A terrified cat at the shelter

[roody]

where I volunteer stayed in my mind. She just sat in her cage with her big terrified eyes and did not move. She looks about 4 months old. So I decided to foster her long enough to help her to be adoptable. She has now been in my bedroom for 48 hours. I swear that she has not touched food or drink. She lets me pick her up from her hiding places, but she wants to get away. She goes limp when I pick her up. What can I do for her? I do gently force her to be in my arms for awhile, then I let her go. After a few moments in my arms, she begins to tremble. Help! Will she eat?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. Leave her alone with food and water for now.

Let her get used to her surroundings for a day or two. Then just go into the room and sit with her for awhile, let her get used to you. Don't pick her up -- let her come to you. It might take awhile. Maybe she will come to you if you hold out really tasty food, like tuna. But give her time and let her come to you on her terms.

[roody]

2. So she won't fast to death?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

3. Nope. She'll eat. Maybe not right away, but she will get hungry.

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Ditto. Great advice...You can just sit there with her for a few hours each

day until she comes to you..Patience will get you a wonderful reward.

[BrklynLiberal]

20. delete

[demnan]

Put a low radio on like NPR

so she can get used to a gentle human voice or low classical music and feel safe hearing it when you're not there. Get a stuffed animal of her similiar color to put in with her when you're not there. Get some Felaway to spray in the air.

[demnan]

5. Put a low radio on like NPR

so she can get used to a gentle human voice or low classical music and feel safe hearing it when you're not there. Get a stuffed animal of her similiar color to put in with her when you're not there. Get some Felaway to spray in the air.

[roody]

10. I'm going to try the stuffed animal thing.

But she is always in a new hiding place. What is Felaway?

[demnan]

16. This describes Feliway

http://www.dogandcatmart.com/single_product_display.cfm?id=10864&&gclid=CJCRkIStk5YCFQMQswodHjblEA

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. How's she doing?

[roody]

7. Today, the third morning, she had used the litter

box and eaten a little bit. I don't have anything to do in the bedroom except sleep, so I put her in a pet carrier and kept her in the kitchen with me. It looked like she had begun to relax a little. I have not tried to hold her today. Now I am going to bring her into the livingroom (in the carrier) with me at the computer. Thanks for asking.

[Eurobabe]

8. Oh poor little thing

sending some good vibes to the kitty, and to you for taking care of her. :hug:

[roody]

9. Thank you. Her name is Charlene.

She is a gorgeous long haired tortoise. She is a beautiful pink and gray. This is going to take a long time. She is in the carrier now in the kitchen. She made her first sound last night, a tiny mew as I picked her up to put her in the carrier to get out of the bedroom and hang with me. This a.m., my outside cat was in, wanting some attention and meowing and scratching at the closed bedroom door. Charlene meowed a little bit in response to his noise.

[hamsterjill]

11. Thank you.

Thanks for taking this little kiddo to help her achieve adoptability. The "wall flowers" (i.e., frightened cats that don't show their personalities outwardly) are almost never considered for adoption, especially when they may be next to a charming younger kitten who is just excited about the world and ready to play with anything that moves. May good things come your way to repay your warmth and generosity in helping her get comfortable.

It can be very frustrating working with one so timid and scared. Please don't get discouraged - now or in the future. Many times it is one step forward and two steps backwards. Just be consistent with her, speak to her in reassuring tones and eventually she will respond.

Again, thanks SO MUCH for what you're doing!!!

[spooky3]

12. good for you, roody

It looks as if you received some very good advice and are doing good things.

I wonder if she might be feral, rather than an abused or neglected pet. If so, it's a good thing she is so young and although it will take longer for her to become comfortable with people, I think she's got a good chance in your home.

[Eurobabe]

13. that's what I was thinking too

if she had no socialization, that could explain her timidity. Keep on keepin' on Roody. :hug:

Let us know how she is adjusting. :hi:

[Lorien]

14. Give her time

it usually took two to three weeks for my fosters who were like that to come around, but with enough handling they WILL come around!

:loveya:

[badgerpup]

15. This may sound weird...

...but sing her name to her.
Find a tune that her name goes with, and just sing it softly to her when she's in the same room with you.

All my kitties have their own name-songs...this comes in handy as a calming device during high-stress situations (like a vet visit).

[spooky3]

17. good idea! And now I feel less crazy

I have always had name-songs but I didn't know other people did. I always hoped the vet techs didn't hear me through the door when I sang my kitties' songs to calm them.

One of my kitties loved to be talked to and sung to - he preferred that to petting and cuddling. I miss him so badly I have borrowed his song for my new kitty - just new "lyrics."

[roody]

18. Little Charlene goes to the shelter tomorrow to

be spayed. I plan to leave her over the weekend. It has been slow going with socializing her. She does like other cats though. She is still scared of me, but when I put my hand in her carrier to pet her, she loves it.

[spooky3]

21. I hope all goes well, Roody.

[susanwy]

19. We adopted a very shy girl

a few years ago. She was so scared she wasn't even grooming herself. She had what we though were grey paws until we realized they were white. It took time, like your kitty she hid, I think for about 3 weeks. Finally she started to come out. She is still a little neurotic, but we love her, except she really likes to sleep right next to your face!

[Alameda]

22. How is she doing now?

I've often found these shy cats often turn out to be the most loyal and affectionate ones. It takes time and patience. Do you play with her? Interactive toys work well. Something that you are attached to. That way she gets to associate you with fun. A little baby food chicken or turkey on your finger works well too.

[roody]

23. Charlene has been back and forth 3 or 4 times now.

I want to make her adoptable, but no one will adopt her if she is not at the shelter. Meanwhile she gets bigger and bigger. She is quite happy right now, here at my house. She still won't let me go up to her, but she likes to be pet inside her carrier. She follows me around the house also. In a couple days, she has to do 1 and a half weeks back at the shelter since I am going to Georgia to protest the School of the Americas. If nobody adopts her, I will in December. She will be a wonderful cat; she needs time. She plays like crazy by herself in the house. I hear her banging around in the other rooms. The 3 times I have taken her back to the shelter she just lays there with a mad, sad look on her face, acting very unadoptable. Well come December, we'll make it forever. She has not been spayed yet because our County does it for free now and they are booked. When I pay the adoption fee, they will spay her.
One trick I figured out was not to leave food out. I let her get good and hungry then feed her. Now she knows whom the food is from.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

26. Is there any way NOT to take her back to the shelter?

Every time she goes back there she thinks she's losing her home. It's got to be a huge setback for her. She will never be adoptable if she stays skittish and nervous, and I have to think that going back to the shelter over and over and taking her away from what she is starting to think of as her home is just going to make her more nervous. Please let her stay home. Can't someone come and look in on her while you're gone?

[roody]

27. Thanks for caring. How about if I promise to adopt her the first of

December? She can manage until then. I plan to return her on Wednesday. Then I promise to give her a happy ever after life.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

28. Great! I'm sure she'll relax once she's sure of having a real home.

Cats are really territorial and they are happiest when they don't have to relocate. When do we get to see some pictures?

[roody]

30. I paid the $25 adoption fee on Nov. 19, before leaving

for Columbus GA. Cats are seriously on-sale due to over-production. I'm still on holiday. I'll pick her up Dec. 1 after work. She will be spayed and will live happily ever after with me. I recently acquired all the technology to take and post pictures, so give me a week or so. She is a gorgeous, long-haired tortoise shell babe. Since she will home, I predict that in a month she will be close to comfortable with humans. She is mischievous. Our last evening together, I was at the computer and she was in a chair next to me, playing. But if I moved toward her, she ran.

[Butch350]

24. I had the same experience with a cautious Siamese kitten...

...put her in an area where she seems to feel safe. leave food and water and something to sleep on near by. Don't force
yourself on her. It may take a while. After a few days of this with my siamese, I noticed while walking trough the house
one day she started following me and did so every day for 13 years.

[roody]

25. Did she ever let you pick her up?

[michaz]

29. The vet has medication for this anxiety. When we adopted a Rescue Dog

our vet had an animal behaviorist working there also. She prescribed some meds and within 4 months he was able to go off them and all was fine. Sounds like this kitten was possibly abused or denied human contact. Try the meds from the vet.