socializing an abused cat into a new household

[icklemiss21]

Coming from someone with two 'special' kitties and a hoard of them at the shelter I volunteer at, there are no set ways to help, different things work for different cats and you just have to see where you seem to be making progress and work on those things.

Some things that have worked with different cats I have worked with

- An old tshirt or towel with your scent on in a comfy bed, they associate your scent with the safety of the bed.
- (this one really depends on if it is a scared cat that freezes when approached or bites and scratches) we have a long handled soft brush that we use for the more scared ones so they get used to being touched without someone sticking their hand in there.
- background noise, in the shelter we find the ones with busier rooms (people in and out, music one etc) come around a lot quicker than the ones who don't see people as much.
- catnip balls, we sell them at the shelter (handmade with lots of strong catnip) and most cats will play with them.
- We have had some luck with Bach's and Feliway - we will try anything - it has helped one of our more 'difficult' cats when we moved him but I don't find we have as much luck with the scared hiding cats.

I tend to just sit in the room with 'special' cats to do my paperwork, keep the radio on so they have background noise. Each day I sit a little closer to them. Then once I am close to them I try touching to see how they react - always rewarding with food or toys etc.

It can take a long time, with Scully he stopped hiding after about 4 months but it took almost 2 years for hime to become comfortable, especially around the other cats. With Autumn, I worked with her in the shelter for 3 months and wasn't having as much luck as I do with the other ferals I socialise - but I could see she did trust me to an extent, especially compared to other volunteers. I took her home and in two weeks she was sleeping with my other cats and rules the house.

 

[laureen227]

Originally Posted by icklemiss21

- An old tshirt or towel with your scent on in a comfy bed, they associate your scent with the safety of the bed.

& under the food dishes, too!

 

[ldg]

Thank you for rescuing this kitty!

You've already gotten fantastic advice from everyone. The only thing I have to add is when it comes to feeding her, cleaning her water dish and putting in fresh water, and cleaning her litter box, do it on a schedule as much as possible. Cats love routine, and knowing when to expect things will help her become more at ease.

Also, before you enter her room, give a soft knock on the door before opening it. This will also help build her trust.

Just remember - that's what this is all about. Earning her trust. She doesn't know how wonderful people can be. So doing everything for her on a schedule will help, knocking before you enter will help. Other than that - just spend as much time as you can in her room doing other stuff, but completely ignoring her. Sit with your back to her, or your side to her. And the first time she comes out to check things out when you're there - ignore her. That will help build trust.

Also, don't look into her eyes. This is understood as aggression. Look at her forehead, or over her head. In fact, if you're sitting sideways to her reading out loud, sewing, folding laundry or working on a laptop or whatever, every once in a while close your eyes and turn your head to her. "Look" at her with your eyes closed. This is a big trust builder.

You may also want to try music - harp music, specifically: (this is Hissy's recommendation, actually): http://harpist1.tripod.com/id32.html

Just remember that it's often two steps forward and one step back with kitties like this.

And it may even feel like two steps forward and three steps back every once in a while. But the more time you spend in her room ignoring her, and the more you can keep to a schedule with everything else, the quicker she'll come to understand that you just don't want anything from her other than her health and happiness.

Time is the most important ingredient. Turn off your clock, and she'll come around!

to you for such a wonderful thing!

Laurie

 

[trillcat]

Any new updates on how your new one is doing?

 

[kat89447]

I had a traumatized kitten years ago and she was very similar to your cat. One thing I found to get her to trust and come out of her shell was the crazy wheel cat toy. They have several types on the market, it is a circle with a ball in it that the cat can swat around. I spent hours and days and months going in her room and just playing with it myself, after awhile I would hear her swatting it when I was gone. Finally one day when I was swatting it she ran out from under the bed and swatted it back at me. It became our favorite game. 10 years later when she was dying from cancer it was the only thing that perked her up. She would lie there and swat it with me to her last day. I have since then used it for all my strays and ferals and haven't had one yet that could resist.

 

[laureen227]

Originally Posted by kat89447

I had a traumatized kitten years ago and she was very similar to your cat. One thing I found to get her to trust and come out of her shell was the crazy wheel cat toy. They have several types on the market, it is a circle with a ball in it that the cat can swat around. I spent hours and days and months going in her room and just playing with it myself, after awhile I would hear her swatting it when I was gone. Finally one day when I was swatting it she ran out from under the bed and swatted it back at me. It became our favorite game. 10 years later when she was dying from cancer it was the only thing that perked her up. She would lie there and swat it with me to her last day. I have since then used it for all my strays and ferals and haven't had one yet that could resist.

Firefox LOVES that toy!