My mother gave me a stray cat the other day .It is a female I took it to the vet got her shots and a check up . I have a dog and small kids around 5 and 6 years old . I know nothing about cats. This is the frist one . I want to give her a chance of a good life .My other dog got killed a week ago by a car :( ,but anyhow she seems scared all the time .She wants me to pet her but when I do she trys to clow me or hissss at me to .How can I try to calm her down .If I cannot tame her I will have to take her to the animal control center . Because I cannot have that going on here. But I donot want to give up on her .She is scared of me and I am kinda scared of her .I know she knows this .Because we both jump at each other and not meaning to . LOL , I beleave every animal should have a chance of life .But what can or should I do or a web site I can go to get infomation about this .
2006-11-26 14:46:52 · 13 answers · asked by purpal2002002 4 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thanks to you all that is supporting me in this .I will not give up on her .
2006-11-26 15:20:51 · update #1
I am sorry for your loss....But they take time to gain trust do NOT give up to soon if it's a threat to your family for a while keep it in one room. Start by not feeding it so much and have special meats where you go into the room a couple times a day and just sit there with the meat let it come to you. As it gains more trust slowly put your hand out and offer some love. If your afraid it will sense that so you need to try to be not scared when you do this. Wear gloves if you have to. Be calm. But a hungry cat will show you a different side!
Sounds mean but I am a rescuer and I deal with this all the time!
Sometimes just go sit on the floor and not give it any Love just read or talk calmly to it. Sometimes the less affection for a while is better than pushing it. But please give it a better chance because it will get better. I have 2 of the sweetest cats from this situation, not at first they were WILD! Good luck if I can help further please e-mail me?
2006-11-26 14:52:54 · answer #1 · answered by ~Another Day~ 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since she's a stray, she probably had a rough life so far. I'd be scared too if I were her. She probably has not had any positive attention from humans yet, to reinforce trust of humans. It will take time for you both. Try petting her some when she's eating. This will accomplish 2 things.
1. Your feeding her...she will see you as her caretaker
2. Your petting her...she will see you as a comforter.
You've only had her a few days....give it some time, and I would be careful having her around the children. Kids are naturally rambuncious and can scare a kitten easily.
Maybe have her a little bed in a small room for now would make her feel safer and less scared too. I'm sure the world seems big to her, even your home.
Best of Luck 2 u!
2006-11-26 22:55:00 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
When I was younger I tamed many cats. I am only 21 now, so I am talking way younger. Anyways...I remember that there use to be a lot of cats around my house and I would always catch them and tame then and beg mom to let me keep them. I would wear heave duty gloves and a big jacket and pick the kitten/cat up and just hold it and pet it. I know how scary it is to try to take a wild animal and I honestly dont think that I could do it now, so props to you. But like I said, just hold her or maybe if you can get close to her, just pet her and let her know that you are not there to hurt her. It will take some time for her to gain your trust, but over time she will. *Note: Cat treats will help a lot. offer her lots of goodies and she will befriend you faster. Good Luck and I hope this helps. By the way, I think that it is really great of you to help her. There are not enough people in this world that would take time to try to help a poor little animal.
2006-11-26 23:01:37 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This will not be that hard for you and you will be able to keep her.
Let her come to you like she does, but continue doing what you were doing without really trying to pet her. Constantly talk to her in a comforting way and get her some toys that you can both play with.
She knows she was abandoned, a fear of attachment of a new person can be very real. She has to know you won't leave her.
Don't try to start petting her until you do not fear her.
Give her some time, she has a whole new life and is way more scared than you.
When you do start to pet her, do it very little until she starts to come to you for it. Let her set the pace for her learning to trust you.
She has a lot to adjust to, be patient and you will not be sorry.
She will be a great companion to you, your family and your dog.
good luck and great blessings
2006-11-26 22:56:42 · answer #4 · answered by wildmedicsue 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Enclose her in a room, and keep her in there. Away from your children and dogs (maybe a spare bathroom/bedroom). Remember that she's in a new enviroment, with people she doesn't know. It's going to scare her! Do not attempt to pet her, but sit in the room daily, just talking to her. Feed her and make sure she has water & a litter box.
Some cats have been strays for so long, they are skittish around everything. Considering your mother gave you this cat, and the vet was able to handle her, that she's probably not feral.
Stray cats will require a lot of patience, but in the end, most are well worth it.
2006-11-26 22:53:33 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 6⤊ 0⤋
Just give her a little more time this is new for her as well as being new for you.She is scared and doesn't know what to expect next. Within a few days she'll become part of your family.Sorry about your dog.There are meds that you can get from the Vet that will calm her down until the trauma of a new home is over.
2006-11-26 23:22:53 · answer #6 · answered by Pamela V 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The cat is afraid of you. The question I have is did your mother have any trouble handling this cat? If not, it is probably a question of the cat adjusting to your home. The poor thing is probably scared silly, and, since it was a stray, it is probably not used to being treated with kindness.
My best advice to you would be to provide the cat with a space where it can feel safe and allow it to venture out and familiarize itself with your household on its own. A bedroom would be just fine...it should be a place that is not high traffic. Put a litterbox, food and water there and the cat can even hide under the bed if it feels threatened. She will come around, but it is going to take some time. Don't push yourself on the cat, allow the cat to take its time to feel safe enough to approach you.
Heck, I have a 21 year old cat that has been with me since he was abandoned and only a few weeks old. Once, when we moved, even though he had been with me all his life, he hid behind the stove and only came out to eat at night. Took almost a week for him to feel safe in his new home, even though everything else was the same.
Good luck1
2006-11-26 22:53:15 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 2⤋
i have three cats and the best thing to do is let the cat get to know you a little more. there is no telling what the poor thing had to go through while he was on "the outside". let it know that you are the one that feeds it. the clawing action will occur b/c that is how they are affectionate with their mother as kittens. it may be really stressful, but don't give up one it so soon, it takes time to get to know another human doesn't it. well put yourself in it's position. i would also get a book on cats b/c there is a lot more to it than just feeding and petting it.
2006-11-26 22:53:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
I'm so glad that you giving her a chance she'll just need time to warm to you. But you should not be scared of her because that is what makes her scared of you. Traming her will take time but once you get her tram your love her even more.
2006-11-27 00:32:28 · answer #9 · answered by duck 2005686 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
`she is really scard as she;s a new member to the house;; cats are very cautious 'but will tame down in a few days or so..put her bed in a dark 'quite space and give her time to gather her thoughts.. you don't know how mean people can be to strays/it a hard life for them.. they out doors trust no one;;;give her time she;ll come around..............
2006-11-26 22:56:27 · answer #10 · answered by Cami lives 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋