Reptile & Amphibian Forums

My girlfriend and I got a kitten a few months ago that's not adapting well at all. She doesn't play, barely eats, hides CONSTANTLY, usually hisses when we approach her and when we actually do get her to sit near us she just curls up into a defensive ball and won't move unless she's running to hide again. She's not really aggressive as she gets along well with the other cat and, when we can find her, she'll sometimes sit cooperatively in our laps, but only after she hisses at us when we try to pick her up. We figured this would subside however it's been some time now and she's not changed. We've employed several tactics that we found online but nothing seems to work, and it's gotten to the point where we're making one last attempt to do something before giving her up. I realize that probably sounds heartless but the truth is we're not going to spend the time/money/resources on a cat who is always hiding and hissing at us as it's pointless to us to do so. She's about 2 1/2 - 3 months old and adorable but we just can't figure out what her deal is. I also know the woman who raised her after birth so I doubt any of her current issues stem back to any previous abuse.

If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it. I've looked at other topics here and other places on the internet but none of them seem to address a kitten this young being so extremely skittish. For what it's worth we're also taking her to the vet next week to look at her but we doubt any of her behavior problems are due to any physical issue.

Thanks ahead of time.

How old was the kitten when you got it? 2 1/2 to 3 months seems a bit young for a kitten to be taken from its mother.
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Chessie and Casey Jones relaxing together.

Hi There,

I don't think this kitten is misbehaving, it sounds more like she is frightened, much like a feral kitten. I realize that she was raised in someone's home, but when she was very young she probably wasn't handled enough. This combined with the fact that she is without her littermates and mother at a very young age has made it difficult for her to adjust.

If you are not willing to take the time, or have the patience, giving up the kitten might be best. Even feral cats can come around, but it takes sometimes years of patience and this kitten may never be the kind of cat that you want to have. She gets along with the other cat simply because she is more comfortable with another cat than with humans. Some cats are people-oriented, others are cat-oriented. My feral cat that I have had for 12 years now rarely gets into my lap, does not always let me pet her, but just loves the other cats in the family.

Hope this has been helpful.....

Regards,
PHKitkat

Hello, I have worked with feral cats and cats that were given up due to behavioral problems, as well as raised feral kittens ( ie bottle feeding and extensive hadling from a young age). I agree with another poster that your cat seems to have been born to a feral mother, or to a very abused/human mistrusting mother. HEr reactions are fear based, and by seeking her out, you are actually reenforcing her fear. The best course of action is to recondition her to feel that human contact is a positive occurrence. This is easier said than done, because regin feline trust is much harder than other pets. Domestic cats have a very physical and scent oriented language, so interspecies communication can be difficult. As the cat is still young, there are more options for positive feedback. Food, in moderation, can be used as a motivator/reward. I prefer to use freeze-dried fish flakes, as they have a strong scent, and are a healthy alternative to most commercial cat treats, and can be found at most Petco or Petsmart locations.

What I would suggest is sitting with your cat, not making eye contact or looking directly at her and using soft, soothing tones, repeating her/his name. Reward the cat, even if it just stays put, even if it is in a hiding place, like under the bed. Place the treats close to the cat at first, then closer to you as the cat becomes more adjusted and comfortable. This is the first step, in many, towards making your cat feel safe and loved in the presence of humans.
I would also like to remind that higher pitched, louder tones are aggressive tones in feline language, so remember, always use soft, lower tones with your cat, even when praising.
Hope this is helpful, and if you have anyother questions/concerns, i would love to help you and your kitty bond!

I also have worked and tamed many feral cats. First thing is that if you have had her for a month or more and she is 2 1/2 3 months old...she was way to young to be taken away from her Mother and siblings. Secondly between 7 weeks and 12 weeks is the prime time to socialize kittens. This is when they do most of their learning. Instead of chasing the kit around and peering at her, I agree with the other poster...you need to step it back a notch. To socialize my ferals, I keep them in a small room like a bathroom. I go in the room frequently with treats and a book. I then sit on the floor and read the book out loud and if the cat comes near me, it gets a treat...without me even looking directly at it. This gets the cat used to my presence and my voice and as I am sitting on the floor, I don't look quiet as big and scarey. When cats stare at each other, it is perceived as a threat and mother cats rarely pick up kits so those two things are terrifying for a kitten. That is why if you have a roomful of people and all love cats but one, the cat will go to that one. All the others are looking at the cat and trying to get it to come but one is refusing to look at it, therefore that person is not threatening to the kitty. If you don't have time to work with this kit, then it is imperative that you rehome her as soon as possible to someone who does. The longer it takes to tame her the harder it will be.
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Onyx,Tabitha and Samantha..always in our hearts & together again//Fly free Penny 12/12/07
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