The picture at left is my beautiful but semi feral Willow. When I adopted her six years ago, she hid under a bed and refused to come out if I was in the room for many weeks. Not toys or treats or me hanging out in the room would tempt her out. So eventually I opened the door so she could explore while I slept. By the second night she had disappeared to a hiding spot I later found was inside the recliner sofa. Several weeks with no sign of her except I could tell she was eating and using her litterbox. Then she started to race from under the sofa to her safe room in the evening while I sat on it. It took even a few more weeks before she would go from room to room multiple times in the day and weeks after that before she would actually sit in a room with me present. Next she would come up along side me but tear away if I so much as looked down or reached for her. She would climb the back of the sofa and sniff my hair but if I turned to look at her she was gone in a second. It was maybe six months before she would allow me to touch her but when I did she was stiff and gave no reaction that said she enjoyed being petted. It was several years before she would come up to me and actually purr while I petted her. Now she will come up ever few days for a brief pet before sprinting off. But whatever room I am in she follows, she spends hours in the evening just staring at me and at bedtime every night she lies besides me for a brief cuddle and pet before heading to her sleeping spot at the foot of my bed. She has just started wanting to sleep near my head, doesn’t stay there the whole night but is inching forward. She has also started giving me a quick elbow lick as she gets near me. She may never be a “regular” cat but she is getting closer all the time. I treasure her as she is.
With some cats progress is measured in months or even years, but with patience she will come along. A sense of humor over their dramatics and stubbornness also helps.
With some cats progress is measured in months or even years, but with patience she will come along. A sense of humor over their dramatics and stubbornness also helps.