Meet Fudge and hear her story-my gorgeous 3 legged kitty

[Ruthyb]

Hi all, this is Fudge, she is 6 years old, I got her from a rescue centre almost 4 years ago, she had been in a house with 30 other cats and they were all taken off the owner. I went to the rescue centre looking for a cat and even though they were all gorgeous none really took my heart, Fudge was about to go upto the "cat house" where the cats that are unlikely to be re-homed go to live. As soon as I spotted her I knew I wanted her, she was so nervous she curled up in a ball when I looked at her. I immediately thought I have to have her, when we took her home she lived under my kitchen cupboards for 2 weeks and we never saw her, she got better and better with us until she was living like a normal cat and was just nervous of strangers. Then one day she came in and she was holding her right front paw in the air and I knew straight away something was wrong I immediately took her to the vets and was told it was broken and a very bad break, she was in plaster for 10 weeks and it wasn't healing at all, you can imagine how much distress she went through and after all the time it took her to be a bit more confident. The decision was eventually made to amputate and although I felt awful I knew it was for the best as she was constantly living on pain killers. She has coped so well and you would never know she has 3 legs with what she does, the only problem is she is extremely nervous again and lives upstairs, she only comes down for food and to go out, poor girl but she is my baby and we have hugs at night when I go to bed, she just doesn't like to be handled-only on her terms and I am unsure whether she will get any better I just love her so much though and glad I am her mummy.x

[DarkMavis]

Wow Fudge is so pretty! Her posture/pose in the first pic reminds me of a very nervous kitty I had named Cleo (she passed in 2006), also fluffy but different colors.

You're a great person for taking her even though she's not super friendly and cuddly, in fact that's why I convinced my mom we should get Cleo when I volunteered at the SPCA in high school, I thought no one else would want her since she was so scared. She slowly learned to trust us and realised we just wanted to give her love, and she loved us back.

Keep up the good work, she'll probably come around again in time.

[Ruthyb]

Thankyou, I am the only one she trusts but even with me she can be nervous, I wish I knew why she was so nervous as all we know is that she was from a home with 30 cats and thats it, something more must have happened to her, its so sad. I have 4 other cats and she gets on with them so well, I look at my other cats and just wish she could be like them and that I could pick her up and cuddle her but any sudden movements and she has gone, it really is on her terms, it takes such a lot of patience but I wouldn't change her for the world I know if I hadn't of had her she would of prob got put to sleep ( we don't have many rescue centres with non destruct policy over here) and I would have all the needy cats if I could.x

[myfamiliars]

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

Thankyou, I am the only one she trusts but even with me she can be nervous, I wish I knew why she was so nervous as all we know is that she was from a home with 30 cats and thats it, something more must have happened to her, its so sad. I have 4 other cats and she gets on with them so well, I look at my other cats and just wish she could be like them and that I could pick her up and cuddle her but any sudden movements and she has gone, it really is on her terms, it takes such a lot of patience but I wouldn't change her for the world I know if I hadn't of had her she would of prob got put to sleep ( we don't have many rescue centres with non destruct policy over here) and I would have all the needy cats if I could.x

Just living around that many cats would be enough to make her nervous. There would be no way for her to predict who was going to do what. Fudge is a beautiful girl, and the fact that she's bonded with you means that she is on her way to recovery. She may never be like your other cats, but she already is miles better than she has been. Good luck, and good on you for taking her in.

[esrandall2000]

Had you thought of trying Feliway? My semi-feral, very nervous boy, Magic, has really come out of his shell since I added two of the diffusers to my small apartment. He is 1 1/2 years old and is only now learning how to play. But the closest he gets to me is about 2 feet. I can reach out and he will smell my hand and take food, but I'd love to be able to cuddle him!

I'm just being very patient.

[Ruthyb]

Originally Posted by esrandall2000

Had you thought of trying Feliway? My semi-feral, very nervous boy, Magic, has really come out of his shell since I added two of the diffusers to my small apartment. He is 1 1/2 years old and is only now learning how to play. But the closest he gets to me is about 2 feet. I can reach out and he will smell my hand and take food, but I'd love to be able to cuddle him!

I'm just being very patient.

I have heard of feliway diffusers, I shall give my vet a ring, thankyou, even if it helps Fudge to relax a bit then it's worth it. I agree patience is the biggest must.x

[esrandall2000]

Originally Posted by Ruthyb

I have heard of feliway diffusers, I shall give my vet a ring, thankyou, even if it helps Fudge to relax a bit then it's worth it. I agree patience is the biggest must.x

I'm not sure if Feliway is available where you live, but I've heard of a product called Felifriend that is very similar and I believe in your area.

Good luck! It just about about kills me when I just want to love these nervous kitties, but they just aren't ready yet!

[Ruthyb]

feliway is available over here and cheaper on the internet than the vets, I rung the vets and they said it could help her a bit, I will give anything a try, she's really bad at the moment because of the fireworks, she poops in my bathroom when she daren't go out, she won't use a litter tray, but hey the floor is cleanable and I would rather her feel safe.x

[esrandall2000]

Oh, poor baby. Hang in there. Time does work. Many years ago, I adopted a white deaf feral kitten who created nothing but havock her first two years. with us But during that time, she kept watching my other cats and one day, out of the blue, she decided that she was going to be a lap cat! She turned into the moving loving, playful, kitty you could ever image. So I may take years, but it does happen!

[P&R]

What a pretty baby! Sorry to hear about her paw, I'm sure she'll come around eventually.

[KiTTYL0VE4]

She's so gorgeous! I LOVE LOVE LOVE longhaired kitties!

About her timidness, I think it is probably because she was in a house with so many cats. When someone has too many animals, it can be hard to spend a good amount of time with all of them. She most likely wasn't socialized, or was on her way to becoming feral. It happens when people take too many pets. She probably could have had something happen to her as well. But the fact she is starting to trust you, that is a good sign!

[Jupeycat]

She's beautiful! I also have a three legged cat who I love to bits!