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Help with Very Timid Kitty
- Help with Very Timid Kitty
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Help with Very Timid Kitty
Avasmom > 10-26-2020, 01:01 AM
Sorry this is kind of long. Ava is still very timid as far as exploring the whole house goes. I kept her in my bedroom/bathroom the first couple of days, where she hid first in a tent-like bed, then mostly under the bed. So, I left her alone a couple of hours at a time (but checking in every 20 mins or so), then having some play time and cuddle time. She's eating/drinking fine, using litter box, purrs a lot when petted. She started to sleep on the bottom shelf of my nightstand (her choice), but is now usually under the bed.
On the 3rd and 4th days, I brought her downstairs a couple of times for some play time but she gets a little itchy and tries to hide after a short while. She finally found her way back upstairs but first went to the spare bedroom, under that bed and started crying, feeling lost I guess. As soon as I went up and she saw me, out she came and we went back to my room - her safe place.
I'm leaving the bedroom door open when we get up in the morning. Two days ago it took her 4 hours to come out and venture downstairs - I think she heard me on the phone - but she didn't stay too long, maybe 20-30 mins. Yesterday, she never came down on her own (although I went up several times to play with her) so I brought her down that night as I settled in to watch some tv. She was better, still a bit timid, but wandered around mostly in the den where I was for quite a while. She also spent about an hour lying/dozing on my lap, then moved beside me on the couch. She stayed there even when I went to make some tea and later explored a little more, looking out the blinds from the back of the couch, batting the remote onto the floor. It was maybe about 4 hours she stayed downstairs before we went upstairs for the night. So I thought some progress was made. But today again, she would not come down on her own. I brought her down late in the morning but she only stayed about an hour then went back upstairs. She does love to be petted and every time I go into the bedroom when she's there, out she comes meowing and rolls over to be petted. She's really a love.
I'm looking for ideas on how to get her more comfortable throughout the house. Should I just keep carrying her downstairs a couple of times a day and hope she starts to stay longer? Her food/water is upstairs and I've been wondering if I removed that down to the kitchen would she start to come downstairs looking for it? (I won't let her go hungry, of course) I have a litter box in both the upstairs and downstairs bathrooms and she has used both, so that's not an issue. And she doesn't shy away from petting or touching her at all. I'm trying not to force things as I want her to remain comfortable with me, which she is, and eventually, hopefully, with anyone else who might come into the house. My son/his girlfriend are planning to visit for a day in a week or two and I'm pretty sure Ava will be nowhere to be found willingly.
Any suggestions you might have are appreciated. -
RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
MUM_of_FLUFFY > 10-26-2020, 01:59 AM
Oh Ava's Mom I really feel for you!!! I'm so glad you felt comfortable posting in detail what is happening with Ava. Please know I went through a long process getting Fluffy to feel safe and it was totally worth the wait. It sounds like Ava is doing really well in the sense that she is having playtime and cuddle time willingly.
You said she purrs a lot when petted so that's a great sign
I think the whole house is probably a bit too much for her at this time. Could you try keeping her upstairs for now? You said your room is her "safe place" so maybe let her stay in her safe place and explore downstairs when she's ready...
She is GORGEOUS by the way!!! I noticed she is sitting in front of the computer in one of the photos. This is going to sound like "crazy cat lady" stuff but it worked for me and Fluffy. I wanted to show Fluffy humans were loving and trustworthy so I played cat videos like these to him everyday. It really helped settle him...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PgxWqvwjFkU
I think you and Ava are doing great!!! Please keep us updated... -
RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
Avasmom > 10-26-2020, 08:54 AM
Thank you, Mum_of_Fluffy. It's encouraging to see that you had a similar experience with your cat taking a while to become comfortable. Having had 2 dogs over the last 20 years who loved everyone they met, I was hoping for a similar experience with the ragdoll breed. Although I know each one is unique.
I had had 3 cats at one time, before and during the time I had the dogs - one was a stray I let in off the street as it got cold, one was her kitten (oops), and another was a feral kitten I later rescued before a trapper came onto the campus where I worked. No one ever saw the stray's kitten or the feral kitten except me and my son because they would just hide if anyone else were here but were out and about the house otherwise. The original stray was an indoor/outdoor cat who had been fed by a couple of neighbors before I took her in so she was more friendly. She spent more and more time indoors as time went on but followed me on my walks with the dogs.
But yes, Ava can stay upstairs as long as she wants/needs and I'll continue to "visit" her for play time and cuddles. I'm hoping maybe she'll start to miss me and come looking for me when I go back downstairs. I might even try your video suggestion. -
RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
MUM_of_FLUFFY > 10-26-2020, 08:20 PM
I have every confidence that the day will come when Ava will be owning the whole house!!!
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RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
Codysmom > 10-27-2020, 01:20 AM
Your little girl is absolutely gorgeous, and I agree with Fluffys mum, slow and small steps are always better. I'm sure she'll be fine, and once she settles in, will soon take over the house.
With all my Raggies, I've done very slow introductions, keeping them in one room even for some time, they've all been fine and in a short while settled in really well.
They give me purrmission to live with them, so long as the food, water, play time, tummy rubs etc. etc. are done, they seem pretty satisfied with my service. LOL
I'm hoping to get my new baby in about a month and will be doing the same with him too. x -
Update
Avasmom > 11-05-2020, 12:39 AM
It took maybe 5-6 days for Ava to start coming downstairs on her own. I carried her down from the bedroom those first few days a couple of times each day and she would stay anywhere from 15-20 mins to maybe an hour or two. Then she would retreat back upstairs. She now follows me everywhere.
She'll still show her timid nature from time to time as when I held her up to a window, then opened the door (there's a glass storm door) to watch the snowfall we had last week. She was very scared, trying to jump out of my arms. So each new situation is a little uncomfortable for her, but I'm hoping with age these will be less so.
She's really a sweet kitty and had her first wellness visit with my Vet this week. We still can't go into our vet's office; a tech comes out to get the pets, and the vet will then call us while we wait outside in our cars. She found her to be a beautiful, healthy kitten. -
RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
MUM_of_FLUFFY > 11-05-2020, 02:16 AM
It's so cute that she follows you everywhere now!!!
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RE: Help with Very Timid Kitty
Codysmom > 11-05-2020, 01:43 PM
She sounds like such a little sweetie-pie, I'm sure she'll only grow in confidence (and sweetness) as she settles in better.
Please do post pics of her, we'd love to see her growing and changing.