Working with a possibly abused cat

carlyl

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Hello everyone!

So I work at an animal shelter, and there is a 3 year old tortishell cat there. She was dropped off at the door step in the middle of the night in a cardboard box. She is a very weird cat, I have to say. When you go to pet her, she rolls over like you are going to hit her, kind of into a fetal position. Also, she attacks your arms (like biting, but not very hard, and scratching) when you go to pet her. She does not trust humans what so ever. I really want to be able to gain her trust and work with her. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
-CarlyL(:
 

ondine

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The not-trusting part sounds normal for someone whose life has just been turned upside down.

The attacking arms sounds like she's just responding (with fear) to her new situation.  You may be better off just letting her alone for a few days.  Make sure her routine doesn't change much (food at the same time, potty cleaned regularly).  If you want to get close to her, sit near her and read quietly to her.  Routine is so critical to cats, any change may send them into inappropriate behaviors.  But with a new, quiet routine, she'll come around within a few days.

Although we may never know, but her behavior may be why she was dropped off.  Some people play with kittens with their hands.  It's adorable when the kittens attack hands but isn't so cute when the kitten grows up and does it.
 
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carlyl

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The not-trusting part sounds normal for someone whose life has just been turned upside down.

The attacking arms sounds like she's just responding (with fear) to her new situation.  You may be better off just letting her alone for a few days.  Make sure her routine doesn't change much (food at the same time, potty cleaned regularly).  If you want to get close to her, sit near her and read quietly to her.  Routine is so critical to cats, any change may send them into inappropriate behaviors.  But with a new, quiet routine, she'll come around within a few days.

Although we may never know, but her behavior may be why she was dropped off.  Some people play with kittens with their hands.  It's adorable when the kittens attack hands but isn't so cute when the kitten grows up and does it.
She has been at the shelter for quite a few weeks. We try to keep everything the same, but with different people everyday, it gets challenging. I really just want her to trust me, I feel so awful for her.
 

ondine

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I'm not surprised.  Shelter life can be stressful for even the most laid back cats.  Just hang in there.  Hopefully, someone will come along who just falls in love with her and makes her a good, quiet home.

I can't work for or volunteer in a shelter.  I would run shrieking, so I have nothing but admiration for you and all other shelter workers.  God bless you all...
 

merstockgto

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Have a lot of patience and show lots of attention. It is amazing what a kind hand can do for an animal. We rescued a feral ourselves in 2011 and trapped it with a borrowed trap from a feline rescue.  At first she was terrified of humans and it was obvious she had never been handled by humans. Two years later she is an indoor cat since we got her and gets along with our other 4 kitties and they interact and play. She has the run of the house now and hangs out where we hang out. She has a very sweet disposition and really takes to Ben, a big black cat and is real mellow. She follows him around and puts her rump in his face and it doesn't phase him as he seems clueless. It is so cute. All an animal needs is a chance and we are so glad we took Sox (we named her) in is part of the family. She does not cry to go outside and has windows to look out. She is very content and happy and even meows to us. Feral cats do not meow to you but since she is used to us and not scared of us she meows when we talk to her.
 
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