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Getting a traumatized cat
- Thread starter leekohler
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Oh wow she's beautiful!
Give her weeks, months. I've seen cats change over years to become adapted to homes. We have a black and white who's now a lap cat. He was always friendly, but it took just over a year before he would sneak on your lap for some petting time.
Give her weeks, months. I've seen cats change over years to become adapted to homes. We have a black and white who's now a lap cat. He was always friendly, but it took just over a year before he would sneak on your lap for some petting time.
Yes, she loves people, she's just been traumatized. My roommate and I go pet her daily up on the kitchen cabinets (she's been roosting up there as in the pic). But tonight she came down so I could pet her. That was a huge step for her. She's slowly been venturing out in limited areas of the apartment. I think in the next month, she'll be OK.
She really is gorgeous.
Even though my humble cats aren't as purdy, makes me miss mine so much seeing a photo of yours napping. 
She's absolutely beautiful! My wife had to drag me away from 2 that looked just like her at the pet store the other day. They were up for adoption, but I just can't take them. I already have 2 cats & a dog. She really is purdy, tho!
We got a rescue dog. She was 3 when we got her and had strange behavioural problems. She'd always run away from rolled up newspapers and was extremely timid, didn't bark for 5 years. Now she's come into her own. Sure she's dying. Has a brain tumour (being kept back through drugs though), arthritis and coughs sometimes, but you can really tell that it's her now.
They take time to adjust but once they do, well think about it. You saved their life pretty much. You're a ****ing hero to them.
They take time to adjust but once they do, well think about it. You saved their life pretty much. You're a ****ing hero to them.
Thanks Lee.. glad to hear that she's adjusting.. she's quite attractive, but she's no Logan.
Oh wow- he's pretty too.
She is a very, very pretty cat. I'm glad you saved her. She will be in your debt very soon.
At least she's better than my grandma's cat. She doesn't come out for you to pet it, hisses at you when you do pet it, and bites my grandma. And yet, she still has it. Ugh... I don't think anybody in our family likes the cat, but we don't know what grandma would be doing without him.
At least she's better than my grandma's cat. She doesn't come out for you to pet it, hisses at you when you do pet it, and bites my grandma. And yet, she still has it. Ugh... I don't think anybody in our family likes the cat, but we don't know what grandma would be doing without him.
Thanks Lee.. glad to hear that she's adjusting.. she's quite attractive, but she's no Logan.
Wow, what a gorgeous cat! Is s/he a pure breed?
Lee, I am happy to hear that you and she are finding happiness together (though on her terms).
I am still "alone" here a month after my Maribella's passing. I have had offers from many friends of "babies"looking for new and loving homes.
Still not ready to open my heart in that way I guess. As well as a certain freedom in my new found love of travel in the past year and a half. I always worried about Maribella when I went away (in part due to her age).
Miss Kitka is very lucky to have found you, as well as you had found her. In some ways I feel selfish in that a month ago I came back from a cruise; and next week I head off for another one. Maybe when I have satisfied my wanderlust I will open my heart to another pet. Right now it does not seem fair to them.
I am still "alone" here a month after my Maribella's passing. I have had offers from many friends of "babies"looking for new and loving homes.
Still not ready to open my heart in that way I guess. As well as a certain freedom in my new found love of travel in the past year and a half. I always worried about Maribella when I went away (in part due to her age).
Miss Kitka is very lucky to have found you, as well as you had found her. In some ways I feel selfish in that a month ago I came back from a cruise; and next week I head off for another one. Maybe when I have satisfied my wanderlust I will open my heart to another pet. Right now it does not seem fair to them.
She is a pure bred chocolate point siamese. The thing is- she's had a hard life. Her temperament is great toward people. She loves people. But for most of her life, she's been hounded by other animals. So when she's on the floor, any rapid movement scares her, because that's when the other animals in her former home would attack her (and I DO mean attack, not try to play. It was scary). So for right now, she likes her roost on top of the cabinets. She is venturing down more and more. I'm trying to undo 6 or 7 years of trauma in a short period of time.
She's starting to get it though.And Chip- I understand. Take your time.
i have a traumatized cat
i got a kitten from a cat shelter. the contact person i dealt with told me she was found on a main street in town, she was at the cat shelter for a month. when she first arrived she was a non stop purring machine. and following us around all the time. then i went away for two days. when i come back it was though there was a complete personality change.
now she was anti soacil with a low decibel purr. will never stay on your lap. actually runs away when she sees you occasionally
i think she was abuised at some point. i think being in the cat shelter never aided her developement. she was probably stuck in cage with the a small amount of food and little human contact,
one thing i will never do get a cat from a cat shelter again
our last cat we had was PURRFECT
i got a kitten from a cat shelter. the contact person i dealt with told me she was found on a main street in town, she was at the cat shelter for a month. when she first arrived she was a non stop purring machine. and following us around all the time. then i went away for two days. when i come back it was though there was a complete personality change.
now she was anti soacil with a low decibel purr. will never stay on your lap. actually runs away when she sees you occasionally
i think she was abuised at some point. i think being in the cat shelter never aided her developement. she was probably stuck in cage with the a small amount of food and little human contact,
one thing i will never do get a cat from a cat shelter again
our last cat we had was PURRFECT
Did she get mistreated while you were away those 2 days? Maybe not, but before you went away the cat was fine . . . and when you got back it had a complete personality change. Or she felt abandoned and decided she couldn't trust you.
Siamese are generally more high strung and tend to be neurotic, in my experience. 'course, I've only had a couple and I'm not sure the quality of the breeder since they were 'second-hand' if you will..
Keep her confined for a few days after you get. Let her adjust a bit at a time. This is advice that typically any cat person will give you.
Also, make sure you spend as much time with her as possible - and get into a routine for feed times, play times, litter box changing times, etc. Cat loves routine and the sooner she gets used to them the more comfortable she'll be.
Good for you for taking her in and getting her out that environment. It'll be difficult at first but she'll adjust.
nice looking cat!
Keep her confined for a few days after you get. Let her adjust a bit at a time. This is advice that typically any cat person will give you.
Also, make sure you spend as much time with her as possible - and get into a routine for feed times, play times, litter box changing times, etc. Cat loves routine and the sooner she gets used to them the more comfortable she'll be.
Good for you for taking her in and getting her out that environment. It'll be difficult at first but she'll adjust.
nice looking cat!
Siamese are generally more high strung and tend to be neurotic, in my experience. 'course, I've only had a couple and I'm not sure the quality of the breeder since they were 'second-hand' if you will..
Keep her confined for a few days after you get. Let her adjust a bit at a time. This is advice that typically any cat person will give you.
Also, make sure you spend as much time with her as possible - and get into a routine for feed times, play times, litter box changing times, etc. Cat loves routine and the sooner she gets used to them the more comfortable she'll be.
Good for you for taking her in and getting her out that environment. It'll be difficult at first but she'll adjust.
nice looking cat!
Good advice but hopefully the cat has adjusted by now.
Yes- she's fine. It took her about three months, but she's doing very well now. She's a sweet cat, and I definitely would get another siamese.
She's a sweet cat, and I definitely would get another siamese.
My cat used to be very stand offish. She used to be my old roommates cat. She never abused the cat, however she never gave her much attention. Another roommate of ours did some extremely questionable things to other animals in the house. Possible my cat as well.
She used to always hide in my room away from other people. She liked me and preferred to stay close to me. When my old roommate moved out she let me keep the cat as the cat would not give her the time of day. It took a few months to get her to open up fully, but now she is just the sweetest little kitty.
Of course just like people, some cats are just broken. Does not sound like your case though. Seems your friend did a decent job and it was really only the other animals. I am sure that you and the cat will be total BFFs since your the reason the other animals no longer will be harassing her.
She used to always hide in my room away from other people. She liked me and preferred to stay close to me. When my old roommate moved out she let me keep the cat as the cat would not give her the time of day. It took a few months to get her to open up fully, but now she is just the sweetest little kitty.
Of course just like people, some cats are just broken. Does not sound like your case though. Seems your friend did a decent job and it was really only the other animals. I am sure that you and the cat will be total BFFs since your the reason the other animals no longer will be harassing her.
Well, she's here! I brought her home yesterday and she hid in my office and behind the refridgerator all day. Today she's perched on top of the kitchen cabinets.
Can't wait to see my new friend. When our Alpha cat passed away, we were amazed how bold and outgoing the remaining cats became. Chances are good that without the others lording over her, she'll become quite confident given a few weeks.
Congrats! Blogger Cat
Ok all you naysayers, here she is! She's still having trouble adjusting, but she's getting much better and I'm sure will rule the apartment soon.
Beautiful cat. Look how she's curled up while you take her picture. That's a level of comfort that is quite obvious. We have one indoor-outdoor cat that after seven years is so shy, he runs whenever I try to snap his picture. All he needs to hear is the motor turn on and he's outta there. Your cat's not edgy in the least.
Enjoy her!
Good advice but hopefully the cat has adjusted by now.
DAMN IT! I have to learn to check these Holy Thread Resurrections... not the first time they've caught me