Our feral kitten Wendy is a beautiful 10-month-old now. She was born of a wild mother and trapped at about 8 weeks. When we adopted her, she was easily terrified and settled down in a crate for about a week. Then she started going psycho to get out and explore. We let her out too soon, and she learned to run and hide from us. And now she is still not fully socialized. Although she is making progress by the fraction of a millimeter every day.
I could use some tips and advice for getting her to be more relaxed around us. I realize she may never become a cuddly lap cat, like our other feral kitten. But I wish she'd stop regarding me as Evil Mommy. And learn to enjoy life more!
The Positives:
The Issues
I avoid putting my open hand toward her when I try to pet her, and I avoid eye contact, and talk to her quietly. She'll settle down a few feet from us but doesn't like to come closer.
Any tips? Thanks for reading this long message!
I could use some tips and advice for getting her to be more relaxed around us. I realize she may never become a cuddly lap cat, like our other feral kitten. But I wish she'd stop regarding me as Evil Mommy. And learn to enjoy life more!
The Positives:
- She loves our other three cats.
- She has never scratched or bitten us, or hissed or growled when we hold her or give her medication
- She sneaks up behind my desk chair and swats my backside when she's bored.
- She plays with toys with us and takes treats from our hands.
- She purrs when we pet her
- When she's hiding under the bed, she purrs when I play with her feet, which are all I can reach.
The Issues
- She often takes off if we come too near, unless she's sleepy.
- When we miss her and want to cuddle we sometimes have to track her slowly around and around the room until she flops over on one side and lets us pick her up and pet her. Then she curls up and purrs like a loud car engine until she's ready to leave.
- Lots of cringing and flinching when we try to touch her.
- She is skittish when we're in the kitchen feeding her, like we'll punish her for eating. For the record, none of our cats has ever been punished. When they are "bad," — like, spilling their whole water dish for the umpteenth time, I lecture them in my Maggie Smith voice!
I avoid putting my open hand toward her when I try to pet her, and I avoid eye contact, and talk to her quietly. She'll settle down a few feet from us but doesn't like to come closer.
Any tips? Thanks for reading this long message!