Hi all. I'm new here, so forgive me if this is a topic that has been covered. I did check the thread, but didn't see anything.
About a month ago, we brought home two cats from a local shelter. One is a very outgoing, friendly, young male cat. The other a slightly older female who is more reserved, but friendly. She breifly hid under beds when we first brought her home but was easily coaxed out. She was very timid at first, but lately she had gotten over that for the most part. And she was never afraid of us, just of the new situations. She and Swanie have become good friends, they play together, and she follows him around everywhere.
Last Monday we had to take her to the vet because of overgrooming to the point of causing abrasions on her body. The vet gave her a shot, some antibiotics, and a flea treatment. She was a little jumpy when we brought her home, but didn't run away.
Tuesday morning we gave her a dose of the antibiotics. First I tried putting it into her food, but that didn't work, so we held her and forced it on her in the usual manner. Afterward she ran up the stairs and under the bed. She was there all day yesterday. When I got home from work, we took the bed apart and chased her down. We loved on her, and when we went out she was on the bed looking out the window. We thought she was okay, but after we got back and my husband went in to pet her, she ran under the bed again. We got her out again, took her into our bed and took turns calming her until she was purring, kneading, and very relaxed. We let her sleep in our bed until 1:00. Swanie slept beside her. We normally put them out around 10:00. This morning they both greeted us as usual, she even jumped up on the bed to greet my husband. However, when I walked toward her (not after her, just in her direction), she ran downstairs. After I went downstairs and said hi to her, she ran back up under the bed. She did come out briefly, but the phone ringing sent her back under again, and she's still there (it's noon).
My question is, how can get her back to not be afraid of us, and reassure her that we love her and we aren't going to hurt her? The vet has said it's okay not to give her any more of the antibiotics, but we have to take her back next Monday and I'm dreading it. I know it takes patience, but is it better to let her come out on her own, or go after her, and then spend time calming her? All I want is for her to be well and happy and healthy. But I don't want her having to spend her life under a bed frightened all the time. Plus, Swanie misses his friend and playmate.
Sorry this is so long, thanks for reading it. I'm hoping somebody will have some good advice for me.
About a month ago, we brought home two cats from a local shelter. One is a very outgoing, friendly, young male cat. The other a slightly older female who is more reserved, but friendly. She breifly hid under beds when we first brought her home but was easily coaxed out. She was very timid at first, but lately she had gotten over that for the most part. And she was never afraid of us, just of the new situations. She and Swanie have become good friends, they play together, and she follows him around everywhere.
Last Monday we had to take her to the vet because of overgrooming to the point of causing abrasions on her body. The vet gave her a shot, some antibiotics, and a flea treatment. She was a little jumpy when we brought her home, but didn't run away.
Tuesday morning we gave her a dose of the antibiotics. First I tried putting it into her food, but that didn't work, so we held her and forced it on her in the usual manner. Afterward she ran up the stairs and under the bed. She was there all day yesterday. When I got home from work, we took the bed apart and chased her down. We loved on her, and when we went out she was on the bed looking out the window. We thought she was okay, but after we got back and my husband went in to pet her, she ran under the bed again. We got her out again, took her into our bed and took turns calming her until she was purring, kneading, and very relaxed. We let her sleep in our bed until 1:00. Swanie slept beside her. We normally put them out around 10:00. This morning they both greeted us as usual, she even jumped up on the bed to greet my husband. However, when I walked toward her (not after her, just in her direction), she ran downstairs. After I went downstairs and said hi to her, she ran back up under the bed. She did come out briefly, but the phone ringing sent her back under again, and she's still there (it's noon).
My question is, how can get her back to not be afraid of us, and reassure her that we love her and we aren't going to hurt her? The vet has said it's okay not to give her any more of the antibiotics, but we have to take her back next Monday and I'm dreading it. I know it takes patience, but is it better to let her come out on her own, or go after her, and then spend time calming her? All I want is for her to be well and happy and healthy. But I don't want her having to spend her life under a bed frightened all the time. Plus, Swanie misses his friend and playmate.
Sorry this is so long, thanks for reading it. I'm hoping somebody will have some good advice for me.
