3yrs!

I adopted my (Hershey) simese/himalayan mix 3yrs ago. I got her from a rescue group that trapped her from a feral colony when she was @8-9 wks old.

She came home to live with me @ 10-12 wks...
When I got her she hissed and was afraid of me and the family. I thought FORSURE with time she would grow to understand that we are safe and love her. I had another cat (Hope) who was a rescue but very tame. I thought that cat would assist in showing her and teaching her that she is safe....
Hershey the ferral rescue of coarse bonded very well with Hope however she is STILL to this day skittish of humans and runs...and its not from a lack of me trying.... I love on her all the time once I catch her... (she has free roam of the house) If we want her we have to catch her.... if you go to reach for her she'll hiss and tense up freeze if she's cornered.... you have to hold her close or she'll claw ya trying to escape...
She'll come to me to take like lunch meat or what not treats but thats it.... and when I do this I have to hold very still....
I have come to terms that perhaps this is the best it will get between us.
A small part of me still hopes that maybe one day she'll love me.....

Is there hope or do I just have to accept things for what they are.....

Well she's not that bad I have heard worse stories of cats not even coming out to use the bathroom, or act very agressive. If she is a "hands off" cat then just accept it and only touch her if she approaches you, let her tell you when she wants to be petted. Of course for baths or medication, you need to pick her up, but I know you'll manange. No cat is worse than mine, he claws and bites so hard your blood will run down your arm, and he's not even a feral! Be happy with how far you got with her so far, she is pretty average for a resuced cat, you know sometimes they tend to like to be by themselves. I know catnip and lots of treats help alot, also plenty of toys and a cat tower, to give them something for enjoyment. Also if you have an outdoor pen she could go in for a while for fresh air im sure she will be alot happier after that. my female cat was a feral we rescued, at first if we tried to pick her up or walked to quick, she would occasionally hiss. But when she knew she would get her favorite treat, plain deli turkey, she would come running and we found as we fed her that she would let us pet her, than gradually know we use it to catch her to get her to the vets each year for her yearly checkup, we actually trained her! She is skiddish around company, but instead of hissing she just hides and goes to sleep untill they leave. We are now feeding her turkey when company comes over, so she will be more social, and she is increasing her appearance almost every time people come over, it's fantastic! Dont give up just find out what your cat wants and use that to get her more social/less skiddish.

Originally Posted by Bren75

I adopted my (Hershey) simese/himalayan mix 3yrs ago. I got her from a rescue group that trapped her from a feral colony when she was @8-9 wks old.

She came home to live with me @ 10-12 wks...
When I got her she hissed and was afraid of me and the family. I thought FORSURE with time she would grow to understand that we are safe and love her. I had another cat (Hope) who was a rescue but very tame. I thought that cat would assist in showing her and teaching her that she is safe....
Hershey the ferral rescue of coarse bonded very well with Hope however she is STILL to this day skittish of humans and runs...and its not from a lack of me trying.... I love on her all the time once I catch her... (she has free roam of the house) If we want her we have to catch her.... if you go to reach for her she'll hiss and tense up freeze if she's cornered.... you have to hold her close or she'll claw ya trying to escape...

She'll come to me to take like lunch meat or what not treats but thats it.... and when I do this I have to hold very still....
I have come to terms that perhaps this is the best it will get between us.
A small part of me still hopes that maybe one day she'll love me.....

Is there hope or do I just have to accept things for what they are.....

Click to expand...

First, welcome to the site....as far as socializing Hershey...this post will hopefully help:

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11395

It is a story about someone else who took in a feral cat. Since feral cats have lived outdoors....progress must be measured slowly and with the understanding that the cat will make the determinations regarding when it is safe etc. The best thing is to allow Hershey to be the timid cat she currently is and recognize the progress that she has made while with you.

Katie

thank you both for the replies...
As for the outdoor thing..... Not that I would let my cats outside anyways I could NEVER let Hershey out cause she would never come back... and I would not be able to catch her..... I do occasionally let the screen door open so she can smell and see out the door...... she likes that and watches the birds.....
I have her microchipped in case G-d Forbid the worse happens but even those aren't 100% safe guards...

She does not come to be petted.... She will come close as to follow my other cat but she does not come to me on her own... If she is close I can stick out my hand to her reaching for her and at best she may come close enough to sniff my hand but I think its to see if I have any food not that she wants to be close to me......

I do love her and sometimes will take her in the bathroom where she can't escape and sit in there with her.... She'll tolerate me cause well she knows she has no choice but soon as that door is open .... FLASH she is gone LOL..... I do accept that and her for who she is but I will also admit I honestly thought that at this point she would be tame.... When I adopted her I didn't understand Ferral rescues.. and I especially thought that being she was a kitten that she'd tame down..... but she never did..... She is tolerant of us but in a perfect "hershey" world I know she'd rather not be with us (humans)
Hopey my tame rescue absolutely LOVES me and comes at any signal... to her I am mommy cat...... she'll kneed on me and lay on me just loves me..... Hershey will look at her as if to say "what is wrong with you"? it is amusing sometimes....

anyways thanks for the advice and comments..

I am sorry I cant give you any advise but it really is wonderful that Hershey is in such a wonderful loving home that accepts her personality and accepts it for what it is.
I guess cats are like humans arent they? we dont all love being around others.

bless you for opening your heart & your home to feral cats

good luck with her - I sure do hope you stick around this forum!

here is a picture of my Hershey!

awwwww she is gorgeous

I have no advice....but you sure do have a really pretty baby-face there!
Linda

Awww! Hershey is a cutie - kind of a long haired version of my YY (no bias here, lol)- you are lucky to have her!!

She is long haired..... Her tail is soooooo fluffy and puffy.....
its probably the Himalayan in her......

I saw your other post, and Hershey, Hope and Reese are all beautiful cats. I have had a few cats (females) that just never became cuddly with me. They cuddled with the other cats, though. Everybody was happy, they just had a different position in the family.

yep that is Hershey she is sooooooo lovey with Hope but should I want some nooooooooo way hozaa (sp?) LOL
but she is one mighty bug catcher so she does earn her keep / position in the family! Since we currently live in Florida that is mighty helpful lol

Hershey is a great name, she has all the colors of different chocolate!

I would suggest you stop "forcing" her to sit with you or holding her when she does not want to be held. Ignore her and let her come to you when she is ready and she may surprise you.

Our Simba (Siamese/Himalayan mix) hid from us for a month behind our headboard. He didn't drag him out or force ourselves on him. We spent time in the room watching TV, reading and talking to him. After 6 weeks he actually ventured downstairs to the family room and within another couple weeks he was the most loving, affectionate little fellow you could imagine. He liked nothing better than to be held like a baby and neither my daughter nor I could sit without him wanting to be on our lap.

Try letting her come to you - often cats hate being ignored and you may get better results that way.

we've had Hershey 3 yrs and tried all kinds of different things with her this is just the way she is... She came from a REAL Feral colony...
I don't forsee it changing...
ignoring her did and has not worked, putting her in a room did not help etc etc.... the normal tricks used to tame ferals....
I don't force her to be held except when I have to catch her which isn't often..... we mainly let her do, go and be where she wants.... Its just who she is....