Will Feliway help with a scared, traumatized cat?

[csziggy]

I wrote yesterday that we have adopted a kitty, Sabra, that has been badly traumatized. I'm not sure exactly what happened to her. According to the Humane Society page, she was found in a wheel well as a kitten, raised by a Humane Society foster, then adopted. Her adoptive family returned her by dumping her at the door of the Humane Society without explaining why they were returning her or what had happened.

I adopted her from the cat cafe that works in conjunction with the local Humane Society - they have a cafe room, then a cat room so people can interact with the cats. Sabra (then called Vera Bradley) never interacted with anyone. She hid under the lowest piece of furniture where one of the young adult cats would comfort her.

We brought her home and released her in our master bedroom suite. The original plan was to let Sabra have it and Maya, who is shy with strangers, but relaxed around us, have the rest of the house. Unfortunately, some of the work to finish the house started the next morning so both cats spent from Tuesday morning until Friday afternoon cooped up in the bedroom together. At night Sabra would come out from under the bed but we mostly didn't see her.

Yesterday when I went into the bathroom, she was in there eating. The other door was closed so I was between her and the exit. The poor kitty was terrified. I talked softly and moved out of her way so she could run out.

I am very concerned about how frightened she is and would like to ease her fears. I know Feliway is used with cats that are not getting along but their web page says it can help with cats that hide. Sabra is doing more than hiding, she seems frightened out of her wits.

I'm thinking of getting their diffuser - but our house is pretty big and they recommend using it in a 700 sq. ft. room - I wish I'd gotten it the first week when she and Maya were in the master by themselves! I have sprinkled catnip around where I thought she was hanging out, but don't know if she even noticed it - it did not look as though it had been disturbed, while the catnip around where Maya was definitely had a cat rolling in it.

I will call the vet and ask for recommendations. Even if we can't get Sabra to be friendly she has a home. But I don't want her to be terrified all the time. Maybe there is something we could feed her that would help - but both cats eat from the same dishes so Maya would also get some of it. Right now we do not know where Sabra is staying in the house. She is going back to the master bath where her food and litter box are - but Maya has access, too.

The other problem is that we need to take both cats in for checkups and vaccinations which will just increase the stress. I'll ask the vet if there is something that will help with that, too.

[XanaDUer2]

1. I don't know the answer but

Thank you for taking an older, scared cat into your home and helping her! You're a cat angel.

[csziggy]

8. Sabra is only a year and a half old!

But, yeah, people love to adopt kittens rather than grown cats.

I've got to say, the people at the cat cafe were very grateful we took her. Being in the cat cafe was not the best environment for a traumatized cat. Lots of people going in and out did not help her confidence.

[hlthe2b]

2. It won't hurt to try.

[irisblue]

3. Cannot hurt. I used, generic, till my senior cat Majik got over my 2 newbies

[WhiteTara]

4. give her all the space she needs.

She'll come around, at her pace.

I suggest that you get gabapentin about 2 hours before the appointment, it works wonders. You might try mixing it a LITTLE bit of the best food that she can't resist and boom in about an hour, she'll be snoozing. Mine slept all day afterward.

Sounds like the cats have met and you're a blended family now.

[Hoyt]

5. My buddy of 15 years didn't like being cornered or exposing

his tummy. But, he’d lie on my lap or beside me for hours.

I bet yours will be fine with a little time.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. It might, but it's not instantaneous; it takes a few weeks.

You can also get calming collars, https://petsumer.com/best-calming-collar-cats/ and Thundershirts for cats.

[csziggy]

9. I'm not sure I could get collars or harnesses on either cat

I tired to measure Maya for a harnes and couldn't even get the tape measure around her! Since I have not been able to get close to Sabra - well, have not been willing to force her to let me - a collar is not an option for her either.

[Karadeniz]

7. Sabra needs to be in the bathroom ONLY. No access to bedroom or closet. Ideally, the only place

She can hide is behind the toilet and it's dead easy to drag her from behind there. When you have her, cats adore a good scratching between the ears, top of the head....and the chin/throat. For the rest of her, use a comb or stiff brush. Get treats and break them down as small as you can with her still being able to smell one. Sitting on the floor, work on getting her to approach you for a treat. Most cats favorite treat is raw beef liver. It's disgusting to work with, but cut a bit up and use it as the lure. Don't free feed. Have your coming with food two or three times a day be a highlight of her day.

This will sound weird, but an insecure cats favorite place is a large dog cage, one big enough for a litter box...no hood... And water, food bowls, plus kitty. If the cage is on the floor, it's a pain to work with. I put mine on a card table. You can wrap the back of the cage with a sheet to keep litter off the floor.

I've rescued about 500 felines, most so young socialization wasn't an issue. I've had three who never really came around. I still have one of those...she loves being groomed but is terrified after all these years of the other cats!

All the best luck with Sabra!

[csziggy]

11. I think you are right!

I watched Jackson Galaxy's video about shy and scared cats and letting her hide under the bed is not good. He recommends blocking it off as well as other hiding spaces and giving the cat a cat cave in your choice of location. Here is his video:

I've checked out some cat caves on Amazon (don't know where to find them locally) and may order the one that looks like a paper sack:



If that is the only confined place in the bathroom for Sabra to hide, plus if I get Feliway for the room and for the bed, she may decide those are her safe spaces. Then I could move her safe space out into the rest of the house gradually. Plus, if that bed is her safe space, it would make it easier to take her to the vet. Though I may try it with the cat carrier we have already rather than buying a new carrier.

The closet works as an "airlock" since it is a pass through from the laundry/mudroom to the master bath. it doesn't have any hiding spaces, so if she gets in there, she can't hide from us.

So the problem for now is how to get her back in the bathroom since I have no idea where she is in the house. I've only seen her in the middle of the night. The other problem is that Maya, as with most cats, hates a closed door so we may need to leave the bedroom door ajar for her (bedroom has two doors, one to the bath, the other to the hall, so Sabra can still be restrained.

I've had cats for most of my adult life and while many have been rescues, none were mistreated. She is the most terrified cat I have ever had. When she is trapped in the bathroom with me, she cries and wails, she's so afraid. That makes me so sad for her.

I'll have to change the feeding habits for Maya, too. She's used to free choice dry food and eats a few crunchies every so often. Of course, since I give her limited canned food, she has learned to come when I call. Mostly I have used canned food to lure into the bedroom when we have workers here so we can be sure she does not get out.

Maya, who is two and a half, was upset about a new cat. Now I think she's adjusted, but I have not seen the two interact yet. Maya hid for the first week or so we had her, but she came out of her shell once she got used to us. Sabra is a year and a half and obviously had something traumatic happen to her. I think she will be much harder to help adjust.

I'll see if I can get Sabra into the bathroom tonight and see how that works. Tomorrow I will run to Petsmart and pick up some Feliway and see if it helps - after I talk to the vet.

Thanks!

[procon]

10. Contact. Contact. Contact.

The more social interaction the better. I settled 2 federal cats just by being their constant provider of all good things. Choose a small room with no hiding spots. Let the cat have a covered cat cave for a secure place of safety. and sleep. Be there frequently and be the one and only source of food, toys and play. Constantly speak softly in low tones so she associates you with your voice and the good stuff you provide. Start calling her before you open the door to her room to accustom her to your presence.

Sit down on the floor. Push one piece of kibble at a time towards the kitty, if she's a fighter use a wooden spoon, no gloves as they always seem too threatening. Gradually you will be able to entice her to step closer to you to get her food.

Introduce her to some interactive toys that you have to move, like those feathers attached to a wand or a teaser that you drag across the floor. I would avoid catnip toys at this stage as they are a stimulant and you are trying to make her calm, not hyper.

Put a dab of wet food on the spoon and let her eat at bit at a time to catch on that you do nice things. Always keep talking. Move the spoon closer to you over time, but resist touching until she's ready and willing. Use the wooden spoon to pet her and rub on her. If she likes the touch you will know your taming is working. Don't forget to talk.

This method has worked very well for me, and I have recommended these steps to other people who were successful in gentling a feral kitty.

[csziggy]

12. As suggested above, I will try the master bathroom for a while

Once I can get her back in there. Getting down on the floor is not an option - between my knees and back, I cannot get back up without a lot of help and then only on padded surfaces. But with my tiny old lady bladder I will be in there often.

I got some treats that Maya loves, so I can keep those in the bathroom and give her some while I am in there. The cat cafe said she is not aggressive - she did not use her claws even when they had to drag her out from under furniture to put her in our carrier.

When she was under the bed, I talked to her every time I passed through the room. It worked with Maya but Maya was just shy and not terrified.

I don't think Sabra is truly feral - she was found as a kitten, fostered, and then adopted. Something happened to her during that failed adoption but since the people dumped her off without communicating with the Humane Society, they don't know what it was.

Right now the only enclosed space I have I can put in the bathroom is the cat carrier - but I can put a soft towel in it, prop the door open and put it inside the shower stall (big, open, no door shower with a nice bench). Since that will be the only enclosed, darkish area, Sabra will probably go in there. I can leave the blinds open so she can see out the window and get sunshine.

I'll go right now and take up the food and get the area set up for Sabra. We will just have to let her be confined and listen to her cry when I go in there.

Thanks!

[SheltieLover]

13. Get Rescue Remedy (Bach) or 5-Flower (FES)

These are flower essence blends that work wonderfully!

Many rescue groups use these.