First cat foster - am I doing this right?!

[QuestionableMouse]

Was asked yesterday to take on a foster cat at very short notice as she was getting badly bullied by the other cats where she was.

I let her in the spare room last night. (which has a litter tray, food/water, her cat carrier and a cardboard box with a bed in). She immediately went behind the sofa bed. I spent some time in there then came out to let her explore and chill. Went in to feed her this morning and she's hiding in the bottom of an old armchair. (it's safe and she isn't trapped)

It's been almost 24 hours and she's hiding in my chair still. If i put my hand under, she's growling and batting at me. I can't tell if she's been out at all - the dry food looks like it hasn't changed and i'm using wood litter so can't see any wee. She's taken a few treats from me though.

She came from a very reputable local rescue and I can ring them if i need to but i want to hold off if I can because the main lady isn't well at the moment (Covid).

Am I ruining this cat for life? Am i d

Included pics of her (currently known as Luna). (Her eyes are fine, i just had to use the flash!)

I've had a couple of short term foster cats. They have behaved like this. It's a huge change for her.

You’re giving her time, space and food. Sounds good.

Thank you both! I think I'm so used to my own cat being in my face all of the time, i feel like I'm letting her down.

I looked after a friends cat and she took several days before coming out from under the bed. Perhaps put her food bowl under the sofa overnight to ensure she eats something. Some cats prefer wet food rather than dry so can you try her on that?

Don't put your hand in her safe space as you will only unsettle her more. Put a worn t-shirt under the bed so she can get used to your smell and keep chatting nonsense to her so she recognises your voice. Good luck!

I wouldn’t put my hand in.

But if you want to flick a fishing rod toy around where she can see it, she might come out. Don’t touch her unless she comes to you. Don’t block her retreat back to the chair. Just chat to her and offer treats as you have been doing. She’ll come out in her own time.

Only put my hand under to find out where she'd gone because i couldn't find her anywhere else. I also put a bit of dry food under because the plate of wet looked like it hadn't been touched. (So she currently has both wet and dry food)

Already have a tshirt in the room but will move it to near the chair.

Thank you!

She's still in the chair but is purring and kneading which I'm hoping is a good sign. Took another treat from me and has used the litter tray. Hoping she'll be brave enough to come out tomorrow while I'm in the room.

Omg literally as i typed that she's come out.

Omg she's out and playing 😍😍😍

You have made a new friend!

A word of warning - my foster cats from 2 years ago are still living here. Be careful. She’ll worm her way into your heart as easily as she got under that chair!

She can't stay long term unfortunately! She's super cute but my cat would be most put out!

She's a sweetie! I'm impressed with how quickly she has come out of hiding. You're doing fine, OP!

I'm not sure i am! Literally sitting here in tears and I don't know what to do.

She's just bitten me badly, including my face. I was sitting on the floor letting her rub on my hands and im not sure if she has a sore spot or something but she yowled and jumped at my face. I've come away from her (she's safe and has what she needs). Genuinely don't know what to do - I don't want to go near her at the moment but i also don't want to let her down.

Heading off to urgent care because my hand is quite bad, and I've messaged the rescue about what happened.

Would i be a terrible person if i asked them to take her back? It might sound stupid but I'm feeling quite scared of her!

Oh OP 😥

I'm guessing if she was badly bullied she has a bite/abscess on her which can be very painful.

Get yourself fixed first and call the rescue. She might need a vet visit. Good luck .

Not a terrible person at all. That's quite scary and also unusual that they it bite so badly. Did she bite twice then? How old is she?

She bit my hand but the nurse said it looked like she'd caught my face with a claw. Had my hand cleaned, got antibiotics and painkillers. Still really not sure what to do

I would definitely call the rescue. She may need to see a vet to see if there is any problem causing this behaviour, but I think you've lost the trust.

I had a long honest chat with the rescue this morning and I think everything has worked out fairly well - she's going to her permanent home this afternoon and will be getting a vet check in the morning. I'm very sore and feeling sick from the antibiotics but i sat on the floor again this morning and she was rubbing on my legs and purring. She really is a sweet little cat and the home she's found sounds amazing. It's just around the corner from me and has a big enclosed garden so she'll have outside space too.

I still feel like I've let her down somehow though. 😭

No you didn't. You gave her a safe space away from being physically attacked and being stressed every minute of the day, even if you only provided that relief for a couple of days. Dont under estimate how much she needed it.

It sounds like she attacked you out of pain or fear not out of nastiness or because you did something bad. It can happen to the sweetest cat and the nicest human.

You have done a good thing OP, never forget that

You didn't let her down, OP. You gave her warmth, affection, food and shelter.

Her new owners are lovely and I think she's going to be very happy.

Thank you all ♥️♥️♥️