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#1
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Hiding Cat
Hi:
About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda |
#2
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This will take time and patience. I think she should be placed in a
comfortable room of her own with litter, water, food and a bed. Gradually, sit in the room with her while she eats so she will associate you with food. Slowly have her get to know you and the other cat by small exposures. This cat is very frightened and should be socialized very slowly. The often make the best pets when they grow to trust. GAil "jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda |
#3
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This will take time and patience. I think she should be placed in a
comfortable room of her own with litter, water, food and a bed. Gradually, sit in the room with her while she eats so she will associate you with food. Slowly have her get to know you and the other cat by small exposures. This cat is very frightened and should be socialized very slowly. The often make the best pets when they grow to trust. GAil "jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda |
#4
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This will take time and patience. I think she should be placed in a
comfortable room of her own with litter, water, food and a bed. Gradually, sit in the room with her while she eats so she will associate you with food. Slowly have her get to know you and the other cat by small exposures. This cat is very frightened and should be socialized very slowly. The often make the best pets when they grow to trust. GAil "jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda |
#5
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"jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda I don't think scolding will do a whole lot of good. Your best bet is to observe carefully and see if you can find a warning sign that she's had enough petting before she bites. When she's had enough stop and put her down. Some times you make more trust brownie points letting them come to you. Some cats just tolerate/enjoy less petting than others. If you decide you don't want this cat please try to find a rescue group who will give her a chance at another home. I would fear that the SPCA might put her down quickly because of the history of biting. W |
#6
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"jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda I don't think scolding will do a whole lot of good. Your best bet is to observe carefully and see if you can find a warning sign that she's had enough petting before she bites. When she's had enough stop and put her down. Some times you make more trust brownie points letting them come to you. Some cats just tolerate/enjoy less petting than others. If you decide you don't want this cat please try to find a rescue group who will give her a chance at another home. I would fear that the SPCA might put her down quickly because of the history of biting. W |
#7
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"jimperrin" wrote in message .cable.rogers.com... Hi: About two months ago I got a "free-to-a-good-home" four-year-old tabby cat. Ever since it arrived, it sits on a shelf in the basement and except for nocternal eating rarely comes out. It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. (My right arm and hand is shredded, I'm thinking of amputating it!) I got a second cat in the hopes of drawing the first one out. (The second is marvellous - moved in a took over!) No luck, the second won't have anything to do with the first. I read about the petting/attack issues and now wear heavy gloves and I scold her verbally when she bites me. I'm actually having a love/fear relationship with this critter. Any ideas on how I can draw this beast out of her lion's den and turn her into a sociable cat, or should I quit while I'm ahead and have her sent to the SPCA? Jim Orillia, Ontario, Cananda I don't think scolding will do a whole lot of good. Your best bet is to observe carefully and see if you can find a warning sign that she's had enough petting before she bites. When she's had enough stop and put her down. Some times you make more trust brownie points letting them come to you. Some cats just tolerate/enjoy less petting than others. If you decide you don't want this cat please try to find a rescue group who will give her a chance at another home. I would fear that the SPCA might put her down quickly because of the history of biting. W |
#8
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It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly
vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. I have a cat just like this. Please don't give up on her yet. If she's craving attention and getting friendlier, you're making progress. Some cats are more skittish than others. These cats must be approached more judiciously than their extroverted counterparts. Someone suggested earlier that you take note of what you're doing when she does try to bite. This is excellent advice. With my excessively shy cat, I've found that simply extending my hand and letting her set the tempo for petting usually suffices. When she backs off, I daren't pursue. Although it may work on a boistrous kitten, I too fail to see the use in scolding, that's more likely to further frighten her. Perhaps keeping contact brief and positive would be a more effective strategy in winning her over. She may never be a cozy, 'perfect' housecat, but the shy ones make wonderful companions in their own right. Best of luck with her. Please post a progress report or feel free to e-mail me. |
#9
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It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly
vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. I have a cat just like this. Please don't give up on her yet. If she's craving attention and getting friendlier, you're making progress. Some cats are more skittish than others. These cats must be approached more judiciously than their extroverted counterparts. Someone suggested earlier that you take note of what you're doing when she does try to bite. This is excellent advice. With my excessively shy cat, I've found that simply extending my hand and letting her set the tempo for petting usually suffices. When she backs off, I daren't pursue. Although it may work on a boistrous kitten, I too fail to see the use in scolding, that's more likely to further frighten her. Perhaps keeping contact brief and positive would be a more effective strategy in winning her over. She may never be a cozy, 'perfect' housecat, but the shy ones make wonderful companions in their own right. Best of luck with her. Please post a progress report or feel free to e-mail me. |
#10
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It has been getting friendlier, craves attention, but does give me a fairly
vicious bite occassionally when I'm petting her, trying to gain her trust. I have a cat just like this. Please don't give up on her yet. If she's craving attention and getting friendlier, you're making progress. Some cats are more skittish than others. These cats must be approached more judiciously than their extroverted counterparts. Someone suggested earlier that you take note of what you're doing when she does try to bite. This is excellent advice. With my excessively shy cat, I've found that simply extending my hand and letting her set the tempo for petting usually suffices. When she backs off, I daren't pursue. Although it may work on a boistrous kitten, I too fail to see the use in scolding, that's more likely to further frighten her. Perhaps keeping contact brief and positive would be a more effective strategy in winning her over. She may never be a cozy, 'perfect' housecat, but the shy ones make wonderful companions in their own right. Best of luck with her. Please post a progress report or feel free to e-mail me. |
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