took on a stray

Question
Hi there, i took on a stray yesterday and she seems very friendly and likes you to pet her. Anyway shes badly matted (im having that taken care of on friday) im not sure of her background or what shes been treated like. Anyway she seems to have taken a disliking to my three year old son, she lashed out at him even if he just walks by hissing and meowing annoyingly.She has drawn blood on him and now hes warey. I understand its early days, but i wondered if theres anything i can do to help this situation, i really would love to be able to give her the loving home that she deserves. Friends have said she might be better in her self when she's had the bad fur shaved off and shes more comforatble.  She also has eaten very little since shes been with us and seems to hide away behind furniture to sleep. Shpould i leave her in peace?
How long before i can let her outside?
Many thanks Naomi x

Answer
Naomi,

You will probably not like my answer.

As a rule, cats like predictability. Three year olds are not predictable and often do not realize that they are a real danger to a cat.  I suspect the three year old is bothering the cat and the cat is doing what comes naturally.  By the way, very young children and kittens can be a deadly combination for the kitten!  Often three year olds do not understand the cat is a living breathing thing and not just another toy.

Any cat taken in to a new house will be unsure of itself.  Your new stray is no different.  It will take the cat a number of days and even a couple of weeks to adjust to the new digs.  Also, you need to provide your cat some means to escape the child, when the child becomes overbearing.  As the cat becomes more comfortable and sure of itself, it will figure out how to keep away from the three year old.

You do not know what kind of life this cat has had, if it has been abused, if it has been socialized to people, but that is the grist for another question.

I am a firm believer that cats should remain indoors all the time!  

Best regards... Norm.



Best regards... Norm.