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Question
I recently adopted a 2 year old. She hide in my apartment when I am home. This has been going on for a week now. Is this normal?. Will she overcome her fear?
John,
Your cat is going through the trauma of being in a new territory with new people, new food, and the like. It takes some cats quite a bit of time to get over this. It is not that she hates you, she is just being wary.
Things go better if her approaching you is her idea to be done in her own time. So you leave down her food, change her litter pan, and otherwise ignore her. Make pretend she is not even there. Do not approach her! Do not try to pick her up!
Wait for her to make the first move. If she asks to be petted, slowly reach to pet her. Make sure everything is her idea!
In time she should warm up to you. It may take a few more days or many weeks. Without knowing her history and life experiences, you do not know if she has been abused by people in the past, so you really need lots of patience.
One other hint. Do not look directly into her eyes. Instead, if you must look at her, blink your eyes repeatedly, this is a sign that you are submitting to the cat, so she thinks she is in charge.
Please let me know if you have further questions and how it all works out.
Best regards... Norm
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Answers by Expert:
Norman Auspitz
Expertise
I can answer most non-veterinary questions about cats. My particular expertise is pedigree cats, breeding and showing. However, I am versed in feline behavior, cat breeds and their characteristics, general feline husbandry, and the like.
Experience
I judged for the Canadian Cat Association from 1975 until 1982. I am currently an approved allbreed judge for the Cat Fanciers'' Association (the world''s largets cat registry), and have been judging for them since 1991. I have been breeding pedigreed cats since 1971 and have been exhibiting pedigreed cats in shows since 1970. I obtained my first pedigreed cat in 1970 and have never looked back. In 1971, I obtained my first Abyssinian which has become my primary breed. In addition, I have bred Manx and Persians. Currently, besides the Abyssinians, I am also breeding Maine Coons.
Organizations
Cat Fanciers'' Association, inc. (CFA) and the Manx, Maine Coon, and Abyssinian breed councils. I am currently Abyssinian breed council secretary.
Publications
Cat Fancy Magazine, The Abyssinian Chapter in The Cat Fanciers'' Association Complete Cat Book, and Articles for various editions of The Cat Fanciers'' Association Yearbook
Education/Credentials
I received a B.S. from Drexel University in 1968, a M.Math from University of Waterloo, in 1970, a Ph.D. from University of Waterloo in 1975, and a MBA from McMaster University in 1980. I received my approved allbreed judging status in the Cat Fanciers'' Association in 1999.
Awards and Honors
We have produced a number of Cat Fanciers'' Association (CFA) National winning Abyssinian and Maine Coons. We have produced a number of Abyssinian and Maine Coon Distinguished Merit females (an award for a top producing cat), including the first Distinguished Merit Abyssinian in the red (sorrel) color. I am the CFA Abyssinian breed council secretary and belong and/or hold office in a number of cat clubs. I am also a member of the CFA Judges Association.
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