Rescued a 5 month old kitty who was abused

Lisa B

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Hello all! Needing some advice here...
My husband and I took over my father on laws 5 month old kitty who was being abused by him.
We brought her home with us to stay. We also have 3 other kitties. One of them is actually the new kitty's sibling.
Bet, our new kitty, is in our bedroom for her safe space until she's ready. I go in there about once every hour or so to check in on her and see what she's up to.
Whenever we would go to my in-laws house, she would always run and hide and supposedly come out after we left.
I'm looking for some advice on how to make her know that she's safe now. Let her get back to being a happy and playful kitten. I appreciate any help I can get. Thank you!
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susanm9006

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Poor baby! Thanks for taking her. Does she come out at all when you enter her room? Is she exploring at night or coming on your bed at night? If she is hiding, I would space out visits, every three or four hours on kind of a regular schedule. I would bring in a treat or a toy, set them out and then sit on the floor for a while just talking to her, playing with her toys and not making any moves towards her. Eventually she will be tempted out. I would not try to touch her or reach out to her and let her make the first moved to you.

If she is coming out then treats, food, and something like a wand or laser that she can chase or at least watch. If she only wants to watch, that is perfectly okay. She is still very much a kitten and even with an abusive start, is going to recover.
 

rubysmama

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Oh, poor little kitten. So sorry for whatever she went through, but glad she's safe now with you and your family. Cats are pretty resilient, and with time and patience, and maybe even help from your other cats, she'll learn she's safe now.

TCS actually has this article on How To Help An Abused Cat Recover | TheCatSite which may have some tips for you.

There's also these ones on:
10 Must-know Tips For Happy Living With A Shy Cat - TheCatSite
16 Top Cat Experts Share Tips For Dealing With Timid Cats - TheCatSite
9 Tips That Will Help Your Kitten Adapt To A New Apartment or House - TheCatSite

As well as these introduction ones, for when the time comes to let her meet her new feline family members.

How To Introduce A Kitten To An Older Cat [A Guide] - TheCatSite
How To Successfully Introduce Cats [The Ultimate Guide] - TheCatSite

Please keep us posted on her progress. And thanks for rescuing her.
 
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Lisa B

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Poor baby! Thanks for taking her. Does she come out at all when you enter her room? Is she exploring at night or coming on your bed at night? If she is hiding, I would space out visits, every three or four hours on kind of a regular schedule. I would bring in a treat or a toy, set them out and then sit on the floor for a while just talking to her, playing with her toys and not making any moves towards her. Eventually she will be tempted out. I would not try to touch her or reach out to her and let her make the first moved to you.

If she is coming out then treats, food, and something like a wand or laser that she can chase or at least watch. If she only wants to watch, that is perfectly okay. She is still very much a kitten and even with an abusive start, is going to recover.
We just brought her home last night. She did let me pet her for a minute or 2. She doesn't really walk around the room that I know of. But he is eating and hopefully drinking water. There's a water fountain in there. I appreciate your advice and I have noted them. Thank you very much! 😀
 

IzzysfureverMom

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I am really sorry your family experienced this but you have done a wonderful thing for this kitten. I would just sit in the room and let her get used to your presence.Talk to her softly and let her get used the the sound of your voice. Eventually she will come come out to observe you and will a some point begin to interact with you.Take treats in with you she will hopefully in time be interested in what you have in your hand.,We currently have a young feral who was very frightened and skittish and this worked with him its has been a slow process but he doing well.
 
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Lisa B

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I am really sorry your family experienced this but you have done a wonderful thing for this kitten. I would just sit in the room and let her get used to your presence.Talk to her softly and let her get used the the sound of your voice. Eventually she will come come out to observe you and will a some point begin to interact with you.Take treats in with you she will hopefully in time be interested in what you have in your hand.,We currently have a young feral who was very frightened and skittish and this worked with him its has been a slow process but he doing well.
Thank you very much for your support! I will definitely do that! She's such a sweet kitty and I just really want her to get past the bad treatment she has had in her life already. 😀
 

Kris107

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Just give her some patience and what all cats love... whatever they love! Try some wand toys, find some toys you can toss, long toys. Treats. Often cats are either play or food motivated. Some, it's cuddles and pets. She may not be used to some it because of her previous circumstance, but she'll soon see that you're the best. She is young too which should help.
 
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Lisa B

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Just give her some patience and what all cats love... whatever they love! Try some wand toys, find some toys you can toss, long toys. Treats. Often cats are either play or food motivated. Some, it's cuddles and pets. She may not be used to some it because of her previous circumstance, but she'll soon see that you're the best. She is young too which should help.
Thank you and I appreciate your time and advice
 

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I'm sorry that your kitten got off to a bad start! :(
I think you've done the right thing! :)

By the sound of what you've been saying, it seems like you've been doing everything all right. Just keep on doing what you have been doing and I think your kitten will turn herself around. It just takes lots of time and lots of patience.

It might take a good week or two before she starts exploring her new home and, maybe, a month or two before she starts feeling at home. It might take up to a year for her to really settle in.

But, since she's young, only five months old, by the time you've had her for a year, she will have lived with you longer than she did in her former home. That ought to be plenty of time for the ghosts of her past to fade away and be forgotten. :)
 
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Lisa B

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I'm sorry that your kitten got off to a bad start! :(
I think you've done the right thing! :)

By the sound of what you've been saying, it seems like you've been doing everything all right. Just keep on doing what you have been doing and I think your kitten will turn herself around. It just takes lots of time and lots of patience.

It might take a good week or two before she starts exploring her new home and, maybe, a month or two before she starts feeling at home. It might take up to a year for her to really settle in.

But, since she's young, only five months old, by the time you've had her for a year, she will have lived with you longer than she did in her former home. That ought to be plenty of time for the ghosts of her past to fade away and be forgotten. :)
Hi Caspers Human! Thank you for your advice and your time. Already I've seen just about a complete change in her. She's rubbing on me and lots of talking to me. She actually jumped up on the bed with me when I was getting ready for work this morning. I was sooooo happy to see that!!!! So far so good!!!
 
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Lisa B

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Those are really good signs! If she rubs on you, she thinks of you as her human. If she jumps on the bed, that's another good sign!

It sounds like she's already moving in! :)
It won't be long before she's taking over the whole house! ;)
My sweet lil angel kitty is really doing great!! She's playing, jumping up on the bed and rolling around. She's recovering so well!! Thank you all for your time giving me advice on my little baby!!! Much appreciated!!!
 

rubysmama

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My sweet lil angel kitty is really doing great!! She's playing, jumping up on the bed and rolling around. She's recovering so well!! Thank you all for your time giving me advice on my little baby!!! Much appreciated!!!
That's great news! So glad she's with you now. Feel free to post more pics, btw. :)
 
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