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Trying to tame a semi-feral
Hello,
I'm trying to find out information on how to teach a semi-feral cat to like being picked up (or at least tolerate it). I adopted a semi-feral from the humane society about seven months ago (she is now 13 mo old), and in this time she has stopped hiding, and usually comes up to me at night for pets - sitting beside me on the sofa, purring her heart out. Occasionally she will step over me to get to a better seat, or sit on me if I am lying down covered by a blanket. She never sits on my lap if the blanket is not there, though. More importantly, she hates being picked up and will hide for a few hours when an attempt is made. She also disliked being petted if she is not in one of her designated "safe" spots - aka, the sofa, the kitty tree, or the bed. If I try to pet her while she walks around on the floor, or when she is on the windowsill, she hides from me for an hour. I am trying to get her to adjust by putting my arms around her when she's allowing pets, and sometimes adjusting her so she's closer to my lap, but it's slow progress. I'd really like some advice on how to get her to be pick-up-able, as I'd like to take her to the vet for an annual checkup in a month or two and I'd really like for the pick-up not to be a traumatic chasing around the house and swoop into a box experience. I also worry about putting her back into the box once we are at the vet. She likes treats, but won't come forward for them, I've tried sardines, I've tried turkey and chicken meat, she waits until I give up and put it down in a dish before she comes out of the hiding spot. Thanks, Shana |
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