I separated her from her more relaxed siblings last weekend and set her up
in a small dog crate with a sheet covering three sides. We had kind of
reached a plateau where she didn't like people but tolerated them if she had
to so I figured I'd try starting over with her.

I pretty much left her alone in the cage for a few days other than talking
to her and reaching in the cage to give her food and water and do liter
maintenance. At first she seemed happy to huddle in the back of the cage but
after a day or so I heard her meowing like she was lonely.

I got some kitty treats and have been trying to entice her to come closer
with them. She isn't overly wild about the treats. Yesterday I was making up
some tuna salad and offered her a piece of tuna. She did come over and eat
that from my hand. Later while cleaning up the cage, I reached toward her
with a fist. She started sniffing my hand so I reached out and started
scritching her under her chin and behind the ear. To my surprise, she
started leaning into my hand and actually purred.

Since then I've noticed her spending more time at the uncovered front of the
cage and was just able to reach through the bars and pet her without her
moving away.

Looks like some progress is being made. Now I'm kicking myself. I should
have done more research sooner. She's a black cat and if she doesn't warm up
super soon (I'm not counting on that) she can't be shown until after
Halloween now.

W