My MIL adopted a 2 year old ragdoll cat. The cat has been hiding, just coming out for food and litter box for the past week.
When I dropped by Mumzie's apartment the cat came out and was talking to me, meow meow meow, and marking every furniture leg that was in front of me. I sat on the sofa and the cat jumped next to me, almost touching me with her nose, then backed away. I refrained from reaching out to pet the cat because it seemed unsure and I didn't want to get torn up. So I just meowed back, good kitteh.
Now the MIL wants me to come over so the cat comes out of hiding. I hope in time the cat will want to sit on her lap and be brushed etc.
CAT people, do you think this cat could become friendly in time? Right now, maybe it's scared being in a new place.
Mumzie got a ragdoll cat
Started by
LisaMarie
, Sep 11 2011 03:27 PM
29 replies to this topic
#2
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 11 September 2011 - 08:25 PM
I would say give the cat some times to get used to living in a new place. Is Mumzie a cat person? It's interesting that the cat came to you right away but not Mumzie. I know you are an animal person and the cat probably sensed that right away...
#4
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- VibeTribe
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Posted 12 September 2011 - 01:58 PM
I would say give the cat some times to get used to living in a new place. Is Mumzie a cat person? It's interesting that the cat came to you right away but not Mumzie. I know you are an animal person and the cat probably sensed that right away...
You are on to something, Mumzie is not a cat person. She wanted company with out having to walk a dog. Cats have always liked me. I was sitting in a friends yard once and to everyones surprise a ferel cat jumped in my lap, curled up and purred.
I think we need cat whisperer to train Mumzie 
#9
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Posted 12 September 2011 - 04:40 PM
I have faith in the kitteh. Her name is Diva.
I've been thinking Mumzie should try to play with the cat. Perhaps a fishing like string with feather or something at the end.
Being that she is a bit skittish now, that won't teach the cat to be aggressive will it?
I've been thinking Mumzie should try to play with the cat. Perhaps a fishing like string with feather or something at the end.
Being that she is a bit skittish now, that won't teach the cat to be aggressive will it?
#10
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Posted 12 September 2011 - 05:41 PM
When I got our cat Sage, she was a rescue from a farm. She was underweight and had a large wound on her back. We took her home and she went directly to the basement, in a panic, and hid. I mean hid for weeks and weeks. We put food, water and a litterbox down there with her, and fed her twice daily. It seriously was maybe four weeks before she would allow you to actually see her, and then only for a few seconds before hiding again. I stayed with it, going down every day with food and water, talking to her soothingly even though I couldn't see her. A couple more weeks went by and she started staying in sight when I was down there, but wouldn't let me approach her, which I respected.
After a couple of months, we noticed she would sit at the top of the basement stairs and watch, but still run back down when we got too close. I moved her food dish to the stairs, then to the top of the stairs, and she seemed okay with it. Then she slowly started to venture into the house. I moved her food outside of the basement door, and began inching it more into the house over the next weeks. I'd say all told it was close to six months before she stayed in the house and stopped hiding in the basement, then another six until she was totally okay with us and allowed herself to be handled.
Now she is the sweetest, most loving cat ever! She has to be near us (well, Karen mostly, cuz she's the mama) at all times. She loves to be picked up and loved. Quite the opposite of those early days.
My point is your MIL may wish to take a similar approach. Give kitteh some space, be calm and loving without being too in the cat's face. Ease the cat into normal life in the apartment. I'd bet that after enough time passes, all this will be a memory. Some cats were traumatized and need time to trust people again. Some just have less trusting personalities and take longer to warm up.
I hope she's got a lapful of loving cat before too much longer!
After a couple of months, we noticed she would sit at the top of the basement stairs and watch, but still run back down when we got too close. I moved her food dish to the stairs, then to the top of the stairs, and she seemed okay with it. Then she slowly started to venture into the house. I moved her food outside of the basement door, and began inching it more into the house over the next weeks. I'd say all told it was close to six months before she stayed in the house and stopped hiding in the basement, then another six until she was totally okay with us and allowed herself to be handled.
Now she is the sweetest, most loving cat ever! She has to be near us (well, Karen mostly, cuz she's the mama) at all times. She loves to be picked up and loved. Quite the opposite of those early days.
My point is your MIL may wish to take a similar approach. Give kitteh some space, be calm and loving without being too in the cat's face. Ease the cat into normal life in the apartment. I'd bet that after enough time passes, all this will be a memory. Some cats were traumatized and need time to trust people again. Some just have less trusting personalities and take longer to warm up.
I hope she's got a lapful of loving cat before too much longer!
#13
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Posted 13 September 2011 - 01:44 AM
Thanks for the encouragement and advice all.
JP - you are one patient man. I believe your point is key, "Give kitteh some space, be calm and loving without being too in the cat's face."
This is going to be some lap cat someday, ragdoll cats can get as big as 20 pounds.
JP - you are one patient man. I believe your point is key, "Give kitteh some space, be calm and loving without being too in the cat's face."
This is going to be some lap cat someday, ragdoll cats can get as big as 20 pounds.
#14
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- VibeGuide
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VibeGuide
Posted 13 September 2011 - 11:26 AM
patience is my key with Diamond as well. she's come a long way already. playing might be a good idea, i think they tend to be curious about play, not aggressive. that said, Diamond hates me dragging string like things in front of her and doesn't let me touch the toys i've gotten her. *sigh*
#16
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VibeGuide
Posted 17 September 2011 - 04:22 AM
when floyd wandered into our back yard, he was scared to death of us, ran away, wouldn't come near us for a week except to come onto the back deck to eat. then one day i came in the house and he was sleeping on the couch, friendly and content. so you never know with cats 
#18
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Posted 20 September 2011 - 04:36 PM
when floyd wandered into our back yard, he was scared to death of us, ran away, wouldn't come near us for a week except to come onto the back deck to eat. then one day i came in the house and he was sleeping on the couch, friendly and content. so you never know with cats
Wish we knew what goes on in those little feline heads.
Little dickens, glad he is not a scaredy cat anymore.
#20
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Posted 13 October 2011 - 07:36 PM
Diva is becoming more social but is still somewhat skittish.
These photos didn't come out good but I think they are the best of what I'll be able to take for now. It's hard to photograph moving cats in poor lighting with a crappy camera.
Diva getting ready for take off from strange flashing object
Diva with red gowing eyes
Diva coming to swat the dangling holder strap on the camera
These photos didn't come out good but I think they are the best of what I'll be able to take for now. It's hard to photograph moving cats in poor lighting with a crappy camera.
Diva getting ready for take off from strange flashing object
Diva with red gowing eyes
Diva coming to swat the dangling holder strap on the camera
Diva the lover - nice!
#29
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Posted 14 December 2011 - 02:25 AM
Hi LisaMarie!
Glad Diva is doing well. I cant relate when we got Natalie from the shelter she was already domesticated. We got in her the house, she walked around, checked out the downstairs, was sitting on my dad after 5 minutes and me after 15 minutes. Every cat has a story.
Glad Diva is doing well. I cant relate when we got Natalie from the shelter she was already domesticated. We got in her the house, she walked around, checked out the downstairs, was sitting on my dad after 5 minutes and me after 15 minutes. Every cat has a story.
