Cat deathly afraid of humans

I was talking to a few of the other shelter volunteers today, and everybody's really uncertain about what to do with one of the cats there. She's probably around 3 to 5. She was trapped a little over a year ago, and we've had absolutely no luck getting her used to humans. If she hears a person coming, she runs and hides. Nobody can touch her unless she's heavily sedated. She's been checked thoroughly for health problems (none), and has been given homeopathic remedies in her food to try to still her anxiety. Sedating her involves moving all of the other cats out of the room she's hiding in, and putting the stuff in her food. She appears to get on well with the other cats in the shelter (no kill, no cages), and the big question is: Should we try to find a home for her with people who live on a quiet street so that she can go outdoors, and who don't mind giving her food and a warm place to sleep, and won't expect her to ever accept them? Or keep her in the shelter? TNR can't be practiced in this town, thanks to idiots who like to use cats for target practice. The shelter specializes in ferals, but there really has never been one like this cat, because eventually they seem to at least tolerate human contact. I call her the "invisible cat", because I've only managed to see her by looking in through a window. Some are leaning towards keeping her at the shelter permanently, because they're afraid she won't become acclimated to a new home, and will end up starving on the streets, or shot, after taking off. Others, including me, are wondering if a quiet, one-to-two-person household with a few resident indoor cats wouldn't be better. That would be like her current situation in the shelter, but with fewer humans to deal with. Any input would be appreciated.

I have a cat just like that. She was about 8 months old when I adopted her. She was normal at first then all of a sudden she just went goofy. She hates every living thing but me and my husband. I just don't get it. She is now about 7 years old so I guess there's no hope for her.

Originally Posted by jcat

Some are leaning towards keeping her at the shelter permanently, because they're afraid she won't become acclimated to a new home, and will end up starving on the streets, or shot, after taking off.

Click to expand...

I would be too afraid of that to let her go.

Maybe she should go to a quiet place, with only one or two humans, and a couple cats (like you said) but have the backyard fenced in so that she can go outside, but not be able to run away and get hurt.

Originally Posted by katman14

Maybe she should go to a quiet place, with only one or two humans, and a couple cats (like you said) but have the backyard fenced in so that she can go outside, but not be able to run away and get hurt.

Click to expand...

That would be an excellent solution, but the building codes in this town don't allow cat-proof yards. We even had a surprise visit from a building inspector because we used a "cat net" to secure a balcony on our own home, and barely escaped a hefty fine.

She sounds overwhelmed. If you could find someone that specializes in traumatized kitty rehabilitation and they would take her in (good luck with that) she might have a chance. But in a shelter with all those people and cats, she might never adjust-

I would not let her go to a home that would be allowing her to go outside. Since she is so afraid of humans, she could just run away and never come back there. And even if she does come back, allowing a cat outside is very dangerous. You said yourself people use cats for target practice. I think she would be better off at the shelter.

i'd say rehome her. in time she will (hopefully) learn humans feed you and give you strokes. especially if she sees other cats enjoying human company. if it doesnt work out you can always take her back.

i dont think she'd run away if shes being fed and if she gets on with the other cats. but like elizwithcat says maybe an indoor home would be happier?

I think a quiet household with no other animals would be the perfect answer to this poor cat

I think you should try to find her a home with some quiet people, no loud kids and another cat or two. My friend's mother adopted a cat like this and they have bonded very well over the years. It is VERY hard to find people willing to take in cats like this.

If she prefers other cats over people, a quiet home with a well adjusted cat could bring her out over time. I swear that the really scared ferals do best when given a role model cat to help them over their fear of humans. It doesn't work if they don't bond with the role model.

There are the rare shelters that will give permanent homes to feral cats. They are typically out in the country so that eventually they can be let outside without fear of city ordinances or hazards of traffic. You have to really hunt for them.

Let us know what you decide for this girl!

I think she needs to be an INDOOR cat if you are going to adopt her out, IMO.

Indoor, please. Having that experience with Pengy, I know one of the things which made a huge difference to her was Simon. As a kitten, he posed no threat to her whatsoever, and helped bring her out of her hiding place. Feliway also helped a great deal.

But please, indoor only, with a few cats or a kitten, somewhat quiet, with regularity in her schedule (dinner at 7, in the same place, et cetera), is my suggestion. Having lots of cats coming in and out (adopted out and rescues in) has got to be challenging for her...as well as lots of people coming to "see" a cat to rehome....possibly competing for food/water, I dunno, but while "normal" cats can handle that, I know Pengy can't, and expect that your girl may not be able to either.

Good luck, and thanks for loving her like this...it takes a special person to see the needs of this girl and bring her to a point where she's all right. Thanks, thanks, and thanks again.

Best-
Michele

Am I the only one who thinks that this cat might be best off released into a feral colony?

Originally Posted by portdevoix

Am I the only one who thinks that this cat might be best off released into a feral colony?

Click to expand...

I think you missed my remark about TNR being impossible here. The shelter exists because several feral colonies had to be dissolved, thanks to, 1) construction at one site, and 2) people shooting the cats. The mayor saw to it that a condemned house was made available to house the ferals, and a lot of residents put in weeks and weeks of their time making it livable.

I see a lot of people tend to think the way I do - that Moni would be better off indoors in a quiet household with (an)other cat(s). There's no real rush, but we were just talking about a decision eventually having to be made, especially if a potential adopter shows up. Once the annual "kitten crush" starts, the older cats have less of a chance of finding a new home. With so many volunteers working so many different shifts, I think there are just too many people for her. The irony is that our home would be perfect for her - it's quiet, we'd both be content to ignore her, and she could go out on the balcony, but I'm not even going to think about it, because I know Jamie won't go along with having a rival, even if she spends all her time under the furniture.