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kellinatorI've been seriously thinking about getting a cat for a while. Though I'd been very taken with some kittens, after doing some research, I felt an adult cat that didn't mind being alone during the day would be the best bet, since I only had room for one. I looked at the listings on petfinder.com and found this cat named Heidi whose description sounded perfect for me, and whose picture I though was just really extraordinarily precious. Look at those eyes!
I met up with Heidi and her foster mom Wednesday night at a Petsmart. The foster mom had warned me that Heidi was shy and might not respond so much at first. Heidi was pregnant when the rescue people got her about two and a half years ago. Her kittens all got adopted, but she's been in foster care ever since. She's never had much space or a person of her own. The foster mom was talking about how Heidi and cats like her that aren't spectacular get overlooked in rescue work, and I'm sitting there petting this little cat that isn't responding to me at all and thinking, man, I'd kind of like a gorgeous kitty with a great personality.
But there she was. And I couldn't just leave her there. I know what it's like to be overlooked for being plain. The foster mom convinced me to take her home for a couple of weeks and see how it went. A hundred-dollar adoption fee and another hundred bucks of supplies later, I was on my way down 85, wondering exactly what the hell I had just gotten myself into.
Once I got Heidi inside, she immediately started looking for places to hide. In fact, she hid so well that I couldn't find her. I waited, and after a little while she came out, and I noticed all over again how cute she was. She let me comb her, and after a couple of hours she was comfortable enough to plop over and let me rub her belly. Foster mom was very impressed when I informed her over email.
So far, it's slow going. Heidi's really very timid -- loud noises startle her and send her running, and right now, everything seems to be a loud noise. I suspect she forgets who I am every time I leave the house. She did okay when she met my landlady yesterday, but is terrified by the barking of her dog (never mind that the dog is a Jack Russell not much bigger than her, Heidi doesn't know that). She's shown no interest in treats (I suppose I'll try tuna next) and very little in food. She's not shown much interest in most of her toys, but she played enthusiastically with the fishing pole with feathers last night. She REALLY likes catnip. She hid her catnip hedgehog the first night and I haven't seen it since. I think catnip is behind her weird running-across-the-apartment fits. Great. I have a stoner kitty.
But despite all my worrying, this morning I was woken not by the usual obnoxious alarm clock, but a soft nuzzle on the back of my neck. I think Heidi and I might do okay after all.
In the meantime, does anyone who's adopted a shy adult cat have any advice for me?
I met up with Heidi and her foster mom Wednesday night at a Petsmart. The foster mom had warned me that Heidi was shy and might not respond so much at first. Heidi was pregnant when the rescue people got her about two and a half years ago. Her kittens all got adopted, but she's been in foster care ever since. She's never had much space or a person of her own. The foster mom was talking about how Heidi and cats like her that aren't spectacular get overlooked in rescue work, and I'm sitting there petting this little cat that isn't responding to me at all and thinking, man, I'd kind of like a gorgeous kitty with a great personality.
But there she was. And I couldn't just leave her there. I know what it's like to be overlooked for being plain. The foster mom convinced me to take her home for a couple of weeks and see how it went. A hundred-dollar adoption fee and another hundred bucks of supplies later, I was on my way down 85, wondering exactly what the hell I had just gotten myself into.
Once I got Heidi inside, she immediately started looking for places to hide. In fact, she hid so well that I couldn't find her. I waited, and after a little while she came out, and I noticed all over again how cute she was. She let me comb her, and after a couple of hours she was comfortable enough to plop over and let me rub her belly. Foster mom was very impressed when I informed her over email.
So far, it's slow going. Heidi's really very timid -- loud noises startle her and send her running, and right now, everything seems to be a loud noise. I suspect she forgets who I am every time I leave the house. She did okay when she met my landlady yesterday, but is terrified by the barking of her dog (never mind that the dog is a Jack Russell not much bigger than her, Heidi doesn't know that). She's shown no interest in treats (I suppose I'll try tuna next) and very little in food. She's not shown much interest in most of her toys, but she played enthusiastically with the fishing pole with feathers last night. She REALLY likes catnip. She hid her catnip hedgehog the first night and I haven't seen it since. I think catnip is behind her weird running-across-the-apartment fits. Great. I have a stoner kitty.
But despite all my worrying, this morning I was woken not by the usual obnoxious alarm clock, but a soft nuzzle on the back of my neck. I think Heidi and I might do okay after all.
In the meantime, does anyone who's adopted a shy adult cat have any advice for me?
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Date: 2005-09-16 08:32 pm (UTC)i don't know much about her history other than her medical history. my guess is that she'd been abused and then abandoned. the fact that it took her so long to come to trust me kind of made me think that, and when i realized that, at first, she hated to be confined (including laps), that brought it home.
she was an adult when she chose me, but a young one. basically, what i learned from her is to always follow her lead, but to occasionally challenge her when she feels safe. i followed her lead when i let her in the house--she had clearly indicated to me that she wanted to go inside when i did, so i let her, and i didn't back down when she got nervous after the outer door closed.
that was about seven years ago, and over that time i've slowly increased her socialization. she is a total lap whore now, and i can even pick her up from the ground and hold her, though she is often uncomfortable with that. she loves to sleep cuddled in my arms like a teddy bear. but i understand that i'm the only one she trusts, and most of the time she still hides when to rare visitor appears in her territory.
she's not an only cat, and at the time she chose me, my ex and i had a dog. oddly, she was okay with the dog--but she always has had problems with men.
good luck! just give her space, follow her lead, and give her praise and love. she will respond to it.