Hi Everyone!
I Just adopted a new 6 month old female kitten from a local humane society on Friday. Kitty doesnt have a permanent name yet (but we have some ideas! Just waiting for one that feels right and getting to know her) I am so happy and exited!!!
So, precious little kitty is definately on the shy/somewhat unsocialized side. At the shelter, she had a tall narrow enclosure with different levels and a dark place in the bottom she could hide. When we were first there, she was hidden. When we came back in the room she was out. She didnt run when we went up to her, but her posture leaned back and she looked surprised. She sniffed my finger and then retreated a bit and started at us. I had originally came to the shelter asking about these kittens and so I asked the shelter lady about her. They said she was sweet but very shy, though not as shy as her her littermate Gina who hissed at us. I was told she also had a littermate who was extremely friendly. When her door was opened we slowly approached for another smell and to pet her, at firt she seemed a little taken aback but then she leaned into the pet and flopped over and started making muffins on the side of the wall. I took this as a sign that even though she was scared, she had the potential to come around. And we adopted her!!
My current cat is a 9 year old neutered male. He has lived with another female cat before, who was roughly his age when he used to live with my mom. He was somewhat territorial but the two enjoyed playing together even though they didnt cuddle. Personality wise hes really really affectionate and cant be pet enough, likes to play alot, and has a scaredy cat side of him where he hides from all noises, he is terrified of bags and when he was in indoor/outdoor cat before he wouldnt go out during the day when weird noises were happening and things could see him. he would not approach strangers.
I think I have 2 steps with this kitten, first introducing her to the apartment and us, and making sure she feels safe, then, introducing her to Greycat. I really dont want to rush stuff but am not sure how to know when to move on.
She is showing some good signs!
Day 1: hid underneath things despite me thinking I blocked them off all day. Came out after a half hour to explore, wouldnt eat any offered treats, then retreated until nmight where she came out to eat and explore. Scared of being approached.
Day 2. Ate first feeding from a can i held in my hand. At night, she came out and ate from a can on top of our bed in front of us, jumped up and eplored on top of the dresser and chairs, tail still held completely down. Played with a wand toy with both of us! Still clearly doesnt want to be approached for pets (she runs away if she thinks your going near her) but towards the end of the night she wouldnt completely retreat once she realized she wouldnt be chased. Using litter box, she licked my fingers after a treat!
Day 3 (today): She came out this morning and it out now! Her tail is held up more, a couple times I saw it completely up. Shes exploring everywhere. Wanting to play more. I stated slowly approaching and she looked scared and jumped down off the sill, so I stopped. However in stead of hiding she walked towards me, tail up, meowing a lot. Not sure how to interpret this but I think its good. She walked up to me, sniffed my hand. Then laid down and started rolling around, rubbing on stuff around her. I reached my fingers out and she touched them/grabbed them with her paw while rolling around. I laid down on the floor on my back and she came up and sniffed me, walked past and walked over my leg . I think she is still skittish but gaining confidence and seeing I wont hurt her. She started rubbing on stuff today, which i think means she is starting to think of it as her space. I fed her by the door where she would meet my cat, but he wasnt on the other side. So she would get used to that area. I sat right by it. She came, ate, retreated behind me, then would come eat again. She did this three times and each time she walked past me her tail was held higher. At the end it was up When I left the room to get stuff to change her litter she saw my other cat through the door. She looked very interested and like she wanted to approach, his eyes got all big and he made a little whine sound before I shut the door. Not an aggressive sound, i think a scared sound. he can be quite skittish of new things.
As far as her and our other cat, our room smells just like him and has his food everywhere. But we still switched blankets. Havent seen her reaction to his smell, but I fed Resident cat on top of her carrier blanket and he kept alternating between sniffing and eating, no other reaction. He doesnt understand why he cant go in our room though, because so many of his favorite places are there. We have a 1 br apt though, so no choice.
How do I tell when to move on? Do you think tonight would be too soon to feed on opposite sides of the door? Should I wait until her tail is up all the time and she isnt running from me coming and going (she comes quickly out now, or doesnt completely hide)
Im also really not sure of how to proceed with petting. The shelter said i would have to pet her alot to get her used to it and liking it. It looked like at the shelter she liked being pet but didnt know it because of her fear. I dont want to push her too soon, but dont want to wait too long either. Suggestions?
I cant wait till she gets out of her shell, I can tell she wants to play even more than she is allowing herself. She'll play in place and wrestle and stand up on her paws to get things and maybe pounce a foot away but still i think to timid to run around and chase.
Ahh as always I wrote a ton >_<
Here's a picture:
I Just adopted a new 6 month old female kitten from a local humane society on Friday. Kitty doesnt have a permanent name yet (but we have some ideas! Just waiting for one that feels right and getting to know her) I am so happy and exited!!!
So, precious little kitty is definately on the shy/somewhat unsocialized side. At the shelter, she had a tall narrow enclosure with different levels and a dark place in the bottom she could hide. When we were first there, she was hidden. When we came back in the room she was out. She didnt run when we went up to her, but her posture leaned back and she looked surprised. She sniffed my finger and then retreated a bit and started at us. I had originally came to the shelter asking about these kittens and so I asked the shelter lady about her. They said she was sweet but very shy, though not as shy as her her littermate Gina who hissed at us. I was told she also had a littermate who was extremely friendly. When her door was opened we slowly approached for another smell and to pet her, at firt she seemed a little taken aback but then she leaned into the pet and flopped over and started making muffins on the side of the wall. I took this as a sign that even though she was scared, she had the potential to come around. And we adopted her!!
My current cat is a 9 year old neutered male. He has lived with another female cat before, who was roughly his age when he used to live with my mom. He was somewhat territorial but the two enjoyed playing together even though they didnt cuddle. Personality wise hes really really affectionate and cant be pet enough, likes to play alot, and has a scaredy cat side of him where he hides from all noises, he is terrified of bags and when he was in indoor/outdoor cat before he wouldnt go out during the day when weird noises were happening and things could see him. he would not approach strangers.
I think I have 2 steps with this kitten, first introducing her to the apartment and us, and making sure she feels safe, then, introducing her to Greycat. I really dont want to rush stuff but am not sure how to know when to move on.
She is showing some good signs!
Day 1: hid underneath things despite me thinking I blocked them off all day. Came out after a half hour to explore, wouldnt eat any offered treats, then retreated until nmight where she came out to eat and explore. Scared of being approached.
Day 2. Ate first feeding from a can i held in my hand. At night, she came out and ate from a can on top of our bed in front of us, jumped up and eplored on top of the dresser and chairs, tail still held completely down. Played with a wand toy with both of us! Still clearly doesnt want to be approached for pets (she runs away if she thinks your going near her) but towards the end of the night she wouldnt completely retreat once she realized she wouldnt be chased. Using litter box, she licked my fingers after a treat!
Day 3 (today): She came out this morning and it out now! Her tail is held up more, a couple times I saw it completely up. Shes exploring everywhere. Wanting to play more. I stated slowly approaching and she looked scared and jumped down off the sill, so I stopped. However in stead of hiding she walked towards me, tail up, meowing a lot. Not sure how to interpret this but I think its good. She walked up to me, sniffed my hand. Then laid down and started rolling around, rubbing on stuff around her. I reached my fingers out and she touched them/grabbed them with her paw while rolling around. I laid down on the floor on my back and she came up and sniffed me, walked past and walked over my leg . I think she is still skittish but gaining confidence and seeing I wont hurt her. She started rubbing on stuff today, which i think means she is starting to think of it as her space. I fed her by the door where she would meet my cat, but he wasnt on the other side. So she would get used to that area. I sat right by it. She came, ate, retreated behind me, then would come eat again. She did this three times and each time she walked past me her tail was held higher. At the end it was up When I left the room to get stuff to change her litter she saw my other cat through the door. She looked very interested and like she wanted to approach, his eyes got all big and he made a little whine sound before I shut the door. Not an aggressive sound, i think a scared sound. he can be quite skittish of new things.
As far as her and our other cat, our room smells just like him and has his food everywhere. But we still switched blankets. Havent seen her reaction to his smell, but I fed Resident cat on top of her carrier blanket and he kept alternating between sniffing and eating, no other reaction. He doesnt understand why he cant go in our room though, because so many of his favorite places are there. We have a 1 br apt though, so no choice.
How do I tell when to move on? Do you think tonight would be too soon to feed on opposite sides of the door? Should I wait until her tail is up all the time and she isnt running from me coming and going (she comes quickly out now, or doesnt completely hide)
Im also really not sure of how to proceed with petting. The shelter said i would have to pet her alot to get her used to it and liking it. It looked like at the shelter she liked being pet but didnt know it because of her fear. I dont want to push her too soon, but dont want to wait too long either. Suggestions?
I cant wait till she gets out of her shell, I can tell she wants to play even more than she is allowing herself. She'll play in place and wrestle and stand up on her paws to get things and maybe pounce a foot away but still i think to timid to run around and chase.
Ahh as always I wrote a ton >_<
Here's a picture:
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