Let me give a little history:
Clyde is a male/neutered domestic shorthair approximately 11 months old. Due to my medical condition (survivor of sepsis with suppressed immune system), and not wanting to chance any kind of infection due to scratch marks, I reluctantly had to have Clyde declawed. I consulted with a lot of people before reluctantly making the decision. I hope everyone won't be upset with me.
I got Clyde on July 28, and adopted him as an inside only cat. The previous lady had gotten him from a neighbor about July 1, and immediately took him into the vet for surgery (parasite had laid eggs inside his neck (left side) and it had become abscessed).
Unfortunately, although she wanted to keep him, her dog just wouldn't allow it. So I adopted him through a local Partnership for Pets.
We have bonded great, but some of his behavior puzzles me.
When the previous owner got him from the neighbor, he was completely housetrained, and although a little frisky, was the purrrrfect little gentleman. He also was not afraid of anyone and would go up to almost anyone without any fear.
This leads me to believe that someone moved and dumped him outside and the other lady found him.
I suspect that he may have been abused by a male character, as at times I do nothing but reach out to pet him, and he runs away. He also at times cowers with partial fear underneath where it is safe.
I'm 6'3" and up to now had not really detected anything unusual, and thought it was just new house growing pains. He is well fed, cared for, and has all his shots up to date. To this day so far, he has shown no signs of illness. He has adapted well after declawing (approx 4-5 weeks ago), and when he want something, he uses the "shepherds crook tail" and rubs against me. He also (on his schedule) sleeps in the bed with me with no problem.
Am I imagining things?
Any help in interpreting these behaviors and what to expect or what to do to improve our relations would help. We play just great, and he definitely purrs when I do pet him and has no problem in sitting on my desk and watching me.
Mike
Clyde is a male/neutered domestic shorthair approximately 11 months old. Due to my medical condition (survivor of sepsis with suppressed immune system), and not wanting to chance any kind of infection due to scratch marks, I reluctantly had to have Clyde declawed. I consulted with a lot of people before reluctantly making the decision. I hope everyone won't be upset with me.
I got Clyde on July 28, and adopted him as an inside only cat. The previous lady had gotten him from a neighbor about July 1, and immediately took him into the vet for surgery (parasite had laid eggs inside his neck (left side) and it had become abscessed).
Unfortunately, although she wanted to keep him, her dog just wouldn't allow it. So I adopted him through a local Partnership for Pets.
We have bonded great, but some of his behavior puzzles me.
When the previous owner got him from the neighbor, he was completely housetrained, and although a little frisky, was the purrrrfect little gentleman. He also was not afraid of anyone and would go up to almost anyone without any fear.
This leads me to believe that someone moved and dumped him outside and the other lady found him.
I suspect that he may have been abused by a male character, as at times I do nothing but reach out to pet him, and he runs away. He also at times cowers with partial fear underneath where it is safe.
I'm 6'3" and up to now had not really detected anything unusual, and thought it was just new house growing pains. He is well fed, cared for, and has all his shots up to date. To this day so far, he has shown no signs of illness. He has adapted well after declawing (approx 4-5 weeks ago), and when he want something, he uses the "shepherds crook tail" and rubs against me. He also (on his schedule) sleeps in the bed with me with no problem.
Am I imagining things?
Any help in interpreting these behaviors and what to expect or what to do to improve our relations would help. We play just great, and he definitely purrs when I do pet him and has no problem in sitting on my desk and watching me.
Mike
