PLEASE help cat adoption issue!!

[Mycatownsme]

I just adopted a 4 month old kitten from the animal shelter on tuesday. She seemed really sweet and friendly....but a bit jumpy. I have been trying to work with her but she is still running from me and has SERIOUS trust issues I mean we are talking one mintue loving on me and then running and hiding. I have been working with treats and getting her to associate me with good! Tonight I was attempting to brush her and she was purring and loving it when she turned arround, raised her paw and BIT my face (actually drawing blood). I am VERY concerned! This is not first cat but I have no Idea what to do as I have never had or worked with a skiddish cat!!

[kb2yjx]

Yes, biting your face is SERIOUS, I hope if it was bad enough that you sought out medical help. Patience is the cornerstone to developing a relationship with a cat. The cat has to settle in HER time frame, unfortunately, not yours. Is the kitten spayed? Has she seen the vet and got the OK and needed vaccines? Are there other cat/animals in the house? Try just sitting in the same room where the kitten is, let her be the one to make the first move....Good luck!!! Keep us posted on what happens...Sandra

[Freedom]

It sounds like this kitten may have been a feral born. She had not adapted to humans just yet. So she needs time.

Such a kitten can't be treated as if she were born and raised in a family home. She needs time to adjust and as said in another post, she will adjust as HER pace, not yours.

Keep your petting / brushing to a minimum. Three strokes is usually OK, then STOP. You want her to start associating the petting with the nice pelasant experience, NOT with the overstimulated feeling that she has to lash out.

Keep her nails clipped. When I've had kittens, I found as least once per week, sometimes a bit more often. This will limit the amount of damage she can do with her claws. Nature looks out for these little ones. Their primary defense is clawing, so their claws grow fast and sharp.

You can't really do much about sharp baby teeth :D so try not to snuggle too close to her for a few months while she adapts.

Try playing with her with a toy, again stopping before she becomes over excited. Or let go and let her do her natural attacks on the toy, NOT you.

Hope all this helps. Kittens are lots of fun, you just need to view things from her perspective!

[Mycatownsme]

I thank go didnt need any medical attention.
The thing that confuses me is that she seem to really enjoy being petted. she will give you head bumps and all. But its like something in her snaps and she feels threatened. Also I have NEVER had a cat Hiss at me before.....Is this something she will grow out of or am I in for it with this one?

[jennielynn1970]

All cats are different. You never know what her back ground may have been, what people before you exposed her to. A cat hissing is one that is letting you know that for right now, they need you to back off. It's not a sign that it's a bad or untrainable cat. She's new. She's in an unfamiliar environment. Try putting her in one room. Make that room her safe zone. Keep her there for a while, not just a few days. Let her know that this is her place of refuge and she will never be hurt there. When she feels comfy with that, let her investigate a little further. Cats like to have some boundaries, they like to know that they are in a safety zone.

I agree about the brushing. She's getting over stimulated and doesn't know how to deal with it. Just brush softly 3 times and wait. Try massage as well. use one hand, since she's a baby, and very gently massage up and down the spine area. It is super relaxing for them. They will feel safe and secure, and with time and patience, she should become a good companion!

[KitCat]

When I first got Cocoa Kitty he had been out on his own for quite a while and he would sometimes bite. I would move him off the bed or lap or if he was very aggressive put him in a time out in the room where his litter box was. A few times he looked so mad I had to approach him from the back to pick him up because I was afraid he would hurt me and he did bite pretty hard a few times. Big pupils or a twitching tail means the kitty is getting towards the end of his attention span, so you should stop giving the cat attention.

It's a bit of work, but it should result in a well behaved cat. Now, Cocoa Kitty is gentle and loving and he has been so well trained that he will lick instead of bit or occasionally snap like he's going to bite (pretends). He really has gained my trust enough I will let him touch noses with me or rub his face next to mine.

[moosmom]

Cats are creatures of habit and don't like change. Over-stimulation sounds like the issue. Body language is a good thing to pay attention to. If her ears start to go flat while you're petting/brushing her, (we refer to them as "airplane ears), that's a sign of over-stimulation. Stop and let her be. She getting used to a new environment and being loved, two things that are very foreign to her. Let her come to you. It may take some time, but she'll come around. Just be patient. Have treats on hand. Sit down on the floor with her and toss them to her. See how fast you two will bond.

If scratching or biting is STILL an issue, keep a squirt bottle on hand.