New Behavior From My Semi-Feral Cat

Hi!

I'm new to this site, but so glad I found it! I find myself telling my friends and family every day about updates with my semi-feral cat, and I think they're getting a little bored of it!

Attached is my little cat, Bowie. I found her and her siblings outside my house almost a year ago. After a nasty neighborhood cat began to attack them and with the nearing winter, I chose to bring Bowie inside. At first, well for months, she was completely scared. Without knowing how to bring her to the vet, she stayed in my heated garage for a few months. She basically looked like a statue as she would be completely frozen every time I entered the room. After finally getting her to a mobile vet, we decided to bring her inside the house. She basically lived under our couch and wouldn't come out for ANYTHING when we were around. I bought her toys and talked to her and played music for her and she would not budge. Finally, she began to warm up a little. After getting her spayed, I was able to pet her while she was still fuzzy from the anesthesia. For a while, she let me pet her. But one day, she decided it was enough and started hissing at me every time I brought my hand close to her. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to pet her since. After relocating her to my new house at college, she has readjusted well! She comes out and walks around and has even started making meow-like noises. She plays on her cat tree and jumps on my bed sometimes, too.

Anyway - was just wondering if anyone has advice for me. Lately, while I'm lying on the floor or sitting on the floor in order to interact with her, she comes up to me, sniffs my face, then lifts her paw up with her claws out to my face. It definitely spooks me, but I try not to move or look at her when she's doing this. The other day, she attempted to swat my face. I'm still unable to pet her. A few months ago, I was able to get her to eat out of my hand a few times, but now she's decided she doesn't really like my hands. When I have food in my hand and offer it to her, she will not even come close. Anyone have any advice on how to continue positive progress with my little bud?
 

I'm sorry, I don't have many idea's for you but I do want to say you're a good cat mum. Lots of people would have stopped persisting well before now. Maybe try some feliway spray on your clothes when sitting down for interaction time? What happens if you disguise your hands like by putting them in gloves or something, does she still steer clear of them? What happens if you have a closed fist as opposed to having fingers out?

Awe...she looks just like my little Indy.  Indy has petting issues as well.  When they're born to a mom that doesn't trust humans it is hard to convince them that all of us aren't so bad.  Have you tried brushing her with a hairbrush?  Show it to her and let her sniff it.  If it smells like your hair, all the better.  Any time you approach her move in slow motion.  Real slow.  See if she will allow you to lightly run it down her back.  Most cats love the feel of it.

As for claws on the face...maybe don't lie down with her quite yet.  Definitely sit on the floor.  When you do try to pet her with your hand focus only on her head, ears, neck, and chin.  Very slowly with a light touch.

I have better luck petting Indy when she is distracted with her face in her food bowl.  She almost seems to like petting while she's eating.

Good luck.  Let us know how its going.  We love hearing every detail here at TCS.

Make sure that you never look her in the eye. If she looks at you, blink slowly. A direct stare in feral culture is a challenge. Blinking tells her things are cool.

We have a former feral who now comes up to us and gives blinkies when he's feeling particularly friendly. He will allow a ten second head scritch now and again in but we can't pet him. He's the cat in my avatar.

She may never be a lap cat and may never like being touched. Some cats don't, so please don't loose heart. It is just they way they are.

I do love black cats. She is a beauty!