What you did worked, and that is what counts. When I brought my first rescued cat into the house, I gave him a bed but no litter box. It all worked out though.
So , I think I might have made a mistake Alina has been exploring more when I’m not in the room and playing and I let the door open to a few rooms of the house . Now she is hiding, I have found her , but she will not come out and I’ve only known that she has eaten when I leave food . I’m so sad a d discouraged (and mad at myself for letting her explore when she is still so scared of me)What you did worked, and that is what counts. When I brought my first rescued cat into the house, I gave him a bed but no litter box. It all worked out though.
yes, but a couple of months is not sufficient time. Suggest you read my old thread from 2016...... meet BuggyWill this get better ?
I will definitely check out your former post about Buggy !yes, but a couple of months is not sufficient time. Suggest you read my old thread from 2016...... meet Buggy
Major frustration and time finally paid off, memory serves Bug finally came around .....9 months later!
I have a single floor home and I have tried to block off rooms and spaces where she might hide . She is clever (as most cats are ) and has gotten under the barricades I set up around the guest room and couch . I have closed the room door , but she is currently under the couch and I can’t get to her , she is coming out to eat food I leave in her safe room (at some point/ seeing her on video)The fact that she has been exploring her own room more was a good sign that she is becoming more comfortable in the house. Depending on the layout of your house, can you close doors so that she cannot roam the entire premises? This is not a whole lot different than what you were doing before when she was in the single room, just more space. Try to repeat what you were doing before. I do recommend preventing her from going into really hard to reach places though like behind appliances. This whole process can definitely take a while so just hold the course.
Ok. Thank you! I am thinking that’s what I should do too . She is curious about exploring, but I think it’s maybe too early since she is still so afraid of me and was hiding so much that all I saw was her glowing eyes from under the bed for 2 days . She actually went into her safe room a few minutes ago (I saw on video to eat ) and I closed the door. I brought her a treat and fresh food , which she ate and then moved away (went to hide in her litter box, which she has never done before ) but I got her out with a toy for a minute. She really isn’t playing with me anymore, but at least I got her out of there . She is sitting on the opposite side of the room . I cannot approach her , so I’m just quietly sitting here. I know that many of the comments and feedback has been to just be patient and I’m trying.I would put her back in the safe room and return to what you were doing. It is just preferable to having her find a sequestered spot and getting into the gunfighter position and staying there. If you see some change in her behavior at large, such as a willingness to come out, that might be different.
Yes she was from a rescue. From what I do know . She was rescued with several cats , her mom and sister . Her mom was considered “not adoptable “ due to her feral and aggressive behavior and she was very protective of Alina , so I guess they needed to separate them so that Alina had some interaction with the previous foster , who had her for 2 months. The foster said she was mostly crated for the time with her , so little contact . This is really her first home type experience . I’m hoping she eventually feels safe hereIs she from a rescue? I know you said that you don't know her previous story.
Hang in there. I have a friend who got a one year old feral cat and she hid under the spare room bed for about 4 months. My friend was pretty discouraged. The cat then started to interact by playing with a wand toy and then worked her way up to being on the bed instead of under it. It has now been about 8 months and the cat is quite well socialized and will follow my friend around and talk to her. She still can't touch her though so that is the next big hurdle.
That makes sense,… and is sad . So I’m guessing it just might take longer for Alina to come out of her shell too . thank you for the continued feedback and support!I was in a situation once with a very feral mom and a kitten who was very bonded to her. Mom was TNRed, totally unadoptable by any standards, and the kitten was brought inside with her brothers. It took this little girl longer go come out of her shell. There was something about (in my opinion) the bond to the mom. In fact, when I trapped the mom after the litter was born on in my front bushes and had been with her for about 8 weeks, this kitten ran into the trap with the mother and they were trapped together and separated at the vet's.
Having been crated did not move this along, but I am sure that they were doing the best they could to save lives.
I was in a situation once with a very feral mom and a kitten who was very bonded to her. Mom was TNRed, totally unadoptable by any standards, and the kitten was brought inside with her brothers. It took this little girl longer go come out of her shell. There was something about (in my opinion) the bond to the mom. In fact, when I trapped the mom after the litter was born on in my front bushes and had been with her for about 8 weeks, this kitten ran into the trap with the mother and they were trapped together and separated at the vet's.
Having been crated did not move this along, but I am sure that they were doing the best they could to save lives.
I was wondering about her lack of vocalizing. I’ve never heard her make a sound at all (no meow, purr, she even has silent hiss )She is making progress, but it is slow. The fact that there are no vocalizations could indicate a more feral background, although ferals I have brought inside have definitely found their voice. Have you tried not looking at her and ignoring her? Taking care of her needs, of course, but letting her work this out for herself.