My poor terrified cats...
Edit By:How To Pet
Q:We have two black cats, brother and sister. Both have been neutered and have been living with us since they were 3 months old. (They're coming up to 3 years old now.)
We got them from a 'Cat Lady'. You know, one of those old ladies that have a million animals running around the house. She probably had about 30 cats of various ages, all living in the same house and all eating from one bowl. We had originally gone out there to pick up one cat but when I saw the overcrowding I was ready to turn around and leave. However, she eventually found the cat she was willing to part with. The poor things, both of them had been left in a room and forgotten about, for two days! After that there was no way I was leaving them with her and we took both home.
The first few days were awful as the two little guys were so frightened of everything around them (and the two of us!) that just getting them to eat was a major success. At that time we were living in an apartment, but have now moved to the country.
They both love it, run around outside a lot and catch everything such as shrews, mice and moles. They are also a lot more relaxed. Both sleeping on the bed at night now, but...
They are still absolutely terrified of us. They can't be picked up - both hate it - and won't have much else to do with us. If we're lying down in bed they'll come and want to be stroked and lie down and sleep by us but that's it. We've never even spoken harshly to them and have tried everything we could to try and make up for their first 3 months.
The little guy seems to sort of trust me sometimes, and the little girl absolutely loves me at night - but in the harsh light of day they're both very scared of us.
Any advice on how to get them to trust us more?
We got them from a 'Cat Lady'. You know, one of those old ladies that have a million animals running around the house. She probably had about 30 cats of various ages, all living in the same house and all eating from one bowl. We had originally gone out there to pick up one cat but when I saw the overcrowding I was ready to turn around and leave. However, she eventually found the cat she was willing to part with. The poor things, both of them had been left in a room and forgotten about, for two days! After that there was no way I was leaving them with her and we took both home.
The first few days were awful as the two little guys were so frightened of everything around them (and the two of us!) that just getting them to eat was a major success. At that time we were living in an apartment, but have now moved to the country.
They both love it, run around outside a lot and catch everything such as shrews, mice and moles. They are also a lot more relaxed. Both sleeping on the bed at night now, but...
They are still absolutely terrified of us. They can't be picked up - both hate it - and won't have much else to do with us. If we're lying down in bed they'll come and want to be stroked and lie down and sleep by us but that's it. We've never even spoken harshly to them and have tried everything we could to try and make up for their first 3 months.
The little guy seems to sort of trust me sometimes, and the little girl absolutely loves me at night - but in the harsh light of day they're both very scared of us.
Any advice on how to get them to trust us more?
A:I got Linx from one of the no-kill foster situations in Montreal, at some lady's house. She must have had 20 cats in one bedroom! But everything was super clean.
Linx was terrified of everyone and everything at first. He hid in the hall linen closet for two solid weeks and would only come out at night to eat and potty.
I literally ignored him the first few weeks. Didn't talk to him, didn't reach out to pet him, didn't try to get closer to him. I let him call the shots. I thought by ignoring him, he would come around on his own terms.
Then one day while I was watching CNN, he jumps in my lap!!
Since then he's a cuddle kitty and loves to be petted and loved on.
Linx was terrified of everyone and everything at first. He hid in the hall linen closet for two solid weeks and would only come out at night to eat and potty.
I literally ignored him the first few weeks. Didn't talk to him, didn't reach out to pet him, didn't try to get closer to him. I let him call the shots. I thought by ignoring him, he would come around on his own terms.
Then one day while I was watching CNN, he jumps in my lap!!
Since then he's a cuddle kitty and loves to be petted and loved on.
A:My cat Charlotte was left mainly on her own for the first few months of her life, when I got her she did have human contact but not a whole lot of cuddles and such, and potato chips had been her main diet
From the time I took her in she would not allow anyone to hold her, touch any part of her body other than her head, and she would actually chase you down and give you a swat on the heels if you walked by her and stroked her body In the 18 years that she lived with me she would sleep on the bed, cuddle up next to me for short periods, but any attempt to stroke the fur would result in her jumping down and going off some other place to continue the nap. She would never let me pick her up either, sounded like a bag pipe going off if I had to carry her for any reason We always used to say, "Don't squeeze the Charlotte" I know that if she had been socialized to humans at an earlier age all would have been normal, but the window of opportunity only lasts for so long and in her case could never be back-tracted. Maybe your cats are in the same boat, loving but from a safe distance.
From the time I took her in she would not allow anyone to hold her, touch any part of her body other than her head, and she would actually chase you down and give you a swat on the heels if you walked by her and stroked her body In the 18 years that she lived with me she would sleep on the bed, cuddle up next to me for short periods, but any attempt to stroke the fur would result in her jumping down and going off some other place to continue the nap. She would never let me pick her up either, sounded like a bag pipe going off if I had to carry her for any reason We always used to say, "Don't squeeze the Charlotte" I know that if she had been socialized to humans at an earlier age all would have been normal, but the window of opportunity only lasts for so long and in her case could never be back-tracted. Maybe your cats are in the same boat, loving but from a safe distance.
A:Three years is a long time to wait for that first hip check, but things still might change. They were probably feral to begin with and the lady who scooped them up didn't have the time to socialize them, which is one of the downsides of having too many cats.
The fact that they go outside and even catch some of their own food is probably not helping. I am not suggesting you lock them up - too late for that - but making them stay inside for part of the day and at night and getting into some play - laser tag or crunchy balls or plain old string, anything which interests them - it might help move things along. Play is a great bonding technique. Don't be put off if they give you the cold shoulder at first - what? me? play with you? - in the end, they won't be able to resist. The more they are around you, the more they will see your uh, entertainment value
Thanks for rescuing them.
PS Enjoying being picked up is at the far end of acceptance. Sometimes you get there, sometimes you don't.
The fact that they go outside and even catch some of their own food is probably not helping. I am not suggesting you lock them up - too late for that - but making them stay inside for part of the day and at night and getting into some play - laser tag or crunchy balls or plain old string, anything which interests them - it might help move things along. Play is a great bonding technique. Don't be put off if they give you the cold shoulder at first - what? me? play with you? - in the end, they won't be able to resist. The more they are around you, the more they will see your uh, entertainment value
Thanks for rescuing them.
PS Enjoying being picked up is at the far end of acceptance. Sometimes you get there, sometimes you don't.