I've got this funky feline, Becca, who I've decided to take on as my next project. Becca has two sisters who are very outgoing. Her two sisters are doing just fine. Becca on the other hand, has had issues since the day I got her. She's now... 7? 8? And is the same way. She's VERY overweight. She can't jump a baby gate without climbing it. She also has what I can only describe as low self esteem. She gets chased by my other felines all the time. She doesn't clean herself, preferring to sleep in a bedroom with my brother all day. She's prone to overeating. As a result she has horrible chin zits.
I've been trying to get her to warm up to me. Whenever I see her I say hello. This has resulted in her running from me if I get too close, and freezing if she sees me. If she comes into a room and sees me, she's gone. HOWEVER, if I track her down while she's asleep and pet her/give her treats she warms right up. And thus the problems start. As soon as you're nice to her she becomes a bully. She'll chase my other cats around the house and fight all day. No amount of toys or treats can distract her. If you tell at her she gets depressed again and hides. No matter what I do she won't take care of herself.
Any ideas on what to do with her? I'd like to see her not be so terrified of people and roam the house without getting chased. But I also can't have her being a bully to my other felines. Even playing with her to lose weight triggers her. I've never had a cat burn hot and cold like she does.
As soon as I get my elderly cat stabilized from her jaundice and gallbladder/liver problems she's next in line to go to the vet. Ideally I'd like to work with her before then, though.
I've been trying to get her to warm up to me. Whenever I see her I say hello. This has resulted in her running from me if I get too close, and freezing if she sees me. If she comes into a room and sees me, she's gone. HOWEVER, if I track her down while she's asleep and pet her/give her treats she warms right up. And thus the problems start. As soon as you're nice to her she becomes a bully. She'll chase my other cats around the house and fight all day. No amount of toys or treats can distract her. If you tell at her she gets depressed again and hides. No matter what I do she won't take care of herself.
Any ideas on what to do with her? I'd like to see her not be so terrified of people and roam the house without getting chased. But I also can't have her being a bully to my other felines. Even playing with her to lose weight triggers her. I've never had a cat burn hot and cold like she does.
As soon as I get my elderly cat stabilized from her jaundice and gallbladder/liver problems she's next in line to go to the vet. Ideally I'd like to work with her before then, though.