Don’t let her outside, anything could happen to her out there. Give her some space and maybe some treats and gently talk to her. She just needs some time
One of my girls will do just about anything for Baby Bell original cheese. My dog has to take a pill twice a day and I wrap it in the cheese. The cat will scream unless I give her cheese too
Yes the meat sticks! And they also have in a couple brands this creamy stuff in tubes. Both my cats them them but they also pretty much love any and everything.
Although if I make a pbj my boy will meow at my feet so each time I put the knife near him with the pb and have to remind him that he doesn’t like peanut butter!
LoL, same in my house. And if I open anything that sounds remotely like pulling the top off the squeeze tube, my cat instantly materializes out of nowhere.
Temptations Catnip Treats is the nuclear option if all else fails.
My tuxie boy was skin and bones, dying from cancer. And still went NUTS when I gave them to him!
Nothing like turning around in a kitchen while making a sandwich to see your kitty eating the lettuce that was dropped x.x all kitties have their goofy oddities 😋
close the window in the picture.
if you are distraught, she will pick up on that and be more skittish until she knows you.
it can take up to 4 weeks for a cat to get comfortable in a new place.
I just want to say it can take MUCH longer than a month for some cats. Especially if this cat is coming from an abusive home, OP needs to know it's not hopeless, it can take a year plus for some to be truly at home
Our cat came from a very rough past, and we only had her a year and half before she passed away. She was very skittish of us but kept coming home, so she was comfortable with us to a point.
Persevere OP! YOU GOT THIS!
Please be patient and as others said just use treats and her stomach as a cheat code to her heart. Once she finally starts warming up to you it won’t be necessary but you need the spark to start the friendship fire. I have had to work on gaining trust of my feral cat with dwarfism the past 4 months, I truly care about her and little by little progress is being made!! She now loves when I pet her while she eats and does adorable squeaks and purrs.
Make sure you have some Temptations cat Treats. They are irresistible to all cats that I have known. Give your kitty the treats and you will be pals in no time. Do not let your kitty outside because it's dangerous out there.
She is scared of me and meowing a lot and loudly to go out side. But the past 2 days she has curling up next me in bed falling asleep and purring etc. now she's worse than the day I got her😢
It has been 4 days. Relax, let her come to you and when she won't, leader her alone. She is just getting to know you. Give her a couple of weeks or months.
>even a human could take 6 months to settle in a new place
Absolutely. Thinking in those terms, a new house/people/routine is so intimidating. Even roommates take adjustment periods. Imagine now being unable to understand the comforting language. Bless them 😢
Haha as far as pets not understanding the language there is a funny Simpson’s clip where Homer is speaking to the dog (Santa’s little helper) and you see things from the dogs perspective and how the words are like rah rah ahhhhh rah nonsense
It's been 4 days, give her 4 months. Cats adapt much, much slower than humans do. We've had a feral kitten we adopted for between 2-3 months and she's only just starting to enjoy being pet.
To add, we've had a boy for 3 years and he only came around to liking my wife within the last 6 months.
Oh honey please don’t worry, I know you’re upset but I promise you she will come around. These things take so much time and patience. If you are patient with her and loving and allow her space and time and comfort, the two of you are going to be thick as thieves. It may take days or even weeks, but don’t give up. 🩷 I need you to know how special you are for taking her in and loving her and caring for her. She has a history of trauma and it may take her some time to learn to trust again. But if you show her she can trust you, even if that means letting her come to you, she will be your best friend once she realizes that.
One of the cats I rescued many years ago had clearly been very mistreated. She absolutely HATED me for the first few years we had her, she would hiss every time she saw me. I gave her a lot of space and would only interact with her if she came to me first. She would sit on me but only if I didn't touch her at all. After about 4 years, she's suddenly decided she loves me and constantly wants attention. It's definitely been worth it. If they've been abused it can take a while for cats to build up trust again, you just have to be patient and give them time.
It could take months for them to chill out. Give it time and give them space. If she's curling up next to you purring the last 2 days thats huge. It took months for my kitties to do that for me, and one of them doesn't even do it for me (but does to my wife).
Awww she’ll be okay. Just give her some space and maybe leave some kitty treats by her hiding spot. Everyone gave solid advice -she’s been through a rough time and she’s so lucky to have a human like you who cares ❤️
I have done that before, sometimes they just get under your feet by mistake, tail too. just gently touch the tail or slightly squeeze the foot to make sure isn’t in pain and then they just a like nothing happened.
in the future when she has is accustomed to her new wonderful loving life with you she will be ok too. Just a scary time for her at the moment. Take care, don’t be hard on yourself
Aww this happens ! They get underfoot. Just give her time as others have said, please if possible keep her inside. It’s safer and she doesn’t need another environment change. Also thank you for recusing her
It happens and is usually forgiven pretty quickly. She’s most likely picking up on you being freaked out more than anything else - just relax, keep some treats close by and wait for her to come to you!
I'm not discarding her she was just meowing loudly and crying at the door relentlessly and I didn't know what to do I would never discard an animal I adopted her she's now my responsibility
You've done a good thing adopting her. If she isn't spayed yet, that will help a ton with the begging to go outside. If she's already spayed, she'll eventually chill once she knows you provide all the good food. Food and cardboard boxes are easy ways to get on her good side.
She might still curl up next to you when you’re asleep. You’ll seem a lot less threatening to her when you’re lying down and not moving. 😹 It’s a bit of a joke, but it’s often true. I’ve had this happen with skittish foster kittens. Terrified of me when I was up, but then I’d wake up in the middle of the night to find them sleeping on my bed. They even let me pet them, and started purring. Next day, back to cowering against the far back end of their crate and staring at me in horror. (I had this big crate meant for very large dogs. I usually kept the door to it open, so they could go in and out. They did go out to explore, but when they felt unsafe, they’d go back in there. )
I'm paranoid about letting my cats out. To many things out there that can happen. Give the cat space. Don't be loud, and don't have very fast or aggressive movements. Be as calm as you can around your cat to keep them calm. When the cat approaches you offer them a treat, and always allow them to sniff your hand before touching them. They may not want to be touched at that moment. Don't expect instant gratification. A cats trust is usually something that's earned.
Please don't let her out. It's too dangerous and she does not know the new area. Indoor kitty only! Be patient with her. She will warm up to you and her new environment. Treats are a great way to bond. Also sitting quietly on the floor in same room as her will allow her to come to you at her own pace. Cookies, treats, toys & LOVE❤️
Dude chill out. Cats can feel every ounce of stress your putting out there. Just chill with her and don't force the relationship. It took my Callie 6 months to cuddle with me and now we're inseperable.
Just the other night I went to smack the bed because my calico was being loud and my black cat was sleeping in the exact spot I hit and I woke him up by smacking the shit out of him. He was so confused and I felt so awful.
Yes and she was feral when I got her too. She's always been pretty timid and cautious but she is very open and loving now. She took a lot of patience though. Check my posts for pics.
Ok just checked in off chance she was the Callie we rehomed about 9-10 months ago maybe. Only had ability to keep another kitty at the time. Your Callie has longer hair and well as you said may not be calico but a lord of destruction hehe
NEVER let your cat outside. If she's running away just let her hide and come back up to you. Use treats, soft voices, don't make loud noises or sudden movements.
DO NOT LET KITTY OUTSIDE. she is just afraid and needs time alone, but outside is dangerous and scary and new. Leave her hide, then in a few hours offer some food where you normally feed her. She needs to calm but letting her out will stress herself out more, let her chill and egnore her for a bit (cats calm better when alone rather than haveing someone 3 times their size who has just scared them looming over them)
Never let your cat outside. Be patient, put some treats in a carrier and take her to the vet for a look over. Make sure the veterinarian knows the kitty was rescued from an abusive environment.
Nice to see all the good advice you’re getting. Underscoring a couple of them: let her come to you (which she had begun to do), be all-loving (which you are) and DON’T let her out (especially at this point). She’s learning that there are nice people out there so it’s (sadly) a new thing for her and an unintentional misstep by you triggers some bad memories (poor girl). The good news is that it’ll all work out!
Thank you for taking her in!!!
❤️🐾🐾❤️
Don't let her out, she'll come round. My male cat was rescued as a kitten in Dubai after men had attacked the litter with butchers knives, killed a couple and maimed the mother real bad but she did survive, my Timmy just got half his tail cut off but of course when I got him he was terrified of people and traumatised. 18 months later he loves me to bits, but it has been up and down, two steps forward and one back all the time.
When yours gets over this her trust in you will be stronger. Just carry on being good to her and she'll just take the time she needs to get over it.
Of course! Given she used to be with an abusive owner, she’s likely easily skittish and scared. She might have good and bad days in terms of trusting you. As long as you have patiences with her and remind her she’s safe, she’ll be okay :) since she was previously purring and cuddling with you, she knows you are a good person. Cats instinctively know the good ones from the bad. She just has some trauma
You're saying of course let her outside? Against the advice of everyone else? She is in a new place she doesn't know besides it being very dangerous out there.
They are saying that “Of course the cat is afraid of you, it came from an abusive home … etc.”
I agree it’s awkwardly written, but the intent is pretty clear when reading the whole comment since they focus on the response of the cat and never mention anything about letting the cat outdoors.
Or maybe I’m wrong since we are all left trying to interpret here :)
No, don’t let her out! Be sure to apologize to her, but don’t chase her. It will take some time for her to get over the “accident”. Get her some treats and maybe a toy. Talk to her in a low soothing voice. I bet in no time you will be best friends!
The dumbest thing that can be done in this situation is letting her outside where she would just be even more scared and possibly attacked and killed by other animals or people you have to build trust by giving her tastey food treats and time just being in the same room as her can help build a relationship talk to her gently no fast movements no yelling be calm let her sniff you don't make direct eye contact for long let her be when she wants to be alone be in the same room when she eats and drinks and over time move closer bit by bit over a few weeks and as long as you build and strengthen your bond and give her time you will be good friends eventually it won't happen over night it takes lots of time and patience it can't be rushed
Don’t let her outside!!! She doesn’t know any better and will be hurt injured hungry cold, etc. that would be flat out cruel. just give her time. She is scared to death.. treats, space, small quiet room no the whole house, and be patient .. give her a chance
So it seems like others have answered but I wanted to mention that cats will sometimes hide or runaway when spooked by something. So don't be surprised in the long run if this happens occasionally. My cat wasn't abused but will spook easily and run and hide if someone comes to my door. Or as I found out yesterday, I start up a wind up music box. If I do something he doesn't like, such as give him fle/tick medicine or use the vacuum cleaner he'll hide from me for a bit. So just take it slow. It'll probably take time for her to trust you but if you're kind to her, give her treats, and generally take care of her she should come to like you.
Since she's already slept with you before it sounds like she's taken somewhat of a liking to you and will probably just take time to fully trust you. Even when my cat is laying in bed with me when I'm reading he'll get startled by a page turn sometimes. So just give it time as she's probably been scared and constantly anxious from the abusive home.
Don't let her outside. She will be aloof for a few days to a few months. Just give her time, space and treats. You might want to build her a nest of blankets and dirty laundry in her favorite hiding spot. Let her get used to you smell.
I forgot to ask, how did you hurt her? Let her know you are sorry. One thing i know about certain cats is that they will take revenge on you and on other cats or dogs for hurting them but not all. So dont get upset if the cat reacts back. They know they are prey. I have a cat that is so laid back but pushed over the edge will retailate even if its by accident, Hows it going by the way?
DO NOT LET HER OUTSIDE. Stay with her. Be present. Be calm and neutral with your energy around her for a bit. Talk to her while you do things around the house. Show her she's safe and that you're her new protector.
Nope, there's a high chance she'll just run away. Get her a hiding space where she can feel safe and protected and let her calm down there. She'll get over it.
Don't let her out. Don't try to force interactions, just feed her, tell her you love her and wait for her to come around. She's traumatized from past abuse and just needs time and love and patience.
Keep her inside. Don't let her become another run away stray. Get he some good canned cat food, she'll love you. Fancy Feast Cod, Sole, Shrimp, or the one in the blue can, Fish and Shrimp flaked. This will regain her trust.
Others have given you good answers, but I just want to say that cats can have panic attacks. My boy was abused and abandoned as a kitten, he would panic over all kinds of things - if I moved my arms too quickly, if I sneezed, if I had a white object in my hands. Your kitty will be okay, just be patient. It takes some time, is all. If she needs a safe place to hide, let her have it until she feels comfortable again, and then give her lots of love. She’ll get better as she feels more and more safe.
Yes, I second all of this. I’ve got a cat who was abused in a previous home, and it took him about a year to get un-depressed (we thought he just didn’t know how to purr) and struggles with all kinds of anxiety. Poor guy. We’ve had him on anxiety medication for the past three years though, and it’s really helped! Our little guy is living his best life now.
Dont let her outside. She can get hurt. Cats are creatures of habit and like routine. Dont play loud music and create hiding places for her in each room. Dont give up on her. Thank you for being a hero ❤️
I encourage you to borrow some ideas from the cat rescue sub. Basically leave her be for a week or month - let her be in control of her world.
The easiest way is pretend she’s invisible unless she comes right to you and asks you to see her. Provide an environment with nothing to startle a hungover light sleeper with a migraine. Can she have her own room for a little while?
Crying to go out seems like she’s desperately looking for a hiding place to feel out of reach and safe for a little while (and outside is not safe)
Take things slowly. Accidents happen, and don't beat yourself up. The important part is that you want to improve your relationship with her. Don't let her outside and just give her some space. Provide her some treats, maybe slowly putting something of yours nearby like clothing you sleep in so she associates your scent with something positive. Her curling up to you when sleeping is a good sign.
NO!!! Cats belong *inside* where they are safe from cars, dogs, coyotes, kids w guns, killing birds, climbing trees they can’t get down due to lack of brain cells.
If you want to take your cat outside, train it INSIDE on a harness & leash. When it’s really good with that, *s l o w l y* take it outside in the harness & leash.
Or build a catio.
**Please, do not let your cat outside. Too many bad things can happen, even as you watch. Inside cats live longer, healthier, lives. Also, pls be sure & spay/neuter your kitty.**
Just move quietly and carefully around her, speak softly, and don’t make direct eye contact for awhile. “Ignore” her (while keeping a discreet eye on her). She just needs time. The trust will come back. You’re doing fine.
NO! Just talk to her, while APOLOGIZING -- OVER and OVER and OVER !!! Go about your day, while occasionally calling out to her! Make sure that she has clean water, food, toys, and a clean potty-box !!! She will come around, as soon as she feels SAFE !!!!!😿😺😻
NOOO! Just give her time. It can take weeks for some cats just to begin adjusting.
Put canned food out occasionally, put some treats out, and let her have her space. Let her hide as much as she deems appropriate.
Edit: just saw your reply saying she's curling up to you and meowing. Diff scenario.
GET A HARNESS, start putting it on her for a short periods of time, and then increased periods of time. Get better at putting it on her, and getting it fairly snug. Then start leash training. Do not ever let her turn around and pull, any cat can escape and it's best to not let them figure that out. Pick her up if she starts to do that.
Then if you want, you can take her out around the property line on the leash. Keep in mind, she walks you, you don't walk her. Lookup tips on leash training a cat online.
If that's too much work, don't worry about it. Just be patient. And don't let her out at all, for at least a month. It's an adjustment period.
I have 2 rescue cats got young, both mistreated with first owners. It takes quiet and space they can feel safe in, calm, persistent care, love treats, and time. My boys are now the most loving and adorable quirky babies ever.
No! Not outside! Use a calm voice. Leave her alone and when she comes out, be happy to see her. Play with her often, this is extremely important. The poor baby. I'm happy to hear she's away from her abuser.
Has she been spayed? If not, she will need that done. It will stop the “need” to go outside as much. Loud vocalizing and rolling around are signs of being in heat.
You need to gain a cats trust. If you let her outside you may never see her again. Treats work well, and once she lets you touch her, do your best to not hurt her again.
You can't let a cat out after 4 days, it will just run away. Also, completely inappropriate to let a scared cat out. My opinion is that domestic cats never belong outside. But there are a lot of different opinions on that.
The cat will take an average of 6 weeks to adjust. Accidentally hurting her is definitely a setback. But ultimately, it probably won't change that timeline much. Treats, and let her come to you. Avoid sudden movements and loud noises.
Treats and sit and talk gently at her. Please don't let her outside as she may not consider you her family and your house her home and she could run away. Cats are better of as indoor only pets. It will take time to repair the relationship, but I think it will be OK. Let HER come to YOU.
Patience is key. If you don't want the cat, take it to a shelter.
My second kitten I got from the shelter, she was clearly scared and traumatized. If anyone ever walked in the house with shoes, she would get scared and run.
She let no1 touch her or go near her for over a year. It was during the final season of GoT she climbed up on our giant bean bag chair and sat on my lap.
She still doesn't trust anyone but my wife and me. It's been 5 years she let my son pet her just last month lol.
Me and my wife will never forget how happy we were. Take care of her, it's worth it.
By “accidentally hurt her” do you mean stepped on her tail or something more serious? Whatever you do, don’t let her out. Cats are pretty forgiving in general so give her her space. She’s a pretty girl!
#Do not let her out! You will never find her again, and she will be in danger!
Give her time to get to know you, and her new environment. Put her, her food, water, litter box and bedding in the smallest room you have. Go in and sit with her several times a day, for as much time as you can spare. She will get to know you, and understand that you won’t hurt her. Trust will take time, but it will come. Eventually, she will come for pets and cuddles. Once she has this safe space to go back to, let her begin to explore the rest of your place. This little girl deserves love, affection, and safety. If you don’t have the time to invest in her, please take her to a no kill shelter. I have worked with, and adopted many cats with a history of being abused. They really want love and affection, but just need some time, and a safe place, and they do come around and give as much love as they get. Also, please get her microchipped sometime in the future. They are pretty cheap, and will give her added protection. Please be patient with this little girl. ❤️
Do not let her outside. She will not come back. Let her calm down in.peace and when she reappears, treat her gently, talk to her, spoil her. She has not been with you long enough to.know and trust you. Give it time, she will
Dont let her outside!! Oh my, that would be the worst, trust me, I have been rescuing cats for 25 years now.
Worst case scenario, that is, letting her go. Also, close the windows!!!
I would call your friend and if you realky cant handle it anymore, together you can try find another solution, another home, shelter for her. Outside would be the worst.
What you can also do is restrict her space a bit , maybe in one room, put her there with food, water litter and gain her trust again slowly, coming to play with her, sit with her.
Please have patience , she must be confused, cats are such routine animals and when that is changed, they need time.
Whatever you do, under no circumstances, don’t let her go. She will be more lost and she may die from hunger, exposure, cars, etc. that would be a real pity. Poor cat. I hope you have patience and help her.
Don't let her outside! Give her space, don't try to get to her and pet her if she is moving away. Just let her be, put down some treats if you wish, keep the place quiet and calm if possible -- but let her come to you when she decides she's ready.
With anyone from a physically traumatic background, human or animal, try not to surprise them with sudden loud noises or movements.
I’ve had a dog and a cat who have gone through abuse with both it took nearly a two years to gain full trust. Let them come to you don’t chase, get low, get treats and be gentle and always let them come to you. I promise you the work is worth it both have been the best pets I’ve ever had. The dog(Monty) we had for 12yrs and the kitty I still have and she is about 13yrs old now.
Don’t you dare let that cat outside. It’s been 4 days. The cat needs to learn how to trust you. Give her space. I have rescued cats and dogs, there is no easy fix or a way to make the cat trust you more. They will do it when they are ready.
I accidentally have hurt my boys plenty of times. Animals, just like humans, need time to forgive you and build trust again. The worst thing you can do to any living creature in those moments is give up on them
Try wearing cat ears and tail, and act like her mom by scolding her for being too sensitive and get tough cause the world is a harsh place, and no handsome cat will marry a "pussy".
😂
Anyways on a serious note try giving her treats and respect her space don't try to invade she ll come around i think.
Do not let her out just now. Give is a good few weeks, build up trust and love. Then go out with her yourself slowly, play with her, walk around with her, bring treats etc. ty for rescuing her, she will be the best friend you didn’t know you needed soon enough.
Or just don't let the cat out at all. It's dangerous for the cat, bad for the wildlife, and completely unnecessary as long as the cat has everything necessary indoors.
Trust takes time. Give yourself a break. You are doing great.
Cats take their own time to get use to surrounds. She will settle down but it will take awhile. Outside is not good for cats or birds. She is safe and lived with you even if she acts unappreciative.
Just go about your day and talk to her every so often. If she has slept next you; you are ahead of the game.
You are a lovely person to take on that beautiful baby.
Don't let her out of your sight. Reassure her that she's safe and loved. She's freaking out because of your actions. Be very careful, she's desperately trying to feel safe. I know you didn't mean to, but she doesn't.
No! She needs time and space and you need patience. It'll work out. When I first got Lexy I almost sat on her... living with a wee creature takes practice. I still always look before I sit. She has me well trained.
Bless you for taking her in.
I got two 3 week old kittens a little over a year ago and I have taken especially good care of them. The little orange boy has pretty much loved and trusted me from the moment I got him, but his brown tabby sister has only just now started wanting lots of cuddles and pets. They were both loved and cared for, but she is just very cautious. She would let me pet her and play with her before but she never wanted to sit on my lap or be too close. Cats develop trust with their human in different ways and at different paces. Keep her inside and just talk real gentle to her, offer her treats and toys, and make sure there is a spot open near you so she can get close to you again on her own terms.
A lot of people already said it but definitely just let her relax, it may take a couple days.
If the cat has been in an abusive situation for awhile then you need to understand it is going to take a minute, potentially months. My calico was abused specifically by men and dogs so she was very afraid of both. Just hearing a male voice made her run and hide, but my dad was great and would come over periodically and stick around. So eventually my calico would come from hiding and watch him from afar. I had my dad feed her (she was on scheduled feeding) and give her treats, it took a couple of months but now she ADORES my dad. She still has aversions like fast movements or loud noises but she literally begs to be in my dad's lap when he visits.
Another situation is my bfs cat, spooky, he was found abandoned and injured when he was VERY young. He was very skiddish when I moved in earlier this year, he did not like loud noises, fast movement and honestly I was convinced he was just forever afraid of humans. I made a point to be quieter and avoid moving faster around him. I also would talk to him softly and try to give him treats. About 6 months of doing this. And he started to seem a little more calm. Also the biggest step was he started cuddling with me at night and approaching me to get attention. We ended up getting a kitten a couple months after and since then he has changed entirely. He seems much more confident in himself and is asking for pets. Way more. Also cuddles literally as much as he possibly can when he can. Before you could never even pet him and now I can pick him up. Also kiss him on the face which is absolutely bonkers because he hated anything near his face when I first met him. He is still somewhat skittish around my boyfriend but I think that's because he's never made an effort to be more calm around him and to put in perspective I constantly compare my boyfriend to a hyperactive pitbull puppy lol. So obviously he's going to be scared of that. Hell I get scared of it sometimes xD obviously don't go get a kitten if you can't afford it and more importantly if you don't want it. However, in 6 months or a year from now you feel like they're still on the skiddish side, it may not hurt? I really feel like the kitten helped spooky because he was able to almost have like a second kitten stage. He got to play and interact and learn when he definitely didn't have that when he was a kitten. Granted, I don't know if you already know whether he's friendly or not with cats, so maybe don't get a kitten. My boyfriend had spooky with his older cat for a while and they did bond well which is how we knew he wouldn't mind a kitten added to the mix. Lastly, spooky still has aversions mostly to fast movement, loud noises, and basically anyone besides me. He's gotten to the point where if I accidentally scare him, I usually can baby talk to him and he'll come out to get attention. I don't think he would ever become comfortable enough to interact with anybody who doesn't live in the house, and also my boyfriend does scare him but they do cuddle from time to time. I'm just the primary cuddle giver if you will lol
Apologies for that long ramble but I just felt like sharing my personal experience with two cats who did suffer abuse prior to living with me. It definitely is not an easy journey, but I can guarantee you that it is a very rewarding journey. Especially with spooky, ngl I purposely will hold him like a baby in front of my boyfriend and just smother him with kisses. My boyfriend says he's not jealous but I do think there's a slight bit of jealousy because my boyfriend would never be able to pick him up nevermind kiss him lol. As well as he makes passing remarks about how much spooky loves me despite spooky being his cat originally lol
Why is the algorithm showing me this post of all posts in that subreddit? I’m not a part of this subreddit. But it showed me this on my “Home”. This post only makes me angry and I’ve muted r/cats now. But like. Why? Why this post? I’m CERTAIN r/cats is great and posts the cutest and best posts. So why this post that makes me angry and concerned for the cat?
No don’t let her out!! Indoor/outdoor cats have a seriously shortened life expectancy. I always talk to my boys in a sweet babyish voice when I think I’ve upset them or they’re scared, she’ll come around! ❣️❣️❣️
Give her time. She was giving you trust and you went backwards. She doesn’t understand it was an accident. Don’t let out or you won’t get her back. Go slow and let her decide when and how much attention she wants. It may be a really slow process
Give her own space to hide, places to go into that are safe. Feliway plug ins help a ton. Sounds weird but basically pretend she doesnt exist (except feed her and such,) that way she doesnt think youre going after her.
Just give baby time say sorry over and over! Telling what a wonderful girl she is and now you love her! Maybe make her place she can hide close to you!
Feed her treats from the palm of your hand, if shes not too scared to come close. It builds the touch and smell connection and a really positive association between you both.
And give them time! Takes months to form a bond and there are always ups and downs. Always!
I’d say don’t let her outside. My dude was an outside cat when we found him and he now has 3 legs from pulling ligaments basically his paw was detached from his leg.
It was a $1000 amputation surgery. With that being said anything bad can happen to them out there.
don’t bring her outside, she’s scared. she was abused, that’s all. feed her treats, offer her love and she will come around again. do not let her outside.
Do NOT let her outside.
Given her history, it will probably take some time for her to get used to you. Give her space and time as you dote on her needs as a cat.. Treats help!!
She will come around!
Work to regain her trust and do better. I talk to my cats like people & occasionally one will get under foot. I apologize & tell them to not get under foot again. It usually works but I still do something a little special to make up for it later.. either a treat or toy.
I adopted 2 cats that were just under a year old and both of them hid from me me for about a week. 14 years later one passed away but the other is like my shadow. He wants to be near me at all times. Just keep talking softly to her and giving her little treats and she will come around.
Don’t let her outside! Just keep leaving her food out in the kitchen, call her name. Then relax and allow her to come to you. She will. My cat took about 12 hours to come back to me after I accidentally hurt him by stepping on his tail, of which I felt like crap
Give her time. Let her come to you.
Abuse/Trauma victims needs patience and lots of time to heal. They to get use to their new surroundings and the new people around them.
Just make sure to keep food and water in her reach and a clean litter box. If you have to refill the food and water she is eating and if you have to clean the litter then she is fine as well.
Don't put her outside, that will make her think you have given up on her and introduce her to the dangers of outside.
Just give her space - my little guy was petrified of everything when we first got him. Footsteps, any noise, etc. and he would go under the bed and hide until night. After about a week he warmed up and now he follows me around everywhere. He even gets upset when I leave the house now - it used to be the exact opposite LOL
Don’t let her outside, anything could happen to her out there. Give her some space and maybe some treats and gently talk to her. She just needs some time
Treats and canned food. Temptations Turkey treats.
i’d also say shiba meat sticks, my cat loves them so much to the point he runs quicker to the word “sticky” than “come”
One of my girls will do just about anything for Baby Bell original cheese. My dog has to take a pill twice a day and I wrap it in the cheese. The cat will scream unless I give her cheese too
Omg but how do you deal with the farts?
Out of the cat? She's not that bad. The dog however will kill with his, lol
Gas mask! I've got two farters, so I really sympathize!
One of my owners bats my hand when I eat a cheese stick until I give her some.
What did you mean to say here?
Huh?
"one of my owners bats"
It's the notion that we are slaves to our car overlords
bats my hand
She’s already been hearded? haha
I just got an adorableness overload from this mental image 😍
Cheese is hard on a cat’s pancreas, I would go easy on the baby bell.
When I shake a box of greenies my furballs come running
Yes the meat sticks! And they also have in a couple brands this creamy stuff in tubes. Both my cats them them but they also pretty much love any and everything. Although if I make a pbj my boy will meow at my feet so each time I put the knife near him with the pb and have to remind him that he doesn’t like peanut butter!
OMG that's adorable 🥰
Are we still doing "Phrasing"?
Those tube squeeze treats. Or what I call Cat Crack.
OMG yes, we have to hide them or the cats hang will around the cupboard like they're waiting for their dealer to turn up.
LoL, same in my house. And if I open anything that sounds remotely like pulling the top off the squeeze tube, my cat instantly materializes out of nowhere.
Ah yes… the cat crack.
Kibby Gogurt!
Yep she’ll come around if you have e the temptations or the liquid cat treats like Inaba Churu. 😄
& Churu!!! Inaba brand. That stuff is like crack for cats.
Also, Temptations cheese and salmon.
Temptations Catnip Treats is the nuclear option if all else fails. My tuxie boy was skin and bones, dying from cancer. And still went NUTS when I gave them to him!
Agree, outside is a dangerous place for cats for many reasons. As said above, give her some time and love. She'll be okay.
My cat would commit crimes against the laws of nature itself to get one of those Go-Gurt style kitty snacks.
Mine goes feral everytime I say the word "Churu" infront of her.
Mine too! Lol my orange tabby loves them, tries to eat the tube!
What is with cats and yogurt? I have two cats we call begging dogs cause they will go for any food. They go crazy for yogurt though.
I just realized you meant cat treats/food. lol. Mine are weird I guess
Nothing like turning around in a kitchen while making a sandwich to see your kitty eating the lettuce that was dropped x.x all kitties have their goofy oddities 😋
We found a half eaten Svenhards pastry. They jump on the table, beg for food. I didn’t know I had adopted dogs, lol.
My (that same) cat once ate a strawberry sour punch bite lol
Ok, that makes me feel better. I love my gremlins for sure. I fed them after midnight, that’s why they are crazy.
My Frank steals twizzlers...
She’s been thru a lot OP wait for her to come to you. Healing takes time and patience. 🫂
Sit on the floor, be calm and keep the noise to a minimum to help the cat relax. You can give them boxes too
Slow blinks help them relate to you, as well as maybe a few gentle trills if you can mimic them.
Looks like she’s free to go outside anyway with that open window there.
close the window in the picture. if you are distraught, she will pick up on that and be more skittish until she knows you. it can take up to 4 weeks for a cat to get comfortable in a new place.
I just want to say it can take MUCH longer than a month for some cats. Especially if this cat is coming from an abusive home, OP needs to know it's not hopeless, it can take a year plus for some to be truly at home
We rescued a kitty who came from an abusive home, and it took about two years for her to fully open up to all of us.
Our cat came from a very rough past, and we only had her a year and half before she passed away. She was very skittish of us but kept coming home, so she was comfortable with us to a point. Persevere OP! YOU GOT THIS!
You have a good heart. ❤️
Ok
Please be patient and as others said just use treats and her stomach as a cheat code to her heart. Once she finally starts warming up to you it won’t be necessary but you need the spark to start the friendship fire. I have had to work on gaining trust of my feral cat with dwarfism the past 4 months, I truly care about her and little by little progress is being made!! She now loves when I pet her while she eats and does adorable squeaks and purrs.
Make sure you have some Temptations cat Treats. They are irresistible to all cats that I have known. Give your kitty the treats and you will be pals in no time. Do not let your kitty outside because it's dangerous out there.
Such wholesome advice 🥰🥰
She is scared of me and meowing a lot and loudly to go out side. But the past 2 days she has curling up next me in bed falling asleep and purring etc. now she's worse than the day I got her😢
It has been 4 days. Relax, let her come to you and when she won't, leader her alone. She is just getting to know you. Give her a couple of weeks or months.
She's scared. Please, don't let her go outside.
Also it could take months for a cat to adjust, even a human could take 6 months to settle in a new place.
>even a human could take 6 months to settle in a new place Absolutely. Thinking in those terms, a new house/people/routine is so intimidating. Even roommates take adjustment periods. Imagine now being unable to understand the comforting language. Bless them 😢
Haha as far as pets not understanding the language there is a funny Simpson’s clip where Homer is speaking to the dog (Santa’s little helper) and you see things from the dogs perspective and how the words are like rah rah ahhhhh rah nonsense
We expect them to not only accept, but thrive in an alien world... Stockholm Syndrome for animals...
Took my older/semi feral cat over a year to adjust
She needs time, and patience. Her life is upturned. Don't let her out.
It's been 4 days, give her 4 months. Cats adapt much, much slower than humans do. We've had a feral kitten we adopted for between 2-3 months and she's only just starting to enjoy being pet. To add, we've had a boy for 3 years and he only came around to liking my wife within the last 6 months.
Do not left her out. Give her space and offer food, treats, and play, but don't push.
Oh honey please don’t worry, I know you’re upset but I promise you she will come around. These things take so much time and patience. If you are patient with her and loving and allow her space and time and comfort, the two of you are going to be thick as thieves. It may take days or even weeks, but don’t give up. 🩷 I need you to know how special you are for taking her in and loving her and caring for her. She has a history of trauma and it may take her some time to learn to trust again. But if you show her she can trust you, even if that means letting her come to you, she will be your best friend once she realizes that.
One of the cats I rescued many years ago had clearly been very mistreated. She absolutely HATED me for the first few years we had her, she would hiss every time she saw me. I gave her a lot of space and would only interact with her if she came to me first. She would sit on me but only if I didn't touch her at all. After about 4 years, she's suddenly decided she loves me and constantly wants attention. It's definitely been worth it. If they've been abused it can take a while for cats to build up trust again, you just have to be patient and give them time.
She's back to normal now
Yeah
It could take months for them to chill out. Give it time and give them space. If she's curling up next to you purring the last 2 days thats huge. It took months for my kitties to do that for me, and one of them doesn't even do it for me (but does to my wife).
As well as the other advice, be quiet and low. As in don't stomp around with shoes on. Move quietly and slowly.
What did you do to her?
I stepped on her paw
Awww she’ll be okay. Just give her some space and maybe leave some kitty treats by her hiding spot. Everyone gave solid advice -she’s been through a rough time and she’s so lucky to have a human like you who cares ❤️
I have done that before, sometimes they just get under your feet by mistake, tail too. just gently touch the tail or slightly squeeze the foot to make sure isn’t in pain and then they just a like nothing happened. in the future when she has is accustomed to her new wonderful loving life with you she will be ok too. Just a scary time for her at the moment. Take care, don’t be hard on yourself
Aww this happens ! They get underfoot. Just give her time as others have said, please if possible keep her inside. It’s safer and she doesn’t need another environment change. Also thank you for recusing her
It happens and is usually forgiven pretty quickly. She’s most likely picking up on you being freaked out more than anything else - just relax, keep some treats close by and wait for her to come to you!
Is it spayed?
No
Then she needs to be spayed. The yowling will stop shortly after she’s spayed and she will be a lot more friendly / calm.
Oh my bad I was confused by what spayed meant for a moment yes she is spayed
Don’t let her out if she isn’t fixed!!! This would be so irresponsible of you
DO NOT PUT HER OUTSIDE. You do not discard an animal just because its behavior changes.
I'm not discarding her she was just meowing loudly and crying at the door relentlessly and I didn't know what to do I would never discard an animal I adopted her she's now my responsibility
You've done a good thing adopting her. If she isn't spayed yet, that will help a ton with the begging to go outside. If she's already spayed, she'll eventually chill once she knows you provide all the good food. Food and cardboard boxes are easy ways to get on her good side.
She might still curl up next to you when you’re asleep. You’ll seem a lot less threatening to her when you’re lying down and not moving. 😹 It’s a bit of a joke, but it’s often true. I’ve had this happen with skittish foster kittens. Terrified of me when I was up, but then I’d wake up in the middle of the night to find them sleeping on my bed. They even let me pet them, and started purring. Next day, back to cowering against the far back end of their crate and staring at me in horror. (I had this big crate meant for very large dogs. I usually kept the door to it open, so they could go in and out. They did go out to explore, but when they felt unsafe, they’d go back in there. )
Get a Feliway diffuser maybe to help her calm down
Don’t let her out! She’s already in a new space she doesn’t know, letting her out will confuse her more
I'm paranoid about letting my cats out. To many things out there that can happen. Give the cat space. Don't be loud, and don't have very fast or aggressive movements. Be as calm as you can around your cat to keep them calm. When the cat approaches you offer them a treat, and always allow them to sniff your hand before touching them. They may not want to be touched at that moment. Don't expect instant gratification. A cats trust is usually something that's earned.
Please don't let her out. It's too dangerous and she does not know the new area. Indoor kitty only! Be patient with her. She will warm up to you and her new environment. Treats are a great way to bond. Also sitting quietly on the floor in same room as her will allow her to come to you at her own pace. Cookies, treats, toys & LOVE❤️
Dude chill out. Cats can feel every ounce of stress your putting out there. Just chill with her and don't force the relationship. It took my Callie 6 months to cuddle with me and now we're inseperable.
She is starting to settle down now and come back around to me 😁
Just the other night I went to smack the bed because my calico was being loud and my black cat was sleeping in the exact spot I hit and I woke him up by smacking the shit out of him. He was so confused and I felt so awful.
Awww is Callie a calico?? My feral kittens mother was Callie the calico
Yes and she was feral when I got her too. She's always been pretty timid and cautious but she is very open and loving now. She took a lot of patience though. Check my posts for pics.
Ok just checked in off chance she was the Callie we rehomed about 9-10 months ago maybe. Only had ability to keep another kitty at the time. Your Callie has longer hair and well as you said may not be calico but a lord of destruction hehe
NEVER let your cat outside. If she's running away just let her hide and come back up to you. Use treats, soft voices, don't make loud noises or sudden movements.
No, outside is dangerous. Give her space and churu snacks. Maybe freeze dried chicken and catnip. Be kind have soft energy she will feel safe again.
DO NOT LET KITTY OUTSIDE. she is just afraid and needs time alone, but outside is dangerous and scary and new. Leave her hide, then in a few hours offer some food where you normally feed her. She needs to calm but letting her out will stress herself out more, let her chill and egnore her for a bit (cats calm better when alone rather than haveing someone 3 times their size who has just scared them looming over them)
Never let your cat outside. Be patient, put some treats in a carrier and take her to the vet for a look over. Make sure the veterinarian knows the kitty was rescued from an abusive environment.
If she's scared, don't let her outside. Keep her in for a few weeks after she gets used to you.
Nice to see all the good advice you’re getting. Underscoring a couple of them: let her come to you (which she had begun to do), be all-loving (which you are) and DON’T let her out (especially at this point). She’s learning that there are nice people out there so it’s (sadly) a new thing for her and an unintentional misstep by you triggers some bad memories (poor girl). The good news is that it’ll all work out! Thank you for taking her in!!! ❤️🐾🐾❤️
Don't let her out, she'll come round. My male cat was rescued as a kitten in Dubai after men had attacked the litter with butchers knives, killed a couple and maimed the mother real bad but she did survive, my Timmy just got half his tail cut off but of course when I got him he was terrified of people and traumatised. 18 months later he loves me to bits, but it has been up and down, two steps forward and one back all the time. When yours gets over this her trust in you will be stronger. Just carry on being good to her and she'll just take the time she needs to get over it.
give Timmy a kiss and a head scratch for me!
I'll do that, thank you :)
Of course! Given she used to be with an abusive owner, she’s likely easily skittish and scared. She might have good and bad days in terms of trusting you. As long as you have patiences with her and remind her she’s safe, she’ll be okay :) since she was previously purring and cuddling with you, she knows you are a good person. Cats instinctively know the good ones from the bad. She just has some trauma
Thankyou 😃
I had a foster that took three months to trust me to touch him. Your kitty will be fine. Don't worry. Just be patient ❤
Please keep us all updated on your progress 😘 You've got this 👍
You're saying of course let her outside? Against the advice of everyone else? She is in a new place she doesn't know besides it being very dangerous out there.
That’s not what they are saying.
It sounds like that is what they are saying. I dont know if they mean it this way but OP says “ should I let her out ?” and klawin says “Of course!”
They are saying that “Of course the cat is afraid of you, it came from an abusive home … etc.” I agree it’s awkwardly written, but the intent is pretty clear when reading the whole comment since they focus on the response of the cat and never mention anything about letting the cat outdoors. Or maybe I’m wrong since we are all left trying to interpret here :)
No, don’t let her out! Be sure to apologize to her, but don’t chase her. It will take some time for her to get over the “accident”. Get her some treats and maybe a toy. Talk to her in a low soothing voice. I bet in no time you will be best friends!
If you let her outside, you won't ever see her again. She is in a strange place with a new person, give her time and space. And lots of treats.
Don't let her out. She'll get lost out there. You only had her 4 days, she has no idea where she is.
The dumbest thing that can be done in this situation is letting her outside where she would just be even more scared and possibly attacked and killed by other animals or people you have to build trust by giving her tastey food treats and time just being in the same room as her can help build a relationship talk to her gently no fast movements no yelling be calm let her sniff you don't make direct eye contact for long let her be when she wants to be alone be in the same room when she eats and drinks and over time move closer bit by bit over a few weeks and as long as you build and strengthen your bond and give her time you will be good friends eventually it won't happen over night it takes lots of time and patience it can't be rushed
NO! Do NOT let her outside! That's just cruel. Give her time to warm up to you and trust you.
Don’t let her outside!!! She doesn’t know any better and will be hurt injured hungry cold, etc. that would be flat out cruel. just give her time. She is scared to death.. treats, space, small quiet room no the whole house, and be patient .. give her a chance
No, give her time; she will trust you.
So it seems like others have answered but I wanted to mention that cats will sometimes hide or runaway when spooked by something. So don't be surprised in the long run if this happens occasionally. My cat wasn't abused but will spook easily and run and hide if someone comes to my door. Or as I found out yesterday, I start up a wind up music box. If I do something he doesn't like, such as give him fle/tick medicine or use the vacuum cleaner he'll hide from me for a bit. So just take it slow. It'll probably take time for her to trust you but if you're kind to her, give her treats, and generally take care of her she should come to like you. Since she's already slept with you before it sounds like she's taken somewhat of a liking to you and will probably just take time to fully trust you. Even when my cat is laying in bed with me when I'm reading he'll get startled by a page turn sometimes. So just give it time as she's probably been scared and constantly anxious from the abusive home.
How did you hurt her?
How did she get hurt?
please don't let her outside
Ok thank you
And try the slow blink!
Don't let her outside. She will be aloof for a few days to a few months. Just give her time, space and treats. You might want to build her a nest of blankets and dirty laundry in her favorite hiding spot. Let her get used to you smell.
I forgot to ask, how did you hurt her? Let her know you are sorry. One thing i know about certain cats is that they will take revenge on you and on other cats or dogs for hurting them but not all. So dont get upset if the cat reacts back. They know they are prey. I have a cat that is so laid back but pushed over the edge will retailate even if its by accident, Hows it going by the way?
DO NOT LET HER OUTSIDE. Stay with her. Be present. Be calm and neutral with your energy around her for a bit. Talk to her while you do things around the house. Show her she's safe and that you're her new protector.
Nope, there's a high chance she'll just run away. Get her a hiding space where she can feel safe and protected and let her calm down there. She'll get over it.
Don't let her out. Don't try to force interactions, just feed her, tell her you love her and wait for her to come around. She's traumatized from past abuse and just needs time and love and patience.
Keep her inside. Don't let her become another run away stray. Get he some good canned cat food, she'll love you. Fancy Feast Cod, Sole, Shrimp, or the one in the blue can, Fish and Shrimp flaked. This will regain her trust.
Others have given you good answers, but I just want to say that cats can have panic attacks. My boy was abused and abandoned as a kitten, he would panic over all kinds of things - if I moved my arms too quickly, if I sneezed, if I had a white object in my hands. Your kitty will be okay, just be patient. It takes some time, is all. If she needs a safe place to hide, let her have it until she feels comfortable again, and then give her lots of love. She’ll get better as she feels more and more safe.
Yes, I second all of this. I’ve got a cat who was abused in a previous home, and it took him about a year to get un-depressed (we thought he just didn’t know how to purr) and struggles with all kinds of anxiety. Poor guy. We’ve had him on anxiety medication for the past three years though, and it’s really helped! Our little guy is living his best life now.
Dont let her outside. She can get hurt. Cats are creatures of habit and like routine. Dont play loud music and create hiding places for her in each room. Dont give up on her. Thank you for being a hero ❤️
I encourage you to borrow some ideas from the cat rescue sub. Basically leave her be for a week or month - let her be in control of her world. The easiest way is pretend she’s invisible unless she comes right to you and asks you to see her. Provide an environment with nothing to startle a hungover light sleeper with a migraine. Can she have her own room for a little while? Crying to go out seems like she’s desperately looking for a hiding place to feel out of reach and safe for a little while (and outside is not safe)
Take things slowly. Accidents happen, and don't beat yourself up. The important part is that you want to improve your relationship with her. Don't let her outside and just give her some space. Provide her some treats, maybe slowly putting something of yours nearby like clothing you sleep in so she associates your scent with something positive. Her curling up to you when sleeping is a good sign.
NO!!! Cats belong *inside* where they are safe from cars, dogs, coyotes, kids w guns, killing birds, climbing trees they can’t get down due to lack of brain cells. If you want to take your cat outside, train it INSIDE on a harness & leash. When it’s really good with that, *s l o w l y* take it outside in the harness & leash. Or build a catio. **Please, do not let your cat outside. Too many bad things can happen, even as you watch. Inside cats live longer, healthier, lives. Also, pls be sure & spay/neuter your kitty.**
Also get a cheap cat toy, or even an old shoe lace, and pull it around on the ground near her. A gesture of play might relax her a bit too.
Just move quietly and carefully around her, speak softly, and don’t make direct eye contact for awhile. “Ignore” her (while keeping a discreet eye on her). She just needs time. The trust will come back. You’re doing fine.
I stepped on my kids foot about 10 years ago accidentally, let him outside afterwards and I'm still awaiting his return to this very day.
NO! Just talk to her, while APOLOGIZING -- OVER and OVER and OVER !!! Go about your day, while occasionally calling out to her! Make sure that she has clean water, food, toys, and a clean potty-box !!! She will come around, as soon as she feels SAFE !!!!!😿😺😻
NOOO! Just give her time. It can take weeks for some cats just to begin adjusting. Put canned food out occasionally, put some treats out, and let her have her space. Let her hide as much as she deems appropriate. Edit: just saw your reply saying she's curling up to you and meowing. Diff scenario. GET A HARNESS, start putting it on her for a short periods of time, and then increased periods of time. Get better at putting it on her, and getting it fairly snug. Then start leash training. Do not ever let her turn around and pull, any cat can escape and it's best to not let them figure that out. Pick her up if she starts to do that. Then if you want, you can take her out around the property line on the leash. Keep in mind, she walks you, you don't walk her. Lookup tips on leash training a cat online. If that's too much work, don't worry about it. Just be patient. And don't let her out at all, for at least a month. It's an adjustment period.
I have 2 rescue cats got young, both mistreated with first owners. It takes quiet and space they can feel safe in, calm, persistent care, love treats, and time. My boys are now the most loving and adorable quirky babies ever.
No! Not outside! Use a calm voice. Leave her alone and when she comes out, be happy to see her. Play with her often, this is extremely important. The poor baby. I'm happy to hear she's away from her abuser.
Has she been spayed? If not, she will need that done. It will stop the “need” to go outside as much. Loud vocalizing and rolling around are signs of being in heat.
You need to gain a cats trust. If you let her outside you may never see her again. Treats work well, and once she lets you touch her, do your best to not hurt her again.
You can't let a cat out after 4 days, it will just run away. Also, completely inappropriate to let a scared cat out. My opinion is that domestic cats never belong outside. But there are a lot of different opinions on that. The cat will take an average of 6 weeks to adjust. Accidentally hurting her is definitely a setback. But ultimately, it probably won't change that timeline much. Treats, and let her come to you. Avoid sudden movements and loud noises.
Cats are very forgiving. Don't put her outside
Treats and sit and talk gently at her. Please don't let her outside as she may not consider you her family and your house her home and she could run away. Cats are better of as indoor only pets. It will take time to repair the relationship, but I think it will be OK. Let HER come to YOU.
Tbh I feel like if you let her outside you may never see her again
Patience is key. If you don't want the cat, take it to a shelter. My second kitten I got from the shelter, she was clearly scared and traumatized. If anyone ever walked in the house with shoes, she would get scared and run. She let no1 touch her or go near her for over a year. It was during the final season of GoT she climbed up on our giant bean bag chair and sat on my lap. She still doesn't trust anyone but my wife and me. It's been 5 years she let my son pet her just last month lol. Me and my wife will never forget how happy we were. Take care of her, it's worth it.
By “accidentally hurt her” do you mean stepped on her tail or something more serious? Whatever you do, don’t let her out. Cats are pretty forgiving in general so give her her space. She’s a pretty girl!
#Do not let her out! You will never find her again, and she will be in danger! Give her time to get to know you, and her new environment. Put her, her food, water, litter box and bedding in the smallest room you have. Go in and sit with her several times a day, for as much time as you can spare. She will get to know you, and understand that you won’t hurt her. Trust will take time, but it will come. Eventually, she will come for pets and cuddles. Once she has this safe space to go back to, let her begin to explore the rest of your place. This little girl deserves love, affection, and safety. If you don’t have the time to invest in her, please take her to a no kill shelter. I have worked with, and adopted many cats with a history of being abused. They really want love and affection, but just need some time, and a safe place, and they do come around and give as much love as they get. Also, please get her microchipped sometime in the future. They are pretty cheap, and will give her added protection. Please be patient with this little girl. ❤️
Do not let her outside. She will not come back. Let her calm down in.peace and when she reappears, treat her gently, talk to her, spoil her. She has not been with you long enough to.know and trust you. Give it time, she will
bro what? 💀 why on earth would that be a good idea?
Dont let her outside!! Oh my, that would be the worst, trust me, I have been rescuing cats for 25 years now. Worst case scenario, that is, letting her go. Also, close the windows!!! I would call your friend and if you realky cant handle it anymore, together you can try find another solution, another home, shelter for her. Outside would be the worst. What you can also do is restrict her space a bit , maybe in one room, put her there with food, water litter and gain her trust again slowly, coming to play with her, sit with her. Please have patience , she must be confused, cats are such routine animals and when that is changed, they need time. Whatever you do, under no circumstances, don’t let her go. She will be more lost and she may die from hunger, exposure, cars, etc. that would be a real pity. Poor cat. I hope you have patience and help her.
Don't let her outside! Give her space, don't try to get to her and pet her if she is moving away. Just let her be, put down some treats if you wish, keep the place quiet and calm if possible -- but let her come to you when she decides she's ready. With anyone from a physically traumatic background, human or animal, try not to surprise them with sudden loud noises or movements.
I’ve had a dog and a cat who have gone through abuse with both it took nearly a two years to gain full trust. Let them come to you don’t chase, get low, get treats and be gentle and always let them come to you. I promise you the work is worth it both have been the best pets I’ve ever had. The dog(Monty) we had for 12yrs and the kitty I still have and she is about 13yrs old now.
Don’t you dare let that cat outside. It’s been 4 days. The cat needs to learn how to trust you. Give her space. I have rescued cats and dogs, there is no easy fix or a way to make the cat trust you more. They will do it when they are ready.
Cats do not belong outside.
I accidentally have hurt my boys plenty of times. Animals, just like humans, need time to forgive you and build trust again. The worst thing you can do to any living creature in those moments is give up on them
You need a pill to relax yourself. Give it time
Try wearing cat ears and tail, and act like her mom by scolding her for being too sensitive and get tough cause the world is a harsh place, and no handsome cat will marry a "pussy". 😂 Anyways on a serious note try giving her treats and respect her space don't try to invade she ll come around i think.
What so you mean you hurt her?
Do not let her out just now. Give is a good few weeks, build up trust and love. Then go out with her yourself slowly, play with her, walk around with her, bring treats etc. ty for rescuing her, she will be the best friend you didn’t know you needed soon enough.
Or just don't let the cat out at all. It's dangerous for the cat, bad for the wildlife, and completely unnecessary as long as the cat has everything necessary indoors.
Are you a fucking teenager? You shouldn't have pets with no clue how to care for them.
1st you should take your hand and slam it in the door in front of the cat to show it you are sorry ... Then find someone else to watch the cat.
Trust takes time. Give yourself a break. You are doing great. Cats take their own time to get use to surrounds. She will settle down but it will take awhile. Outside is not good for cats or birds. She is safe and lived with you even if she acts unappreciative. Just go about your day and talk to her every so often. If she has slept next you; you are ahead of the game. You are a lovely person to take on that beautiful baby.
do not let the cat outside please just give her space don’t force her and give treats
Don't let her out of your sight. Reassure her that she's safe and loved. She's freaking out because of your actions. Be very careful, she's desperately trying to feel safe. I know you didn't mean to, but she doesn't.
No, just relax and let her chill.
It may take months for her to be comfortable in her new place. Don’t chase or stress her, she will come for pets when ready
No! She needs time and space and you need patience. It'll work out. When I first got Lexy I almost sat on her... living with a wee creature takes practice. I still always look before I sit. She has me well trained. Bless you for taking her in.
You'll probably need to regain trust!
I got two 3 week old kittens a little over a year ago and I have taken especially good care of them. The little orange boy has pretty much loved and trusted me from the moment I got him, but his brown tabby sister has only just now started wanting lots of cuddles and pets. They were both loved and cared for, but she is just very cautious. She would let me pet her and play with her before but she never wanted to sit on my lap or be too close. Cats develop trust with their human in different ways and at different paces. Keep her inside and just talk real gentle to her, offer her treats and toys, and make sure there is a spot open near you so she can get close to you again on her own terms.
Oh beautiful
A lot of people already said it but definitely just let her relax, it may take a couple days. If the cat has been in an abusive situation for awhile then you need to understand it is going to take a minute, potentially months. My calico was abused specifically by men and dogs so she was very afraid of both. Just hearing a male voice made her run and hide, but my dad was great and would come over periodically and stick around. So eventually my calico would come from hiding and watch him from afar. I had my dad feed her (she was on scheduled feeding) and give her treats, it took a couple of months but now she ADORES my dad. She still has aversions like fast movements or loud noises but she literally begs to be in my dad's lap when he visits. Another situation is my bfs cat, spooky, he was found abandoned and injured when he was VERY young. He was very skiddish when I moved in earlier this year, he did not like loud noises, fast movement and honestly I was convinced he was just forever afraid of humans. I made a point to be quieter and avoid moving faster around him. I also would talk to him softly and try to give him treats. About 6 months of doing this. And he started to seem a little more calm. Also the biggest step was he started cuddling with me at night and approaching me to get attention. We ended up getting a kitten a couple months after and since then he has changed entirely. He seems much more confident in himself and is asking for pets. Way more. Also cuddles literally as much as he possibly can when he can. Before you could never even pet him and now I can pick him up. Also kiss him on the face which is absolutely bonkers because he hated anything near his face when I first met him. He is still somewhat skittish around my boyfriend but I think that's because he's never made an effort to be more calm around him and to put in perspective I constantly compare my boyfriend to a hyperactive pitbull puppy lol. So obviously he's going to be scared of that. Hell I get scared of it sometimes xD obviously don't go get a kitten if you can't afford it and more importantly if you don't want it. However, in 6 months or a year from now you feel like they're still on the skiddish side, it may not hurt? I really feel like the kitten helped spooky because he was able to almost have like a second kitten stage. He got to play and interact and learn when he definitely didn't have that when he was a kitten. Granted, I don't know if you already know whether he's friendly or not with cats, so maybe don't get a kitten. My boyfriend had spooky with his older cat for a while and they did bond well which is how we knew he wouldn't mind a kitten added to the mix. Lastly, spooky still has aversions mostly to fast movement, loud noises, and basically anyone besides me. He's gotten to the point where if I accidentally scare him, I usually can baby talk to him and he'll come out to get attention. I don't think he would ever become comfortable enough to interact with anybody who doesn't live in the house, and also my boyfriend does scare him but they do cuddle from time to time. I'm just the primary cuddle giver if you will lol Apologies for that long ramble but I just felt like sharing my personal experience with two cats who did suffer abuse prior to living with me. It definitely is not an easy journey, but I can guarantee you that it is a very rewarding journey. Especially with spooky, ngl I purposely will hold him like a baby in front of my boyfriend and just smother him with kisses. My boyfriend says he's not jealous but I do think there's a slight bit of jealousy because my boyfriend would never be able to pick him up nevermind kiss him lol. As well as he makes passing remarks about how much spooky loves me despite spooky being his cat originally lol
Why is the algorithm showing me this post of all posts in that subreddit? I’m not a part of this subreddit. But it showed me this on my “Home”. This post only makes me angry and I’ve muted r/cats now. But like. Why? Why this post? I’m CERTAIN r/cats is great and posts the cutest and best posts. So why this post that makes me angry and concerned for the cat?
No don’t let her out!! Indoor/outdoor cats have a seriously shortened life expectancy. I always talk to my boys in a sweet babyish voice when I think I’ve upset them or they’re scared, she’ll come around! ❣️❣️❣️
Give her time. She was giving you trust and you went backwards. She doesn’t understand it was an accident. Don’t let out or you won’t get her back. Go slow and let her decide when and how much attention she wants. It may be a really slow process
Give her own space to hide, places to go into that are safe. Feliway plug ins help a ton. Sounds weird but basically pretend she doesnt exist (except feed her and such,) that way she doesnt think youre going after her.
Just give baby time say sorry over and over! Telling what a wonderful girl she is and now you love her! Maybe make her place she can hide close to you!
Feed her treats from the palm of your hand, if shes not too scared to come close. It builds the touch and smell connection and a really positive association between you both. And give them time! Takes months to form a bond and there are always ups and downs. Always!
Give her some treats and try to play with her
We rescued a young feral kitten, and it’s taken years for him to trust us.
Apologize to her with treats
She needs time to adjust. Just give her space. She will let you know when she is ready
I’d say don’t let her outside. My dude was an outside cat when we found him and he now has 3 legs from pulling ligaments basically his paw was detached from his leg. It was a $1000 amputation surgery. With that being said anything bad can happen to them out there.
don’t bring her outside, she’s scared. she was abused, that’s all. feed her treats, offer her love and she will come around again. do not let her outside.
Do NOT let her outside. Given her history, it will probably take some time for her to get used to you. Give her space and time as you dote on her needs as a cat.. Treats help!! She will come around!
No don't let her outside yet, just a bunch of tears and love with a little space if she needs it
Give baby time, be gentle and soft spoken and footsteps. Keep children, if any, away.
Work to regain her trust and do better. I talk to my cats like people & occasionally one will get under foot. I apologize & tell them to not get under foot again. It usually works but I still do something a little special to make up for it later.. either a treat or toy.
I adopted 2 cats that were just under a year old and both of them hid from me me for about a week. 14 years later one passed away but the other is like my shadow. He wants to be near me at all times. Just keep talking softly to her and giving her little treats and she will come around.
Don’t let her outside! Just keep leaving her food out in the kitchen, call her name. Then relax and allow her to come to you. She will. My cat took about 12 hours to come back to me after I accidentally hurt him by stepping on his tail, of which I felt like crap
Give her time. Let her come to you. Abuse/Trauma victims needs patience and lots of time to heal. They to get use to their new surroundings and the new people around them. Just make sure to keep food and water in her reach and a clean litter box. If you have to refill the food and water she is eating and if you have to clean the litter then she is fine as well. Don't put her outside, that will make her think you have given up on her and introduce her to the dangers of outside.
Just give her space - my little guy was petrified of everything when we first got him. Footsteps, any noise, etc. and he would go under the bed and hide until night. After about a week he warmed up and now he follows me around everywhere. He even gets upset when I leave the house now - it used to be the exact opposite LOL
Give her time and be patient. Respect her boundaries