Expert: Karen Craft - 6/12/2009

Question
I acquired a rescued cat from Katrina from my Vet in May 2008. He is a really good cat, and does not get on furniture or mess anything up and I could not ask for a better kitty. He eats very well and he has picked up weight, he will play with toys and he gets along really well with my other 8 yr old male cat-It is just the 2 of them- He is 5 years old this year.  My problem is , I cannot touch him at all. He watches me and the other cat interact and he might smell my hand at his choosing, but if I get too close he will hiss and run away from me.  I would love to be able to pick him up and pet him and groom him and just show him that I care. It has been 13 months, do you think he will ever come around ? I cannot even take him to the Vet for fear of traumatizing him trying to catch him to put in the carrier. HELP!!!

Answer
Hi Sherry,

This cat has been traumatized by what he went through. He also may have been a semi feral cat before Katrina. This is actually a good time for you to try to gentle him. It will take a little time and patience on your part to do. And you may not get 100% acceptance from him but you will get a cat that will come to you a bit better. I have two that have taken me quite a while before they would let me pet them, (2 years for 1). One of them still won't let me pick her up and hardly ever let's me touch her. But when she does it is something special.

You need to find what is his most favorite treat. I use roasted chicken. Take a small piece of chicken and call his name and just toss the chicken his way. When he starts coming for this treat readily you start to move the drop closer to you. You want to have him eventually take the chicken from you. This is going to require lots of time and patience. Once you have him eating next to you you can try to stroke him. He may run away from you but keep up with the treats and he will eventually stay. You will need to coax him to the chair next by putting the treats on the arms. Then the next step will be your lap. This will be the tricky part. He may not go that far. And he most likely won't let you pick him up. But consider every thing else as a bonus from what you have now.

You cannot be afraid to get him and place him in a carrier for a trip to the vet. The one that won't let me touch her is a chore to capture but it is something that has to be done. And the funny thing is once she gets to the vet she is completely calm there. I guess it is because it is so strange there that she automatically stays next to the thing she knows is familiar,...me. When she gets back home I let her go and she hides for the day but the next day is fine. Catching her is a pain. I try to herd her into the bathroom where she can't hide. Then I grab her with a blanket or towel. She then gets put in the case. She howls in the case but quiets down a little when I talk to her gently. You most likely will face the same with yours. It's not easy but it needs to be done.

Like I said in the beginning, it is not easy but you can gentle him a bit. Who knows, he may really respond positively to your actions and become the cat you want him to be. And if he doesn't, you still have the satisfaction of knowing that you did a great thing by taking him in and giving him a wonderful home. Good luck.

Ciao, Karen