I just lost my cat of 18 years in September (Weezy) and I decided I needed another cat. I was looking online and saw a picture of Mama, a long-haired tortoiseshell at a nearby shelter. When they interviewed me and I told them which cat I wanted, first thing they asked was do I have kids, (no) and did I have any other pets (again, no), so they were very excited that I wanted to meet Mama. A friend of mine took me to the shelter, and I spotted her right away. (This shelter has a cat room where the cats can roam freely and meet the visitors). She was so cute--with her markings, she looked like a furry owl! Well, Mama wanted no part of this. Every time I tried to approach her, she ran away or hid. She was 3 years old, and they didn't know how long she had been outside, but she had been at the shelter for 6 months. I decided I wasn't leaving without her. The volunteers got her in the carrier, and we took her home. She ran under the bed and I didn't see her for a full 2 weeks, but she ate all her food and used the litter box.
Finally, after the two weeks, one day I was working on the computer and she came up to me and kept head butting my leg until I petted her. And she never stopped! She will sit beside me and watch TV, she will sit in the same room with company, but she will not approach people yet. They told me at the shelter that she didn't like to play, but I do catch her playing with catnip mice sometimes! So she is getting there. I'm glad I got her, it will take a little time, but she is coming along nicely!
Finally, after the two weeks, one day I was working on the computer and she came up to me and kept head butting my leg until I petted her. And she never stopped! She will sit beside me and watch TV, she will sit in the same room with company, but she will not approach people yet. They told me at the shelter that she didn't like to play, but I do catch her playing with catnip mice sometimes! So she is getting there. I'm glad I got her, it will take a little time, but she is coming along nicely!