I took in a foster cat called Fergie 5 weeks ago today. She is about 2 1/2. The total amount of information I was given was "She wasn't doing well at the shelter." I have 3 other cats so I haven't given her free run of my house. Instead, I've set her up in my spare bedroom with food, water, litter tray, places to hide and toys. She has been eating & drinking and using her tray from Day 1 which is good. I visit her around 4 times a day for at least 5-10 minutes a time but she doesn't move from her safe place while I'm there. She also never plays with her toys. I have a motion-sensitive camera set up in the room so I can she what she does (or rather doesn't do) when I'm not there.
The good news is that since I first got her she has become comfortable enough with my presence to go to sleep (safely under the bed) while I'm in the room. She will also let me put treats down in front of her now without hissing. However, this is the extent of my successes. I worry that she has just swapped a small cage in the shelter for a larger one in my home. I'd love some advice on things to try to help her have more fun in her life.
Things I've tried are
1. Playing Cat TV (birds, mice) videos on YouTube - she ignores it.
2. Coaxing her out of her bed with treats - she isn't very food oriented, she'll wait until I've left the room, sniff it and then ignore it.
3. Trying to get her to play with a toy (waving a DaBird around or trailing a shoelace past her) - she'll ignore it when I'm in the room, then sniff the toy when I've left.
4. Switching her toys around or spraying them with catnip - she'll ignore the new toy while I'm in the room then sniff it when I've left.
5. Leaving a battery operated toy running and then leaving the room - she ignored/avoided it when it was running but sniffed it after I'd turned it off and left the room.
6. Encouraged my other cats to play with toys/stick their paws under the door - she doesn't budge from her safe spot when this is happening but will go and sit by the door for a bit (a minute or so) when I've left the room and the other cats are not nearby.
Things I'm considering
1. Putting her food bowl under the bed so she doesn't have to come out into the open to eat and then waiting for her to eat while I'm there. At the moment her food bowl is in the open. She waits until a minute or two after I've left to come out and eat.
2. Sleeping in the spare room so she is forced to spend more time with me. She is most active (such as it is) at night.
3. Setting things up so she can see me playing with one of my other cats.
Any advice on what else to try would be very welcome, particularly from someone who has dealt with this sort of situtation before. Even if it is "just keep doing what you are doing and give her more time, she'll come around." I just feel so sorry for the poor love. She should be playing and getting cuddles and snoozing in sunny spots.
The good news is that since I first got her she has become comfortable enough with my presence to go to sleep (safely under the bed) while I'm in the room. She will also let me put treats down in front of her now without hissing. However, this is the extent of my successes. I worry that she has just swapped a small cage in the shelter for a larger one in my home. I'd love some advice on things to try to help her have more fun in her life.
Things I've tried are
1. Playing Cat TV (birds, mice) videos on YouTube - she ignores it.
2. Coaxing her out of her bed with treats - she isn't very food oriented, she'll wait until I've left the room, sniff it and then ignore it.
3. Trying to get her to play with a toy (waving a DaBird around or trailing a shoelace past her) - she'll ignore it when I'm in the room, then sniff the toy when I've left.
4. Switching her toys around or spraying them with catnip - she'll ignore the new toy while I'm in the room then sniff it when I've left.
5. Leaving a battery operated toy running and then leaving the room - she ignored/avoided it when it was running but sniffed it after I'd turned it off and left the room.
6. Encouraged my other cats to play with toys/stick their paws under the door - she doesn't budge from her safe spot when this is happening but will go and sit by the door for a bit (a minute or so) when I've left the room and the other cats are not nearby.
Things I'm considering
1. Putting her food bowl under the bed so she doesn't have to come out into the open to eat and then waiting for her to eat while I'm there. At the moment her food bowl is in the open. She waits until a minute or two after I've left to come out and eat.
2. Sleeping in the spare room so she is forced to spend more time with me. She is most active (such as it is) at night.
3. Setting things up so she can see me playing with one of my other cats.
Any advice on what else to try would be very welcome, particularly from someone who has dealt with this sort of situtation before. Even if it is "just keep doing what you are doing and give her more time, she'll come around." I just feel so sorry for the poor love. She should be playing and getting cuddles and snoozing in sunny spots.