Fearful cat

augusta pyles

augusta pyles

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A few months ago, I rescued and was fostering two cats( boy and girl) for a rescue group I a apart of. The boy, Alexander was adopted and found his fur-ever home while the girl, Anastasia, won my heart. I had been watching Alexanders progress from the shelter as far as getting adopted for months and one day he was put on the EU list and I was devastated. Hesitant to foster anymore cats (due to my previous foster failures) It was down to the last hour and I just knew I had to save him. While in the process of getting him tagged and released from the shelter, I was asked if I wouldn't mind fostering his sister too. The came from the same location of pick up by the animal control so they called them brother and sister. I was told that Anastasia had been fixed and ear tipped at the shelter and Alexander was not. Finding this odd as I was told they weren't feral cats. Anastasia is the love-yest cat I have ever come across. She wants to lay on me or be next to me like all the time. There's nothing she loves more and I absolutely love it. But there is a huge problem. She is terrified of my other cats! Like so terrified that she once pooped. She is so terrified that they sense this and get aggressive towards her so I have to keep her separated from them. She sleeps in a carrier and crate invention I put together so she had some where to sleep and her litter box and food in the crate portion. She is then out in my bedroom with me during the day while I work (I work from home) and the other cats in the living room. I had tried the whole introduction process in the beginning and it didn't work. I tried the wall plug ins that are supposed to help with aggression in cats and saw no difference. Part of me thinks I need to find her another home though it breaks my heart but I know deep down she will end up back at the shelter or abandoned outside somewhere. Most people don't just have one cat. I need some suggestions or help on how to get them to get along so there are no more fights and she doesn't have to be in her cage at night. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! 
 
SheriB

SheriB

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Augusta Pyles said:
A few months ago, I rescued and was fostering two cats( boy and girl) for a rescue group I a apart of. The boy, Alexander was adopted and found his fur-ever home while the girl, Anastasia, won my heart. I had been watching Alexanders progress from the shelter as far as getting adopted for months and one day he was put on the EU list and I was devastated. Hesitant to foster anymore cats (due to my previous foster failures) It was down to the last hour and I just knew I had to save him. While in the process of getting him tagged and released from the shelter, I was asked if I wouldn't mind fostering his sister too. The came from the same location of pick up by the animal control so they called them brother and sister. I was told that Anastasia had been fixed and ear tipped at the shelter and Alexander was not. Finding this odd as I was told they weren't feral cats. Anastasia is the love-yest cat I have ever come across. She wants to lay on me or be next to me like all the time. There's nothing she loves more and I absolutely love it. But there is a huge problem. She is terrified of my other cats! Like so terrified that she once pooped. She is so terrified that they sense this and get aggressive towards her so I have to keep her separated from them. She sleeps in a carrier and crate invention I put together so she had some where to sleep and her litter box and food in the crate portion. She is then out in my bedroom with me during the day while I work (I work from home) and the other cats in the living room. I had tried the whole introduction process in the beginning and it didn't work. I tried the wall plug ins that are supposed to help with aggression in cats and saw no difference. Part of me thinks I need to find her another home though it breaks my heart but I know deep down she will end up back at the shelter or abandoned outside somewhere. Most people don't just have one cat. I need some suggestions or help on how to get them to get along so there are no more fights and she doesn't have to be in her cage at night. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! 
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This is such a sad story! You might try Rescue Remedy for pets (there is also a human version.) for both your scaredy kitty and the others. I just started using it when I brought some rescue cats into the house for fostering. I used it for the new kitties and my own cats. It just helps them be more calm. I buy it online but they also have it at some health food stores. Just one drop on a favorite food or in the corner of their mouth seems to help. I saw a marked difference when I started using it. A book I have, I think it's called The Natural Cat, recommends Rescue Remedy for two weeks for any stressful situation.
Another thing you could try is to figure out a grid for the door, like baby gates or cage panels, so that she can see the other kitties without being in danger of them getting to her.
That said I do have to keep the different sets of cats apart in my home, but they are far better off than they were in cages in the shelter.
 
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augusta pyles

augusta pyles

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Yes I agree. Her being in her crate is a comfort thing. I know sometimes when she is out in my bedroom I will find her back in there from time to time. Anything is better than being in the shelter or being EU'd. I just wish they could all get along lol. Baby gate wont work though. My other cats will just climb or jump over it.  Maybe a higher one. I will definitely look in to the Rescue Remedy. I try to do everything naturally with my babies. Too many things out there that are supposed to be okay for them that have turned up killing them ie treats. Every time she is out and I open my door to leave my room she jets to her cage. Its very sad not knowing why she is so afraid or what might have happened to her before I got her that made her this way. Honestly it makes me think she was a feral cat the shelter tried to turn in to an indoor cat. 
 
SheriB

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Augusta Pyles said:
Yes I agree. Her being in her crate is a comfort thing. I know sometimes when she is out in my bedroom I will find her back in there from time to time. Anything is better than being in the shelter or being EU'd. I just wish they could all get along lol. Baby gate wont work though. My other cats will just climb or jump over it.  Maybe a higher one. I will definitely look in to the Rescue Remedy. I try to do everything naturally with my babies. Too many things out there that are supposed to be okay for them that have turned up killing them ie treats. Every time she is out and I open my door to leave my room she jets to her cage. Its very sad not knowing why she is so afraid or what might have happened to her before I got her that made her this way. Honestly it makes me think she was a feral cat the shelter tried to turn in to an indoor cat. 
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Yes, maybe you're giving her what she needs, love and a safe place!
As to the baby gates, I stacked one on top of another to close the cats in place. It was a pain getting in and out, but gave them a chance to see. Eventually I built a door out of cage panels so they are safely confined but have air flow and some contact with the rest of the world.
Maybe with time your sweet baby will come to feel more safe, I wish you all the best!
 
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