Charlene, the terrified kitty

[roody]

This is a new thread about my foster shelter kitten, Charlene. I had her for a week and a half then took her in to get spayed. They have been too busy with free and low cost spays to spay her. I saw her twice at the shelter after returning her. Her eyes were no longer huge and terrified, they were dull and depressed. She was in a big cage in the front office with two smaller kittens. They played but she just laid there on a shelf. Yesterday I brought her back home, hopefully to socialize her so someone will adopt her. She is a gorgeous long haired tortoise. She still acts like she hates me. She hides. I find her and pick her up, but she does not purr like she did before (even though it was against her will.) She will be a big cat soon. She likes it when I let the other cats in the house, even though they are mean old fogies. Last night she played and tore around only when I was not looking. I plan to ask for another foster kitten only for a few days, so she can see a kitty like her enjoying a human.
She did not like the stuffed animals. I think she was afraid of them. Right now she is in the carrier on a bench, and we are in sight of each other. Any advice is very welcome!

[MadMaddie]

1. I think she likes you....

It appears she was miffed that you took her back to the shelter....

[roody]

2. That thought had crossed my mind.

She seems to be warming up to me---very, very slowly.

[BrklynLiberal]

3. Be patient. Let her come to you. Maybe you can just sit near her with some delicious food in your

hand and let her take it without making any move to her...

[roody]

4. Thanks. I have been in the house most of today

ignoring her. She likes that.

[BrklynLiberal]

5. I think that eventually, she will approach you.

[badgerpup]

6. Some cats aren't snuggly-cuddly...

...it just isn't in their nature- but they do enjoy company; being in the same room with their preferred human.

It sounds as though your being on her radar screen- as well as gently and kindly acknowledging her makes her feel more secure and happy.
Let her set the pace.
From what you say, she's been tossed around so much that she's afraid to trust and is now very slow to warm up to anyone.

My ex-SO had a cat like that- she too was a rescue kitty with a very unhappy history...and I must give him this much, he treated her so kindly that she eventually did come out of her shell to become a very loving lap-cat.

It took about 6 months though...and a lot of kitty treats.

[alstephenson]

7. Hang in there!

It took almost a year before my calico rescue kitty became comfortable. She seemed so miserable at first that I called the shelter and asked about returning her. They convinced me to give it some more time and I made a commitment to myself to be patient. I didn't force things, just spoke to her lovingly and pet her lightly when she'd let me. It's been about two years now and she is an absolute LOVE BUG! I don't know what went on in her past, but she has a totally different personality now. It's amazing what a little love and kindness can do!

Thanks for your efforts with Charlene!