I adopted a beautiful ~1yr calico female about 6 days ago. She was described as “shy at first, but very playful once she calms down,” and their ideal adoptive home would have “a patient owner, and a cat to be her playmate.” It seemed like a good fit for myself (single young woman) and my current cat (3y/o male).
Then I learn from the owners that she has never been to the vet, so has no shots and has not been fixed. And, she will be separated from her mother for the first time in a year. This makes me apprehensive but I still take her.
She has been isolated in my walk in closet (not ideal I know but I’m limited by my apartment layout in closed off rooms), with food, water, litter box, toys, and a scratch pad.
The first day/night she would not really move, but did let me approach and gently pet her. The next morning I noticed she ate and used her litter box- a promising start!
The next day I make the mistake of checking on her and slightly moving a bag she was hiding under- she hisses at me. Ok, I interrupted her nap, I get it. I leave her alone for the rest of the day.
The next day I spend ~2 hours in the room with her spread out in a few sessions. I do things like knit, watch Netflix, read, etc., hoping she gets used to my presence. She hides in a corner and watches me intently the whole time.
Same thing the next day, but after an hour together I lay on the ground and extend a closed hand to her. As I inch it closer, she growls at me. I leave her alone for the rest of the night.
I buy a Feliway diffuser today, leave her alone for a few hours while it starts to hopefully affect the room, then come back and spend about an hour in the room with her. She does seem more confident, she isn’t cowering or hiding as much, but still in the corner far away from me. I attempt to coax her playful side out of her shell with brand new toys... she watches it alertly for a few minutes, but I guess it got too close to her again so she hissed and growled. I left.
I’m supposed to take her to the veterinarian tomorrow and I’m incredibly nervous about doing so. We haven’t bonded at all, she does not like her personal space being encroached, and I need to pick her up, pack her into her carrier, then take her to a strange place?! On top of this, she shows no sign of the “playful” side that made me inclined to want her in the first place. I have this really sad gut instinct that she is a bad fit for me and my loving, cuddly, super playful and sweet resident cat.
TL;DR-
Should I wait it out with this scared, sometimes aggressive (hissing and growling if anything gets too close) new cat? Should I wait through vet appointments and getting her fixed to see if her temperament improves enough? Or should I consider finding her a home even more patient than mine, and admit I bit off more than I could chew? Am I an awful person for considering rehoming this beautiful girl already?
Please help me!!!!
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/gyplv8/discouraged_about_new_cat_adoption/
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