Fostering an immensely frightened cat and need some help!

Hi,

We have taken in a seven year old female cat for fostering almost a month ago. She was taken out of an outside cat colony by the shelter because she seemed "adoptable". The vet seems to think she has spent most of her life outside, as she has teeth missing, a scar, she had ear mites upon entering the shelter, etc, and seems absolutely not used to human contact. The vet says she is not aggressive at all, just very frightened. Her reaction to her feeling fear is to freeze completely, and walking (crawling) with her belly on the ground. 

Since we have brought her home she has stayed hidden, except when she is very sure we are sleeping, when she eats and uses her litter box. She does have a good appetite, and eats her wet food, dry food, and treats, but she will never approach when I lay it down for her; it takes several hours for her to come eat it. We try talking to her in a soft voice, and show her signs of appeasement such as blinking slowly, as we were taught to do. 

Other than that, we don't know what to do to have her come out of hiding and interact. Any suggestions? Has this happened to any of you and how long did it take for the cat to socialize? Thank you very much for the help, we feel so bad for her being so frightened, still after almost a month of being with us. 

She is very stressed right now with all the changes in her life, and believe me a month is not a very long time in a situation like this. Focus on what is good, she uses the litter box, is not aggressive, and eats! I have had cats take a year to accept humans, you have to treat her like a wild creature and get her used to you and her new home. Do as you are doing , sit quietly in the same room and read out loud so she gets used to your voice. Tempt her with yummy treats such as tuna or canned meat baby food so she associates you with good food. Never corner her or force her to come out, everything will take time and patience. You have come to the right site for help, there are many experienced people here who can advise you, or get some ideas from 'back' forums. Please look under the Ferals and Rescue Forum for good tips.  Bless you for giving her a chance, it won't be easy or quick but I think she will eventually come around, I'll pray for you all.

I can only agree with  Di and Bob!!

Kittens we've taken in that didn't have the time yet to become traumatized have taken weeks and months to really "warm up" to us and let us touch them without becoming  terrified and going into hiding. From what you describe your cat has been through hell and she can't yet believe that humans can be anything but mean. You'll need TONS of patience with her. As Di and Bob said - keep your distance, let her come to you, maybe put some of your clothes where she sleeps so she can get familiar with the smell of her people. Sit on the floor when you try to talk to her or feed her some treats, you won't look that threatening and you'll be having almost eye to eye contact... And you never know what a catnip filled mouse (a larger one) might do to help you find a way to her... And last but not least - from what I know - Fancy Feast has melted down all barriers to the toughest feline hearts... I hope you keep her for good and that she finally finds a good and loving home. Good Luck to you all!!!!

You might go into the Ferals and Rescue forums; you are essentially dealing with a feral cat.
Alley Cat Allies has some wonderful articles, too. She is not a kitten, but the principles are the same. This is a longish thread that you might also finding helpful/hopeful/interesting.

Di and Bob, Ouiser, and Ritz, thank you SO much for your help and kind words. I will read all suggested reading and stay hopeful and positive that she will be a very happy cat in the future. Thank you!! 

Hello Mister C - just wondering how you guys're doing??

Hope there's some improvement in your relationship and in any case remember it's always your fault - never the cat's...  

Hi Ouiser! That's so nice of you! She is still hiding, but after all I've read, I understood we had unrealistic expectations of how fast she would be used to us. So we just let her be, trying to make her days the most comfortable we can (dry and wet food, clean filtered water every day, litter cleaned every day, kitty treats thrown close to her, one of my shirts behind the dryer with her so she can get used to my scent), and I always talk to her. 

Madame Royal is very cute!! You must be so happy with this improvement in closeness

You're most welcome!! Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

Well hello there fellow-country-woman

What everyone else has said. Time. For some reason 6-8 weeks seems to be the magic number. I've had so many kitties that I thought wouldn't tame up then we hit the 6 week mark and all the sudden they change their minds!

So keep going with what you are doing. 

I've also hear tennis balls are good for transferring your scent to and giving to the kitties to smell.

I've been know to sit in the room with my ferals and play my 3ds for an hour or two every day, just so they see me as non threatening.

Also it sounds like she's free range in your house? If you could maybe get her squared away in a bedroom or a smaller room its easier for them to adapt to a smaller space, then an entire house at a time.

Hi ReiKitty,

Oh I really hope that it will be a magic number for us too! How would you get your scent on a tennis ball though? She is actually in the bathroom, as suggested by the people at the shelter. 

Thanks for your help!

Just handling and rubbing the ball with your hands would do it, also laying a piece of your USED clothing, such as a shirt, helps to get them used to your smell. Just DON'T give up, I've had them take months and months before they feel comfortable. you are doing wonderfully!

Di and Bob said:

 
Just handling and rubbing the ball with your hands would do it, also laying a piece of your USED clothing, such as a shirt, helps to get them used to your smell. Just DON'T give up, I've had them take months and months before they feel comfortable. you are doing wonderfully!

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I heard stick it in your arm pit for a little bit so it picks up your scent. The key is to make something smell like you so that they get used to your smell, so make sure not to use a clean item.

You may want to look at getting a calming pheromone too. Such as Feliway and plug it in her bathroom. I honestly can't tell if it works or not for calming ferals down but I have seen it calm down very stressed kitties and I always use it when I bring home a new frightened foster.

They can take a very long time to adapt. And since she's an older gal she's actually doing really well in the fact she eating and not freaking out in your home.

You may also want to try treats like rotisserie or warm deli chicken that you bring in only when your there. And if she likes that you become the source of delicious treats.

If you have foster before and you have another kitty you know does well with new fosters you may want to think about slowly introducing the two. As she sees you interacting with the other kitty it'll help her release you don't mean any harm and that you are a good thing. I have 6 of mine own and only one I do this with. He is a big teddy bear and he pounces on my feral kittens and gives them baths and babies them. He seems to help them relax when I'm in the room with him. I watch carefully though as some ferals will see him as an invasion of their territory and can be aggressive but most cases if they come from a colony they accept him. Just an idea!

Ouiser said:

Well hello there fellow-country-woman

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fellow country woman?

The vet recommended the Feliway plug-in... I will probably get it, even though I find it's a little pricey. Will keep you guys posted! I really appreciate all the help and encouragement!

You know I have heard some people on here say that feliway helped some, but in my experience, it's never helped, unfortunately.

What is clear to me is, you have a semi feral cat on your hands.

So even though in time she will eventually come around a bit, slooowly, the minute she gets adopted the new owners will go through the very same thing.

In my rescue group I can't begin to tell how many semi feral cats I have been unable to find adoptive homes for due to their fear and hiding, most people want an instant lap warmer, and very few and far between that are willing to wait.

She can be advertised as an indoor/outdoor kitty, so she does eventually get adopted, and that she will mouse too.

MUST be clear of the acclimating process of a minimum of 4 weeks indoors though so she will stay put and not wander off.

The ONLY kittens/cats I am able to adopt out sort of easy who are semi ferals are the beautiful ones, long haired or purebred looking, or Siamese.

THEN people are willing to be patient.............

Poor girl! Glad you have her though

catwoman707, thank you very much for your answer, it made me realize that I should already put her up for adoption, because I was waiting for her to be socialized, but if she goes into a new home and starts hiding again anyways (which is logical), then I might have missed out on a good adoptive family for that whole time I was waiting. In her profile I wrote very clearly that she spent most of her life outside and that she will be hiding at the beginning, and I will be more explicit with people who ask about her. Thanks for the great tips!!

Glad to have helped!

What she has on her side is looks.

She's a lovely girl and this will help people with patience and allowing her time to come around and get comfy.

When you post her, be sure to get REALLY good, clear pictures of her and a great, creative bio of her.

Pics work, seriously. The best pics and bios I have posted seem to get my fosters adopted fast.

Good luck!!

I really wish you wouldn't have her adopted but adopt her yourself. She'll go through a terrible time being hauled out from where she's hiding to be terrified all over again maybe with people who really haven't got your patience.