- Joined
- Jan 3, 2015
- Messages
- 19
- Purraise
- 2
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I’m sorry if this reads weird(English is not my native language). I want to start this by sayin that I have had cats around me all my life, and have always been told how great I am at getting shy kittens out of their shell – some of them feral cats I used to ‘tame’ when I was a child.
Because of this it doesn’t feel like home unless there is a cat around. Upon moving away from home I just bought a 14 week old Russian Blue kitten two days ago. I have named him Ziggy Stardust. I think he is very beautiful and adorable and all, but he is so skittish it is beginning to worry me. I know how normal it is for a cat to run and hide for days or even weeks when arriving in a new home. But Ziggy is so shy he cannot handle me being around at all, he runs and hides if I make even the lowest sound(except my voice) and I have yet to hear him purr. He still runs around crying after his family, so often and loud in fact, that I haven’t been able to sleep properly since his arrival(I live on 2 nd floor and the walls are paper thin and I really hate doing this to my neighbours). He does not really like to play – even when he is not scared it is very hard to get him to chase anything, though he does seem to enjoy the show from a distance(the show of me desperately catering to him). The only thing I can imagine has affected him is that I have a severe case of the flu – I cough and sneeze and have to use the bathroom quite often, where he permanently hides. He is terrified of the toilet, the shower, everything.
I already had my doubts when I visited the breeder(I did my research – this person is a very respectable breeder who has won many prices). At the beginning, the cats refused to get out to play for the first half hour or so. My kitten’s brother did come out eventually, and after 15 minutes, his sociable personality shined through. Ziggy remained shy and uninterested in playing – I noticed that when the owner raised her hand, he fearfully ran away. The breeder could clearly tell that I was a bit disappointed and assured me that when she was alone with them, there was no big differences in the kitten’s personalities. By mistake the breeder chose the wrong kitten to put in my carrier so I was, of course, relaxed to see how calm it suddenly seemed(the breeder did have to ‘catch’ it a bit violently and not pick it up calmly, which made me wonder if they were used to being handled at all). When she put the right kitten in the carrier it immediately started scratching and meowing.
Now, I did choose a Russian Blue because of it’s independence. I am aware of its reputation of being a scaredy cat, and it’s fearful serious face is actually very cute and really brings out my protective side. I suffer from social phobia and is high strung, so I do relate. He really is beautiful. I also like the idea itself of a cat being difficult(I originally wanted an Abyssinian or a Bengal cat, but I can only keep one kitten where I live, and they would need too much attention as single cats).
I am not sure, however, that Ziggy would be able to handle my lifestyle. I know Russians are shy, but I think this is ridiculous, and the fact that the brother was so outgoing proves that it must be temperamental, so I am not sure I will be able to help him. I am not a social person, but I am active and perhaps a bit spontaneous and I will probably get a boyfriend and friends will come to visit and even have sleepovers. I may also have to travel with him when on holidays. I’m bitter, perhaps, that his brother was already reserved for some other people, since I’m sure he would have been way more flexible. Still, his brother was bought by an entire family – I’m not sure my kitten would survive.
I’m thinking of returning the kitten, what do you think?
Oh, and as I was writing this, Ziggy has just now started acting a bit more comfortable in his environment. He still runs around screaming for his parents like a madcat and he does not accept me reaching out for him at all, (despite – sometimes, rarely - eating out of my hand when I give him treats) but he at least walked around next to me, has jumped up and down tables(I think he is going to break his first object tonight!) and seemed interested in me for a few seconds.
I’m sorry if this reads weird(English is not my native language). I want to start this by sayin that I have had cats around me all my life, and have always been told how great I am at getting shy kittens out of their shell – some of them feral cats I used to ‘tame’ when I was a child.
Because of this it doesn’t feel like home unless there is a cat around. Upon moving away from home I just bought a 14 week old Russian Blue kitten two days ago. I have named him Ziggy Stardust. I think he is very beautiful and adorable and all, but he is so skittish it is beginning to worry me. I know how normal it is for a cat to run and hide for days or even weeks when arriving in a new home. But Ziggy is so shy he cannot handle me being around at all, he runs and hides if I make even the lowest sound(except my voice) and I have yet to hear him purr. He still runs around crying after his family, so often and loud in fact, that I haven’t been able to sleep properly since his arrival(I live on 2 nd floor and the walls are paper thin and I really hate doing this to my neighbours). He does not really like to play – even when he is not scared it is very hard to get him to chase anything, though he does seem to enjoy the show from a distance(the show of me desperately catering to him). The only thing I can imagine has affected him is that I have a severe case of the flu – I cough and sneeze and have to use the bathroom quite often, where he permanently hides. He is terrified of the toilet, the shower, everything.
I already had my doubts when I visited the breeder(I did my research – this person is a very respectable breeder who has won many prices). At the beginning, the cats refused to get out to play for the first half hour or so. My kitten’s brother did come out eventually, and after 15 minutes, his sociable personality shined through. Ziggy remained shy and uninterested in playing – I noticed that when the owner raised her hand, he fearfully ran away. The breeder could clearly tell that I was a bit disappointed and assured me that when she was alone with them, there was no big differences in the kitten’s personalities. By mistake the breeder chose the wrong kitten to put in my carrier so I was, of course, relaxed to see how calm it suddenly seemed(the breeder did have to ‘catch’ it a bit violently and not pick it up calmly, which made me wonder if they were used to being handled at all). When she put the right kitten in the carrier it immediately started scratching and meowing.
Now, I did choose a Russian Blue because of it’s independence. I am aware of its reputation of being a scaredy cat, and it’s fearful serious face is actually very cute and really brings out my protective side. I suffer from social phobia and is high strung, so I do relate. He really is beautiful. I also like the idea itself of a cat being difficult(I originally wanted an Abyssinian or a Bengal cat, but I can only keep one kitten where I live, and they would need too much attention as single cats).
I am not sure, however, that Ziggy would be able to handle my lifestyle. I know Russians are shy, but I think this is ridiculous, and the fact that the brother was so outgoing proves that it must be temperamental, so I am not sure I will be able to help him. I am not a social person, but I am active and perhaps a bit spontaneous and I will probably get a boyfriend and friends will come to visit and even have sleepovers. I may also have to travel with him when on holidays. I’m bitter, perhaps, that his brother was already reserved for some other people, since I’m sure he would have been way more flexible. Still, his brother was bought by an entire family – I’m not sure my kitten would survive.
I’m thinking of returning the kitten, what do you think?
Oh, and as I was writing this, Ziggy has just now started acting a bit more comfortable in his environment. He still runs around screaming for his parents like a madcat and he does not accept me reaching out for him at all, (despite – sometimes, rarely - eating out of my hand when I give him treats) but he at least walked around next to me, has jumped up and down tables(I think he is going to break his first object tonight!) and seemed interested in me for a few seconds.