very timid cat

Question

Moxie   QUESTION: i have a cat(moxie) that is 3 years old, i got her for my daughter (19) when she was a kitten. she was always very social. my daughter has since gotten 2 other cats both as kittens, that are now 1 (libby)  and 2 (gizmo) yrs. libby has always picked on the other two cats. i took moxie back home with me because all she did was hide in the closet and seemed very unhappy, she has been hiding from people for the last 2 years, what can i do to help her come out of her shell? i have 4 ferrets and a dog she gets along great with and always has, she has plenty of hiddey holes. she is not fixed. she will come out and talk to me and she wants to be touched but as soon as i try she runs away but comes right back. she sleeps on my pillow but if i move again she will run. i wait for her to come to me and im very calm around her. is there anything i can do more for her?

ANSWER: Neita,

She more than likely was a feral kitten and that is the standard behavior for a feral. Fear and distrust of humans if hereditary and ingrained in them. They are not domesticated housecats and will not behave like one. Her personality will not change. They are usually one-person cats and will spook at strangers.

Ferals will lay next to you, follow you around, play, and be loveable, but they do not like to be held or petted for very long, if at all.

She gets along with your other animals because she trusts them.

I have 3 feral cats that are 2 years old that I have had since birth. They are loving but I cannot pick them up to cuddle them, they instantly want down. I have one that when she hears any strange noise or sees somebody, she will hide under the bed for hours. That is just their personality and I respect how they are and don't try to force them to be otherwise. I also have a feral that adopted me and she will rub against my legs only to tell me she wants out or to eat. She will swipe with her claws if I try to mess with her any other time.

Ferals are natural hunters and enjoy being able to do it. If you keep them inside all the time then you have to satisfy that hunting urge inside to keep them mentally well-balanced. Giving them a raw beef rib bone (I have the butcher cut them in half) satisfies the "fresh kill'. Plus the fibers help clean their teeth. They need stuffed toy mice you can throw so they can chase it and "catch" it. A pet laser light is great for letting them try to catch the "little red bug" on the walls, floors, and ceilings.

I definitely would get her fixed though. That helps settle them down and prevents more behavior problems.

Tabbi



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thanks for the answer, but moxie was never a feral kitty, i got her from a friend that had a litter and she was an indoor kitty. is there any other explanation? i give moxie all the understanding and space that she needs, and still love her. i would love all feedback i can get!

Answer
Neita,

Does your friend know who the daddy was? If the daddy was a feral that would still make her a feral kitten. A mother cat can have kittens by different fathers if they all bred her during her cycle. That is why kittens in the same litter act and look different from each other.

Food is a great bribe including cat treats of tinned sardines in oil, tuna, etc. It is going to take a lot of time and patience! The older the cat is the harder and longer it will take, and even then there may not be any change.

Tabbi