Hi everyone,
I really need some advice regarding a mother cat that is still hiding after 16 days. I just don't know what to do for her.
About a month ago, a family near me had this cat start showing up on their patio and they started feeding her. A week or so later she brought her kitten around to eat as well. Just one kitten and it was the same kitten each time. At this point they reached out for help but all the shelters are full. They said they could bring them inside for a while but couldn't keep them--their old cat has lymphoma, a mast cell tumor and is immunocompromised.
I offered to help trap them, but then Momma showed up 2 days in a row alone and they were worried sick. When she brought the kitten back on the third day, they figured it was then or never. They picked up the kitten and brought him inside. Momma followed without a fuss and they herded her into a spare bathroom.
Momma spent the next week hiding in the bathtub, the bookcase, anywhere she could get to.
Two people offered to take them and then went AWOL. The family was talking about letting Momma back outside and I told them I'd take them. They got Momma spayed and all her shots, and both Momma and kitten came here. I think they were dumped--Momma didn't have a single flea or tick on her when she went to the vet, and both she and kitten were very clean. The kitten has none of the usual issues kittens born outside have like eye infections.
Kitten is 9-10 weeks old now and almost weaned. I haven't seen him try to nurse in a few days. He is a joy and is well on his way to being socialized and finding a good home.
I don't have a spare bathroom but I have an extra bedroom. For the last 16 days Momma has lived under the bed. She does come out in the middle of the night to use the litter box and eat, and I walked in a few days ago and caught her sitting on the nightstand.
She absolutely will not come out when anyone is there. She will not approach us or even look at us most of the time. I once had a cat that didn't come out for a solid month, but she could at least be lured to the edge of the bed with treats. Not this one.
I am not sure what the right approach is here--I'm hearing conflicting things. One is saying to engage and pet her even if she doesn't want it. We can pet her, but she's so tense most of thr time that you can tell she's not happy about it.
The other approach is to leave her alome and she'll come out when she's ready.
Which is the right way to go here?
I wonder if the kitten being there is making it harder. It is harder to engage her, because he always wants in on the action. But when I'm playing with him, she does watch and she's curious. She knows we're not going to hurt him or she would never let him out either. I'm just wondering that when I integrate him with my other cats for socialization if that will help her come out of her shell.
This is a traumatized cat and she requires special care. I realize it could be months before she trusts us. Any advice on how we can help her would be greatly appreciated.
Edit: She is only about a year old herself. She has never hissed, growled or try to bite or scratch anyone.
I really need some advice regarding a mother cat that is still hiding after 16 days. I just don't know what to do for her.
About a month ago, a family near me had this cat start showing up on their patio and they started feeding her. A week or so later she brought her kitten around to eat as well. Just one kitten and it was the same kitten each time. At this point they reached out for help but all the shelters are full. They said they could bring them inside for a while but couldn't keep them--their old cat has lymphoma, a mast cell tumor and is immunocompromised.
I offered to help trap them, but then Momma showed up 2 days in a row alone and they were worried sick. When she brought the kitten back on the third day, they figured it was then or never. They picked up the kitten and brought him inside. Momma followed without a fuss and they herded her into a spare bathroom.
Momma spent the next week hiding in the bathtub, the bookcase, anywhere she could get to.
Two people offered to take them and then went AWOL. The family was talking about letting Momma back outside and I told them I'd take them. They got Momma spayed and all her shots, and both Momma and kitten came here. I think they were dumped--Momma didn't have a single flea or tick on her when she went to the vet, and both she and kitten were very clean. The kitten has none of the usual issues kittens born outside have like eye infections.
Kitten is 9-10 weeks old now and almost weaned. I haven't seen him try to nurse in a few days. He is a joy and is well on his way to being socialized and finding a good home.
I don't have a spare bathroom but I have an extra bedroom. For the last 16 days Momma has lived under the bed. She does come out in the middle of the night to use the litter box and eat, and I walked in a few days ago and caught her sitting on the nightstand.
She absolutely will not come out when anyone is there. She will not approach us or even look at us most of the time. I once had a cat that didn't come out for a solid month, but she could at least be lured to the edge of the bed with treats. Not this one.
I am not sure what the right approach is here--I'm hearing conflicting things. One is saying to engage and pet her even if she doesn't want it. We can pet her, but she's so tense most of thr time that you can tell she's not happy about it.
The other approach is to leave her alome and she'll come out when she's ready.
Which is the right way to go here?
I wonder if the kitten being there is making it harder. It is harder to engage her, because he always wants in on the action. But when I'm playing with him, she does watch and she's curious. She knows we're not going to hurt him or she would never let him out either. I'm just wondering that when I integrate him with my other cats for socialization if that will help her come out of her shell.
This is a traumatized cat and she requires special care. I realize it could be months before she trusts us. Any advice on how we can help her would be greatly appreciated.
Edit: She is only about a year old herself. She has never hissed, growled or try to bite or scratch anyone.
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