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- Jun 15, 2015
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Just under 3 months I picked up a year old rescue named Belle, when her caretaker from the foster home dropped her off her first words were "Wow, this is wonderful. I wouldn't be surprised if she's hopping in bed with you within a week." However for some reason, she just doesn't get along with me. I figured she was just shy, she eats drinks and uses the litterbox just fine so I just let her do her thing and figured she'd come out to say hi at some point without pushing her. I've done my best to narrate what I do when I'm home so she gets used to my voice, and I figured I was making slow but steady progress. She'll sometimes come out when it gets dark and sit on the floor, but if I get up she darts back into the closet. She seems happiest when I'm not around or asleep. I put out wet food for her at night, if I leave the room and close the door for as little as 30 seconds she'll come out to eat but zip back to her hiding spot if I open the door again. If I'm asleep or in bed, it usually takes 5-10 minutes and I'll hear her hop down, she'll poke her head around the corner of my laundry basket to check if I'm paying attention, if not then she crosses the room and eats. Again, I just assumed this was because she was nervous after her previous owner. Two weeks ago I had a friend over who wanted to meet Belle, so I figured why not. My friend approached her in all the ways I've been told not to, she moved some of the hanging clothes in the closet out of the way (lots of noise and a drastic change to her normal environment) then leaned down to pet her. To my amazement, I heard meowing coming from the closet! Not only was Belle not running away, but she seemed to be enjoying it! So later that night I went to try, as usual when I interact with her I spoke to her for a few minutes while in her line of sight and crouched down to her level before reaching out my hand. She didn't move, so I started petting her back. She hissed once, then just kind of sat there for a minute or so before deciding she'd had enough and she moved away, at which point I figured that was enough of a breakthrough and left her alone for the rest of the night. Did the same the next day, she hissed again but let me pet her for a little longer and I even rubbed under her chin! I was so excited that she was finally coming around. Then the next day she hissed and kind of scrunched up, I stopped and just held my hand out but she hissed again and batted my hand, I figure she was just like "ok woah, no interaction to lots of interaction" so left her for a few days. I tried again, she got even more defensive and scratched me hard enough to draw blood. I went back to just talking to her for a while, then a friend came to visit last night (new person) and Belle let her pet her face and even leaned into it! I also tried with my roommate (male) who didn't touch her but was able to get close without her hissing. I tried again today, she hissed and stood up then hissed again and backed away. I'm thinking she definitely doesn't like men, but seems to especially dislike me...
Most people I've talked to suggest finding someone she's comfortable with, having them scoop her up out of her spot in the closet, then seeing if she'll be more calm around me while being held by a female. The friend who she seemed to enjoy being pet by is saying I should just try to out-stubborn her and keep talking to her then putting my hand near her regardless of if she hisses or not.
This is getting really distressing for me, I understood taking on a rescue wouldn't be as much of a walk in the park as her caretaker was saying but I was hoping to have at least some sort of consistent positive interaction with her by now. The fact that she's by default more comfortable with complete strangers is also pretty tough as well... plus this is the only housecat I have ever not gotten along with. I even have a friend who has a cat that was actively abused by a man within the last year and the three times I've been over he's all chirps and headbutts when I'm around.
Most people I've talked to suggest finding someone she's comfortable with, having them scoop her up out of her spot in the closet, then seeing if she'll be more calm around me while being held by a female. The friend who she seemed to enjoy being pet by is saying I should just try to out-stubborn her and keep talking to her then putting my hand near her regardless of if she hisses or not.
This is getting really distressing for me, I understood taking on a rescue wouldn't be as much of a walk in the park as her caretaker was saying but I was hoping to have at least some sort of consistent positive interaction with her by now. The fact that she's by default more comfortable with complete strangers is also pretty tough as well... plus this is the only housecat I have ever not gotten along with. I even have a friend who has a cat that was actively abused by a man within the last year and the three times I've been over he's all chirps and headbutts when I'm around.