Winning over a cat with a hostile attitude
By scribe1
@scribe1 (1203)
United States
July 18, 2007 8:33am CST
This marks the fourth week since Mimi, a five-year-old cat, has been with me. Her master had to give her up because his baby was allergic to cats and he misses her very much. And I know that Mimi misses him, too. She keeps to herself all of the time and resists friendly overtures, although she doesn't growl so much now.
I know that Mimi needs more time and patience, but I honestly don't believe that she will ever "come around." I love her and am willing to try almost anything to help her adjust. She hasn't had an easy life, either, as her previous owners had her front paws declawed.
Are there any other things that I can do to win her over, other than talking to her, giving her plenty of leeway and having patience?
4 responses
@anij34 (317)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Open up a can of tuna! Seriously, it never fails. Don't let her have the whole thing but start out giving small amounts as treats and work your way up to her eating it out of your hand. It will create trust and excitement for more contact with you. Also, play time. Get a string or a crinkle ball and play together.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
20 Jul 07
I never thought of trying tuna! Thanks so much for the suggestion. And as for playing, I did dangle a string toy in front of Mimi while she was in the closet, and all she did was growl at it, so I stopped.
And today, Mimi basically stayed in the closet, except to eat (her appetite is excellent) and pee. I peeked at her just now and noticed that she was asleep, but I'm beginning to worry, as she usually comes and stays out of the closet for several hours a day. Poor cat! I still think that she is pining for her master.
@anij34 (317)
• United States
20 Jul 07
You might consider blocking off the closet and all the rooms where she can hide. Force her to be sociable. It can help expedite the process. It might seem like a traumatic thing to do but it won't cause any serious problems. Sometimes cats can get into their own little world and need to be brought out of that and forced into our world.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
20 Jul 07
Well, that is certainly something to consider, although Mimi has already responded to my other two cats by growling and lunging towards them menacingly. Immediately after that, she growls at me and runs back into the closet.
I don't know. I'm just worried that she will find another closet or duck under the bed or some other inaccessible place. She still won't let me touch her and if I move my hand towards her, she growls and hits it hard with both paws.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
19 Jul 07
Time affection and patience. That's all that you need to do. She'll come round in her own good time when she begins to trust you.
@scribe1 (1203)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Lol, I agree. That's what I've been doing and haven't yet seen much progress. Yesterday, for example, Mimi growled at me as I called her name and talked to her. Her ears were flat against her head. I then gave up trying to talk to her and left her alone.
@jwfarrimond (4473)
•
19 Jul 07
Time, Time. some years ago I took in a stray tomcat. For weeks he would not let me get close to him. I just left him alone and gave him food (he was starving) and then one day, he just decided that he could trust me and he just up and walked into the house and jumped up onto a chair. He was still a bit wary even at that point, but I just left him alone and I knew that I'd got him on side when after a few days he jumped up onto my lap and settled down.
@dbhattji (2506)
• India
19 Jul 07
You could speak to the cat softly, most animals react to soft words.
@xkristalx (230)
• United States
19 Jul 07
Whenever I've made my cats Boots mad the quickest way to get her to forgive me is to offer her treats she doesn't normally get. Like people food, or wet cat food. Good luck!
