹😻

[@ingridfitz5677]

After the scratches with the plastic hand Berkeley had a harder time being mad!

[@marygoodson4920]

Lots of slow blinking and smiling along with the churrus too!

[@Luxsword29]

15:14 lol half grrrr - half nomnomnom

[@katlover4442]

Beautiful momma cat and absolutely adorable kittens!!!

[@randomllama7362]

Got to love the growly noms! Didn’t Stella do that too?❤❤❤

[@chezmoi42]

Yes, that was her language, too.

[@wtmayhew]

What big fangs you have Mama Berkeley!

[@-CT]

The blep 🥹

[@gabymontanari9361]

So adorable and precious 🐈🐾💖

[@bcpr9812]

She's feral, but also lactating, so therefore angrily eats the squishies...😅

[@travisporco]

such a pretty kitty

[@strawberrymoonphased]

*Grooooowlllhissssnyumnyumnyumnyum* ♥

[@Lola-yw8ki]

Just a thought. I used to do TNR. Socialize feral cats in hopes of finding homes for them. After 30 years, and a move, I no longer do so. I have a few feral cats that absolutely want nothing to do with me, but, are very happy to be inside. They go their way and i go mine lol. Would there be someone out there who would be OK with that situation? Would be happy to adopt and care for them? Sadly, there are some who would be absolutely miserable inside. Then you must abide by there wishes and release them. However, if they are happy to be inside, but do not want to be petted and such, it would be amazing to find homes for them!

[@SaraNightfire1]

There’s also a working cat program where cats who are mousers end up adopted by a family who don’t mind a semi-feral cat who helps keep the mice population down. Outside or inside.

[@Lola-yw8ki]

Wow! I've never heard of that! Thank you for the information! My thought process in all my years of doing rescue work was to home as many as I could being they were happy being inside. Sometimes, the cats did not want human interaction but loved being inside. Some, in time come around. I just want homes for all who want inside. If for whatever reason they do not want human interaction, that does not in any way make them not fit for adoption. Same with the "feral" label. Some shy away because they are/once were feral. As with all adoptions, you have to find the right home for them.

[@Chaosqueenngami]

That was basically Grandpa Mason in a nutshell. He had to live indoors because he needed consistent medication, but I think, even on his death bed, he was never a people cat. But he did help raise a lot of foster kittens.

[@Lola-yw8ki]

@@Chaosqueenngami Yes!!! Exactly! Grandpa Mason was amazing! ❤ I just LOVE organizations such as Tiny Kittens that take the stigma off a feral cat, as one that many would pass over as only street worthy. If able, not only are the kittens available for adoption, but so are the moms! On occasion, the males are too! My hope is that more rescues will offer cats that prefer not to be a lap cat, petted up for adoption as long as they want to be inside. While some of mine aren't sociable, they are very happy inside. As with Grandpa Mason, they've built loving relationships with some of my other cats. And, when it's time for them to cross the rainbow bridge, they know they were loved, wanted. Even if from afar! 💖

[@SephiraPhantom]

I feel bad that I didn't get to watching this video sooner - when she mentioned that she hadn't yet named the babies, I had the immediate thought that "If mom is Berkeley, why not name the kittens after other college towns?"

[@tinasattler1]

Cool

[@AlabamaT]

Its wild world

[@tltfaas]

These babies look like they are three weeks old.... not just days.

[@waltercobas2965]

❤❤

[@elizabethrobbins8580]

Growley noms.

[@JustAGirlWhoLovesCats]

She really hates how much she likes scratching!😂

[@railwaychristina3192]

Her colours are fab...ragdoll in there or birman?

[@dazanii]

Lots of conflicted feelings about the backscratcher, it seems. Great progress for a feral kitty!

[@johnnyb3126]

Mad kitty

[@purpleterrapin]

Those kits are SO orange.

[@OneProudBBC]

At least Berkeley is eating and accepting scritches. Moracuda at this point would have destroyed the scritcher (Shiner would have taking the scratches and eating like Berkeley though).

[@thebrysmith3]

About 11 minutes in, her growls got a lot less convincing.

[@highpsi11]

She treats the spoons like prey - attack and eat. But I bet she doesn't growl and spit at mice, squirrels, moles, voles, shrews, etc. Just goes straight for the kill!

[@agflit1]

I'll call it ...Feral card to be shredded July 1 ....lol

[@pandadj5038]

omg the father is orange tabby

[@b.a.erlebacher1139]

The father can't be orange because the female kitten is black and white. Assuming they all have the same father, he has to be black, or tabby carrying black, with or without white. The three orange kittens are male, and get the orange from their tortie mother.

[@familycompactthegrange7014]

GRRRRRR Nom nom nom ....

[@IzzyMariel]

YT is giving me an option to translate your comment into English 🤣 I want to see their cat translation source 🤣 PS nothing changes when I click it.