Traumatized Savannah f5

[MYNXX]

It may seem that you are starting over each day, but in reality if you do this day after day, staying patient and not pushing her, you will see results. She will sit there each night and process the day and eventually she will realize nothing bad happens when you are there. As Patti says, each kitten is different...some will be like the lightbulb came on and others come to it gradually.. it's hard to be patient but it pays off!

I get the, my question is, do I take the food away after 10 minutes or whatever, or stay and wait till she is hungry enough to eat in my presence, or leave, and let her eat without me there....?

 

[WitchyWoman]

do I take the food away after 10 minutes or whatever, or stay and wait till she is hungry enough to eat in my presence, or leave, and let her eat without me there....?

Just start by leaving the food down for 30 minutes and leave the room. Keep spending time with her between meals. As she gradually becomes more comfortable with you being around between meals, start sitting quietly in the bedroom during mealtimes, move closer to the closet door every few days and just sit there until she eats. Gradually decrease your distance to the closet until you are sitting in the open doorway of the closet and when she starts eating with you that close, after a week or so you can start trying to get her to take some food from the back of your hand or your fingers.

 

[MYNXX]

Just start by leaving the food down for 30 minutes and leave the room. Keep spending time with her between meals. As she gradually becomes more comfortable with you being around between meals, start sitting quietly in the bedroom during mealtimes, move closer to the closet door every few days and just sit there until she eats. Gradually decrease your distance to the closet until you are sitting in the open doorway of the closet and when she starts eating with you that close, after a week or so you can start trying to get her to take some food from the back of your hand or your fingers.

THANK YOU! So it's not important, ok - i didn't think so, a few people said to take it away as if dont let them eat unless they eat with you.... so weird like very dominating - i don't like it and neither does she.. - everything i have gotten here makes much more sense to me, and for my kittens,,, their time, their rules etc - except the quarantine part.. but she's cool.. Loves the meditation music! She's playing with me more and more - we're down to the food issue.. Great progress for 3 days if you ask me..

Thanks again Witch! <3

 

[WitchyWoman]

So it's not important, ok - i didn't think so, a few people said to take it away as if dont let them eat unless they eat with you.... so weird like very dominating -

The purpose of that suggestion is to get her to associate you as the provider which will build trust. The method would work eventually but from your description of her level of fear, it's my opinion (which isn't the only correct one just one of many options that would work) is that the slower approach with her is the better approach.

Leaving food down for 30 minutes allows her to calm down after you leave the room and take her time eating. Some cats eat all the food at once; other like to nibble a bit, wait a bit, and nibble some more. So I factored that into the equation.

 

[MYNXX]

The purpose of that suggestion is to get her to associate you as the provider which will build trust. The method would work eventually but from your description of her level of fear, it's my opinion (which isn't the only correct one just one of many options that would work) is that the slower approach with her is the better approach.

Leaving food down for 30 minutes allows her to calm down after you leave the room and take her time eating. Some cats eat all the food at once; other like to nibble a bit, wait a bit, and nibble some more. So I factored that into the equation.

Got it.

 

[Brigitte Cowell]

It also depends on the type of food. If it is kibble then a cat is unlikely to wolf down a meal's worth at a time, unlike canned or raw. For canned or raw you probably don't want to leave it out that long in any case.

Yes, the idea of staying there with the food is to create the association. So if you are feeding your kitten kibble I might try seeing if she ALSO likes things like freeze dried chicken treats or something else (tiny pieces of cheese maybe)... then you can use those, you toss them when you enter the room/closet towards her but don't pay any attention to her. When she starts eating those, then you work on tossing them shorter and shorter each time you enter until you are basically placing near you as you sit in there quietly. But work on her gaining some liking for some kind of treat in the meantime, without your presence.

 

[MYNXX]

It also depends on the type of food. If it is kibble then a cat is unlikely to wolf down a meal's worth at a time, unlike canned or raw. For canned or raw you probably don't want to leave it out that long in any case.

Yes, the idea of staying there with the food is to create the association. So if you are feeding your kitten kibble I might try seeing if she ALSO likes things like freeze dried chicken treats or something else (tiny pieces of cheese maybe)... then you can use those, you toss them when you enter the room/closet towards her but don't pay any attention to her. When she starts eating those, then you work on tossing them shorter and shorter each time you enter until you are basically placing near you as you sit in there quietly. But work on her gaining some liking for some kind of treat in the meantime, without your presence.

I am beginning to be clearer about the process. The thing is, I was doing well up until certain instances. I was concerned her peeing was marking, so we got her spayed. I didn't realize it was probably because she was being dominated by him, and to her me to..
They were on a raw meat diet, which I supplement with DE for worms, Alnutrin for all the vitamins and nutrients etc, and now l theanine to calm her. They tested high in something with the kidneys so they urged us to stop the raw because they suspected worms. We started cooking the chicken and mix it with yams, for fiber and to limit the protein levels as it should be 75% to my understanding. She was sick when we got her, so that didn't help either,,,, or me. A lot of stress on both ends... And it has been non stop for her. I did my best. New to the whole thing. I quickly had her coming close, and running around playing instead of just swatting. Now we have backtracked to swatting, and she hides in the box if she suspects we are near at all. She does come out and play, but just to swat, and quickly goes back to the box. I think she is suspicious of another wave of events... BUT because of the progress that was made, I have faith we can get back to there, in time....

I play meditation music when It is of the time of her generally awake. and try to keep things quiet when she would be sleeping. Whenever I am around I talk to her,,, walking around the house humming,,, trying to be gentle with doors etc... I've gone pretty all out with this one, least I can do for grabbing her and taking her to the vet.. Last night I took off her harness. I wasn't able to since getting back from the vet. And touching her reset the previous 48 hours. Since we have left her completely alone physically. But she is still very scared of being touched, even though I think she is processing the fact i took off a thing she hated - the harness.....

I am going to listen more, and let her establish comfort. When I see that I will try to slowly progress into more. I think as long as she isn't being touched against her will, she will see more what is going on.. The hope anyways <3 She's a smart cookie, but trauma counts for a lot, and needs to be tended to first. I know that much...

 

[MYNXX]

I am beginning to be clearer about the process. The thing is, I was doing well up until certain instances. I was concerned her peeing was marking, so we got her spayed. I didn't realize it was probably because she was being dominated by him, and to her me to..
They were on a raw meat diet, which I supplement with DE for worms, Alnutrin for all the vitamins and nutrients etc, and now l theanine to calm her. They tested high in something with the kidneys so they urged us to stop the raw because they suspected worms. We started cooking the chicken and mix it with yams, for fiber and to limit the protein levels as it should be 75% to my understanding. She was sick when we got her, so that didn't help either,,,, or me. A lot of stress on both ends... And it has been non stop for her. I did my best. New to the whole thing. I quickly had her coming close, and running around playing instead of just swatting. Now we have backtracked to swatting, and she hides in the box if she suspects we are near at all. She does come out and play, but just to swat, and quickly goes back to the box. I think she is suspicious of another wave of events... BUT because of the progress that was made, I have faith we can get back to there, in time....

I play meditation music when It is of the time of her generally awake. and try to keep things quiet when she would be sleeping. Whenever I am around I talk to her,,, walking around the house humming,,, trying to be gentle with doors etc... I've gone pretty all out with this one, least I can do for grabbing her and taking her to the vet.. Last night I took off her harness. I wasn't able to since getting back from the vet. And touching her reset the previous 48 hours. Since we have left her completely alone physically. But she is still very scared of being touched, even though I think she is processing the fact i took off a thing she hated - the harness.....

I am going to listen more, and let her establish comfort. When I see that I will try to slowly progress into more. I think as long as she isn't being touched against her will, she will see more what is going on.. The hope anyways <3 She's a smart cookie, but trauma counts for a lot, and needs to be tended to first. I know that much...

Oh! I should be quiet? I thought I should be getting her used to my voice...? ok... Well ya for treats I use freeze dried beef liver,,, she loves that, and goats milk about once a week. I alternate between the cooked chicken yam mix, and canned fish for her. - - oh i forgot i add taurine to cooked meat as well.. I give her a treat often as I can remember, but it equates to me throwing them in the box.. I can't see in... Sometimes a few.. Don't want to encourage that either though... Funny thing.. What kind of messages get sent. I know really she just doesn't want to be messed with BUT - It seemed like she was so excited to run around like her brother and feel big and strong, just didn't feel comfortable enough to really go there... weeks to get her comfortable running bythe legs which made it hard to always reach out so extended. I play with her at least an hour or two a day... Most of that since the closet is throwing the toy with not much response,, eventually she grabs it and plays like she's Queen of the jungle...

SO - Should I be quiet instead of always talking to her?

 

[kimm]

You're doing such a good job! Not everybody takes this time and will do everything for they're pets.

I've read a story about a men who also had a verry scared cat. I believe it was 9 months old. She stayed behind the curtains in his bedroom all day. When the men would bring her food.. He would put it next to the curtain and only a little paw would come out to get some of the food.. This went on for maybe 2 months. He sat wit her on the other side of the room and read a book out loud.. He noticed steps foreward.. But everytime he did something it looked like he went 5 steps back. Than he just let it be, and let her choose whenever she wanted to come out.. After another month or something the cat would jump on the bed when the man was sleeping and it went verry fast from then on. He gave her the option to go to the living room.. And put treats everywere. When the men woke up next day the treats were al eaten.. Now it's all okey. She lays on the coutch with him and sleepes in his bed. I think that is a verry beautifull thing. And it will give you a bond with your cat maybe nobody else has.

Sorry for my bad english.. But all i wanna say is keep up the good work. Let her be and i really think if you give it time everythings gonna be ok!


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[Patti]

Should I be quiet instead of always talking to her?

I'm not sure where you got that from, but IMHO you should continue to talk to her calmly as much as possible, even reading aloud if nothing else, so that she continues to get used to your voice.