- Joined
- Oct 11, 2021
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- 3
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I adopted a cat from a shelter almost 3 weeks ago. Her name is Truffles and is 2.5 years old (their approximation). When I visited the shelter, Truffles was not only very nice but very social. She gave no pause for alarm. I immediately fell for her because of these things; whereas many of the other cats exhibited caution.
I adopted Truffles on a Tuesday and brought her back to my apartment. I decided to house her in my bedroom, which also has a small walk-in closet. Truffles decided the closet would become hers. I was hoping it would be the bedroom but there was no forcing her.
The supplies I had ready were: Dry food, wet food, a cat house with scratching posts and toys attached, 2 separate scratching posts, a litter box w/ litter, and more toys. I had to migrate many of these things to an already tight closet because Truffles would not leave.
When I brought Truffles home, she immediately began hiding in the corner of my closet. When I approached her, she exhibited total shyness, wouldn't look at me when I approached and buried her head in the ground. She would not come out unless it was night time and I was not in her proximity. This has not changed in the near 3 weeks I have had her. She will not come out unless it is night time and I am not in her proximity.
She doesn't really eat the wet food I give her. She does eat some of the dry food. The shelter I adopted her from recommended me this expensive grain-free wet food but she's not eating the majority of it. I tried getting salmon pate, but it's same the deal with her. I probably will not buy more wet food because this is just a waste and I have given her plenty of time. She does eat the dry food, albeit small amounts, which is also expensive premium cat food but it's frustrating.
What's most frustrating is that she is not becoming any more comfortable with me. She hisses profusely at me. I think the hissing is out of fear, but it borders on a growl sometimes. She has scratched my girlfriend, slightly, but not me. I try and give her space but she hisses every single time so if I back off every time, I will never see her. The director of the shelter I adopted her from recommended I push through it and pet her regardless. When I try and pet her, most of the time I can pet her head; although I'm not sure she likes it. She puts her head down and glares at me from below. I try and give her was much attention as she'll tolerate. I go in there frequently to talk to her or just be around her.
She meows throughout the night. The volume and amount of meowing varies; it is possible I am missing some of it when I am able to get to sleep. Truffles will howl throughout the night. I think she wants out of the bedroom. I would prefer her out of the bedroom at night because it sucks but the rest of the apartment is too open and much larger than my bedroom. She is especially prone to hissing during night time as well. If I wake up to see how she is doing, she'll hiss like crazy just from my approach.
Yesterday I really wanted to clean the closet and bedroom. I did not want to startle her with the vacuum, so I brought her into the living room in her carrier while my girlfriend watched her and I cleaned and vacuumed the room(s). Then I brought her back into the bedroom, but I released her in there while I washed the blanket that was in the carrier. She normally hides in the cat carrier I have turned into a bed in the closet (I have a blanked inside of it and I prefer she hides in the carrier than the corner of my closet). She will not enter it anymore, won't eat anything, and won't stop meowing. Her meowing feels worse tonight.
I feel as if this cat was severely traumatized earlier in her life. I know it takes a while for cats to adapt but this seems extreme to me. I am willing to put up with this for an amount of time but the longer I hold on, the more upset I'll become if this doesn't work. I don't want to sink 3 months of time, money, and energy into her just for it to be for nothing. I can't put up with this forever. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.
I adopted Truffles on a Tuesday and brought her back to my apartment. I decided to house her in my bedroom, which also has a small walk-in closet. Truffles decided the closet would become hers. I was hoping it would be the bedroom but there was no forcing her.
The supplies I had ready were: Dry food, wet food, a cat house with scratching posts and toys attached, 2 separate scratching posts, a litter box w/ litter, and more toys. I had to migrate many of these things to an already tight closet because Truffles would not leave.
When I brought Truffles home, she immediately began hiding in the corner of my closet. When I approached her, she exhibited total shyness, wouldn't look at me when I approached and buried her head in the ground. She would not come out unless it was night time and I was not in her proximity. This has not changed in the near 3 weeks I have had her. She will not come out unless it is night time and I am not in her proximity.
She doesn't really eat the wet food I give her. She does eat some of the dry food. The shelter I adopted her from recommended me this expensive grain-free wet food but she's not eating the majority of it. I tried getting salmon pate, but it's same the deal with her. I probably will not buy more wet food because this is just a waste and I have given her plenty of time. She does eat the dry food, albeit small amounts, which is also expensive premium cat food but it's frustrating.
What's most frustrating is that she is not becoming any more comfortable with me. She hisses profusely at me. I think the hissing is out of fear, but it borders on a growl sometimes. She has scratched my girlfriend, slightly, but not me. I try and give her space but she hisses every single time so if I back off every time, I will never see her. The director of the shelter I adopted her from recommended I push through it and pet her regardless. When I try and pet her, most of the time I can pet her head; although I'm not sure she likes it. She puts her head down and glares at me from below. I try and give her was much attention as she'll tolerate. I go in there frequently to talk to her or just be around her.
She meows throughout the night. The volume and amount of meowing varies; it is possible I am missing some of it when I am able to get to sleep. Truffles will howl throughout the night. I think she wants out of the bedroom. I would prefer her out of the bedroom at night because it sucks but the rest of the apartment is too open and much larger than my bedroom. She is especially prone to hissing during night time as well. If I wake up to see how she is doing, she'll hiss like crazy just from my approach.
Yesterday I really wanted to clean the closet and bedroom. I did not want to startle her with the vacuum, so I brought her into the living room in her carrier while my girlfriend watched her and I cleaned and vacuumed the room(s). Then I brought her back into the bedroom, but I released her in there while I washed the blanket that was in the carrier. She normally hides in the cat carrier I have turned into a bed in the closet (I have a blanked inside of it and I prefer she hides in the carrier than the corner of my closet). She will not enter it anymore, won't eat anything, and won't stop meowing. Her meowing feels worse tonight.
I feel as if this cat was severely traumatized earlier in her life. I know it takes a while for cats to adapt but this seems extreme to me. I am willing to put up with this for an amount of time but the longer I hold on, the more upset I'll become if this doesn't work. I don't want to sink 3 months of time, money, and energy into her just for it to be for nothing. I can't put up with this forever. Does anyone have any thoughts or suggestions? Thanks.