Is it a behavioral problem or a genetic problem.

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Kuisse0002 - 28 Oct 2003 10:02 GMT

My cat - an abandoned stray - is truely lovable towards me in the middle of the
night and first thing in the morning. We always thought she hated my husband
and all men (as displayed by her action of running out of the door and away to
hide everytime) but today I was with her in the morning and left her to go out
for the day. But I left my wallet at home so I turned back and quietly walked
into the house so as not to disturb her sleep. When she heard me she quickly
woke up , dashed to the petdoor in fear and never gave my voice or my presence
a chance. I kept calling her in the reassuring voice she is familiar with but
to no avail. She treated me like a stranger and she hides from all strangers.

Question: I know she probably has a history but it doesn't seem right that she
even behaves like this towards me whom she recognises as her carer, feeder and
keeper. Its like a switch that goes off in her brain. Could this be a genetic
inbreeding problem???Or a behavioral modification matter which could be
resolved in time.

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Karen M. - 28 Oct 2003 18:30 GMT

> My cat - an abandoned stray - is truely lovable towards me in the middle of the
> night and first thing in the morning. We always thought she hated my husband
[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]
> inbreeding problem???Or a behavioral modification matter which could be
> resolved in time.

How long have you had this cat? She's likely still very fearful from
being abandoned and having to survive outside. It will take some time
for her to regain trust of people, even you. The best thing to do is
to treat her somewhat like a feral. Here are some good instructions
for taming:

http://www.spcaonline.com/Socializingferal.PDF

I wouldn't be concerned about caging her, just confine her to a room
and follow instructions from there. Thank you for taking in this
sweetheart and good luck! Keep us posted on your progress. :)

Karen M.

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Kuisse0002 - 28 Oct 2003 21:52 GMT

>ow long have you had this cat? She's likely still very fearful from
>being abandoned and having to survive outside. It will take some time
>for her to regain trust of people, even you. The best thing to do is
>to treat her somewhat like a feral. Here are some good instructions

Thanks for that.

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Karen M. - 29 Oct 2003 04:09 GMT

Quite welcome. I'm fostering two semi-feral kittens right now, so I feel
for you. :)

>>ow long have you had this cat? She's likely still very fearful from
>>being abandoned and having to survive outside. It will take some time
>>for her to regain trust of people, even you. The best thing to do is
>>to treat her somewhat like a feral. Here are some good instructions
>
> Thanks for that.

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Mary - 28 Oct 2003 19:30 GMT

>Question: I know she probably has a history but it doesn't seem right that
>she
>even behaves like this towards me whom she recognises as her carer, feeder
>and
>keeper. Its like a switch that goes off in her brain

I think it's normal. Once my husband forgot his cellular phone so he came back
in the middle of the day without calling me. He scared the &*%$ out of me! I
thought he was a burglar. Your cat just wasn't used to you coming back home
early either. You just scared him.

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Kuisse0002 - 28 Oct 2003 21:53 GMT

>I think it's normal. Once my husband forgot his cellular phone so he came
>back
>in the middle of the day without calling me. He scared the &*%$ out of me! I
>thought he was a burglar. Your cat just wasn't used to you coming back home
>early either. You just scared him.

Phew - I wish I hope its just that !

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Liz - 29 Oct 2003 01:58 GMT

I´ve seen this happen very often and not only with cats, I´ve seen it
even in people. I´m under the impression that when they have a huge
discharge of adrenaline (fight or flight mecanism), they don´t stop to
think if they know the voice or the smell. Maybe those two senses are
sort of "blocked out" for the sake of sight, which is what they would
need most in a fight or flight. IMO, it´s survival, not a problem of
any sort.

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Kalyahna - 31 Oct 2003 01:24 GMT

I'm actually fostering a stray at the moment (had her since May), and that's
how she is. She'll ONLY come by me for attention if I'm stretched out and
watching TV or sleeping. I can't approach her once I'm up and about unless I
want to spend half an hour chasing her around.

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Kuisse0002 - 31 Oct 2003 09:18 GMT

Thats just like what my stray does! And when you finally catch up with her does
she whine ? Mine will allow me to come after her but she hatees it so much and
yet at other times she's OK.

>I'm actually fostering a stray at the moment (had her since May), and that's
>how she is. She'll ONLY come by me for attention if I'm stretched out and
>watching TV or sleeping. I can't approach her once I'm up and about unless I
>want to spend half an hour chasing her around.

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Kalyahna - 01 Nov 2003 01:40 GMT

> Thats just like what my stray does! And when you finally catch up with her does
> she whine ? Mine will allow me to come after her but she hatees it so much and
> yet at other times she's OK.

If I snuggle her while she's initiating the attention, she's okay with it.
But if I'm up and after her... well, she'll either struggle about being
held, or she'll curl up tight and bury her face against my arm. The only
time she talks is when I have something really good out. Chicken or beef or
tuna, and she talks like mad.

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