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Cat Forum / Cat Anecdotes / June 2004Rescued but very nervous
My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally friendly and loves to be petted. Will always start purring loudly whenever I touch her. The other is a tabby, called Miss Muffet (from the nursery rhyme), because she is so scared and nervous of everything. She desperately wants to be loved, but is only now after 6 weeks trusting me to gently pet her. Today she actually came across the garden to me to be petted. Doesn't sound much, but believe me that is great progress for her. She still gets nervous when I pick her up. Question: should I persist in picking her up? Or should I restrain myself and hope she decides to like it eventually. I allow both to sleep on my bed, but strangely it is Missy (the nervous one) who curls up on the bed and Buttons who chooses the chair. BTW, Missy is the greedy one who loves her food, whereas Buttons seems not to be at all interested, only eating occasionally despite my best efforts at offering her lots of choice things. I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. > My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is > called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. >My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is >called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >Question: should I persist in picking her up? Or should I restrain myself and >hope she decides to like it eventually. The latter sounds good to me. At her age, you can't force her to do something she doesn't like, it will only make her hate you. Build a solid base of trust with her. That means putting in a good long time of NOT doing anything that she will absolutely hate. Just pet her when she asks, and let her take it from there. Some cats never like to be picked up, some never sit in your lap. Some, like my Stinky, come to you and yell to be picked up-- but he was an outgoing kitty from the first, never shy or skittish. >I allow both to sleep on my bed, but strangely it is Missy (the nervous one) who >curls up on the bed and Buttons who chooses the chair. > >BTW, Missy is the greedy one who loves her food Did they come together, or separately? It sounds like they have different backgrounds, and Missy's is the dodgier one. She doesn't fully trust people, and she packs away the food when she can, because she still hasn't learned that she's not going to go hungry. This is a habit it takes some rescued cats a long time to unlearn. When I got Stinky, he was completely friendly and trusting, but he ate everything that wasn't nailed down, and stole whatever he could get his paws on. He went in a very short time from a scrawny little guy to a black-and-white basketball on four legs. Eventually, he settled down, and lost the weight as he grew. Theresa My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ > My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One > is [quoted text clipped - 23 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. I'd love to see your kitties. I would work on just letting her be around you and petting right now. Some cats, no matter their background, are never pick me up types. However, if you go slow and on her terms, she could become a great lap kitty. Karen > My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is > called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. Missy reminds me of Cali, our rescue kitty. Took her a while to get used to us. It's been five years and she still does not like to be picked up. Just tell her you're going to give her a big hug and the chase is on. Other days (rare) she'll stand at your feet wondering what's taking so long. It took Cali two years to get up on our laps. But she is really a closet snuggler, provided it's HER idea. Quite frequently she'll come get you in the middle of the day and lead you to the bedroom for a snuggle. Picking Cali up for increasing periods of time DID help her get used to us. Smokey, our shelter kitty is more affectionate than Cali, but also is not always crazy about being picked up. Smokey is more of a one person cat (mine), whereas Cali is an equal opportunity snuggler. Smokey always stands on her hind legs for me to pet her, but pretty much ignores the other half. Although Smokey has gotten more used to being picked up by TOH. Smokey is actually quite a timid cat, but not nervous like Cali. Cali loves to be head butted, while Smokey views this as some type of aggression and always lowers her head. So we don't push this with her. > Question: should I persist in picking her up? Or should I restrain myself and > hope she decides to like it eventually. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. I'd let the cats set the pace. It has always worked for us with our rescues. I'd also let them set the pace regarding food. The cat tends to know what they need. It may not be as much as what they want, but they always know what they need. Pam S. who does want to see pictures. Just let us know where you posted them at, since this is not a binary group. >> Question: should I persist in picking her up? Or should I restrain myself and >> hope she decides to like it eventually. [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] >Pam S. who does want to see pictures. Just let us know where you posted >them at, since this is not a binary group. Not too sure where I should post any pics. I had thought here, but realise now that may not be acceptable as this is not a binary group. Anybody know which binray group I should use? Forgot to say that Buttons is 7 years and Miss Muffet is just 2 years. They were together at the shelter, but I doubt they are sisters or even related. Buttons has very thick fur and looks so different to Missy. Still, they are not pedigree by a long shot, so who knows. Richard >>> Question: should I persist in picking her up? Or should I >>> restrain myself and hope she decides to like it eventually. [quoted text clipped - 32 lines] > > Richard alt.binaries.pictures.animals Would love to see them! Jill >> Not too sure where I should post any pics. I had thought here, but >> realise now that may not be acceptable as this is not a binary group. [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > >Jill Yeah, you'll see lots of the cats talked about here there. (One suggestion, some folks like it when you out 'pet cat' or some such in the header.) Unfortunately, some of the folks here don't have access to it since all servers don't carry it. There are also a couple Yahoo groups where you could post. http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPCA_Pictures/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPCAPhotos/ http://groups.yahoo.com/group/catslaves/  SignatureSteve Touchstone, faithful servant of Sammy, Little Bit and Rocky stouchst@JUNKsirinet.net [remove Junk for email] Home Page: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/index.html Cat Pix: http://www.sirinet.net/~stouchst/animals.html >>> Not too sure where I should post any pics. I had thought here, but >>> realise now that may not be acceptable as this is not a binary group. [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/RPCAPhotos/ >http://groups.yahoo.com/group/catslaves/ Thanks for the interest. I will try and find them and take some snaps. I will put "Buttons and Miss Muffet" in the subject to help you all find them. Richard PS assuming my server carries these groups, of course <SNIP> > Not too sure where I should post any pics. I had thought here, but > realise now that may not be acceptable as this is not a binary group. [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > > Richard Try posting your pics to news:alt.binaries.pictures.animals I look forwardcto seeing them. SignatureAdrian (Owned by Snoopy, Milo & Bagheera) A house is not a home, without a cat. >My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is >called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] >but believe me that is great progress for her. She still gets nervous when I >pick her up. <snipped> I've just posted a few pics of Buttons and Missy in news:alt.binaries.pictures.animals with the subject Buttons and Miss Muffet I've tried trimming their size down a bit from the 11 megs original. Please would some kind sould let me know if thie image size and resolution is satisfactory. I used Thumbs Plus to downsize them. Richard PS Missy is coming on in leaps and bounds now. Still terrified if someone comes to the door and runs upstairs, but seems to enjoy my attention now. >> My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One >> is [quoted text clipped - 29 lines] > PS Missy is coming on in leaps and bounds now. Still terrified if someone > comes to the door and runs upstairs, but seems to enjoy my attention now. They are beautiful! How is Ms. Muffet doing the last few days. Sometimes once they begin warming up, it takes off. Have you considered keeping a treat in your pocket (maybe just a kibble or two) to give her when ever you pass her or pet her? >>> My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One >>> is [quoted text clipped - 34 lines] >treat in your pocket (maybe just a kibble or two) to give her when ever you >pass her or pet her? A good idea! No, I hadn't thought of that. Strangely, perhaps, neither seems to like the little tablet sized treats I bought from Pets at Home. Also, both seem very fussy about food, despite Miss Muffet gobbling up everything after an initial hesitation. I've tried cooked ham, smoked salmon, fresh salmon, tinned tuna, sole (from the local fish and chips takeaway - without the batter). My poor Fluffy (who just disappeared) would eat anything, even Chinese! I still grieve for Fluffy. He has been gone for three months now, but I still miss him. I felt so miserable after Fluffy's disappearance that I had to get another cat to replace him. I actually got two. Richard > My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is > called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. I'd let Missy come to you in her own time. I rescued a young girl kitty we named Oreo from under the library at my kids' school back in August 2000 -- in December I placed her in my lap for all of 10 seconds. Well, it did take some time but she's now a definite lap kitty and wants attention from me and my daughter. Christine If you'd like to see our kitties, go to http://f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/cfbureltoo/lst?.dir=/My+Photos&.src=ph&.order=& .view=t&.done=http%3a//f1.pg.photos.yahoo.com/ And purrs from Oreo, Omar, Midnight, Robin & Tucker that your kitties are totally setttled in soonest! Christine On Sun, 30 May 2004 22:10:45 -0600, "Christine Burel" (snip) >I'd let Missy come to you in her own time. I rescued a young girl kitty we >named Oreo from under the library at my kids' school back in August 2000 -- [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] >totally setttled in soonest! >Christine YO! Omar in da box! ;) Theresa My Blog: http://www.humanitas.blogspot.com alt.tv.frasier FAQ: http://www.im-listening.net/FAQ/ >> My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. >One is [quoted text clipped - 42 lines] >totally setttled in soonest! >Christine Thanks Christine. All your cats look georgous. Especially the one asleep in your daughters arms. That look of contentment - wonderful. I bet you spoil them rotten. Well they are certainly settling very well. Buttons startled me this evening, I had dropped for 40 winks in my chair and she jumped up on me. She settled down after a long period of pawing my shirt then fell asleep on me. She justs keep purring. . . Miss Muffet still will not jump up, but likes to sit nearby. As I type this in, she is on the floor washing herself, having come upstairs to be near me. I am patient so I will not rush things. At least she wants to be near me. At last I have found a food they both like: Friskies Gourmet Gold. Boy they really tucked into it tonight. I have been trying Marks and Spencers, Whiskas, etc, etc. but they were not at all fussed on anything I tried. I think they prefer gravy rather than jelly. I have tried all sorts of treats, but Missy just will not touch anything like that. She doesn't seem to like dry food, whereas Buttons gobbles up anything, even the conditioning tablets which are supposed to be crushed and sprinkled over their food. No need, she just chews it up happily, yet she is the one who doesn't otherwise seem too bothered about food. Strange. Actually, Missy is getting quite fat. I am too soft to put her on a diet as she seems to like her food too much. My daughter may have something to say about that. She is more sensible than me. I think women are far more aware of weight problems than men. Richard >>> My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. >> One is [quoted text clipped - 80 lines] > > Richard see! They are settling in. Being near you is a sign. She may never be a lap cat, but she will probably be even more bonded. Seems that way is what happens. Karen Very much looking forward to the pics. I'm sure Miss Muffet will become more confident, since you are taking such great care of her (and Buttons). Best wishes, SignaturePolonca & Soncek > My two cats were from the local cat shelter. Both are neutered queens. One is > called Buttons because she is white with black blotches. She is exceptionally [quoted text clipped - 17 lines] > > I will try and get a photo of them and post it if anyone is interested. |
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