Dear God ... What Have I Done????

[smokey the elder]

I got Mouse at 3 months. She was a totally wild kitten. I put her in my "kitten room" where there is no place I can't get to her. I would pick her up with gloves on, then hold her close to me so she could hear my heart. Then I'd start petting her. After 2 days she would let me hold her and didn't scratch. I think I was successful since she was very young. Anyway, with kittens it may be useful to "force" the issue a little bit.

After a month Mouse got a new home and was a totally mellow purring mush.

Good luck!

[Cataholic]

Kim,
I really hope you hang in there. I adopted a semi feral cat Minnie in July. She stayed in my basement, hiding. I never saw her, unless I went hunting for her. I would have welcomed her upstairs, but, she absolutely would not come anywhere near me. Like you, it was ME that she was terrified of, not the other five cats. Would you believe it wasn't until OCTOBER that she finally came upstairs, and now hides 100% of the time under my bed? While it is frustrating for me to move so slowly, it is HUGE progress. Minnie is at least 1.5 years old. She was part of a trap/spay/release program. The group decided she wasn't feral 'enough' for the environment, so, to my house she came. The first time Minnie leaned into my hand to be petted, I cried. The first time she played with a toy while under the bed, I cried.

Just the other day I decided to close the other cats out, and keep minnie and I in the room togehter at night. I moved up a litter box (yes, into my bedroom), and of course she has food, under the bed. I have yet to see Minnie in anything but a crouched position. I lay on the floor and pet her, and talk to her. She normally always lets me do it, though she could scoot away from me. I put a pile of catnip under there, as well as some treats, and some toys. When I came back from work, they were all gone!!! So, progress is being made, slowly- but it is so rewarding.

Please hang in there!!!!!!

[ownerof3dogs]

Originally posted by Lillycat
that is just the sweetest story with the most wonderful ending...a forever home for hooligan.....just love that name....will we see any pictures of hooligan?

Yay of course. I am trying to get a picture but my camera doesn't take pictures very well in the house(no flash) so all the pictures are coming out black I also want to post a new thread about Hooligan when I get a picture. So I am tryng.

Thanks for the nice comment. He really his the best cat I have ever known!!!!!!!!

[AmberLee]

How heart warming! And I hope it's inspiring for Kim. She's got to be down right now. Ferals can be so difficult to develop trust for humans in (sadly, for good reason sometimes. ).