Hello everyone!

Hello to everyone out there! My name's Laura and I recently adopted my first cat ever from one of my local shelters: Frida, a beautiful black and white lady.
We had a rough start. Frida is very sociable and seemed to love to cuddle when she came home, but she also arrived with an upper respiratory infection and riddled with fleas. Also, changing her food and a long car ride to the vet due to the URI caused an upset stomach. After two weeks of administering shots, trying to shove pills down her throat and bathing her, she doesn't seem as affectionate anymore. I don't have any experience with cats, so any tips for bonding with her even if I'm the one administering shots, pilling and bathing would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

First of all I want to welcome you to the forum Laura and Frida! Secondly, congratulations on adopting Frida and thank you for giving her a loving, forever home.

So, you two have had a rough start, for sure! That is a tough set of circumstances when you are trying to form a bond and trust with a new cat. Are you all through with treatments or are those ongoing?

If you are all through, then I think my suggestion would be to allow Frida to be the one to initiate physical contact. Let her set the boundaries much in the way you would do if you had just adopted her today. I would let your interactions with her be only about good things: food, treats, lots of praise and play. That will help her re-establish an association with her that is only about positive things.

If you are still in treatment, I would suggest treats and praise after pills, baths etc. This is a terrible example compared with what you have been dealing with but my cat is a nightmare with nail trimming but treats and praise makes it bearable with no leftover negative connotations. Also, be sure to do fun things like playtime so you two have fun interactions too.

For pills, have you tried Pill Pockets:

https://www.chewy.com/greenies-pill...es&utm_term=&gclid=CN3i6dL8yc4CFU1cfgodfqwEug

You can find them in most pet stores and make pill giving a breeze!

I wish you and Frida the best of luck. Thank you for not giving up on her during such a rough start [emoji]10084[/emoji]️. I know it seems odd for me to say this but on some level she knows you are trying to help her and all of this is really going to create a very strong bond between the two of you. Please keep us posted on how the two of you are doing!

Aloha Laura and Frida welcome to TCS...you'll see everyone is very friendly and quite knowledgeable here...one thing I might suggest is mainly to relax...cats can feel our emotions...and if we are upset even in the slightest...they notice...now with my own experience cats will fuss and even get mad at us when we have to play the role of extreme caregiver...you know administering meds...giving baths etc...but..one thing I can tell you is that once they correlate that they feel.better even when you're doing something to them they don't like. ..it forms an even more special bond...be patient...and relax...also might I suggest talking to them like they are a human...cats understand way more than most people give them credit...and personally for me I pray over my furbabies constantly. ..this is truly how I have learned that they get it...so for example...my girl is usually afraid of people but recently I told her...mamas sister is coming to take care of mama. ..please be nice and brave...and you know what she did excellent. ..anyhoo...I'm very sorry I was pulled away for family ministry. ..so I kind of forgot where I was going...but talk to her pray over her...and she'll appreciate that you are making her better...good on you for being a good mommy...thats what we do...we take care of them...even when its scary for us..I really hope thus helps...oh ws it one otherv thing us my ither cat I constantly have to do things to him that he hates...and at first hec was kinda weird but now he comes for snuggles and has to sleep by me at night...hope this encourages you ...goodnight and God bless

Welcome to TCS.    Frida is beautiful.

Is Frida done with the treatments now or are you still giving meds?  

Thanks for your kind welcome!   

I've been following your advice and trying to relax when I'm with her and letting her initiate contact, and things seem to be going smoothly. Having had dogs all my life, I did not realise how different cat-human interaction dynamics were. Letting Frida set the rythm for interaction has helped enormously. 

Regarding treatment, I feel I should clarify the situation a bit: Frida came home two weeks ago them same day she had her spaying procedure. We believe the stress of the procedure and moving to a new home with a new kind of litter and a different food was too much for her, which brought upon her upset tummy and the URI. A few days after she was taken to the vet for her URI. The vet prescribed antibiotics in pill form, which we struggled to make her swallow (Sadly, Pill Pockets or similar products aren't available in my area, as far as I know. I'm from Buenos Aires, Argentina, so ordering online is not a choice either). She didn't seem to be getting better after a week of administering pills, so we took her to the vet again, who suggested shots instead of pills for the next week, since it would be far easier and less stressful for Frida to receive shots rather than pills (they had to be administered every 48 hours instead of 12, like the pills had to). We then proceeded to give her an antibiotic + symptom reliever combo through shots, and this has proved to be highly effective! Frida's health has been improving steadily during this weak, she's been eating more, drinking more and is now far more active than before (she's begun jumping on my desk, looking out the window and playing with me! she seems to like exploring and jumping on top of things more than playing, so I'm thinking of getting her a cat tree next month). Her cuddliness has returned as well  . I administered the last shot for this week yesterday and I'm supposed to take her to the vet again this saturday. We expect to continue administering shots for the following week, then wait a few days and administer the triple vaccine (she has already been vaccinated against rabies) and finally wait some more until her immune system is in prime condition in order to apply topical treatment for fleas. 

Thanks again for everything, it really helps a first time cat mom

It's sounds like you are doing phenomenal for a first time cat mom!! You are truly Frida's angel [emoji]128519[/emoji] Thank you for being understanding and patient with her while she's not been at her best.

I'm so glad that she is starting to feel better and that her cuddly nature is returning. You are clearly doing a wonderful job with her. She has been through a lot but she does know that what you are doing is helping her feel better. It sounds like you have an excellent vet who has a great plan to get Frida nice and healthy. Please continue to check in and let us know how the two of you are getting along.

Hi and welcome Laura and Frida! Oh, poor Frida has been through so much. It does sound like she is feeling much better, though. That is all thanks to you. You are taking such good care of her. She is lucky to have you and she realizes that. You have given her a warm, loving forever home and are taking wonderful care of her. She knows she is loved and safe now. She will love you forever. I hope you two have many, many years of happiness together!!

Great news!! Can you please post some piks @lauperezcerrato

Thans a lot for your support, it's really recomforting!

Here's the missy, laying on the bed by my side!

lauperezcerrato said:

Thans a lot for your support, it's really recomforting!

Here's the missy, laying on the bed by my side!

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• lauperezcerrato
• Aug 19, 2016

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• lauperezcerrato
• Aug 19, 2016

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Awww...the sweet, beautiful girl [emoji]10084[/emoji]️ I love her name tag on her collar!

Aww how awesome she's right by your side [emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128571[/emoji]

Good news!   On saturday's visit, the vet determined Frida was in good health and decided to administer her triple vaccine at once. She's been sneezing a bit since (I hope her respiratory infection doesn't make a comeback!) but she doesn't seem lethargic; she's been chasing all sorts of strings, umping on top of every surface in the house, investigating every closet and cabinet, eating her kibble and treats, drinking a lot of water and peeing and pooping well. She doesn't seem to know how to play with a ball and I'd love to teach her how to (I bought one of those treat-dispensing balls for when she's home alone but she doesn't seem a bit interested in the thing, neither has noticed it dispenses treats), and I'm struggling to make her scratch her scratching post instead of whichever piece of furniture she has nearby, but those are minor inconveniences in comparison to her health. I'm thinking of administering flea treatment once she stops sneezing in order to let her immune system get some rest, even if the vet suggested to apply it right away. She's been through a lot.

Thanks again for all your support and kind words! 

lauperezcerrato said:

Good news!   On saturday's visit, the vet determined Frida was in good health and decided to administer her triple vaccine at once. She's been sneezing a bit since (I hope her respiratory infection doesn't make a comeback!) but she doesn't seem lethargic; she's been chasing all sorts of strings, umping on top of every surface in the house, investigating every closet and cabinet, eating her kibble and treats, drinking a lot of water and peeing and pooping well. She doesn't seem to know how to play with a ball and I'd love to teach her how to (I bought one of those treat-dispensing balls for when she's home alone but she doesn't seem a bit interested in the thing, neither has noticed it dispenses treats), and I'm struggling to make her scratch her scratching post instead of whichever piece of furniture she has nearby, but those are minor inconveniences in comparison to her health. I'm thinking of administering flea treatment once she stops sneezing in order to let her immune system get some rest, even if the vet suggested to apply it right away. She's been through a lot.
Thanks again for all your support and kind words! 

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So glad to hear that Frida had such a great vet visit!! That's really wonderful news to hear how full of energy she is. She will pick up on the scratcher. Just be consistent with re-directing her to the scratcher if/when she tries to scratch the furniture. If possible, locate her scratchers right near her favorite targets so it's easy to re-direct.
Also, a nail trim night help with the scratching, to an extent. Since the two of you have been through so much unpleasantness which required you to handle her, I would suggest having the vet do the nail trim whenever her next visit is. More than anything, patience and consistent re-directing will help Frida get the hang of using her scratcher.
So glad your beautiful girl is doing so well [emoji]9748[/emoji]️

If her scratcher is made of sisel rope all you should have to do is direct her...they are instinctively attracted to sisel rope...one thing you can do is use your hand to her paw and run her paw down the scratcher...and you can gently push her knuckles to where her claw will come out and show her that way too...just be gentle...and like the person before me you can redirect...so glad to hear the good news...keep us updated please [emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128568[/emoji]

imjustacatmom said:

If her scratcher is made of sisel rope all you should have to do is direct her...they are instinctively attracted to sisel rope...one thing you can do is use your hand to her paw and run her paw down the scratcher...and you can gently push her knuckles to where her claw will come out and show her that way too...just be gentle...and like the person before me you can redirect...so glad to hear the good news...keep us updated please [emoji]128571[/emoji][emoji]128568[/emoji]

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This reminded me: Whenever I get a new scratcher, I will run my nails down it when my kitty is watching as if to "demonstrate" what she is to be doing with it. She will typically join in when I do that (which probably looks a little silly!). After that the connection is usually made.