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Question
hi. about 2 weeks ago, I brought home an 8 week old feral kitten that i found at work. it took a couple of days to like being held, but she has come around aand actually walks up to us when we leave her alone in the bathroom. the problem is, after getting her used to us, and the other cats, she runs and hides whenever we let her out of the bathroom. we then have to look for her and she will no longer come to us, she just runs away when we approach. she seems to be extremely shy/ fearful. we could probably get use to her avoiding us if she used the litterbox, but she only does this when in the bathroom. I'm beginning to wonder, if i should just have her spayed and release her where i found her. any ideas?
p.s. she purrs like crazy and seems super affection when we hold her in the bathroom, but she just wants to run away when left out of the bathroom.
Beth,
This little one may just be anxious in her new environment, particularly since she's had limited time/opportunity to explore at this stage in the game. It's been my experience that if you break things down for her by allowing her to check out small portions of the house at a time - say with newer baby gates that she can't walk through or easily jump over she'll have a chance to gradually get more confident with larger amounts of space. The other thing that you can do for her is to try out a homeopathic remedy called Bach's Rescue Remedy which is a blend of 5 flower essences designed to calm and reassure. Gently rubbing a couple of drops - maybe one or two into the outside of each ear flap a couple of times a day may also help to alleviate any distress she's feeling. Ultimately I think she's absolutely fine, she just needs some time and space to explore, some patient TLC and maybe a few installments of homeopathic remedies to help her cope with the anxiety she's been showing when confronted with a different larger environment. If you have any further cat related questions or concerns I'd be more than happy to help so please don't hesitate to contact me at any time.
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Answers by Expert:
Ali
Expertise
I am the proud guardian of 5 mixed breed cats ranging from 12 weeks to 13 years old and one purebred ragdoll. I have 20+ years experience working with mixed breed cats from a variety of different situations. I have fostered cats/kittens with special needs/behavioral issues. I have rescued/rehabilitated/re-homed a variety of stray/abused cats. I can offer advice on managing feral cat colonies, rehabilitating strays and finding them forever homes. I can help you to determine whether a cat is stray or feral, there IS a significant difference. Improperly introducing a new cat/kitten can result in aggression between newly introduced cats because cats are territorial by nature and they don't like sudden changes in their environment. To learn more about a peaceful way to introduce a new cat into a home with other cats please check out my previous answers on this subject. Proper nutrition for cats can be confusing, I recommend checking out catinfo.org which was created by a veterinarian (Dr. Lisa Pierson) who takes a common sense approach to explaining feline nutrition. Cat behavior and instincts are different from those of humans, I can help you understand your cat's needs so that you can meet them adequately and have a balanced, psychologically and physically sound kitty. Cats vary in personality, energy level and intelligence, different approaches may be required to achieve results in terms of training and interaction with your feline companion. An intelligent, high energy cat must be kept busy or they will make their own fun. I am NOT a licensed veterinarian and I can't offer medical advice. If your cat is ill/injured my advice is always the same: get prompt medical treatment provided by a veterinarian. If finances are an issue I will try to find resources in your area that can help with medical costs or make other choices to ensure the welfare of your cat.
Experience
I have fostered feral and stray cats, rehabilitated and homed cats that many people recommended euthanasia for. I am willing to make an effort to do the research and ask questions because I care enough to find solutions to behavioral problems rather than giving up. I have an interest in the use of alternative therapies to help provide the best possible care for all cats and I can say in all honesty that I've seen some incredible things happen for some incredible cats and their human caregivers when the right alternative therapeutic modality is used by a qualified veterinarian with expertise and experience in the field.
Education/Credentials
I've earned my diploma as a veterinary assistant with honors.
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