Help - new kitten not allowing anyone near her

[mmary]

We got a 5 month old kitten about 2 weeks ago. So far she doesn't let anyone near her. No one has been able to get close enough to pet her or pick her up. She hides most of the day under a bed, comes out in the morning and evening. I've been able to get her to take treats from my hand but as soon as she gets it she backs away. She hasn't meowed in days, and when my kids came home last weekend, she hissed at them and also me. I understand she may be frightened and stressed but how long will it take for her to let us near her? She is scratching everything and I can't cut her nails or take her to the vet because I can't get hear enough to grab her or pick her up!

[Karen]

Awww, where did you get her from? Does someone sit quietly in the room with her every day, just to get her more comfortable with humans? Maybe read aloud to her, just whatever you happen to be reading for yourself ... every cat takes its own amount of time, so I can say thank you for not giving up, sooner or later she will realize people are okay!

[mmary]

Awww, where did you get her from? Does someone sit quietly in the room with her every day, just to get her more comfortable with humans? Maybe read aloud to her, just whatever you happen to be reading for yourself ... every cat takes its own amount of time, so I can say thank you for not giving up, sooner or later she will realize people are okay!

She was a rescue and we got her from a foster home. She seemed fine when we went to the adoption. I've tried sitting in the room and talking to her/reading. She was kept in a small bedroom made into a cat room, there were other foster cats but she kept to herself. We have slowly given her full run of the house which is much bigger than where she came from. some days it seems like we are making progress but other days, not so much.

[Karen]

She was a rescue and we got her from a foster home. She seemed fine when we went to the adoption. I've tried sitting in the room and talking to her/reading. She was kept in a small bedroom made into a cat room, there were other foster cats but she kept to herself. We have slowly given her full run of the house which is much bigger than where she came from. some days it seems like we are making progress but other days, not so much.

Aww, treasure the good days, and ignore the bad ones, it is all a whole new world for her, and she is smart to be cautious, even if she's so cute you just want to pick her up and snuggle her close!

[Freedom]

She is used to relying on the other cats for information as to safety. Now she has to sort it all out for herself.

I would say, you have allowed her too much area too soon. Do you have a room you can confine her in -- one with no bed for her to hide out of reach? You want to be able to go in and visit with her, not have her out of sight. That would be the best option.

If not, then work out something where she has limited area. When you are with her, use one of those cat toys on a string, dangle and drag it across the floor for her to play. Get her mind OFF 'da big human in da room' and on fun. She will start to associate you with fun. Try to play with her multiple times daily.

Remember to remove the toy when no one is available to supervise. Those toys are hazardous to cats, and should not be left out where the cat can get to it.

Let her have a catnip mouse in the room she is in.

You need to work on building up her feelings of confidence and safety.


I also suggest you communicate with the foster parent or, if you have no way to reach them directly, then the rescue.

Hope this helps!

[mmary]

Thanks, we'll give that a try. Now we have a new issue. The past 2 days she has pooped on the carpet and the couch. She did it right in front of my husband this morning. Started scratching the carpet, and then she went! She knows where the litter box is, and has been using it. It's cleaned daily...ugggggg.