4 month old kitty from shelter

I just got a 4 month old kitten from a shelter. He had only been at the shelter for 4 days and I'm not really sure what his history is before that. At the shelter he was terrified. He ran into corners, ran away when I went towards him, wouldn't play or even sniff my hand. However, when I held him he would just lie in my lap, let me pet him, and purr. This is why I took him home. The people at the shelter said he was just frightened and that everything he was doing was completely normal. I brought him home and set up a "safe room" in my bathroom. At first he hid behind the toilet and refused to come out. Soon he became comfortable with his bed. Now, he's completely comfortable in the room. I can hear him playing when the door is closed. However, if I open the door and he's not in his bed he runs. When he's in his bed he loves me to pet and play with him. Absolutely loves it. He's slowly becoming more comfortable with his surroundings. He's leaving the bathroom and roaming around my apartment but the minute I come near him he runs. The only time he lets me play with him or pet him is when he's in his bed. I've now had him for 5 days. I read that kittens who are suspicious of people may stay that way for ever. Do you think I have a kitten that will always be afraid of me? Is it strange that he loves it when I pet him but runs away from me when he's out of his bed? Thanks!

 

I have fostered cats like this and all I can say is time, patience and tolerance
Something I like to do is simply sit near the cat and read outloud, quietly, from a book.
And I wait the cat out. I've had a couple of cats that have taken months to gain enough confidence to seek me out.
You just gotta wait her out.
Don't give up....just be patient and you'll be rewarded.
You've done a nice thing adopting this kitten...
another good item is a Zoom Groom - I've relaxed more scared kitties with a Zoom Groom. They love them.
A wand toy is also a good way to play cause your hand is controlling the toy and the kitten is having fun.

 

Hi and welcome to Auspet. I honestly think that your cat shows signs that he won't be shy forever. My Juliet was far worse than him. I couldn't even pet her. Her mother and siblings had been picked up and they were all living in the streets. Now she is just one big love muffin. She wants to be pet by everyone, she no longer gets terrified when she sees people and so on. Just give your cat his own space. What I did with Juliet is that I just let her come to me. I didn't attempt to come over to her and pick her up or anything. This method worked very well for me. I would also leave the bathroom door open for him at all times, so he can come out and explore when he wants. Good luck with him. I'm sure he will turn out to be a wonderful companion.

 

u might also want to try giving him treats from ur hand. call his name and give it to him, he will associate you with something good. and like the others said, let him come to you.
and dont worry, i am sure he will get used to u very soon.

 

When I got my one cat, she was very skitterish and hated being touched.

It's been about a year and a half (if memory serves me).

She is still a little skitterish... but it's more with visitors. She fully trusts my husband and myself and does not run from us. She loves to be pet (but when she feels like it, she can sometimes be a little uneasy about it still now).

This cat does still hate to be picked up to this day. It seems like a torture to her for some reason. I think she came from a home with lots of 'grabby' children and just can't shake the fear. I have to respect it and simply don't try to pick her up anymore.

I think that while your new kitten could hold onto some of the young traits (like mine does with being picked up), things will still work out. Once you build up trust, everything should run smoothly. Your kitten is younger then when I got mine - so the traits may not even be as permanent as with my cat.

Playing with the little one and giving treats are great ways to bond and gain trust.

Good luck (and welcome!)

 

Thanks for the advice. I definitely feel a little better. I've become a crazy neurotic mother but I can't help it! Thanks, again.

 

trust me...you'll get even more neurotic as he grows up LOL
I thought of another little "game" I like to do. I call it the catnip ring (here it is with 4 cats and various fosters now and then).
I give each cat a little pile of catnip and just sit back and enjoy. Nothing like a cat on nip to have an enjoyable moment to share with them

 

4 month old kitty update

Big news. This morning I was petting him and he got up, walked over to me, and rubbed his face against mine! Unfortunately, I was so taken aback that I said "oh my God" and scared him. Then I gave him a treat and a pet so I think things are okay.

 

LOL I've gotten so surprised when terrified fosters have started to come around a bit I've actually jumped up and down and clapped my hands, I'm sure sending them back weeks LOL
wish there was an easy way to make them understand no harm is meant.
But it does mean so much when a timid cat starts to come to you for attention and affection

 

Just to give you a little more confidence I will give another similar story. I just started fostering in Jan. and my first set of fosters were even more scared that how yours sounds. The entire first 2 weeks I NEVER saw them. They were under the bed 24/7...even when a treat was brought to them, they wouldn't come out until they were sure I was gone. And if they just heard footsteps outside the door I would hear them run under the bed before I could even open the door (I put bells on them so I would at least know where they were in my room!)

After 2 weeks they would come out for food if I was completely still. But if I moved~~even a finger~~they would run! 3 weeks later, I could move a little. 4 weeks later, I could move around the room. And after about a month, one started actually venturing into the other rooms of the house while I was in them. 2 months later, I adopted my baby Malo!! It has now been 2 months since I have had him. He snuggles all of the time on my lap and has learned to actually jump up by myself. Now I work from home so I have a lot more time with him then the average person. But he has made A TON of progress since the beginning. He is still scared of keys jingling, locks and doors opening & closing...but I am hoping that in the next year we can rid him of that fear, too, and he will be waiting by the door when I come home with my other cats!!

Good luck and don't give up hope!!!

 

heres a great website full of information for new pet owners...like if you've just brought one home. theres a feature on the website called "ask the vet" and theres all sorts of info on vaccines and behaviors.

www.petservice.com

 

Thanks for your help, I really appreciate it!