How do you deal witha PTSD Kitty...

[SimpleC]

She's been through hell... she craves affection but is afraid of it...

[JonLP24]

1. My best guess is give her time and she'll come around

Either way just love her.

[Demovictory9]

2. describes my rescue cat. wanted petting but was afraid. as the weeks went by...

I'd be sitting on the couch (watching TV, on internet, or something that kept me still) she would slowly creep up on me. Eventually touching me with paw to signal she wanted to be petted.

The terror never went away entirely though.

[SimpleC]

3. Sadly it's my fault...

I went to the hospital and it took me about 6 months to get on my feet... I gave her to my Aunt who had a lot of cats... Turns out my aunt was viscously cruel to her...

When I went to pick her up... my aunt told me... "Don't buy a back scratcher..." apparently my Aunt used to beat the hell out of her with a back scratcher...

She was the most adorable kitty when I dropped her off... she'd jump on your lap and face rub you almost to the point of annoyance...

She's scared shitless to even jump on your lap nowadays...

She's getting better I guess... everyonce in a blue moon she'll jump on my lap... for Few seconds and then she runs away

I've had her back for a few months...

I don't know what my aunt did to her... My aunt totally mistreated her...

[raging moderate]

7. Make mother cat sounds to her.

If you can listen to mother cats, they all do a sing-song crooning, up and down the musical scale. You can move near but not too near, and read a book or something for awhile. Then, look at her and sort of half-close your eyes a few times, then quietly make that mother cat crooning sound. Have treats with you, and slowly lay them out between you. If you ever accidentally scare her, get on all fours, hold your head close to the ground, and mew like a kitten. That is how they apologize. It sort of means, "I am as clumsy as a kitten - please forgive me - I feel terrible about it!"

[BlueInRedHell]

43. I was about to post about making momcat sounds when I saw your post! r/o

My kitty boy showed up as a feral kitten and I got through to him by talking to him like I was his momcat. It took three months but I finally got him indoors. Christmas eve will mark six years since he's lived indoors and no one would ever know that he wasn't with us from weening onward.

[applegrove]

4. Let her come to you. Have lots of treats. Get into a routine of where and when

you connect. I had one cat with ptsd. He had one of his fangs knocked out and was found beside a highway. The cat hospital who i adopted him from said to me when i took him hime "if it doesn't work out bring him back". His problem was anger. He couldn't stop himself from attacking if he got mad. But he calmed down over the years. And because he only had one fang he couldn't break my skin when he bit. He was the snugglyist cat I've ever had 99% of the time. I have ptsd too so I figured it was a fit. Well worth it. Miss him to this day.

[SimpleC]

6. I can relate...:)

I have PTSD too... So I see it in her...


She does do one really cute thing though... when she craves attention... She climbs up on my chair and smacks me in the face...


and I know she doesn't mean harm... She has WICKED claws.... and she's never hit me with them...


I am pissed at my Aunt.... I don't know what she did to her... but it was awful...

[applegrove]

8. You can cut her claws. Do one paw. Then the other. I have a cat I like to wrestle

with or play box with. I'm immune to feeling pain from being scratched by Captain Morgan I think because of the meds I am on. He's so cute I can't help myself. He follows me around the house we are so close.

[SimpleC]

11. NO!!!....

I will NEVER DECLAW my kitty!!!!

[CurtEastPoint]

17. They didn't mean declaw. Just trim her nails.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

19. That's not what they meant. You can just clip off the pointy tip

with a nail clippers; it doesn't hurt the cat any more than it hurts you when you trim your own fingernails.

[applegrove]

25. Cut the claws. Like trimming your own nails. I would never declare my cats

and I have the clawed up couch to prove it. Trimming their nails does hurt them a bit.

[Lithos]

29. They meant trim the claws

There is a bit of flesh - the quick - which you should avoid as that will hurt the cat.

We have many cats and we trim their nails all the time - they grow back. We have to, else they grow too long and start getting hooked up in the carpet and anything they try and scratch. It's more humane.

Please don't conflate this with de-clawing which is extremely inhumane. de-clawing is like removing the last digit of your fingers. Trimming is like trimming the fingernails. In fact, I would recommend a large (toe) fingernail clipper when you do this.

If you can't do all of them, at least do the front paws as they are most likely to get ensnared.

L-

[applegrove]

34. I have been trimming cat nails for over a decade and have yet to cut the quick. I'm careful.

[Lithos]

35. Good...

We have done this - but it's because of wiggling. It is something to watch out for.

L-

[applegrove]

36. If you do one paw, wait a few hours and do the other paw there is

less wiggling.

[Sedona]

32. Soft paws

Last edited Wed Nov 21, 2018, 06:34 PM - Edit history (1)

Problem solved, no declawing. Super easy and gentle


Brostown 100Pcs Soft Pet Cat Nail Caps Claws Control Paws of 5 Kinds 5Pcs Adhesive Glue + 5pcs Applicator with Instructions (S) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01NC2P9BP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_zhD9Bb8P4CNAG

[SimpleC]

20. I will never declaw her... :)

I think it's cruel to declaw a kitty... Just my opinion...

My kitty... she's got the most wicked claws I've ever seen on a kitty.... but she's never scratched me...

[applegrove]

26. I meant trim the tip off their nails. I would never declaw my cat either.

[SimpleC]

21. My furniture get's clawed...:)

I have scratching post.... but my furniture get's clawed....

I consider that a side effect of having kitties...

Those who declaw their kitties to protect furniture is too concerned with inanimate possessions...

[applegrove]

27. I would never declaw. I have not had a decent couch in 15 years And I'm fine with

that. Mine have a scratching post too. I just trim the pointy part of the nail. Actually I don't even do that to the little one.

[Lithos]

30. You are a fellow cat-traveler

I have long ago came to the conclusion cat fur was a condiment and that I would never own good furniture again. Futons and chairs where I can put replaceable throws on.

L-

[applegrove]

31. Yes. I am in my heart and head when I am at home. I'm not actually present in my livingroom. That is

until Captain Morgan gets me to chat with him or pet him and rub his belly.

[SimpleC]

38. :)

[Afromania]

5. The best cat I ever had stayed hidden for 5 months.

He wouldn't even come out for anything other than litter visits, and sometimes not even those. I couldn't get him to come out for food so I'd place it near his bolt hole and talk to him. Every now and then he'd get close enough to the bowl I could sneak a quick head scratch. It went on like that for the 5 months, out of the way feedings, talking and quick pets every now and then before he'd go back into the bolt hole.

One day out of the blue I found him sitting in the hall just loitering outside the bedroom. He would only let me get so close before running off and hiding again. So I just talked while giving him a wide berth to get him to sit in place while I went on about things. This went on for a few weeks before finally he finally began to sit tight. A few more before he began settling into normal cat type behaviors like commandeering the bed and pushing things off the edge of the desk to make room for sun naps.

I don't know what happened to Remy before he was adopted but I always had the feeling he was abused. It'll take time but be patient and she'll eventually feel safe enough to come on out.

[SimpleC]

10. People who abuse Animals...

Will also abuse people...

I always loved my Aunt... but after what she did to my kitty... I look at her differently....

[Bayard]

37. No Excuse

For Animal Abuse!

Have you asked her what she did and why?

[SimpleC]

39. I know what she did...

The why of it doesn't matter...

[WhiteTara]

9. Don't push and don't ask anything of her

don't say "come here" or hold out your hand. Sit still and maybe have some tasty food treat and just be there. If she doesn't come round, just keep doing it. Leave the tasty treat behind and then come back later with more. I have a rescue dog and it has been, and still is, a slow journey from fear to trust.

This morning, I whistled and my beautiful dog came running! It was a victory for me. She came to live with us the end of May.

[angstlessk]

12. Had a kitty, found in a tree, shivering.

She lived under anything she could fit under...we moved about twice a year after we found her, and she was not happy.

Once we settled down, after about a year, she came out and became a most affectionate kitty ever for the next 15 years. She followed me everywhere.

Unfortunately, she died just before we had to move again. Maybe she just didn't want to move?

Okay, now you have me crying again.

[SimpleC]

13. I'm sorry..

Kitties are Awesome!!

[lunatica]

14. This may sound counterproductive

but there is something I call hug therapy that dogs and cats and children respond to very well.

You put your flattened palms on their sides at the shoulder level (on the upper arms on children) and very gently squeeze your hands towards each other equally on both sides and let up on the squeeze quickly, within a second or two. If they stay put and don’t pull away do it again. And as often as the cat will let you. It has the effect that a thunder vest does and works to calm them down and makes them feel safe. It won’t take long for your cat to associate you with a kind and healing touch. Use the slow blink when looking directly into the cat’s eyes. This is also a signal that you can be trusted.

Kids love it too because they know they can stop it if they want to. It’s like swaddling.

You’ll know it’s working if they stay still. Once they get used to it they’ll come and ask you to do the hug thing. Like a dog will come and sit close with their back to you. This is the dog’s way of asking for the hugs.

Once they’re used to it at shoulder level you can go up and down their bodies doing it. Releasing the pressure pretty quickly (you can graduate the pressure into longer hugs once the cat is OK with it) gives them the feeling they can get away and aren’t trapped.

[SimpleC]

15. Do you like animals?

and do they respond well to you...

My company gives us Dog mace to protect ourselves... I've Never..EVER had to use it...

It's RARE I come across a puppy I can't get along with...

[lunatica]

16. I love animals!

They are the best relationships you can have.

If you speak their language you become a favorite of theirs. My friend’s pets all know me as the hug lady and a come to get a few when I visit.

[SimpleC]

18. I always tell people...

It's OK if your puppy wants to smell me... It's Dog LAW...

They have to smell you... to accept you....

[jpak]

22. Pick her up and cuddle that kitty

That s what she needs.

Pick up those posts!

[femmedem]

23. I have one formerly feral girl who is taking a long time, but she's getting there.

I kept her isolated in the bedroom so she wouldn't have too many places to hide, and I tossed treats to her. Gradually I tossed the closer and closer to me, until I could pet her while she ate. She eventually became snuggly, curling up next to me while I read.

Then I opened the bedroom door and gave her the run of the house. For weeks I only saw her briefly when she darted out from various hidey holes to eat. She would race away in terror any time she caught me looking at her. But finally she started sleeping in the bedroom with me, and now she sleeps on my chest and purrs.

She still runs away from me during the day, but I figure she'll get over it eventually. I've had her for a year, and she's come a long way.

[SimpleC]

24. Ooooo...

I know what you're talking about.. nothing like going to sleep with a cat purring on you...

[iscooterliberally]

28. When you make eye contact, close both of your eyes and look away.

Don't stare her in the eyes even for a second. Give food and catnip too. Cats love a slow blink. I used to feed a feral female that would come to the front of my house and she would always blow me kisses by slowly closing both her eyes at me. I could not pet her though. She has since moved over to my next door neighbor's house and is getting well taken care of there. We rescued a litter of kittens that she had and then trapped her and got her fixed so she doesn't have to go through that again. Be patient and I'm sure she'll come around. Good luck and thanks for taking in a scared kitty!

[Lithos]

33. I did Feral rescue for several years

Ended up keeping a large set when we moved many years back. The last are finally aging out at ages of 17-20+ years.

We had several who had been attacked and abused before we were able to capture them.

The advice several are giving here is good.

1) Be very respectful. Be slow and obvious to what your intent is.
2) If you do look eye-to-eye, blink and defer. I'm an extreme introvert - this came naturally to me.
3) There are some de-calming sprays you can buy - they sometimes help.
4) Add lots of cat-friendly stimulation things to the environment. Catnip, toys, etc.
5) Provide treats - and when you do, use a consistent friendly voice. Never push their boundaries, be passive.
6) Constantly talk to them - always in a pleasant voice. Say nice things. Yes, this is corny, but they do understand more than you realize - especially emotion.
7) Patience is a virtue. It takes years sometime to build trust
8) Never expect anything.
9) Understand that they pick the time and place - you may have a rapport one day, then they regress the next day.
10) It might help to have a cat who is not Feral and/or PTSD which they can model. Also, some of the ferals developed friendships first with the non-ferals. This helped them develop the trust to us. If you do get one, then pick one who is very evenly tempered. We were lucky in that we were able to get several kittens while they were still imprintable who grew up to be the bridge.

It took me 15 years for one before he would have anything to do with me. But the last 2 years were wonderful. And thankfully so as it allowed me to give him appropriate palliative care during the last 6 months when he was sick.

[Hotler]

40. They come around. I like to talk to them alot so they get used to me.

[SimpleC]

41. I know,,,

I'm watching her sleep right now...

[TexasBushwhacker]

42. Maybe try this?

https://www.jacksongalaxy.com/products/scaredy-cat.html

It's developed by Jackson Galaxy of " My Cat From Hell". It has a lot of positive reviews.