I have had my kitty (Nola) for about 5 days. I got here from a home where she was never held and kept inside a dark room. It was pretty sad the windows were borded up and they only turned on the light when they would come in and drop off a water dish and food. She is apro6-7 weeks. I read other posts and started her off in the bathroom and then moved to the rest of the house. She has gotten better especially with me. but as soon as we break a bond of me holding her. i.e. She is more than 2 ft away and I reach down to touch or pet her she hisses. I have been letting her socialize on her own terms but I really want to do everthing I can to make her a social cat. Thanks for your help.
2007-01-06 13:09:53 · 9 answers · asked by Travis S 1 in Pets ➔ Cats
Thanks for the tips . I did buy her a little bed and scratch post. BTW is cat nip ok for kittens my scratch post said it was treated with cat nip.
2007-01-06 13:27:53 · update #1
My Grandma takes in many ferral cats and I have also made a feral cat extremely sociable. Here is an idea. Put a food bowl out everyday....stand atleast 12 feet a way and look straight into her eyes and make sure you know she is watching you. Stay there for a minute and then walk away. Everyday do this...for about 5 days stay 12 feet away. On the sixth day come a foot a closer. Get as close as you can on the 15th day. try reaching out for her head. Let her sniff you. Once she sniffs you you'll know that she trust you. If she doesnt she will his..What I did was when I could get close enough I touched her head. Then she let me pet her and in seconds she was rolling around in the grass purring.
2007-01-06 14:12:23 · answer #1 · answered by Clara 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would try to get her to associate you with good things. Whenever you go to handle her, give her a treat. A treat could be anything she likes to eat, if you are OK with feeding human food then a littlle tuna with go a long way. i would even get her to come to you in this way. Sit down near her with a small bit of tuna. Hold out your hand and wait for her to come to you. Not many cats can resist fish and tuna has a pretty strong odor so she will smell it and want it really bad and she will most likely come over to you to get it. Do this a few times to get her used to the idea that you bring good things. After a while I would then take your other hand and gently stroke her, move you hand over to her slow though since you don't want to scare her and start all over again. Keep this up and be patient, over time she will come to trust that you bring good things and are not there to harm her. By letting her come to you, she has to make the choice and then you are halfway there. If she trusts you enough to come over to you then she has thought it out and decided tuna is worth the risk and that means you don't offer that big of a risk. She will see that there was really no risk afterall and things will go quickly from there.
Good luck to you,
Dale
PS be patient she may be very scared and you can't force the abscence of fear.
2007-01-12 12:12:40 · answer #2 · answered by Dale d 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You did such a good thing by saving that poor kitty. All she probably needs are some toys and a new soft bet and maybe a scratching post. She will have a lot of fun playing with her toys. And oh yeah catnip is fine for cats. Cats actually love it. Some toys have it in them and cats go crazy over it.
2007-01-13 09:29:28 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Good for you for taking in this poor kitten! I've rescued 20+ ferals & semi-ferals over the last few years, so I've seen that behaviour before. The good news is, she is so young, and you are obviously so caring, that she will be ok in no time! www.catster.com has a forum for people with feral kitties & kittywhiskas is a great yahoo group for info. I think you are already probably doing everything you should and its just going to be a matter of time til she understands she can trust you....even the most frightened cats usually figure it out with loving care & time. In terms of physical contact with her, take baby steps, and if she hisses, just say sorry & move away & try approaching her from a different angle next time...she's only hissing because she's scared, which is her survival instinct as no one's ever shown her much kindness before. Is she hissing after you put her down after patting?...if so, try to make the break a bit softer...eg...when you put her down after holding her, try to continue patting her for at least 10 seconds after then slowly withdraw, rather than suddenly....it might help, worked with one of mine who would hiss & bite my leg after a patting session suddenly ended! She's great now! Good luck with her!
2007-01-13 10:06:21 · answer #4 · answered by thekittiesinthehood 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It takes patients, love, lots more patients, love, and time. Spend time with her, let her take food from your fingers. Maybe pieces of tuna, or some chicken. I'm sorry she was treated that way, but she can come to love you if you just take the time she will need. Being young helps too. Soon she will be a best friend.
2007-01-06 13:15:24 · answer #5 · answered by bakfanlin 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
That poor animal!!!! I don't like to read about cruelity to animals.....but I am glad that you are taking care of her. I got my cat 13 years ago, she was one years old and she was freaked out like that. She's just not used to you yet but you are making great progress. Try giving her canned food and special treats letting her eat the treats from your hands....she needs to know that you won't hurt her or board her up in a dark room, she has to trust you just like a child. She's just a baby give it time.
2007-01-14 10:26:07 · answer #6 · answered by Princess Ann 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Can you afford to go by her a soft little cat bed she can also hide in? She needs some places to hide out a bit. It sounds like it is coming along, and you are being very nice and patient with her. Does she sleep with you?
2007-01-06 13:15:14 · answer #7 · answered by Zelda Hunter 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
love kindness and little hiding places, soft toy she can cuddle with, sounds as if you are doind a great job, well done! don't forget neutering and a micro chip, so she is never lost again
2007-01-13 05:28:17 · answer #8 · answered by rose_merrick 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i would use food treats...and lots of love and kindness...you have not had her for very long, and already it sounds like you are doing great with her! just be patient and go on as you are doing...she will learn to trust you...
2007-01-06 13:21:24 · answer #9 · answered by waterlin 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Keep doimg as u r! She will trust u more & more!! cat nip is fine.
2007-01-12 23:27:02 · answer #10 · answered by Dotr 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋