Was my kitten abused before I adopted her?

Question

She is now 8 months old. She was at the humane society at 4 months of age and got URI{ that's a cat cold } so she went in a foster home until she was 5 months old! I then adopted her. Since I've gotten her, she does'nt like to be petted or held and she seems to be afraid to go on the bed!! Do you think she was abused before she went to the shelter or maybe her foster mother was too strict with her?? And how can I get her to start sleeping on the bed??

Answer 1

I'd say she probably was. I guess you have a special kitty now. They say cats remember for several months, but I had a kitten that never forgot her abuse. The abuse may permanently alter their nervous system-kinda like people. Just take this into consideration and tell your family and friends not to be too aggressive with her. You are going to have to protect her from any further abuse if you want her to heal. Just let her be a kitten and learn to be comfortable in her new world.

Answer 2

It sounds like she was abused in the way of neglect. Most cats at a young age, if not petted often, and socialized they will grow up to be very distant pets. Your cat is still young, and still may be able to learn. I found the best way to tame cats is to play with them, and pet them when they are comfortable.

Use a long thin but strong twig and run it across the carpet, cats looooove this type of toy and go nuts over it. It will turn even the shyest cats to playful cats. Maybe that will loosen her up a bit. If she likes it alot, she might follow the twig to your bed. Once she discovers how comfortable your bed is, she will probably chill out and sleep there as well.

It also takes a while for a new cat to break into a house.

Sometimes routines can help a cat feel comforted especially with food. How about make a feeding time of wet cat food at noon everyday. A can opener and a can of cat food can be usefull in taking the shyness out of the cat too. Just mix it into the dry cat food in the bowl.

Answer 3

well i dont realy no for sure if the cat was abused it might have just loved the fosterparent and does not like u right now or maby it does not like fast motion do u hav any of then when u pick her up or somthing?it also could b that at the fosters home they had 2 give it medicine and the cat thinks ur giving him it 2 so it does not want 2 sleep on the bed or b held.
my cat angel does not like 2 b held but u can pet her and she claws u all the time when u do just bcuz she is so relaxed my dad says that it is from when she was a kitten my dad would hav 2 give her tunz of bathes bcuz her flees when 2 bad.

Answer 4

It's almost impossible to say for such if she was abused, but if she ended up at the humane society, it's almost certain she was neglected & not handled much - this would explain her behavior. The prime time for socializing kittens is from 1-6 weeks according to animal experts and she's way beyond this.

Continue to earn her trust and show her the love and kindness. Be patient with her. She's still young and will probably come around. Most cats LOVE to sleep with you. You could try getting her a pet bed and once she's claimed it as her favorite spot, move it to your bed.

Some cats never like to be held, but most like to be pet. So again be patient. With your love and attention, she will probably turn out to be a very nice pet! And thank you for saving a kitty!!

Answer 5

Well this may not be a case of abuse, but just a change of scenery for her....I love cats and one thing i know for sure is that cats have a mind of their own, they are nothing like dogs so your cat may never sleep in the bed or right now at this point shes not comfortable enough in her environment to sleep in the bed. Give her space, if you are the one that feeds her she will come around. Cats love attention from their master once she realize you are the new master I'm sure she will be okay.

Make sure you pay close attention to her.

Answer 6

The most critical time for a kitten to learn socialization is between 2 to 7 weeks of age. The kitten probably was neglected and didnt know much about human contact. All you can really do is spend time with the kitten. Treats, catnip, and toys can help you really bond with her. Some kittens that come in very shy can turn around quickly once that bond is formed with there owners. It just takes a bit of work and some love.

Answer 7

Even a kitten from an consumer-friendly background might desire to be envisioned to be nonetheless uncertain after a week, so with one that has been traumatised you would be in for an prolonged haul. to help your kitten settle in, you are able to initiate him off in purely one room, so as that he can start to sense comfortable in a first area. provide him his muddle tray, foodstuff and a mattress that feels secure. Cats prefer to sleep below or interior some thing, the partitions and roof provide them a feeling of secure practices so make advantageous the mattress is truthfully secure. attempt to feed him small food frequently and attempt him with an exceedingly small volume of treats which includes boiled rooster or fish. once you're interior the room with him, come right down to his point by ability of mendacity on the floor and enable him attitude you or attempt a pastime with a bite of string. do no longer p.c.. him up yet - it rather is plenty too frightening. as long as you reside calm and easy-weight and spend lots of time with him, notwithstanding while you're no longer interacting very plenty then he will start to respond. muddle preparation can ensue as quickly as you have exceeded the 1st degree and the kitten is comfortable on your company. on the 2d he's utilising the tray as abode because of the fact the recognisable fragrance comforts him. In my adventure kittens take a sturdy few months to totally settle in, so purely bide some time.

Answer 8

some cats are just very independent. I have one cat who only wants attention when she seeks it out other wise she is very aloof. The other cat is always clamoring for attention. As far as not sleeping on the furniture. Maybe she was not allowed to @ the foster moms house. I don't think this means she was to strict.

Answer 9

Some cats don't like to be held, I don't know why. My old fella will let me pick him up, hold him, pet him, whatever. Baby, who I raised from a bottle baby, cries and acts like he's being beaten (never has been, never will be) when I pick him up, and he only allows head strokes, nose to ears. Princess Black, who is my husband's cat, won't allow anyone to pick her up, she squeaks and fusses. They all get on the bed, and yours will too, when she's ready - unless she really hates sharing! Most of them want to be near you. Sounds like she's had a bit of a hard time as a baby, and she'll need time to discover that she's loved. Be patient, love her, and try giving her treats when you're petting her. Good luck!

Answer 10

She may not of been socialized before 6-7 weeks which leaves them unsure of people, or maybe she had to have medicine for her URI which tells her twice a day a human forces truly awful tasting fluids into their mouth, you dont know if she was abused, unsocialized or medicated but she needs to learn to trust. You can do this with food and not trying to get her to come to you. She needs to feel safe in her own cubby or under the bed, when she learns your not out to get her she will be ready to follow a string or some sort of play, be patient, trying too hard will confuse her.. Be around her as much as you can but do nothing to startle or pressure her, feed her next to you let her pick how close is comfortable, dont try to touch her, if she is that scared, she will come to you for pets in time, just build trust, and tummy love to start.