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In reply to the discussion: How do you deal witha PTSD Kitty... [View all]Afromania
(2,768 posts)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.