She now hides when anyone walks into a room, she wont come up on me anymore. In the shelter she would head butt and nest on me and my 5 year old. now shes like a completely different cat. I know she was found outside and then was in the shelter caged up for 3 months. Is there anything i can do to bring out the sweet girl i know is in there? Ive had her one week.
2007-10-02 01:34:27 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Cats
Try to put yourself in her situation. She was in the shelter for 3 months with an established routine and people she knew on a daily basis. Now, she's in a strange environment, new smells, new people, new everything. It's natural for her to feel a little fearful.
Please just be patient, give her lots of affection and gentle attention when she chooses it and let her explore your home at her speed. She'll get it.
Well done for taking in this kitty. Takes a very special person to adopt a shelter cat.
2007-10-02 01:41:33 · answer #1 · answered by Leslie L 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You might want to try to confine her to a room or only upstairs or only downstairs until she feels more comfortable. Once she feels more at home you can give her more areas to explore. You can try giving her a Greenies cat treat once or twice a day as well. I'm sure she'll be more at home soon. You might also want to put a towel that you've used to dry off for a few days in her room so she gets used to your smell.
We adopted a 4 yr old shelter cat and the first night she would follow me everywhere and would sit between my b/f and I and slept between us, and sometimes she'd hide under the bed. She's been with us for a year now and rarely goes under the bed and is very independent. She's not as scared when we have company over, although sometimes she'll go in our bedroom to get away from strangers.
2007-10-02 01:43:03 · answer #2 · answered by hello 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Cats are creatures of habit and don't always accept changes readily, even when it's to their benefit. Moving house is often a stressful experience for cats, even when they move with their owner. They rely very heavily on their sense of smell and your home doesn't smell familiar to her yet, so she'll be feeling a little unsettled because of that. Something you can do to help her relax is to wipe a soft cloth (like a hankie) over her cheeks and then rub the cloth over paint work on door frames (at cat head height). If she can smell her own scent around the place, she will begin to feel more at home.
She was more outgoing when you met her at the shelter, because she was feeling more confident. She needs time to get to know you and your family. When cats feel afraid, their instinct tells them to hide until danger has passed. When she hides, don't try to force her to come out, as this will make her feel under threat in her "safety zone". Instead, try to offer her something that she finds more rewarding than the feeling of comfort she gets from hiding. Whether this be food treats or toys, see what will spark her interest. Try to carry on your daily routine as much as possible, talking to her when she's in the same room. (Even if she's hiding at the time, this will get her used to the sound of your voice.)
Be patient, it can take a few weeks for cats to feel settled after being re-homed with new owners.
2007-10-02 06:13:29 · answer #3 · answered by Michele the Louis Wain cat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to http://www.spiritessence.com and read about using flower essences with cats and other animals.
Dr. Jean Hovfe has a combination of essences called "Scaredy Cat". You can get that mailed to you for under $20 (order today). Another person here used it with great success on her cat.
You just shake the bottle well and put three to four drops on the cat's fur between her ears. Use it very intensely for the first 10 days or two weeks, putting it on her four to five times a day. If she is hiding out under a bed or such put the drops on a small cloth and put it where she is. "Refresh" the drops as many times a day as you would put it on her.
The flower essences affect the fears, trauma and emotional baggage from former adverse experiences. They are totally benign and will not harm the cat in any way. It's really important that the little gal get some help in clearing out the past in order to be able to happily go about her new life with you.
2007-10-02 03:29:43 · answer #4 · answered by old cat lady 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Patience. Don't force her. Leave her in a room where she has a place to fid, and bring her food and toys. Make sure to be there, where she can get used to you, but don't do anything that scares her. (I had the same issue with a cat, and I spent time in the same room with her just working on my computer, not hassling her, who was hiding in a small cat house). If you manage to hold her though for some time every day, it is a good idea. She will be fine, since she was not scared of people at the shelter. she just needs time to adjust to the new house. The cat I mentioned was exactly like yours, and now she plays, kisses us and sleeps in our bed.
2007-10-02 01:51:13 · answer #5 · answered by cpinatsi 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes and this is very important - you put down some food where she's hiding and slowly try to gain her trust - she's in strange surroundings and it doesn't sound until now she's had a particularly good life, so you have to rebuild her trust. Be careful of your five year old though - even if the cat was friendly to your child in the previous situation.
Cat's, if something scares them, can move with lightning reflexes and strike out with their claws and teeth - both are razor sharp and if you or your child are bitten, you could get an infection. It would be a bad idea to get a tetanus inculation for you and your child or booster shot if you've both already had one. Small children tend to spook animals if they move quickly. Your cat had probably grown accustomed to her cage and now she's have to re-learn her environment.
A cat's territory is extremely important to it - she needs time and understanding. If you can hold her, see if you can get her to take some food from your finger tips - she has to learn your smell in conjuction with where she NOW finds herself.
Be patient and please, please don't give up on her and give her back to some shelter. Like you and your child, she needs security and love.
2007-10-02 01:47:24 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
What you may want to try is to put her cage out in a room where you are ( I assume it's portable), leave it open and let her hide in it. It will give her a feeling of being secure and when she's ready to come out - she let you know.
I must say I think you're great for adopting a shelter animal and wish you lots and lots of luck, love and happiness with your new pet.
2007-10-02 01:49:26 · answer #7 · answered by chase5764 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just give her time to adjust. She's just been though a very major change in her life and needs time to get used to the new arrangement. She's in a strange place with strange new smells.
Be patient, don't rush her - she will come to you when she feels ready to.
Congratulations on adopting her.
2007-10-02 01:47:05 · answer #8 · answered by Debi 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
particular, neosporin might artwork large. make beneficial it is not a deep scratch from rusty steel, despite if that's take her in impressive a manner. save a bandage on for the period of the day and take it off at nighttime...
2016-10-10 04:00:42 · answer #9 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
she will take prob take 6 weeks to settle,females are shy till they know you well,but they bit strangs with strangers
2007-10-02 02:33:21 · answer #10 · answered by sky 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋