I have an ex-feral female cat, Bestia. I caught her back in January, when she was about 6-7 weeks old. When I caught her she was WILD. She hissed and bit and would always hide. She actually "escaped" into our attic the first day I had her. It was my fault because I let her run free in the house rather then keep her in the bedroom. Anyways, she came out of the attic the next morning and I set her up in out bedroom. She didn't eat for the first 2 days so I ended up force feeding her via an eyedropper for the first couple days til she ate on her own. Obviously, she was freaked out for the first couple weeks and didn't like to be touched. The only way she would allow me to hold her was if I had her covered with a blanket in my lap, then she would purr til she fell asleep. However, she never learned to get along with anyone else, not even my husband. If anyone else tried to touch her she would freak out and run away and hide til they were gone.
I thought she would eventually calm down and she seemed to be getting better for a short period of time, but then went back to hiding and not letting anyone touch her but me(I still can't hold her though, she doesn't like it).
My hubby and I moved to the mountains of NC and while we were there she managed to slip out the door. She never comes when we call so we had no way to catch her(she was too smart for a cage). Anyways, long story short, by the time we DID manage to catch her(about a month and a half later), it was too late, she was VERY preggers. I managed to get her back inside and set her up with a litter box, kitten food, etc... I blocked off all the hiding spots but she still would hide under out futon all day, only coming out at night to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom.
We have since moved again and now live in IL. She had her kittens(she did
SO well, not a single peep during the entire labor, I'm so proud of her), I was there the whole time. If I tried to walk away she would follow me, WHILE IN LABOR!
Anywas, her kittens are 12 weeks old and Bestia has since learned how to play with other cats(her kittens). Whenever I am home alone with her she is perfectly normal: playing, coming up to me for pets, meowing, staring out the window, ect... However, if she hears anyone at the door she runs away and hides(growling all the way to her hiding spot, the growling is actually kinda cute, LOL!). When my hubby is home she NEVER comes out of her hiding spot, not to eat, drink, play, go potty, NOTHING!
Now that I've told you her past, here's what's going on right now...She should be getting spayed next month(don't worry, she can't get out, we have 2 doors between her and the outdoors at ALL times!). I would get it done earlier, but I can't afford it right now. I just found a place nearby that will do the surgery relatively cheap. I want to know if the spaying will calm her down and help her become normal?
I don't like that she can't live a normal life. I considered trying to find her a new home but I think that may make matters worse. You see, she's VERY attaches to me. I was the first human to every touch her and I am the only person she allows to pet her(and boy does she love her petsies! If I don't pet her she will headbutt me till I give her attention!LOL!). Personally, I think it would devestate her to be separated me(am I wrong?). I actually took her to the humane society when I first caught her as a kitten, but I was scared they would put her to sleep because she was feral and so I adopted her back.
There have been times whe I actually considered having her put to sleep because I have lost hope of her being able to live a normal life. I hate seeing her suffer and having to hide all day long because she is so scared of everyone.
Am I being selfish in keeping her? Would she be better off with someone else? Should putting her to sleep be something I should consider? WIll spaying change her and make her normal? Has anyone else here been through this? PLEASE HELP!
(I'm sorry this thread is so long)
I thought she would eventually calm down and she seemed to be getting better for a short period of time, but then went back to hiding and not letting anyone touch her but me(I still can't hold her though, she doesn't like it).
My hubby and I moved to the mountains of NC and while we were there she managed to slip out the door. She never comes when we call so we had no way to catch her(she was too smart for a cage). Anyways, long story short, by the time we DID manage to catch her(about a month and a half later), it was too late, she was VERY preggers. I managed to get her back inside and set her up with a litter box, kitten food, etc... I blocked off all the hiding spots but she still would hide under out futon all day, only coming out at night to eat, drink, and go to the bathroom.
We have since moved again and now live in IL. She had her kittens(she did
SO well, not a single peep during the entire labor, I'm so proud of her), I was there the whole time. If I tried to walk away she would follow me, WHILE IN LABOR!
Anywas, her kittens are 12 weeks old and Bestia has since learned how to play with other cats(her kittens). Whenever I am home alone with her she is perfectly normal: playing, coming up to me for pets, meowing, staring out the window, ect... However, if she hears anyone at the door she runs away and hides(growling all the way to her hiding spot, the growling is actually kinda cute, LOL!). When my hubby is home she NEVER comes out of her hiding spot, not to eat, drink, play, go potty, NOTHING!
Now that I've told you her past, here's what's going on right now...She should be getting spayed next month(don't worry, she can't get out, we have 2 doors between her and the outdoors at ALL times!). I would get it done earlier, but I can't afford it right now. I just found a place nearby that will do the surgery relatively cheap. I want to know if the spaying will calm her down and help her become normal?
I don't like that she can't live a normal life. I considered trying to find her a new home but I think that may make matters worse. You see, she's VERY attaches to me. I was the first human to every touch her and I am the only person she allows to pet her(and boy does she love her petsies! If I don't pet her she will headbutt me till I give her attention!LOL!). Personally, I think it would devestate her to be separated me(am I wrong?). I actually took her to the humane society when I first caught her as a kitten, but I was scared they would put her to sleep because she was feral and so I adopted her back.
There have been times whe I actually considered having her put to sleep because I have lost hope of her being able to live a normal life. I hate seeing her suffer and having to hide all day long because she is so scared of everyone.
Am I being selfish in keeping her? Would she be better off with someone else? Should putting her to sleep be something I should consider? WIll spaying change her and make her normal? Has anyone else here been through this? PLEASE HELP!
(I'm sorry this thread is so long)