My wife and I have an easy going 12 year old female, Stella, and recently adopted a 2 year old female, Luna, in February. Luna was found as a stray with kittens, and after the kittens found homes she was put up for adoption. We were warned she was skittish, but felt determined to give her a home (the shelter was afraid she wouldn't find one any time soon). From the beginning, Luna constantly hides in hard to reach areas, and stays there for hours, tending to only come out at night to eat. We allowed this to go on for about a month, figuring she needed to acclimate to her new life with us. As time went on we then began eliminating hiding spots (taking legs off couches, stuffing blankets in the crevices beneath hutches and cabinets), hoping she would be forced out in the open. Our goal was to still give her space but in a more public setting so she could also get to know us from a distance and hopefully venture closer. That has not been the case.
Luna makes every attempt to hide, finding very creative places to squeeze into, and shows no intention of coming out. Whenever she is out and about and spots us, or even if she is hiding and we accidentally startle her, she bolts as fast as she can to the other side of the house and promptly disappears. We try to lure her out with food and treats, but she is reluctant to come out in front of us, and doesn't yet understand that by feeding her we are trying to be good to her. On a few rare occasions when we have gotten close, she will not protest if we pet her, but I honestly feel she is simply tolerating being touched until she has the opportunity to run again.
Luckily, Luna's behavior is otherwise calm. She does not act out or destroy furniture, and she and Stella seem fine with each other for whatever little interaction they do have. I am not the type of person to give up a pet just because her personality hasn't blossomed yet, and I feel if we were to be that cruel she would be back to square one without a home and constantly afraid. I am desperate to make positive contact with her, but I don't know what that will take. My best guess how this can work out is twofold: 1) simply give her more time to become comfortable, no matter how long that takes, and 2) spend more time in her presence, even if it's quietly laying on the floor, so she begins to recognize us. Ultimately, I just want her to be happy in our home, but I'm hoping that can happen without having to rearrange furniture and keep the bedrooms shut at all times.
Whatever advice people have would be welcome, as well as stories about how you got your own skittish cats to eventually warm up to you.
Thanks a lot.
Luna makes every attempt to hide, finding very creative places to squeeze into, and shows no intention of coming out. Whenever she is out and about and spots us, or even if she is hiding and we accidentally startle her, she bolts as fast as she can to the other side of the house and promptly disappears. We try to lure her out with food and treats, but she is reluctant to come out in front of us, and doesn't yet understand that by feeding her we are trying to be good to her. On a few rare occasions when we have gotten close, she will not protest if we pet her, but I honestly feel she is simply tolerating being touched until she has the opportunity to run again.
Luckily, Luna's behavior is otherwise calm. She does not act out or destroy furniture, and she and Stella seem fine with each other for whatever little interaction they do have. I am not the type of person to give up a pet just because her personality hasn't blossomed yet, and I feel if we were to be that cruel she would be back to square one without a home and constantly afraid. I am desperate to make positive contact with her, but I don't know what that will take. My best guess how this can work out is twofold: 1) simply give her more time to become comfortable, no matter how long that takes, and 2) spend more time in her presence, even if it's quietly laying on the floor, so she begins to recognize us. Ultimately, I just want her to be happy in our home, but I'm hoping that can happen without having to rearrange furniture and keep the bedrooms shut at all times.
Whatever advice people have would be welcome, as well as stories about how you got your own skittish cats to eventually warm up to you.
Thanks a lot.