Thank you for your thoughts on helping Forte become less skittish.
Two year old Forte joined me when she was 10 weeks old.
I have only picked her up once, at 10 weeks to go to vet for spay/shots.
That was very bloody for me and very scary for her.
Her two sisters from the same feral mom came back and off anesthesia effects quickly.
Forte remained very groggy for three days, so Vet may have needed to tranquilize her heavily.
Sisters socialized rapidly and found homes in days.
I think Forte beleives that I ate her two sisters, as well as the other feral kittens that have been rehomed through the last two years.
Forte is a very sweet and gentle cat. She just does not want to be touched or picked up.
Attempts result in her hiding for days or if you get a hold of her, the back feet come up and cut deeply into your arms. She is not being agressive, she is "frightened to the extreme" on being picked up.
I made the decision when she was young to not force her into being held. I chose not to wrap her in a towel. Instead, I took a slow gentle approach. With her that was "not the best decision". Yet it is how we have progressed. Forte does show slow progress, yet it is so painstakingly slow.
Forte loves Valentine, the big formerly feral tomcat (altered). When I pet him, Forte will come over and rub against him. I can pet her and she loves it. At least until she sees my hand. Then she walks off. As long as she can (fool herself) beleive the tomcat is petting her, she loves it. She really knows it is me. Yet on visual confirmation she leaves. Funny, odd behavior.
Forte will come eat food from my hand.
She will rise on her back legs and very gently take food from my fingers.
Yet if you touch her, she runs off.
When she is fed, it is required that I touch her. She tolerates it for about 2 seconds.
If touched underneath, she bolts and hides.
Forte will come lick my hand. Yet she will only do this if my arm is fully extended, like sitting on a recliner with hand near the floor or reaching out to her. She needs to know that you cannot attempt to pick her up. She will lick my hand to ask for treats.
Her house manors are very good.
By nature, she is a very kind and gentle cat. She shows this me and to other cats. She is not aggressive in playing with larger cats or even the tiniest or roughest kitten.
By nature she is skittish and I beleive frightened of being controlled.
Since my health continues to decline, I need to move Forte along, I need her to be able to be picked up, taken to the vet, checked by her owner, so that she will be able to find another home when I am gone.
She trusts me. Yet she knows that I want her to be picked up, like the other cats.
She does not want that to happen.
She trusts that picking her up is what I want to have happen. She dissagrees with that goal.
Your thoughts on moving her forward are appreciated.
Two year old Forte joined me when she was 10 weeks old.
I have only picked her up once, at 10 weeks to go to vet for spay/shots.
That was very bloody for me and very scary for her.
Her two sisters from the same feral mom came back and off anesthesia effects quickly.
Forte remained very groggy for three days, so Vet may have needed to tranquilize her heavily.
Sisters socialized rapidly and found homes in days.
I think Forte beleives that I ate her two sisters, as well as the other feral kittens that have been rehomed through the last two years.
Forte is a very sweet and gentle cat. She just does not want to be touched or picked up.
Attempts result in her hiding for days or if you get a hold of her, the back feet come up and cut deeply into your arms. She is not being agressive, she is "frightened to the extreme" on being picked up.
I made the decision when she was young to not force her into being held. I chose not to wrap her in a towel. Instead, I took a slow gentle approach. With her that was "not the best decision". Yet it is how we have progressed. Forte does show slow progress, yet it is so painstakingly slow.
Forte loves Valentine, the big formerly feral tomcat (altered). When I pet him, Forte will come over and rub against him. I can pet her and she loves it. At least until she sees my hand. Then she walks off. As long as she can (fool herself) beleive the tomcat is petting her, she loves it. She really knows it is me. Yet on visual confirmation she leaves. Funny, odd behavior.
Forte will come eat food from my hand.
She will rise on her back legs and very gently take food from my fingers.
Yet if you touch her, she runs off.
When she is fed, it is required that I touch her. She tolerates it for about 2 seconds.
If touched underneath, she bolts and hides.
Forte will come lick my hand. Yet she will only do this if my arm is fully extended, like sitting on a recliner with hand near the floor or reaching out to her. She needs to know that you cannot attempt to pick her up. She will lick my hand to ask for treats.
Her house manors are very good.
By nature, she is a very kind and gentle cat. She shows this me and to other cats. She is not aggressive in playing with larger cats or even the tiniest or roughest kitten.
By nature she is skittish and I beleive frightened of being controlled.
Since my health continues to decline, I need to move Forte along, I need her to be able to be picked up, taken to the vet, checked by her owner, so that she will be able to find another home when I am gone.
She trusts me. Yet she knows that I want her to be picked up, like the other cats.
She does not want that to happen.
She trusts that picking her up is what I want to have happen. She dissagrees with that goal.
Your thoughts on moving her forward are appreciated.
BUT good and excellent sign that she will allow petting "through" Valentine. OH these kitties, SO SMART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! As to how to move Forte forward so you can place her in a home? Not sure IF there is a clear answer here for you. I just hope that you can find someone who will love her just the way she is. Miss Independent :rub: :heart2: 
