Hi, everybody-
I've brought a cat home from the humane society. Her story is that she was an outdoor cat, living with her sister and mother, fed by humans. Then for some reason she got moved here to the far side of the next state over, and definitely failed to thrive, so she came to the shelter. She basically just hid in her cage there- BUT she loves to be petted and will raise her hind end and purr and roll around under any volunteer's hand. She's not fussy over who touches her.
So, she came home with me and still hides in her bed all the time. The vet figured out she had crystals in her urine- all cleared up with diet now. And her teeth were a hideous mess of missing, rotten and broken. That just got taken care of yesterday, so she's still healing up (and getting pain meds) from that, but I believe she's happier already. She loves petting even more now.
But her main character remains- hiding all day in her bed, and only using the litter box after I'm asleep. She prefers to eat after bedtime, too, but will eat for me when I stroke her back for a while. SO- we've cleared up the physical problems (with more healing time needed for her mouth), but she still crouches low to the ground on the rare occasions she has to move while I'm around, and she just doesn't want to interact with the world. Ideally, I'd like to adopt her out when she's all better, but if I can get her loving life only at my place, that would be good enough.
Most of the pertinent advice I'm reading here seems to say- give her time, find things she loves, stay low to the ground around her. Makes sense. I guess I'm confused by her mixed message of "Love me, love me, don't expect me to be anything other than a pillow." Does anybody have any thoughts on what might help this funny little girl adjust to living on this planet? BTW- 5 to 8 yo, spayed, great blood work.
I've brought a cat home from the humane society. Her story is that she was an outdoor cat, living with her sister and mother, fed by humans. Then for some reason she got moved here to the far side of the next state over, and definitely failed to thrive, so she came to the shelter. She basically just hid in her cage there- BUT she loves to be petted and will raise her hind end and purr and roll around under any volunteer's hand. She's not fussy over who touches her.
So, she came home with me and still hides in her bed all the time. The vet figured out she had crystals in her urine- all cleared up with diet now. And her teeth were a hideous mess of missing, rotten and broken. That just got taken care of yesterday, so she's still healing up (and getting pain meds) from that, but I believe she's happier already. She loves petting even more now.
But her main character remains- hiding all day in her bed, and only using the litter box after I'm asleep. She prefers to eat after bedtime, too, but will eat for me when I stroke her back for a while. SO- we've cleared up the physical problems (with more healing time needed for her mouth), but she still crouches low to the ground on the rare occasions she has to move while I'm around, and she just doesn't want to interact with the world. Ideally, I'd like to adopt her out when she's all better, but if I can get her loving life only at my place, that would be good enough.
Most of the pertinent advice I'm reading here seems to say- give her time, find things she loves, stay low to the ground around her. Makes sense. I guess I'm confused by her mixed message of "Love me, love me, don't expect me to be anything other than a pillow." Does anybody have any thoughts on what might help this funny little girl adjust to living on this planet? BTW- 5 to 8 yo, spayed, great blood work.