Help PLEASE!!!

[feral_kitty]

Originally Posted by Trillcat

It is quite a challenge, but so rewarding!
My cat was not feral when I got her, but completly unsocialized though she lived in a home and might as well have been (long story)
If I reached out to pet her, I would get bitten and scratched (with a vengance, she meant to hurt) I got to the point I thought I could not turn her around (she was 3 when I got her) She never hid, just the opposite and it was a power struggle, a delicate one. I was at my wits end. I found this site, though I just lurked and didn't post then. A world of info!!!
Fast forward to now, she is a lap cat, well, when she decides she wants to be, lol. We have a bond that goes beyond pet and human. I helped her get through tough times, and she helped me get through a tough time in my life, by helping her.
You learn a lot about yourself helping those that need it.

Aww that's such a sweet tale! I'm hoping my little man will end up just the same - I love to hear of success stories, gives a lot of hope and confidence that things can change and congratulations to you

I'm lucky he doesn't bite at all, even the vet commented on how unconfrontational he was, just a timid little thing, I've every faith he'll become happy and confident

I'm so determined to make it work

I bet you found it so hard though trying to socialise her 3 years though! Must of been really hard work

 

[maxiecat03]

Feral_Kitty....you have, undeniably, the most sweetest looking kitty that I've seen since my guys were wee kitties...!!

You will have a success story...it just hasn't played out to the end yet. You've made big strides in giving your kitty confidence and now he feels love from his caretakers. Sure, he has times when he unsure of things....that will happen, don't we all have those times? Then we investigate the situation and then figure out....hah...that wasn't anything to be afraid of!!! Then we march right along until the next situation frightens us a bit....your sweety is curious enough and confident enough to explore his territory and conquer his fears.....sweet thing!!

My Samson, now 1 yr, 5 months old had a bit of a rough start....he was only 10 weeks old and I was his fourth home..and final home!!

He was very fearful and skittish when I brought him into our lives....I already had a 13-yr old female who wasn't too pleased to see him. But, I put him in my room...with food, litter, water and blankies and toys.....sure enough every time I entered...he'd run under the bed in terror. So I just did what the other 'experts' said.....I'd go in, shut the door, watch tv, read, do puzzles, chat with him.....and just let him know that I'm safe and I only will mean good things to him. Over time, he wouldn't run quite so fast under the bed...then he'd come out and investigate me. Then, he'd sniff at the door when I was in the room...and sort of want out. In about 3 weeks...I put a barrier at the door and left the door open. He was afraid of the smells at the door and hid...then he'd get brave and go to the barrier. One time he knocked the barrier over...ran out into the hall....the stepped on the brakes and went under the bed again. See....every new experience to him was a fearful one...where he regressed back to his safe place under the bed. I again would shut the door..but it wasn't long before he'd want the door open....then he was more curious about the hallway....then one day...out he came, ran down the stairs.....and we've never looked back. Next, he had to convince the 13-yr old cat that he was a good guy...haha...she finally accepted him. And...in the meantime, I brought home Cameo from the Humane Society....Samson wasn't the low man on the totem pole any longer....

....and Samson and Cameo are best of buddies..almost from the start....Phoebe..the 13-yr old is now left alone...just the way she likes it while the two 'boys' romp around pretending they are Indie 500 cars....

You love your kitty, and that's 90% of what it takes to make a success story. He will come around...he's had a rough start too..give him, and yourself time.....please keep us posted!!!

 

[ldg]

Maxie cat, you are so right. Just loving the little things is 90% of it! The other ingredient is time. Everything else just helps make them more comfortable and hopefully shortens the amount of time they spend living in fear.

Feral Kitty - you ARE doing great! I know it feels like forever when all we want is for them to be happy and just KNOW they're safe - but he'll get there!