I'm after some honest opinions and advice. We got a 12 month old boy cat from a rescue in February, so he is now 17 months old. We were told that he was very timid and cautious around people but we have had cats for 18 years so weren't put off by this. He was to be a companion to our very similar aged boy, we also have 4 other cats.
He wasn't just timid, he was terrified. He hid behind a sofa for a week, only came out at night to eat and ran back behind the sofa if anyone caught a glimpse of him.
I got some great advice on here at the time and we have let him do his own thing, he seems to love the cats closest in age to him. He now comes out and asks for his dinner in the evening, but is still very cautious. He wanders around the house but still runs away if you get too close to him. He won't let you pick him up or fuss him, he will tolerate a very brief head scratch but only if it is brief!
He started to go out about 2 weeks ago, he doesn't answer to his name so that's why it's taken so long to let him out.
He disappeared for 4 days last week, turned up filthy dirty and ravenous. We had to bath him to get him clean, he smelt of petrol/oil so we had no choice. The water was a horrible brown colour by the time we had finished. He actually tolerated all the handling really well and I got cuddles all evening.
We kept him in over the weekend again, he didn't seem overly stressed by being in. Wasn't quite as affectionate but was accepting fuss and strokes. Eating well, using the litter tray happily, it felt like progress.
My nephew left the door to the bathroom open yesterday morning and the cat climbed out the window. He was out all day but did show up at dinner time last night, unfortunately I didn't get the door shut quickly enough and he legged it again. He hasn't been seen all day so far today.
My question is, do I keep persevering with him and hope that I manage to get him in and shut the door behind him? Or should I think about rehoming him, he obviously isn't happy living here. He doesn't want attention from us other than food and litter.
I have never rehomed a cat before, I have always been of the opinion that we are in it for the long haul. However, he won't come to me if i call him, he is so unbelievably skittish around us. I hate to think that he is missing out on a happy, loving home where he gets all his needs met.
I might be overthinking this, he might not even come back and that really does sadden me. He is such a funny little creature, I am stressed about him being missing as we go on holiday on Friday.
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The litter tray
Advice needed.
18 replies
darumafan · 02/08/2016 14:39
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