Very worried about stray cat

i didn't know how to post my problem.   i have a stray cat that is not affectionate. i have had her two weeks. the last four to five days she is laying on kitchen counter, table,refrigerator. just lays there unless she eats , drinks, or goes to bathroom. i am very upset-making me feel like it's not going to work out.i don't know whether to keep her or not. i am so upset.  i don't know what to do.  please help.

Hi Clynn,

Could you tell us more about her? How did you get her? Has she seen a vet? 

clynn said:

 
i didn't know how to post my problem.   i have a stray cat that is not affectionate. i have had her two weeks. the last four to five days she is laying on kitchen counter, table,refrigerator. just lays there unless she eats , drinks, or goes to bathroom. i am very upset-making me feel like it's not going to work out.i don't know whether to keep her or not. i am so upset.  i don't know what to do.  please help.

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The question here is, her laying down about so much, is it because she is sick - and need to see a vet ASAP.   Or if it is a natural behavior in these circumstances.

Does she jump up to the refrigerator?  If so, I hope she is essentially OK.

I gather also, she is no shy semiferale, who must be fostered some, but is a family girl who got dumped, or got astray?   Anyways, some time of "fostering light"  may be necessary.  While on their own, they got used to be mistrusting to humans, and even more or less shy.   Time, love and patience - but the reward is rich.  They will love you with all their might after the first period.

I do guess she was more affecionate the first days??  And it was a big part why you adopted her?    If so,

My guess is, in the beginning she was eager to please herself in.  After a while, when she was in and began to feel some security, her basic needs covered too, NOW she dares to relax, darest to take a rest.  Its a gruesome work to try and survive when you are an outcast out there, without any legal rights....  A fight for survival, where you even dont dare to show you are tired, and absolutely not you are exhausted.

And thus, its quite common adopted homeless, when they have landed somewhat, they do take again what they didnt had.  Resting, sleeping a lot a couple of weeks.

If you proceed to be a loving, patient, kind owner, she will come around and give you her affection and love again. This time, not because she wants to please herself in, but because you had earned it.

Aye, the big difference between cats and dogs is, a dog will serve you, obey you, be pleasant to you because you are his master.  The alpha leader. Even if you are really no good master.  (Of course, if you are ALSO friendly, lovingly, etc, he will love you for real, its not fake)

A cat will love you and give you his fully affection firstly and only when you deserve his friendship.  But if you are a so so owner, he will be a so so cat.

That said, a vet check up doesnt hurt, if you hadnt done it earlier.  Including deworming and preferably also  the core vaccines.

If she has fever, the easiest way is by such an modern ear thermometer, or if you have a more oldfashioned termometer, by measuring in the armpit of her foreleg.  The temperature there is lower than in the behind, so you must add a full grade of Celsius, or three grades of Fahrenheit - depending of which termometer scale you use.

Please, come with more reports, and you are also welcome with further questions!

Good luck!

clynn said:

 
she was a stray outside our apts..  i took her in..  hasn't been to vet yet.  it is breaking my heart what is going on. last night when i was going to bed she got in front window-not while i was there. she is not hurt. i don't know if i can go another week like this.     i pray about it.  literally she has nothing to do with me 24/7. 

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As said, patience, some love, and time does wonders.  She seeing you are coming with her food regularly helps much!  You can cheat a little, and come with small portions, but often!

So she connectes you with food and pleasantlies.

Talk a lot with a friendly soft voice.  Dont look into her eyes, look a little aside.

Also, if you can get a Feliway diffuser, it should help some.  Feliway is a man made copy of their face feromoners, which they spread around by rubbing in their face on everything. Giving them a feeling of harmony, coziness, relaxation...

Make sure she has a scratch post or two.  You can have radio on on low volume.  Music channel?  Preferably something relaxing, classical music is best, but most soft relaxing works...

Some forumite recomennded cat purrs - there are such on youtube.

When at the vets, let him see if she is spayed.  If not, spaying is necessary, either you keep her, or let her back outside... Its a great gift for an outside cats.  And also for your own inside cat, making its life much easier.

Good luck!

I took in a stray cat in August last year, she was unwell and very nervous. She couldn't walk and was dragging her back legs, took her to the vet who established she had an infection and it was abdo pain which was causing her to drag her legs.

She was also very unsociable and frightened and slept a lot at first. She now sleeps on my bed, my lap is her favourite place, I never thought she would be a lap cat! This took months. She has only just learnt how to play, she now initiates this!

I suggest:

Firstly give her a room/ hiding place just for her! So food bowls, water, and bed should be here, if it's a big room put her litter box here too, but obviously well away from the food! They also like to hide and be up high, so if you can, get a cat tree.

Don't look/stare at her as this is seen as threatening behaviour, but do go into the room and just sit and read, just leave her be/ ignore her and she will get used to you.

If she associates you with food, she will love you, feed her treats off of your hand when she trusts you a bit more.

Do go to the Vet, Princess my stray also had fleas and ear mites, once these were treated she appreciated being touched a lot more.

Give it time, cats take ages to adjust/ feel comfortable in new situations.

She is in a much better position now than when she was a stray, she's warm and well fed, she may become a lap cat or she will remain happy in her own company, but she will not always be so scared!

Good luck, don't give up she's lucky to have you. Keep us posted