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#11
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On Tue, 01 Feb 2005 18:17:05 GMT, "Mary"
wrote: wrote in message roups.com... The room that she is hiding in has a spare bed and dresser. She sits underneath the bed all day and night. When she was in the cubby hole in the basement my hubby would play quietly on his xbox down stairs and wait for her but she never would come out. I just wish she was more social and wanting affection. I some times wonder if her previous owners abused her. I have 4 cats now. I adopted the first 2 together, and I believe they were ferrel. They were too younge to be away from the mom cat so I took them both. Lots of things to over come, but these 2 are still very sppoky. Cat5 is the worse. He will hide if any one comes over to visit. I have found one thing though. Cat 5 use to only want to be near me and is still my big baby. And Lucifer never wanted me to hold her. Now that they have been here since 2004, Cat5 willing climbs on my daughters or husbands lap. Lucifer has become super glued to me if I am resting. So it seems cats change from year to year, sorta slow and gradual. I also recommend feliway. I have used it when adding a new cat and it does help. Good luck, patience be with you, Karryl |
#12
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On 1 Feb 2005 14:54:38 -0800, wrote:
How do I get her to trust me? Any chance you can hand feed her? It may help some. Karryl |
#13
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wrote in message
oups.com... Back in October 2003 we adopted a torishel cat, Female, 3 years old. From Oct until Jan 2005 she hid in our recroom in the cubby hole underneath our mainfloor bathroom. (basically where the ceiling and wall meet) By a fluke we managed to get her out of there. She came upstairs to eat and we closed the door to the furnace room where she had been hiding. its been 2 weeks and now she constantly hides underneath our spare room bed. She doesnt come out on her own except to eat and use the litter. If we try to make contact with her she will run underneath our spare room dresser. She clearly doesnt want to have any affection or socialization. We have 1 other cat and he doesnt bug her and the 2 of them never fight. She just sits underneath the bed all day. There was an ad in the paper for her and we adopted her. I know it takes some time for cats to adjust to thier new environment cause I have adopted many before this, but I have never known a cat to take almost 4 months to come out from hiding. I am just frusterated that she wants to be left alone. Any ideas on what I can do? The symptoms you describe are consistent with feline anxiety disorder, and the most expedient and effective solution is 0.5mg/kg/day fluoxetine (Prozac). Your pharmacy can compound this medication in #3 gel caps so that one cap daily will deliver precisely the prescribed dose. Expect a positive response within 48 hours, and a much happier and well-adjusted cat within 2-4 weeks; maintenance for at least six months seems to produce the most robust longer-term results. |
#14
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From Oct until Jan 2005 she hid in our recroom in the cubby hole
underneath our mainfloor bathroom. (basically where the ceiling and wall meet) By a fluke we managed to get her out of there. She came upstairs to eat and we closed the door to the furnace room where she had been hiding. Its been 2 weeks and now she constantly hides underneath our spare room bed. She doesnt come out on her own except to eat and use the litter. If we try to make contact with her she will run underneath our spare room dresser. She clearly doesnt want to have any affection or socialization. We have 1 other cat and he doesnt bug her and the 2 of them never fight. She just sits underneath the bed all day. There was an ad in the paper for her and we adopted her. I know it takes some time for cats to adjust to thier new environment cause I have adopted many before this, but I have never known a cat to take almost 4 months to come out from hiding. I am just frusterated that she wants to be left alone. Any ideas on what I can do? Try to relax. I know how frustrating it is. And please, please, please don't even think about prozacing this cat. I've been where you are. My 2nd cat was a terrified semi-feral and even at two years in is still a bit challenged sometimes at relating to the humans, although she's come a long way. And she was much faster to come around than a cat my sister adopted 4 years ago. For what it's worth, they're both total snugglebugs now, and to look at Clea (my sister's cat), you would never know that she spent six months in the wall of my sister's apartment and another six months under the bed. Sometimes it just takes a while. They operate on cat time, not human time. Try to remember that we really have no way of knowing what kind of hell they have been through, and on their own terms, they probably have very good reason to be wary. Eventually the kitty will see that you are not a threat, this is not a bad place, and that she can stay and it isn't just another stopover. But she doesn't know that yet. It's really hard to deal with a creature that isn't ready to give and can only take from us, but this is where we have to show the emotional maturity to wait for the cat to come around, even though it isn't able yet to meet any of our desires in a "pet". She will come around and honestly, will be so grateful and happy when she does that you'll probably love her even more than the others. But until then: Talk to her, even when she runs away. Say gentle things. She's watching you even if you can't see her. Make food and treats available to her regularly, on as set a routine as you can manage, even if she rarely seems to partake of them. Let her see you petting and playing with the other cat as often as possible. Try to find something sedentary to do in the area she's hiding, so you can be present without moving too much. (My sister's cat would run away if anybody moved in her vincinity, but would creep out to watch the humans if she thought they were sleeping). Put blankets and soft towels with your scent in whatever area she's hiding in so she can get used to how you smell. And just let her be. She'll find her way. |
#15
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wrote in message ups.com... Try to relax. I know how frustrating it is. And please, please, please don't even think about prozacing this cat. I've been where you are. My 2nd cat was a terrified semi-feral and even at two years in is still a bit challenged sometimes at relating to the humans, although she's come a long way. And she was much faster to come around than a cat my sister adopted 4 years ago. For what it's worth, they're both total snugglebugs now, and to look at Clea (my sister's cat), you would never know that she spent six months in the wall of my sister's apartment and another six months under the bed. Sometimes it just takes a while. They operate on cat time, not human time. What a great way to put it. And I agree that drugs should be the last resort, only if the cat's health or life is in danger. Try to remember that we really have no way of knowing what kind of hell they have been through, and on their own terms, they probably have very good reason to be wary. Eventually the kitty will see that you are not a threat, this is not a bad place, and that she can stay and it isn't just another stopover. But she doesn't know that yet. It's really hard to deal with a creature that isn't ready to give and can only take from us, but this is where we have to show the emotional maturity to wait for the cat to come around, even though it isn't able yet to meet any of our desires in a "pet". She will come around and honestly, will be so grateful and happy when she does that you'll probably love her even more than the others. But until then: Talk to her, even when she runs away. Say gentle things. She's watching you even if you can't see her. Make food and treats available to her regularly, on as set a routine as you can manage, even if she rarely seems to partake of them. Let her see you petting and playing with the other cat as often as possible. Try to find something sedentary to do in the area she's hiding, so you can be present without moving too much. (My sister's cat would run away if anybody moved in her vincinity, but would creep out to watch the humans if she thought they were sleeping). Put blankets and soft towels with your scent in whatever area she's hiding in so she can get used to how you smell. And just let her be. She'll find her way. Tracy, thanks for taking the time to write this. You really know your scaredycats! |
#16
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It is clear that this kitty needs a lot of patience and love. I went
through this when I adopted my little Belle a year and a half ago. It was a long and very gradual process for her to establish trust in me but it was sooooooo worth it. It is very traumatic for many adult cats to be put in an unfamiliar environment. Some cats take months or even years to adjust completely. Please stick with your kitty and don't give up on her. Here are a few suggestions that worked for me (based on the advise of my vet). 1. Take a t-shirt or a sweater that you have slept in or exercised in and put it near where she sleeps. An article of clothing that you have slept in or exercised in will have your scent on it. This will allow the cat to get used to your scent. Cats trust what is familiar. 2. Sit for 30 minutes to an hour next to the bed when she is hiding underneath (but not looking at her or reaching for her) and sing softly or read aloud in a soft tone. Again this will help her to get used to your voice and your presence and realize that you are not a treat to her. Never have more than one person in the room at this time. It is much easier to get her to trust you first and when she is ready she will gradually get used to other people. 3. Never force yourself on her. If you try to force her to let you touch her or pick her up she will not feel safe with you. You will make things worse if you pick at her or try to rush her. If she comes out when you are in the room sit on the floor and speak softly to her. Allow her to come to you and never try to hold her back when she is ready to return to her safe zone. 4. Until she feels safe to be out in the open exploring the room she's in, keep the door closed. This will allow her to establish a broader area in which she feels safe. The most important thing, as I learned, is that you can't rush the process. What seems perfectly safe to us can feel very threatening to a cat. If you have patience your cat will eventually learn to trust - maybe not today, maybe not next week - it may take a very long time but it is worth it in the end. Paws up to you for giving this kitty the kindness and patience she needs. -- Message posted via http://www.catkb.com |
#17
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3. Never force yourself on her. If you try to force her to let you touch her or pick her up she will not feel safe with you. You will make things worse if you pick at her or try to rush her. If she comes out when you are in the room sit on the floor and speak softly to her. Allow her to come to you and never try to hold her back when she is ready to return to her safe zone. I think this one is ultra primo important. Just only talk to her, just like if a friend or child walked into the room "Well, look who's out here sleepy head. You look so pretty today. " and such, but without approaching can really really be of benefit to earning trust. |
#18
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#19
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You may have a recently rescued feral or long-abandoned pet. Be very patient. Try confining her in a room where she has a hideyhole that you reach (not to grab her but to offer treats). Or even consider caging her for a while, until she is used to your hands. I discuss this at length in a little article posted to the Campus Cats website: Taming the Tiger. You might also consider adopting another cat to befriend your fraidycat. Good luck! www.campuscats.org Sharon Talbert Friends of Campus Cats feel free to email me at |
#20
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wrote in message
ups.com... [snip] Try to relax. I know how frustrating it is. And please, please, please don't even think about prozacing this cat. [snip] You can always tell a behavioralist ... you just can't tell them much! |
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