Hiding Cat

Hi:

About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat.
Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for
nocternal eating rarely comes out.

It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly
vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust.
(My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!)

I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is
marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything
to do with the first.

I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold
her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship
with this critter.

Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her
into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to
the SPCA?

Jim
Orillia, Ontario, Cananda