Socializing Miss Ruby Gingersnap

Welcome and thank you so much for rescuing her! If you have a picture of her, do share! It's awful to think about the life she's had so far, I'm so glad these cats were rescued. I hope that so-called breeder was persecuted?

to TCS! Although she's not a feral per se, some of your questions about socializing her may be answered in this thread or the links it provides: Helping Ferals - Socialization, Trapping and Low-cost or Free Spay/Neuter Resources!

You'll also find a number of useful TCS articles here.

Adding to the welcomes to TCS site and Forums!

 

I want to reminder and recommend a Feliway adapter, making both of your cats a little more comfortable, both your old resident and you new one.

 

 

Good luck!  *vibes*

Oh bless you for rescuing this baby from what must have been a terrible situation!

I don't know what steps you've been taking while she's been with you, but it sounds like you don't actually have her confined to one room, but she chooses to confine herself? For now, it may actually help if you close the door to that room. Cats are very much about territory, and you can worry about introductions to Emmeline later - obviously neither one is in any hurry. What Ruby Gingersnap needs is simply to feel safe.

Having a small, defined territory helps. And having a set routine for certain things also really helps. I don't know what you feed her, but as food is important to her, and if she's not overeating, then it sounds like letting her free feed on dry is a good idea, and providing her one or two wet meals a day is a good idea (as this will speed up her associating you with something she loves - food!). The routine of feeding, cleaning litter, cleaning/changing her water dish, her dry food dish... all of this will help build her trust in you and her new home. Knocking on her door lightly, and letting her know you're coming in, and constantly talking to her in sweet, soft, baby talk, telling her what you're doing, why, and that she's safe and needn't worry any more will also help.

Other than that... just spending time in "her" room with her doing whatever you can but NOT focusing on her and NOT trying to interact with her will help. Sing, read a book out loud, work on the laptop, sew, fold laundry, iron... whatever you do or need to do, do it in there. Let her watch and learn. People to her are still big scary monsters... and if she's just starting to eat from your hand and play with toys, she's just started the process of coming to see you as something not scary - but it is a process, and there will likely be those "three steps forward, one step back" times. So just being in there doing things, but not trying to interact with her will help her. In fact, do as much of it down on the floor as you can. Then you're not as "big" or as scary.

Cats are very scent oriented. So it will also help to get a couple of t-shirts really good and sweaty. Put one under her food dish. When you leave the room, put treats she loves down on another one. Or put one in the bed she uses.

You may want to provide her with a few more hidey spots so it's "safe" to come out from under the bed. Boxes on their sides with the flap hanging down are great. Also, if there are any tables in the room, draping a cloth over them so they fall an inch or two above the floor are also good hidey spots.

When you look at her, don't look her in the eyes. This is considered aggressive to cats - look at her on her forehead, or over the top of her head. In fact, if you're in her room reading or whatever, and she's watching you, you can close your eyes and turn your head toward her, and "look" at her with your eyes closed. This is a big sign of trust between cats, and it will send the message you want her to receive, though it may take time for her to respond.

Yawn, stretch... move slowly.

And if that's not your bedroom, taking a nap or spending the night in there from time-to-time is also a good idea. There's nothing less threatening than a sleeping human!

But it seems you already have the most fundamental thing about this process down - and that's to just turn off the clock and let her progress at her own speed.

HI and Welcome to TCS OH those poor Aby's - so sad for them BUT it now sound's like they are all going to have a new start on a happy life Bless you for adopting Ruby Gingersnap - and MY what a name for a special lady . Laurie posted above all the great advice you need to help you get started with socializing your new girl . Allow her to adjust and accept her new home in her own time. This could be days, weeks or month's. BUT she will adjust and soon learn to rely on your for her safety, comfort, food which will lead to the ultimate goal - TRUST AWWWWW she has had such a hard life, a life without love I am so thankful for people such as yourself - taking in a "special needs" kitty and changing their life for the better.
Edited by Feralvr - 11/26/11 at 4:43pm

WONDERFUL to see your update AWWWW Miss Ruby Gingersnap She is such a sweet kitty and I am just beaming with smiles that she is doing so well. AND yes, the L-Lysine will help very much with any herpes flare-ups. Good to have on hand. Keep the updates coming and scritches to Miss Ruby