Aa
Cowardly lion?
Over two years ago somebody dumped a cat outside of my house (either randomly or because I am this neighborhood's "crazy cat lady", which I don't especially mind). The cat was severely injured and hid under our porch and despite a vast neighborhood effort it took me a year to catch him (I'm very persistent). When I finally got him to a vet it turned out that he was probably beaten or otherwise abused... his back joints were fused together (from breaks that had healed incorrectly), all of his teeth were broken, he was completely deaf, and was FIV positive. If he had been otherwise sick or in declining health I'd have euthanized him, but after consulting with multiple doctors they all suggested that he would have a very good quality of life still with the proper care. He's not at *all* cat aggressive and neither are mine, so I'm not concerned about FIV transmittal, but I would like some advice on making him more comfortable in my home.
He's been living with me for over a year now and is still terrified of people. The first eight months he lived just in my large bathroom... I built a handicapped cat ramp and shelf so he could have a window and gave him a cushy chair and heating pad in the walk-in closet. For the first couple of months he growled at me, but then we settled into a routine where I would sit a couple feet away and put treats down and he would accept the fact that I was there. After six months he let me pet him but only grudgingly, and at the eight month mark (or so) he decided to live under my bed instead (I only kept him in the bathroom on purpose the first few months... he stayed in there on his own with the door cracked open). Now that he lives under the bed he comes out when he thinks I'm gone (which isn't always true since he's deaf) and he lets me reach under there to pet him, which he seems to enjoy. He always licks me when I pet him, which I think is more of a mutual grooming instinct. On very rare occasions when he's been out I've been able to pick him up and hold him, but he turns into a "taxidermy cat" and is always relieved when I put him down (he then "speed walks" back under the bed).
Does anyone have any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable? Over a year is a long time for a cat to still live under the bed, in my opinion, but who knows what terrible things may have happened to him before. As long as he feels safe under the bed he's very affectionate, but it's important for me to check his health with the FIV and that's difficult to do when he hides all the time. I know he roams around with the other cats when he thinks I'm gone or asleep, and I know he's making progress, but I'm certainly open to suggestions...
He's been living with me for over a year now and is still terrified of people. The first eight months he lived just in my large bathroom... I built a handicapped cat ramp and shelf so he could have a window and gave him a cushy chair and heating pad in the walk-in closet. For the first couple of months he growled at me, but then we settled into a routine where I would sit a couple feet away and put treats down and he would accept the fact that I was there. After six months he let me pet him but only grudgingly, and at the eight month mark (or so) he decided to live under my bed instead (I only kept him in the bathroom on purpose the first few months... he stayed in there on his own with the door cracked open). Now that he lives under the bed he comes out when he thinks I'm gone (which isn't always true since he's deaf) and he lets me reach under there to pet him, which he seems to enjoy. He always licks me when I pet him, which I think is more of a mutual grooming instinct. On very rare occasions when he's been out I've been able to pick him up and hold him, but he turns into a "taxidermy cat" and is always relieved when I put him down (he then "speed walks" back under the bed).
Does anyone have any suggestions for making him feel more comfortable? Over a year is a long time for a cat to still live under the bed, in my opinion, but who knows what terrible things may have happened to him before. As long as he feels safe under the bed he's very affectionate, but it's important for me to check his health with the FIV and that's difficult to do when he hides all the time. I know he roams around with the other cats when he thinks I'm gone or asleep, and I know he's making progress, but I'm certainly open to suggestions...
We took in a abused cat when I was a kid. Someone called my mom because they knew she was an animal lover. Apparently they had seen a kitten being abused in a horse stable, when they'd go ride horses. Kids were swinging her around by her tail and stuff. The lady who witnessed this all was concerned and asked my mom if she'd take the cat. We took her in and put her in a room by herself because we had other animals. This cat was terrified. We would go in, one at a time, and talk gently to her and eventually sit by her and pet her gently. More and more she began to trust us, but it took awhile. We were finally able to let her out of the bedroom and explore the rest of the house. She grew to trust our family but would still run and hide whenever someone would come to the door. She wound up being a really sweet cat.
You probably don't know how long your cat had been abused. It sounds much more severe than our situation, so it may take a long time to bring him around. Just be patient and give him lots of loving. Over time he will learn to trust at least you.
I think it's wonderful that you took this poor kitty. Like you, Avas Mom, I can't believe how cruel people can be to animals when they provide companionship and unconditional love. All they ask for in return is for someone to take care of them. I wish there was some way to stop all the cruelty in this world. Since we can't do that, all we can do is notice what goes on around us and do what we can in our own neighborhoods and do like Miss Grim, take in one kitty at a time.
You probably don't know how long your cat had been abused. It sounds much more severe than our situation, so it may take a long time to bring him around. Just be patient and give him lots of loving. Over time he will learn to trust at least you.
I think it's wonderful that you took this poor kitty. Like you, Avas Mom, I can't believe how cruel people can be to animals when they provide companionship and unconditional love. All they ask for in return is for someone to take care of them. I wish there was some way to stop all the cruelty in this world. Since we can't do that, all we can do is notice what goes on around us and do what we can in our own neighborhoods and do like Miss Grim, take in one kitty at a time.
How sick ppl can be! It makes me want to cry. I hate the fact that there are animals all over this world suffering and we cant help them all...Im glad your a crazy cat lady, there needs to be a lot more of us. Well no if ppl werent irresponsible and just got their cats/dogs fixed we wouldnt have to be. I dont know any tips on how to get him around more it will just take time. I had a stray kitten once and she was the same way...she warmed up eventually. But then she started peeing on everything and we had a newborn at the time so i took her to my moms where she stays outside in a wooded area thats a culd-de-sac so i know shes safe and gets fed. Good luck
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