adopted 3 year old

Question
we adopted a 3 year spayed female Himalayan from humane society week-and-half ago.  She is so incredibly fearful of us it is sad.  she started doing a little better by 4th day, but on 5th I HAD to take her to vet because of humane agreement and since then she really, really, fears me and i wonder if she hates me. I have had only cats as pets for years and had to take a break for a few years, so i am sad about this.  The little female Persian we brought home is doing great and she tries to make friends with other cat, but to no avail.  I have always been quiet, kind and she will settle down once I hold her and pet her, but she is almost impossible to approach.  What to do?  She is eating---some and uses potty pan fine (and keeps herself clean)---I keep pan CLEAN. OH, vet says she is healthy! I am the main caregiver and there is my husband and son here also who are VERY kind to the cats

Answer
Hi Vivian.  I don't think she hates you.  It sounds as though she is just extremely timid.  Dealing with cats of this nature is my specialty.  Even the worst of them can be made to come around, but it does take a lot of patience and persistence.  It can take weeks, even months with cats who have had very poor socialization.  Some cats will remain skiddish in response to sudden movements or noises, but if she was found to be adoptable at the humane society, I think you have a good chance of getting her to open up a great deal in the next couple weeks.

By far, the most effective tool is food.  You should get a chicken breast and boil it up.  Cut it into bite sized pieces, and keep it in the refrigerator.  Several times a day, hand-feed her a few bites.  If she won't take it directly from your hand at first, you can place it down in front of her to eat.  If she runs when you approach her, it's okay to keep her limited to a small room with no hiding spots for now to make it easier to catch her.  In fact, this is recommended for cats who are fearful when they first come to a new home.  Small areas seem more secure to cats than large ones, and entire homes can be very overwhelming.  It may be best to limit her to a small bedroom for now, but be sure to block underneath any beds or dressers so she can't hide.  I know it may SEEM like a cruel idea to not allow her a hiding place, but to allow her a hide-out is to enable her to continue on in her behavior forever.  She has to face her fear sometime in order to get over it.  Once you are able to reach her consistently to show her you won't hurt her, a light will go on in her head.

See if she enjoys being petted with a grooming mitt when you hold her, or if she likes gentle brushing with a soft-bristled brush.  Himalayans and Persians should ideally be combed with a steel-toothed comb, but you may want to avoid that just yet, since it can pull a little bit if there are any tangles.

You may also want to use a product called Feliway while she's settling in.  This can help reduce anxiety and is always a good product to use when bringing cats into the home.  I use the plug-in diffusers in my own home.  You can learn more about how it works at www.feliway.com

I hope she warms up very soon.  Keep at it, and I'm sure in time you will find that you have made a lot of progress.

Best of luck,
Jessica