Cat found in snow pile. (Abuse case)

winstongrape

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Hi All,

    I have 3 very well adjusted cats.  They all get along with each other and are well behaved, affectionate, and enjoyable as pets.  I have been working with rescue cats for many years.  I've often taken stray cats in and found homes for them.  A little over a month ago, I was driving with a friend.  We are located in Philadelphia, and we have had a terrible winter.  Coming home one day, I saw a black cat in a snow pile.  It was about 12 degrees that night, so we got out of the car to see if we could try and get her into a warm spot.  She was very shy of us but eventually my friend was able to pick her up.  I held her on my lap the entire car ride home.  She did not move.  I think she was a combination of freezing and maybe in a bit of shock. 

I decided because of the other animals (as to not overwhelm her) to keep her in the bedroom.  I kept her food bowls in there as well as her litter box.  For the first 2-3 days she hid completely under the bed and I did not see her.  When she came out, I was shocked to see the condition of her coat.  She was missing a significant amount of fur (mainly at the tail and back legs) and in the middle of her back she had this terrible lesion that looked bloody and painful.  Not sure how she got this, but I went to the pet store and put a drop of holistic skin care formula in her very high quality food.

Amazingly, the lesion has totally healed.  Hair has even slightly grown back.  I can tell her coat is getting better and she grooms herself heavily.  I am writing this because as I stated before I have worked with MANY cats that have been found on the streets, and this case is by far the worst I have seen.  She is TOTALLY hand and feet shy.  She has attacked my foot and run off (clearly not aggressive just pure fear)  I have tried to pet her a couple of times (while sitting on her level) and she does a quick swat or bite.

She has come SUCH a long way.  Now she will jump up on the bed and sleep with me.  When I'm on the floor, she'll pur and sit close to me, but still does not accept a pet.  I talk to her in a soft voice and just try to make her feel comfortable.  She also does this thing when you go to stand where she bends her back legs and walks very low to ground as if extremely frightened.  I feel that this cat was severely abused.  She does not even know how to accept pets. 

Instead of feeling sorry for her, I would like her to get adjusted.  I have not taken her to see a vet yet because I think that would traumatize her even more.  I plan on getting her examined when she is more used to being handled.  I am fully prepared for her not to get along with the other cats, so I am treating this situation as a cat where I'll have to place and I want her to be the best she can be.  Until that day comes, she will have a comfortable life with me.  I am seeking to be pro active as long as I have her.  She makes these small improvements and it really warms my heart.  It's like shes curious and purs and wants to be pet, but is terrified. 

Does anyone have experience with this?  What is the best way to go about this. 
 

oneandahalfcats

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Bless you for taking this little one into your life. Its lucky that you found her when you did. It sounds like she has recovered very nicely as the result of your efforts. Its very nice that you are prepared to go the distance in keeping her until you find a forever home. I wish you all the best of luck with her, and your other cats in the coming days.
 
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winstongrape

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Thank you so much! It's been so rewarding.
 

catwoman707

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What a wonderful rescue!! LOVE this :)

I have a cat rescue group myself, and also am very active in TNR and caring for several cat colonies.

In my opinion, this cat sounds to me like a) it is an unneutered male, b) it is feral, or at least semi-feral, either with very little contact with humans, or possibly owned at some point for a short time and has been homeless, so has reverted to instinctual survival mode.

The low to the ground is typical of a fearful, unsocialized cat.

My guess is also that the wound on his back was from another unneutered male cat, abcessed, blew itself open and drained, clearing out the poison.

What I would do is, find a vet who deals with ferals, have him give you a little pill that will make him very drowsy/helpless, then get him in to see the vet, get him neutered and tested for fiv/felv.

The bites are how the majority of positive cats get these diseases. You will need to know he is clear before allowing him to be near your current cats.

FIV is not so important, if he is or is not, it's certainly isn't a death sentence, and not easily tranferred unless he is not neutered. 

It's more the felv you want to find out about to protect your cats as well as in his future home.

Once neutered and fattened up somewhat, maybe finding an indoor/outdoor mouser home will be best for him.

Even a full on feral cat will have come around as he has with you, when, at the time you found him, he was helpless, which forced him to trust you handling him then. 

Cats have a sense, and know you helped him, basically saved his life.
 

di and bob

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She may very well always be a little scared and fearful  after abuse. I would definitely try to rehome her with an older person who could provide a stable, quiet environment. She'll come around eventually and would make someone who is willing to put in the effort a loving companion. Good luck, I'll keep you both in my thoughts and prayers.
 
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winstongrape

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Thank you for the response!  I had assumed she was a female because she is very small (full grown but tiny.)  Anyway, you seem to have experience, so this makes sense that this would be a male cat.  I did not post prior about FIV, but i'm well aware.  She has NO contact with my other cats simply because of this. 

Thank you for the tip about being an inside/outside cat.  Do you think that if I found a home that kept this cat as an indoor cat, that would be doing him an injustice?  Also, any tips on making him less hand shy or feel more comfortable in general.

I will for sure get a pill from the vet, great suggestion!
 

vball91

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If you can get him/her more socialized, I think you could find him/her an indoor only home as long as the new owners are aware of his/her level of socialization and accepting of it. I would wait and see on that decision.

As for becoming less hand shy, you could try offering treats and yummy food by hand (positive associations). I think you are doing the right things to make him/her more comfortable. You could also add Feliway or Rescue Remedy and play soft classical music when you're not there. Thanks for saving this little soul!
 

catwoman707

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Thank you for the response!  I had assumed she was a female because she is very small (full grown but tiny.)  Anyway, you seem to have experience, so this makes sense that this would be a male cat.  I did not post prior about FIV, but i'm well aware.  She has NO contact with my other cats simply because of this. 

Thank you for the tip about being an inside/outside cat.  Do you think that if I found a home that kept this cat as an indoor cat, that would be doing him an injustice?  Also, any tips on making him less hand shy or feel more comfortable in general.

I will for sure get a pill from the vet, great suggestion!
I wouldn't say it was an injustice, no, it would really more depend on how much he settles down about going outside once he has been neutered for a good month, so his hormones are no longer ruling him, etc.

Sometimes, no matter how safe and trusting a feral has become in a home, they still want out, and will be an escapee, or whine to get out, but then again, some do not. They don't miss that life and don't have any desire to be out there again.

It's hard to tell now, until fixed and the weather gets warmed up somewhat. 

If the cat is well acclimated into it's forever home, it's best to allow him to decide to come and go if or as he pleases. If he has the need to be outside, then keeping him inside only may backfire, causing him to stay away from home once he does get let out.

Good luck! You are doing such a great thing for this kitty :)) !!
 
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