Unhappy cat at Naples Humane Society

There is a very unhappy cat at the Naples, Fl Humane Society. This has been on our local TV stations and newspapers. Somebody left a Maine Coon cat in a carrier at the Humane Society. The cat's name is Serafina. Don't know whether she came with the name or they named her. Anyway, Serafina does not get along with anybody --- human or animal. They have to separate her from the feline population and she spends her time in the office. Does not want to be petted and will try to bat the hand of anyone who tries. They feel that she is so stressed at being abandoned that she is afraid to get close to anyone. The big challenge here is to find someone who she will get along with and can provide a good home --- with no other animals. She is a beautiful cat, with a lush coat. I think we need Jackson Galaxy from The Cat From Hell to try to help poor Serafina. We drove by the Humane Society the other day and I was so tempted to stop in and see her. But I knew there was nothing I could do. Even if she liked me --- no way I could give her a home with our 3 cats.

That's sad. I'd dearly love to have a Maine Coon and she sounds like she needs a good home. And what a beautiful name.

I think all pets are sad at the shelter till you take them home and give them love .I wish I could have at least 1 more cat. I would either get 1 from my daughter or the shelter.

I think sometimes people want to "love" animals by petting them when the animals interpret the actions in a different way.  It all depends so much on the circumstances the cat lived in before coming to the shelter.  Maybe she was allowed access to the outside a lot and now she doesn't have that, or maybe she was held a lot and now she doesn't have that, or maybe her previous owner didn't pet her at all, and so now when strangers try to pet her it's scary and upsetting.  It could also be that this cat had another cat or another animal in her previous situation, and she's mourning the loss of that pet being in her life.  My second cat Poe came from a nice home, but for him it wasn't so nice because the family had three young girls and they weren't taught how to properly care for cats, so they held the kittens non-stop 24/7.  When I first got Poe I couldn't touch him at all, I couldn't hold him, nothing.  Sometimes, when he was really tired I could lay down beside him and he'd let me very gently pet his front paws, but only the paws.  So I left him alone, I didn't try to make him do anything he didn't want to.  It took Poe almost a year before he would come to me and ask to be petted.  Now, almost two years into our relationship, he comes and sleeps with me and he allows me to pet him and even pick him up.  I guess so much depends on what happened to this cat before she came to the shelter, and I know it's not helping in her chances of getting adopted, but when it's from her point of view, maybe they are trying too much?  I don't know.  I feel bad for her.