Update on my new cat

The cat I was hoping to adopt wasn't available, so I picked Wildfire, a four-month-old female who, I find, is appropriately named.

She is very, very skittish, so no pictures yet. I brought her home yesterday afternoon and transferred her from the carrier to a comfy bed I had prepared for her.

She immediately, literally in the blink of an eye, shot off to hide in another part of the house... a part I wasn't able to discover until a couple of hours ago.

Her history isn't a happy one, so I'm guessing it is going to take time for her to trust me, or from what the staff at the Humane Society said, to trust or socialize with anyone. Her siblings were much friendlier but I decided on Wildifre as the kitty that was most in need of a permanent home.

Pictures will come when Wildfire decides to grace me with her calmer self.

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Ontheroad · M

Update: Night 2... she continues to hide in different places, but as advised by @OogieBoogie, I stayed calm and patient with her, and by offering her food and treats and talking to her, I finally got her to eat.

I didn't see her eat, but the bowl was empty this morning, the treats were gone and now she has found another hideaway.

One step at a time.

OogieBoogie · F

@Ontheroad that's great!!!
At least you know she's not so stressed out that she's refusing to eat.

I hope she shits in the right place for you ....that one is gonna be tough as you can't place her in there to go to the toilet .

But that's good news
Do you know if she's drinking ?

LordShadowfire · 46-50, M

@Ontheroad It's okay. Sooner or later, she'll realize it's silly to hide from the human who consistently brings her food. Just be patient.

Ontheroad · M

@OogieBoogie Not a lot, but the water bowl had a few floaties (bits of food) in it, so yes, she is drinking.

This is a little crazy... I'm more stressed/worrisome about this little one than I ever thought I would be.

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Ontheroad · M

@OogieBoogie It's stress and worries in the sense I'm worried about her... now that she is beginning to eat, it's all good. That was my main concern... I'm totally comfortable with all else.

But yes, I get what you mean by being so stressed it shows in actions, tone of voice, etc.

She just let me get within a couple of feet of her hiding spot and didn't even flinch... she just sat there watching me open a new can of food and put it in her bowl.

So that's progress and I'm thinking we have turned a corner... she is eating!

OogieBoogie · F

@Ontheroad wow...really ?
She didn't run?

Oh that's awesome ! That's so good.

You're doing great , you really are 🤗

Ontheroad · M

@OogieBoogie Yep, she just watched what I was doing and didn't move a muscle.

I wanted to reach out and touch her, but I knew it was way too soon for that.

I swear, I'm acting like a kid on Christmas morning! I can't wait for us to be buds! 😂

OogieBoogie · F

@Ontheroad 😂🤣.
Ah, every bit of that patience you have os going to pay off leaving her to make tje first move.
Trust is hard to earn , but so easy to break .
It's SO gonna be worth it .