Adopted a stray, not sure what kind of cat? Not a clue in the world what I am doing!

Hi, 

Firstly, I have no experience with cats and have only ever owned dogs, so I will be grateful for any help! A small stray had been hanging around my garden for a few days, so I started to feed her and then after a week I managed to catch her. I took her to the vet who said she was very malnourished, and had an eye infection and feline acne. No owner could be found for her and the vet said she would likely be put down because she isn't very adoptable. So, I adopted her. 

We named her Shy and she is living up to that name. We have given her one very large room and she seems happy there, she explores but hides whenever we open the door. Her moods are very up and down, also. Sometimes she will let me pat her on the back and even the top of the head. Yesterday, she ate tuna from my hand but today when I tried, she hissed her little heart out. As soon as she hisses, I always back off, so she knows that she can say no and we will listen. I have no idea if that is the right thing to do? 

I've been talking to her as much as I can and always make sure she can see that I am putting her food and water down for her. I have to give her antiobiotics by squirting a syringe down her throat every morning and evening, I'm afraid this is going to make her hate me. :/ Is there anything I can do to make her less stressed about it? 

She is very skittish and does do a lot of hissing but she has never swiped at any one, or bitten. When I talk to her, sometimes she closes her eyes and sometimes when I stop patting her, she looks over her shoulder as if she wants me to continue. It's just very up and down and hard to gauge. 

Any advice on how I should be building trust with her and hopefully making her want to be friendly with us? 

Also, does anyone know what kind of cat she is? Vet said she was under a year old and probably a ragdoll or long haired saimese. 

This is her in the spot she basically doesn't move from behind the TV haha. 

Try the feliway plugins for her room. Helps calm cats.

Aw, what a doll! It's wonderful that you've taken her in, her life is going to be so much better for it. You can do this and you are going to learn an awful lot in the next couple months! As someone who also grew up with dogs, it requires a very different kind of thinking to understand cats, but you'll get there!

It's good that she's still not quite an adult. It's still going to take some time, but her youth will help things move a little bit more quickly.

I rescued a cat in a very similar situation to this one, he was very scared and sick and malnourished, and I had to give him so much medication and baths and so much terrible stuff that I thought he was going to hate me for sure, but he just ended up being so grateful that he was warm and dry and full and feeling better that he forgave me very quickly, so don't worry!

You're doing the right thing by giving her her own room for now. You can't really take things too slow! You might want to set up some cardboard boxes in her room with some blankets or towels in them. These will be nice places for her to hide and they're quite cozy and easy to clean/replace if necessary. 

Stock up on some human baby food, either Gerber or Beechnut chicken or turkey, the kind in little jars. This stuff isn't nutritionally balanced for a complete kitty diet, but it's wonderful to get sick cats to eat more calories and very enticing for socializing scared cats. When I was socializing my little rescue, this webpage was my bible: http://bestfriends.org/resources/socializing-very-shy-or-fearful-cats

Shy is already more advanced than the cats they based these methods on, but it doesn't hurt to start at the beginning and go through all the basics. She does not have to be in a cage like these shelter cats were. If she's hiding in the box when you come in this will work well. It also doesn't sound like you'll need gloves. We know she doesn't have rabies, she's not showing any signs of aggression, and she's probably too weak and little to be a threat anyway. She'd have to be in a situation where she felt extremely threatened right now to lash out, and that's not something that's going to happen.

The backing off when she hisses is an excellent instinct. She will definitely trust you more if she feels like you're listening to her. That she's closing her eyes when you're around is wonderful! It's a sign of trust that you don't need to be watched every second. If she catches your eyes and blinks slowly, blink slowly back at her. It feels silly, but it's a cat's way of saying she feels safe, and you saying, "I feel safe too" is an easy way to communicate.

Another little trick to make her feel comfortable is to start petting her with just one or two fingers in little strokes at the tip of her nose backwards. This is how a mother cat starts a grooming session with her kitten. I still do that to my 5 year old cat when I need to calm her down. 

When she gets stronger, she's going to start wanting to play more. My rescue was about 6 months old, so we were able to jump ahead a few steps just because once he got healthy he just couldn't resist not coming out to play! Kittens will usually play with just about anything. You can get her some little cat toys, or even just crumpled up balls of paper. Play is another good way to bond. Make sure you take anything with string or feathers out of the room when you're not with her in case she tries to eat them. 

I don't know if the vet told you this already or not, but for the cat acne you just need to take a warm, damp, cloth and gently clean the area.

She's definitely in the Siamese family, but I'm not very good at all the distinctions beyond that. I have heard that Siamese have a reputation for being very talkative, so you might have that to look forward to! I think she is going to be just a wonderful cat! 

Just for reference, this was the rescue I took in almost a year ago. As soon as he was socialized and healthy I adopted him out to a great family with another cat he could play with. I named him Merlin because he looked like a little old wizard. This is him when I first brought him inside, 2 weeks later, and then 1 month after:

   

I would compare her to a ragdoll. I suppose the vet has checked up if she has a chip on her?  Not all purebreds do have cheap, its not mandatory in USA, but still, its common. ps. Her points seems to be black(ish). So she is a so called seal point, possibly sepia point.  Her body will darken up some with time, but it will never get entirely black.

Her hissing is apparently more a warning, its not a real threat.  but as you say, its good you show her you are respectful to her.

Its this need to forcefeed the medicines which makes the fostering process slower, but  on the other side.  She knows she is in big trouble, and you are the only real chance to make it.  So she is doing her outmost to copy, and will be grateful afterwards too...

Make her perhas a legal hiding place, alike a igloo or cat tent.  Also a scratchin post will make her feel more like home...

Tx for helping this little sis of ours!

Good luck!

Hi @ClairS and welcome to TCS.

I just wanted to say thanks and bless you for taking in 'Shy' and adopting her.  She is gorgeous, and very lucky to have found you and wandered into your garden.

I cannot really add much to the specific and helpful advice that @Molly92 has given.  So most of this would just be repeats.

She may be sitting behind the t.v. because it is warm, and feels safe, so as 'Molly92' mentioned, adding boxes, cat beds, cat blankets and giving Shy her own safe spaces,  but also giving her options to be close to where people are, will go a long way into making her feel comfortable. That way, Shy will have the options of sleeping where she wants, but also being close to you, when she wants. Adding some vertical spaces such as cat trees and cat shelves or side tables, where she can sleep may also help, if she prefers to be up higher, and still be able to observe, her new domain.

Backing off when she hisses, right now, is very good, because you are respecting her signals, and in time, she will do it less as she begins to trust you more.

I'd also try using different foods like baked chicken, or freeze dried chicken treats, or any canned cat food that she likes, after administering the meds, so she associates something good following the giving of the medication. Sometimes, offering a few cat treats is all that is needed, to make a cat feel less stressed.  Also having fresh water available nearby helps after antibiotic syringes.

Molly92 already mentioned using 'play sessions' as good ways of building trust with Shy when she feels stronger, and I'd just say to make sure to NOT use your own hands when playing, but rather use things like ping pong balls, thicker strings, wide fabric sashes, or indeed just ordinary crumpled up paper as great play toys, to prevent your own hands from being scratched or bit.

I also don't really know what breed of cat she is, so would agree with Molly, yet there is another section of this Site, where you could post a photo and ask.  It's here...under the Cat Breeds section. (Ahh, but I just saw that Stefan Z has answered you, and that is the person who would know.  )

For the cat acne, I have read that using stainless steel bowls, as opposed to plastic bowls is better, but I really don't have experience with this.

Shy being around 1 year old, means that you will have plenty of fun and shenanigans in store. But you're still in the 'getting to know each other phase' so it'll take some time to get to know each other's personality, and behaviour.

Good Luck and remember to enjoy this time, too. There will be bumps along the way, and moments of 'what was that all about?'...but that happens to all of us, regardless of having had experience with dogs or cats.  

Welcome!  And many, many blessings on you for helping this beautiful cat.

All the advice here is spot-on but I wanted to add one thing that worked for me.  I used to go into the room and sit on the floor, reading out loud for about half an hour at a time.  I realized this gets the cat used to my presence and voice.  Usually when you read aloud, your inflection is somewhat flat, so there are no tones to frighten or startle her.  After a time, I could just sit and read and almost every time, the cat would come out, curious as to why I'd gotten quiet.  This was an opportunity for me to address the cat directly and start the interaction.

You might try blinking slowly at her.  Although she's probably not truly feral, she may have learned some feral language.  Blinking is the was feral cats tell one another its cool.  It is like a warm smile to them.

If there is a way you can provide her with a box or carrier to hide in, it will give her an alternative hiding place.  Put a warm blanket or pad inside for extra comfort.

Time and patience are your best friends right now.  It sometimes seems to take an unbelievably long time to get them used to you.  And remember, she may be a shy cat, who may never be a lap cat.  With her markings, that may very well be why she was abandoned.  The previous owners may not have realized she was so shy.  People often have preconceived notions about how cats "should" behave and it often leads to cats being abandoned or surrendered to shelters.

Cat Nap is correct about using glass or stainless steel bowls as opposed to plastic.  Washing them often is key, too.  Plastic tends to hold onto the bacteria that and can aggravate the acne.  Have the vet check her teeth, too.  Chin acne is often a sign of dental issues.

Whatever the reasons, kudos to you!  She's a lucky kitty!