Help make this girl feel better :(

I've been fostering an 8 year old female cat for just over a month now. She has been struggling with poorly regulated diabetes and is beginning to suffer the effects of neuropathy as a result.  I've been working with the vet to get her on a strict meal plan and to find an appropriate insulin dosage to better normalize her blood sugar. I was very lucky with my last foster cat who went into diabetic remission in less than two weeks! This girl however, is a little more stubborn and I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of it had to do with stress.

She hasn't had much stability in her life, she's been adopted out and returned a couple of times because of health issues and peeing outside the box. Since returning to the rescue organization, she's been passed around a few foster homes due to a number of reasons, and her last foster had unintentionally been giving her 10x her insulin dosage due to misunderstanding the syringes. Her values were below 2.0mmol/L, barely even consistent with life, I'm surprised this cat has pulled through. 

Since moving in with me, she has claimed the bathroom as her safe room. Her litterbox, food & water, and cat bed are all in there and this room is where she spends 23 hours out of the day. I don't think she's been socialized to cats because she is very frightened and nervous of my 6 year old male, Gus. He is such a friendly boy and loves other cats but she doesn't want anything to do with him. When Gus goes outside or is asleep in our bedroom, she will come out from the bathroom and wander around the suite (look out windows, scratch the carpet, rub up against everything) but if I try to pet her, talk to her, move from A to B, she will run to the bathroom and cower on her bed. 

I always try to give her positive reinforcement when she comes out of the bathroom but it seems to have no effect. She loves when I go visit her in there, she will purr like mad and sleep on my lap... but outside of the bathroom, I am a threat to her. The poor girl, I hate that she hides in there because there is no stimulation for her, there are no windows and she just sleeps by herself all day long.  I can usually coax her out at mealtime, and have her and Gus eat together but she will eventually just run back to the bathroom before finishing.

She has no desire to play. On her bed she will bat at a toy mousie a bit but shows no real interest. I've tried everything! Laser pointer, ipad cat games, jingle balls, bird videos, feather teasers, elastics, you name it.... I understand that she doesn't feel great and her legs are very weak, but I just want to provide her with some entertainment..help take her mind off feeling ill and scared of everything

I guess the purpose of this post is to seek others' advice on what I can do to make this girl more comfortable, what will make her feel better and safer. I want to encourage her to come out of hiding and be more social with us, and eventually with Gus. It breaks my heart to have her hide away, secluding herself from our company and affection. It's been over a month now, I wish she could realize that she is safe to sleep on the couch or on our bed, and that Gus will not hurt her. 

Until then... I'll continue curling up next to the toilet on the bathroom floor so I can lay with her and keep her company

Thanks in advance! 

My Cocheezie was this way when she came to us. Her previous owner died and was not found for a couple of days. It took a year before she would come out from underneath the bed on her own without having to be hauled out for petting. We hauled her out each day to pet and groom to help her get used to us. She came out at night on her own and ate and did her business and looked out the bedroom window while we were sleeping. The periods she stayed out gradually became longer and longer, she started sleeping on the bed at night, and once she was comfortable with that, she slept on the bed during the day. We didn't do anything special. We just treated her new journeys as every day occurrences and she eventually became comfortable with us. She hardly ever goes under the bed anymore. It took time and routine for her to see that we were not a threat. Still, after four years, she still does not leave the second floor of the house unless I carry her down the stairs.

Have you tried putting all her things in a different room (with a window)? Or putting up a baby gate on the bathroom door so that she can see the other cat (and you)? Or setting up a place in the suite where she can feel unthreatened by you or the cat? (I'm thinking litter box, food, water, and a cardboard box or cat carrier with the door taken off in which to hide - all put in a playpen. Just a thought - have never tried it.) This might help her adjust. Once she has studied Gus's behaviour, she may find him less of a threat. She seems to like you best when you are sitting or lying down. Do the same when she is wandering the suite at mealtime. Right now, she's feeling vulnerable. A sitting or lying human is less of a threat than a standing/walking human. She's been through a lot and she realizes that she can't escape a bad situation (if one should develop) because her hind legs are weak. However, the more she uses her hind legs, the better. She has to keep what muscle tone she has and develop more muscle tone if possible. She's also had to deal with too much insulin, and now minor changes as the insulin dosage is being regulated. That's a lot of change. Your foster kitty is a survivor. And you are doing a great job.

10x!!!! My diabetic cat (cat #2) wouldn't last 12 hours if I gave him that dose. 

Poor kitty, of course it will take time.  A lot of people have had success with the Feliway diffusers, it kind of depends on the cat, some react very well and it makes no difference to some.  There are some holistic remedies to calm fearful cats.  Jackson Galaxy has some called Spirit Essences http://store.jacksongalaxy.com/Spirit-Essences-Bestsellers-s/1850.htm.  Some people have also had good luck with Bach Rescue Remedy http://www.bachflower.com/rescue-remedy-pets-bach-flower/.  I think the rescue remedy is more widely available in pet stores.

Sometimes it just takes some time for them to get used to a new house.  She has been through a lot so understandably she is a little nervous about her situation.  Is there any way to put her in another room and let her get used to that room too?  May make it easier for her to get used to the whole house.

Thanks for the responses! 

 I have tried the Feliway spray a couple of times now without noticing any improvement. I will try again since it's been a couple weeks that I've used it. I have always been tempted to try out Jackson Galaxy's Spirit Essences, I love that man! Will consider that if my next measures are unsuccessful. 

Cocheezie, you were previously right. I did take her to the vet yesterday and it was decided that she is most likely suffering from neuropathy. We probably won't see improvement for about 4-6 weeks, and that is only if her BG is normalized which has been a very difficult task. Her numbers are all over the place! We check twice a day, 12 hours apart and the numbers can range from 4.0-20.0mmol/L. The last couple of days have been especially high...

We live in a small one bedroom suite. I leave the door to the bathroom open, and from where her bed is, she can see right out the door to us in the main living area. I like the idea of creating a safe spot for her in this space. The playpen is a great idea, she doesn't move around that much as it is so I doubt she would feel trapped. However, I don't currently have a playpen....let alone the space for one! I will try to recreate for her a soothing spot outside of the bathroom, a big cardboard box with her blanket in it.

I just don't want to force her out of the bathroom and lock her out of it, I would hate for her to panic and stress herself out. Maybe the next time Gus is outside, I will lock her out of the bathroom and sit on the floor with her. Give her some special treats and guide her to her new bed without Gus interfering.

I guess patience is the best approach, small adjustments to her already established routine for short amounts of time only. 

hope your cats gets better x