Adopted rescue behavior/care

Hey guys,

I adopted a rescue whom the shelter called Jezabelle (and whose name I stuck with) on Monday. She's a year old and was initially dumped at a vet office (thrown from a car or just dumped off by one I wasn't sure,) then transferred to the vet, where she underwent spaying surgery as well as infected ovary removal the day I got her. I've confined her to my room and the following events have happened.

- She first went under the comforter on my bed (low to the ground,) which I allowed her to, immediately after I left the room.

- Had an accident on the comforter after using the litter box on Tuesday, so I removed the blanket.

- Has been navigting the close-to-the-ground furniture since Wednesday.

- Has now taken to resting on the top of my bookshelf (Walmart three-shelf) since yesterday.

Now... in the shelter, I was never able to hold her due to behavioral problems which the staff and I associated with her being dumped/traumatized in a new environment. Here in my home, she fluctuates between sleeping, avoiding me by hiding, or staying in sight and growling/hissing at me if I get to close/do something she doesn't approve of. I've given up my bed so she can sleep on or below it comfortably and have been sleeping on an air mattress on the floor, but lately it seems that even if I'm reaching for my mouse on my desk she's hissing or growling at me. I'm starting to get a bit anxious about her positioning about the room, given her surgery, and even if she were to go somewhere I'd prefer she wouldn't, I can't shoo her down because of her surgery, etc., and I obviously can't pick her up. My nerves may in part be due to the fact that the cats I've had growing up (rescues) were never resonsive like this when we've taken them in, but I'm not sure how I can make this transition easier on her. I personally am fine with her being a bit growly. I just don't want her hurting herself by doing it. I'd set up my closet for her (whch is quite spacious,) but she's only gone in there to use her littlerbox and now to remain in the box I set up for her or her carrier.

On one hand I guess it's good that she's observing me, but on the other I'm nervous that I'll scare her and she'll panic.

I knew she was a high-risk adoption given her situation, but when I saw her on Craigslist I knew I had to have her. The fact that she was listed as a high-priority adoptee given the shelter's overflowing status was another big indicator for me.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Just wanted to say how great it is you have taken this cat in. I am sure others will give you better advice but if you don't already have one a feliway diffuser may help calm her.

Yes, I second both of what Franksmom said--thanks for taking on this cat and do get Feliway diffusers (available at Petco/Petsmart; then you can reorder on Amazon for 1/2 the price).  Play music while you're not with her.  I'd also be in the same room with her as much as you can, doing something quiet (read, work on a computer, etc.)  I'd discourage her from hiding/getting in close quarters:  put the mattress she sleeps on, on the floor; block off other escape routes EXCEPT ONE--like the cat carrier or a simple large cardboard box.

Here is an article about how to handle feral cats.  Also Jezabel isn't technically feral, she is as scared as a feral cat, so some of the ideas in the article are spot-on.

She's been through a lot in the past few weeks, you're doing fine.  Just give her lots of time.

Let us know how things are going.

Thanks Franksmom, Ritz!

I read the feral article and I've been doing pretty much everything that article has mentioned, though I wasn't aware of classical music. I don't have much in the way of a system where I can play her music (since my computer does not have external speakers,) but that is a good idea.

The only escape route she has from the room is out my bedroom door, which I'm also cautious when opening. (Growing up my mom had a cat, and still does, who liked to run outside if she got the chance, so I'm used to putting my foot in the small of the door as it opens.) The closet is her little nook. I found her this morning (after I was able to sleep on my bed when she disappeared) in the little box bed I made her, so that made me happy.

I will keep you guys updated for sure. I've got this forum pinned, so I'll be back.

This is baby Jezabelle, by the way. Excuse the grumpy. This was a shelter picture, LOL. Poor thing. 

What a sweetheart! She needs lots of TLC and food! You've only had her since MONDAY, she's just one of those cats that are going to take time. She was traumatized then had major surgery, do you blame her for not liking people right now? Please, please give her time I'm sure she'll come around. My Chrissy, who I had since she was a kitten, would be like this everytime we moved, she was the only one out of three cats. She would hiss at me too every time there was a movement. Just be patient, move slowly and keep giving her good food. I agree with sitting quietly in the room, she has to get used to you. I would bet it will be a month or more before she starts coming around.

Agree. As she is now post major surgery, extra complicated, she prob has some pains. I bet this is a part behind the hissings. Cats in pains dont have the same patience as otherwise. May for example giving lessons for free, either they were asked for or not.. Or do some hissing like here.

Time and patience are your friends!

Good luck!

I'll throw my "agree" in here also.  Poor kitty has been through a lot in a short amount of time, and now needs time and patience.  

When we adopted our 2nd cat, who was a rescue that most likely lived through Hurricane Sandy amongst all else, has only been with us since late December, she too, was a hissy little thing.  The hissing, was out of nervousness and fear, not much more than that.  We took the advice from many here, including playing low calming music and getting a Feliway diffuser for the room.  It took about 3 weeks before she felt comfortable to come out of hiding, but once she did, she acclimated by leaps and bounds daily it seemed.  Now, 4 months later (almost to the day), you would never know this is the same cat.  She is the most social, sweet, vocal, energetic, and most of all - HAPPY cat you have ever seen.  We really thought we had adopted a shy, retiring cat and wound up with a very assertive one who gives our older boy a run for his money daily!  

I can't wait to hear updates as she progresses. Oh and BTW, I love her name 

See, she's come out of hiding and has been watching me occasionally (last night she watched as I played video games over Skype with my roommate,) so I think she's at least getting curious. It was very cute to see her struggling to stay awake to watch me only for her to fall asleep, so I take that as a good sign.

Just as a quick question: I know recovery time is usually 2 - 4 weeks, but the documentation my shelter was supposed to give me ended up being dog information (LOL oops.) Like I said, I've been around kittens when they've been spayed, but never a full-grown, initially-agressive animal like Jezabelle. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing and try not to push it? I was able to sleep in my bed last night (huge relief on my back and conscience since I know if I'm there she'll keep her distance away from me so I don't scare her too much,) but I'm not sure what else I can do. Hoping to buy a feliway when my check comes in next week, but not sure if I'll be able to. Low income and bills are making me crazy. Gah.

I ended up sleeping in my roommates' downstairs closet last night because I had such a bad anxiety attack over sleeping on the futon in my room with her under it (it's unbalanced and if I roll or flail, it can 'jump.') So, she got the room to herself all night, which seemed good for her because she ate the dry cat food I gave her and a bunch of the wet stuff. My primary computer is in the room with her, but I think that's decent. At least I'm in here with her for a little while every day, since I work at home.

KittyKatAttack said:

Just as a quick question: I know recovery time is usually 2 - 4 weeks,

Click to expand...

Im not sure I follow you here, and I dont want to guess.

Recovery from what?  Spaying? Adoption?

Spaying. Sorry I wasn't more clear.

OK, so it was a rather cautious count. Probably including the possibility of some complications.

Yours had of course this inflammated ovarium, which surely made the surgery more difficult / recovery a little longer.

Esp semi-ferales and long term homeless often heal quicker (if they dont have a good "healing meat" they dont get semi-ferales, they die off).  But also home girls usually heal in 1-2 weeks.

Thank you, StefanZ.

Breakthrough. She came out WHEN I was in the room (though I didn't see her until I caught her out the corner of my eye) and she JUST ran past my office chair to go into her kitty nook. Yay!

So, a quick update: 75% of the time when I am in my room at night she is out observing me. I scared her twice earlier today when I came in and caught her coming out of the closet, but she's growing more comfortable with my presence. She did hiss at me once tonight, though, but I believe that's because I startled her when coming in (she must've not been able to see who I was from the angle she was at under my bed and with my office chair blocking her view.) 

She's hopping around now. Her favorite place is the top of my little bookshelf beside my desk. She's also ventured into rather odd territory, like knocking three hardbacks off a TV stand shelf to sneak in there. Cats will be cats, hehe.

It will also her Weekversary last Monday.

She was so happy with the small dog house I got her last night. Nice and deep, very wide. I caught her rolling around in it and she looked the calmest and happiest since I've brought her home.

She looks so happy! Good job!