Sculd🏳️‍🌈Oct 1, 2023

Honestly asking for advice.

I took up a cat three weeks ago from a friend who had to let go of her because she was being bullied by two other cats.

The cat is very very easily frightened. She is now living on top of a shelf in the storage room. A place that she chose.

She would not let me get anywhere close to her except last night when I offered snack.

Occasionally she would "meow" me to notify that she had peed.

Will she eventually come around? Anything I should do?

#Cats #CatsOfMastodon

Show threadAlfred & ToulouseOct 1, 2023
@sculd ooh boy I've been there with Brice. It's slow progress, but it can be done! The key here is to challenge the cat to get just a tiny bit out of her comfort zone:
- I don't know where you feed her, but it should not be on the shelf. She should have to leave the safe space in order to eat.
- if you can play with her, do so! It will relieve stress and give her more confidence in the space.
- give her items where she can put her scent: scratching post, cat bed (1/2)
Show threadAlfred & ToulouseOct 1, 2023
@sculd - in the beginning, it could be good to close the door of the room she is in (ofc you should put everything she needs in that room), so that she can explore and make hers the space, before giving her access progressively to the rest of the house.
- spend time with her! If you can't cuddle and play, sit on the floor and talk in a quiet voice. Do the visits at the same time everyday, in order to start establishing a routine.
Good luck!  (2/2)
Show threadAlfred & ToulouseOct 1, 2023
@sculd oh also! Feliway works quite well to calm cats. It's cat pheromones, with a diffuser, that you plug in an electrical socket
Show threadSculd🏳️‍🌈

@littlemonsters Thanks for the advice! I am considering cat pheromones and is searching for a good one.

She preferred the door to be closed. She is more likely to come down to eat when the door is closed. Otherwise she only eats when I go out or sleep.

I usually open the door because I am a bit worried that the ventilation in the room is not that good. But maybe that is not necessary for now.

Oct 1, 2023 at 3:18pmWeb