I’m in the Midlands so I can pretty much get anywhere to come see her, we’ve been looking to adopt and would love to give this beautiful girl the loving home she deserves ❤️
Part of me is saying "Please say North East", then equal parts are arguing that my Other Half will absolutely not acquiesce to Number 11, no matter how sad her eyes are, and hoping you do keep her
If you’re ever looking to adopt in AZ I 100000% recommend Ranillas rescue. That’s where I got my baby boy and the lady that owns it is an angel she has devoted her life to saving these babies 🫶🏼
OP I’ve sent you a DM! Maybe you’ve already made plans to rehome her but if not then I’d be happy to see if we are good fit for her, no pressure though. We don’t have any other pets or children, so it’s a calm and quiet environment for her to learn to trust again with two patient people.
If you want to keep her company, don't face her way. Sit sideways or even away from her. Direct can be seen as confrontational to a cat. Especially one as stressed as yours :(
Big important thing! When you look at her, blink very slowly, then look away. Slow eye blinks are cat language for 'I trust you' and 'I feel safe', so say that to her then stop staring at her because that's cat language for 'I am distrustful'.
It's hard to speak cat body language as a human, because the less direct attention you give them the more 'trust' you are showing them, kind of opposite to human body language. Your poor little girl seems super stressed, but still a tiny bit hopeful (her eyes are fully dilated, but her ears are not flattened against her head). Best thing you can do is just be present, but not facing her, and let her come to you.
Keep any of your physical motions slow, and talk in a low tone of voice, or light deep hum on occasion to imitate a purr. If she approaches you, let her smell your hand, and very slowly rub or scratch her chin or side of her face. Do not reach for the top of her head, that can be seen as dominating.
Yeah; that’s how I managed to gain the trust of one of my other cats. He was one of 25 abused cats that had been deemed capable of being adopted. When I got him home, he immediately fled to the bedroom and under the bed.
After putting everything away and getting things set up for him, I went to go check up on him with a saucer plate and wet food. I saw on the floor and leaned up against the wall next to him, cracked open the can of food and plated it all in front of him. The entire time, I spoke softly to him. As gentle as a I could. I even sang to him like you would to a baby. And then I waited. Cross legged and with the food placed in front of me but not too close.
About thirty minutes to an hour of me telling him he is safe, he is loved and nothing will ever happen to him, he finally came out. He did not go to the food, he came straight to me. He climbed on my lap after sniffing me and he shook like a leaf, but I swore that cat clung to me as he did so.
After that moment, he became my baby. He was obsessed with me. I also found out he was terrified of garbage bags a week after adopting him. And I still dread to know what his previous owners had done to him and his siblings.
This is all great advice! I'd like to add one thing. I once had a stray that showed up at our house one day and had eyes just like these. I thought it was just how she looked but after a while her eyes started to look relaxed and i was so happy for her. She really started flourishing when we gave her a smaller space (1 room) with another cat she trusted. I think bigger space = more space that she needed to check for potential threats. So a smaller space to start with felt safer for her. Once she got more confident she got more space, ofcourse.
It helps to sit on the ground near the cat and read aloud peacefully to them. That way you're looking at the book instead of the cat, and the cat can get used to the sound of your voice.
Yeah I was about to say that it doesn’t make sense to get her acclimated to this situation only to completely change it again by giving her to someone else. That’s just unnecessary stress, you might as well keep her.
Please remember how fostering is important. For cats that were abused, a safe place outside the noises of a shelter is crucial for them to blossom into wonderful cats! However, if OP can only foster her, it is already helping her much more than leaving her at the shelter until someone has the tools & time to help her out.
There are ways to make the transition to an adopter's home much easier - such as making the carrier into the cat's "safe space" as they are settling in, at the foster's.
By the time they leave, the carrier is a comforting, familiar retreat, & that's where they start from, in the new place - one room, food over there, litter tray over there, & carrier, with a cozy pad inside, with all their familiar smells.
Feliway pump spray is also very helpful - a synthetic mimic of cheek pheromone, to mark objects & places as "safe".
I disliked cats for a while. Then I lived with them for five years. I used to argue with their owners because their litter boxes weren't changed often and the cats were people too. The poor critters were having trouble just pooping and peeing and their owners wouldn't care.
This is the answer! Honestly, you’ll change each others lives. She looks gorgeous and I’m sure with time, love and care, you’ll help her find the inner kitten again that’s been forced to hide away.
Just be patient, gentle and spoil her rotten. Depending on your home setup and work, I find having the radio on in the background all the time helps them settle in. Gets lots of toys and stimulation games, lots of treats, make some sheltered and cosy nooks and corners for her as a safe space.
I’ve rescued a mother and kitten before and still have the kitten, even though he’s now nearly 5! If you need any suggestions or help, give me a shout.
You can absolutely say that. She may have not been a people cat either at this point, but you may change each other's minds. I really hope you can keep her. The more she settles, the more her personality will show. Giver her plenty of enrichment and time.
I never grew up with cats, always dogs. I was scared of cats because I knew they were particular and I was afraid of being bit or scratched. Well, many years later my husband brought home a stray and everything changed. You're allowed to change your mind, especially when it comes to twu love.
I know. It makes me so angry when I hear about it. We lost our boy after 16 years and if I’d caught anyone abusing him I would probably have ended up in custody. Hopefully this cat will learn to trust humans again.
Despicable people. I had a cat years ago. She had been abused before, as far as I was being told she got thrown against walls. It broke my heart. When we got her she of course speeded into the next shelter she could find. We let her be there to get used to her new surroundings and after a few hours she already came outside her room. She was careful but when we greeted her it was like she knew she was safe and immediately came and let herself get loved. I really loved her.
A man adopted a kitten for his wife. Almost nine months later he returned a fractious, panicked, aggressive, terrified cat and his wife was extremely pregnant. When he found out she was pregnant, he started to regularly beat the kitten.
A man adopted a cat and then lost his job in the 2008 recession. Rather than return the cat (as many shelters do, we have a no questions asked lifetime return acceptance) he started to hit the cat on her back. When he finally did return the cat, her back was in extremely bad shape and she had to be on various medications for the rest of her life to manage her pain.
A tenant snuck into her landlord's house to steal a cat he was deliberately starving. The cat was maybe 4.5 pounds when she rescued her and brought her to us.
It fucking sucks but I prefer to focus on the good people like OP who do their best to help. There are many bad people but there are many kind, loving people with beautiful hearts and cats can and do respond to patient love
People are horrible. To cats especially. And then out of all cats usually black cats get the worst of it. I’ve known a few shelters who had a policy of not adopting out black cats between the months of August to November because people will sacrifice them
Oh no people do that with full sanity, they're just assholes, don't give them an excuse to avoid responsibility by claiming insanty... doing it sane is much worse.
I recommend covering up the mirror for now. Just when you’re not using it. Thank you for taking in this poor baby. Please give her some strokes from me ❤️.
I can’t stroke her, she’s not used to affection, so if I go to stroke her, she’ll bite. I’d assume it’s because she thinks she’s about to be hit, from previous experiences :(
Catnip and lots of treats, she’ll begin to associate you with all the good things. I have a spicy kitty. She doesn’t let me pet her often but when she does, you can see her heart melt. Does she have a name?
Yeah, she used to be called Lily, but I didn’t want any association with the old “owner”, so I called her blue. It says how much I know about cats cos I didn’t know its gender when I first got it 😭
Blue is the perfect name for a Russian blue. You can make some fun “full names” with it, (i.e., Princess Bluebell von Whiskerton). Makes it a lot easier at the vets office when there’s only one pet in their system with your pets “full” name.
I saw some rescue places put a pom pom on a stick and start to pet the stressed cats with that, particularly while the eat. Try to get her to feed from your hand eventually. Yall will be thick as thieves before you know it
For any being that has been abused, an approaching hand can be so terrifying. I suggest keeping your palm facing up with fingers slightly spread, like you're offering something. Speed also matters, go as slow as possible. You can sit with your side to her and just speak softly, with a slightly higher pitch. Like you're trying to put a baby to sleep. Read aloud soothingly, narrate your actions as you move through the house and do chores. Let her get used to your voice being a gentle presence. I wish both of you all the luck in the world. Thank you for trying with her 💕
I think I saved her soulmate! This is Mochi, I found him at my previous workplace. He’s afraid of men, possibly abused by some. But he’s doing well since I brought him home, the sweetest, loving little soul ever 🥺
We adopted a stray cat who likes men (especially men with a beard) but is hesitant around women. We don't know much about his past except that his first owner was a woman.
He's starting to be ok with me (largely because I feed him & give him water), but he looves my boyfriend. You should see the way he looks at my boyfriend - that's love! It's so adorable 😊
Well if that’s what you call not very photogenic I sure hope you post pics of her once she’s comfortable and blossomed into her full self (bc she is already absolutely stunning now)
As she would be extremely weary of humans, does she still come up to you (your hand), or wait until you're far away, or even out of sight before going for a treat?
Ya that's what I would do anyway, let her get established and comfortable in a bit of a base in your house, like pick a room, over time it's that security that'll make her less nervous about you or activity around. Cats like this I just wouldn't push the physical contact yet at all, give it a long time but definitely let her see you going about your business, talk to her, give her the treats and I would definitely let her see you preparing her food and putting it down for her. That's what will get her feeling better. How long have you had her?
I recommend churus if she's comfortable enough around you, it's like gogurt for cats, they go nuts for it, and hand feeding her treats builds a bond and trust, but don't force it on her, you can always put the churu in a bowl too, that stuff is like crack
I have a very similar nervous cat who is a void, totally different breed but exactly the same facial expression. It takes a lot of time and patience but when that beautiful face changes and you can see a smile my heart melts every time.
We adopted an abused cat 7 years ago. She is still skeptical of humans, and will only let us touch her with one hand.
She has learned we won’t hurt her but she is on anti anxiety meds and that’s the best we are going to get from her. She was traumatized forever.
I can’t imagine her being able to settle in to another home, it has taken us long years and much patience to get as much trust as she’s able.
My parents also recently adopted a cat from an abusive home. She was locked up in a room basically 24/7 and when she was let out the kids of the owners would throw stuff at her (we are also sure that they did sometjing with her head, like pull her ears or whiskers because she gets really weird about being pet there).
The cat also barely knew how to play and basically flinched/ran at every sound or touch.
She's still a bit strange but she's doing so much better now. I hope your kitty can start to trust in humans again, the poor thing.
I can’t offer to be a forever home, but I volunteer to pay a visit to whoever abused her. I don’t mind spending the rest of my life behind bars if it brings justice!
You're a good person and the world needs more people like you ❤️ I've rescued two dumped cats, one of them was abused. Love, safety, food and patience has turned her into an attention craving love bug 😹❤️
I know right! Hope my cats don’t see me being fascinated at this beauty. I was scrolling and my jaw just dropped at that stunning face! Made me go to my 2 babies and give them kisses.
She found you, chose you, feels safe with you, she’ll be your forever fur baby ❤️ a stray found me and stayed with me for 16 yrs. The best cat I ever had
I have no idea where you're located but if you're located anywhere near New England USA send me a PM and I can try to help. Otherwise if I was in your position I don't think I could bear to give that sweetheart up. They would stay living in my home with me if at all possible! Definitely not judging your situation though and if I can help I totally want to!
Ohhh she is beautiful. I will never understand how some people can even fathom mistreating pets. It breaks my heart! 😓 Thank you for giving her a chance to know love and safety! She deserves nothing but love and a life of leisure for rest of her (hopefully very long) life!
If you happen to live near Los Angeles I will come get this precious angel today. (I'm serious, OP! Please message me if you are. I'd be happy to meet up at a coffee shop or something first so you can see I'm not a weirdo, lol.) ❤️
Ohhh how I hope OP is in your area. 🩷 This cat is absolutely stunning! Stopped me in my tracks. She almost doesn’t look real. So ethereal.
I’m in Texas and find myself hoping OP is in my area. I have 2 cats and live in a small home though…wondering if this particular cat needs to be the only one in the home?
Step one. Sit on the floor with her. Try and keep noises down to a minimum. The TV, radio etc. try to talk to her a lot. Like right at her in a smooth a calm voice. Baby talk was good too. NO SHAP SOUNDS. Do not say NO!!!!
She knocks something off the table. Well the stupid human shouldn't have had it there. Good kitty.
She pees in corner? Your right I should have cleaned the litter box. Good kitty!
Give her all the love and attention you can. Even if it's not for life it's something nice she'll have had in her life. She will remember your gift to her.
whatever bastard did this to her, I hope they have a long and painful life until they learn that abuse of anything is never okay — since I saw you were a new temporary owner OP, please be mindful of ALL flowers you bring into the home and to double check what is toxic to cats and what isn’t. This applies to certain foods too. Good luck with your foster girl, I’m sure she needs some love. I do hope maybe you decide to keep her 🫶🏻
I adopted an adult cat from the pound and she has been with me for 6 years and still does not trust me. I feel sure he must have been abused in a previous life.
She’s litteraly my dream cat. My son has been bugging me to get a second cat and I told him that I would, if the CDS send us a charcoal BSH baby. How can someone abuse this beautiful creature 💔
Thank you for taking her in and helping her heal. I hope she does end up with you as her forever family.
She looks similar to my grey feral. He had bee at the shelter for 5 years when I adopted him. He was always terrified and stressed out and wouldn’t even come out during daylight hours for his first 3 months at home with me. Now 5 years in he’s still skittish but very relaxed and happy. Here’s a before (shelter) and after (on my bed) photo of my sweet boy.
My little man Gizmo (Who died in 2021) was abused by a bunch of tweakers who lived next to some friends of mine. They used to throw him up in the attic where we could hear him crying through the vent. I confronted them and told them to give me the cat or I'll call the cops. They conceded. It probably helped that I had a huge biker friend of mine with me at the time. It took him a long time to warm up to my wife and I, but eventually he became my best friend. He waited for me at the door when I came home from work. He slept on his own pillow right behind mine every night. He rolled around at my feet when I was on the couch or in my office. He came with me for walks to explore and eat grass. He lived to be 18 years old. I didn't want a cat when I first saved him but I'm glad I kept him and gave him a wonderful and long life. I hope this little baby meets her forever person too.
Do people really abuse cats and like why? How can you possibly abuse such innocent beings? Like genuinely what the fuck is wrong w ppl? I can’t look at this pic without crying thinking someone would actually hurt her? wtf
Poor baby people who abuse animals don't deserve to have them and should have animals I hate seeing animals being mistreated and abused but I will always speak for animals children the elderly and anyone being abused pisses me off but thank you for taking care of her.
AWW she has such sad eyes 😞....Thank you for taking care of her in her time of need.Finding a loving home for her is a great gift for this special beautiful cat.....
Read to her, OP. I used to read to the scared cat's at my shelter. It's a way of bonding without direct interaction, which your little beauty Queen is likely not ready for yet. I agree with others, she already found her home :)
Sweet angel 😇 Thank you for being a safe person for her, it means so much and I am wishing her to find peace and safety with you and then to find her perfect forever person 💛 Thank you for taking her in!
Its like fear is literally carved on that face, she's been trough some shit. So cool she can have something else now. I hope she finds a great new home.
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Oh my heart. Those eyes can have everything I am ms everything I will ever be. 🫠Thank you for helping her till her people come to love her.
Couldn’t leave her how she was, she didn’t even know how to play with a toy 😭
Thank you for loving her ♥️ If you tell me you’re in AZ then I’m begging to be her forever home 🏠
Unfortunately not, but I appreciate the offer ❤️
Where are you based? Thank you for being you 🫶❤️
GB?😎
If GB means England, then yeah
I’m in the Midlands so I can pretty much get anywhere to come see her, we’ve been looking to adopt and would love to give this beautiful girl the loving home she deserves ❤️
Good luck!✌️🇨🇭
If you get her please take the time show us her growths I wamma see her strive in life
I 100% will! I’ve reached out to OP, they may have already made rehoming plans but I’d love to help if I can
Part of me is saying "Please say North East", then equal parts are arguing that my Other Half will absolutely not acquiesce to Number 11, no matter how sad her eyes are, and hoping you do keep her
11 cats is quite a few cats
That is a full blown cattery
Oh, this is what I am going to start telling people I have now instead of the actual number 😅
Whereabouts please?
Mainland or Northern Ireland by chance?
if shes anywhere near wiltshire i’ll love her forever!
Darnit, I was hoping it would be close to me because I know many people that would take this lil girl in and treat her like a queen
If you’re ever looking to adopt in AZ I 100000% recommend Ranillas rescue. That’s where I got my baby boy and the lady that owns it is an angel she has devoted her life to saving these babies 🫶🏼
https://preview.redd.it/puy99eab317g1.jpeg?width=4032&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=84d0b5273d040b761f6f314b7f0b9ea049cc95b1
OP I’ve sent you a DM! Maybe you’ve already made plans to rehome her but if not then I’d be happy to see if we are good fit for her, no pressure though. We don’t have any other pets or children, so it’s a calm and quiet environment for her to learn to trust again with two patient people.
Hey fellow midlander👋your home sounds just perfect for a kitty like this 🥰
Those eyes just hacked my soul and stole my wallet
Can I just say, I’m not an animal person, and have never had a cat, but my mind has sorta been changed…
Congratulations on your new cat, in that case! I hope she learns to trust again in your care. :)
Just sitting quietly near her will be comforting, and will start to teach her that humans can be kind. Thank you for what you're giving her!
If you want to keep her company, don't face her way. Sit sideways or even away from her. Direct can be seen as confrontational to a cat. Especially one as stressed as yours :(
Big important thing! When you look at her, blink very slowly, then look away. Slow eye blinks are cat language for 'I trust you' and 'I feel safe', so say that to her then stop staring at her because that's cat language for 'I am distrustful'.
It's hard to speak cat body language as a human, because the less direct attention you give them the more 'trust' you are showing them, kind of opposite to human body language. Your poor little girl seems super stressed, but still a tiny bit hopeful (her eyes are fully dilated, but her ears are not flattened against her head). Best thing you can do is just be present, but not facing her, and let her come to you.
Keep any of your physical motions slow, and talk in a low tone of voice, or light deep hum on occasion to imitate a purr. If she approaches you, let her smell your hand, and very slowly rub or scratch her chin or side of her face. Do not reach for the top of her head, that can be seen as dominating.
Offers of food can help too :)
Yeah; that’s how I managed to gain the trust of one of my other cats. He was one of 25 abused cats that had been deemed capable of being adopted. When I got him home, he immediately fled to the bedroom and under the bed.
After putting everything away and getting things set up for him, I went to go check up on him with a saucer plate and wet food. I saw on the floor and leaned up against the wall next to him, cracked open the can of food and plated it all in front of him. The entire time, I spoke softly to him. As gentle as a I could. I even sang to him like you would to a baby. And then I waited. Cross legged and with the food placed in front of me but not too close.
About thirty minutes to an hour of me telling him he is safe, he is loved and nothing will ever happen to him, he finally came out. He did not go to the food, he came straight to me. He climbed on my lap after sniffing me and he shook like a leaf, but I swore that cat clung to me as he did so.
After that moment, he became my baby. He was obsessed with me. I also found out he was terrified of garbage bags a week after adopting him. And I still dread to know what his previous owners had done to him and his siblings.
This is all great advice! I'd like to add one thing. I once had a stray that showed up at our house one day and had eyes just like these. I thought it was just how she looked but after a while her eyes started to look relaxed and i was so happy for her. She really started flourishing when we gave her a smaller space (1 room) with another cat she trusted. I think bigger space = more space that she needed to check for potential threats. So a smaller space to start with felt safer for her. Once she got more confident she got more space, ofcourse.
It helps to sit on the ground near the cat and read aloud peacefully to them. That way you're looking at the book instead of the cat, and the cat can get used to the sound of your voice.
Keep her! She needs you.
Yeah I was about to say that it doesn’t make sense to get her acclimated to this situation only to completely change it again by giving her to someone else. That’s just unnecessary stress, you might as well keep her.
Please remember how fostering is important. For cats that were abused, a safe place outside the noises of a shelter is crucial for them to blossom into wonderful cats! However, if OP can only foster her, it is already helping her much more than leaving her at the shelter until someone has the tools & time to help her out.
Umm... That's not how fostering works. 😊
There are ways to make the transition to an adopter's home much easier - such as making the carrier into the cat's "safe space" as they are settling in, at the foster's.
By the time they leave, the carrier is a comforting, familiar retreat, & that's where they start from, in the new place - one room, food over there, litter tray over there, & carrier, with a cozy pad inside, with all their familiar smells.
Feliway pump spray is also very helpful - a synthetic mimic of cheek pheromone, to mark objects & places as "safe".
I'm crying! Omg! Yay! You have a heart of gold
I disliked cats for a while. Then I lived with them for five years. I used to argue with their owners because their litter boxes weren't changed often and the cats were people too. The poor critters were having trouble just pooping and peeing and their owners wouldn't care.
She'll love you for life if you keep her. The first signs of love and loyalty follows forever.
This is the answer! Honestly, you’ll change each others lives. She looks gorgeous and I’m sure with time, love and care, you’ll help her find the inner kitten again that’s been forced to hide away.
Just be patient, gentle and spoil her rotten. Depending on your home setup and work, I find having the radio on in the background all the time helps them settle in. Gets lots of toys and stimulation games, lots of treats, make some sheltered and cosy nooks and corners for her as a safe space.
I’ve rescued a mother and kitten before and still have the kitten, even though he’s now nearly 5! If you need any suggestions or help, give me a shout.
You can absolutely say that. She may have not been a people cat either at this point, but you may change each other's minds. I really hope you can keep her. The more she settles, the more her personality will show. Giver her plenty of enrichment and time.
I never grew up with cats, always dogs. I was scared of cats because I knew they were particular and I was afraid of being bit or scratched. Well, many years later my husband brought home a stray and everything changed. You're allowed to change your mind, especially when it comes to twu love.
Allow yourself to be loved by this beautiful fried food, that's all. You'll learn a lot from it.
I was going to say, I think you found her a home already.
Cats are the greatest. And giving them a peaceful home is so fulfilling. Whatever happens, I'm glad she was rescued.
Who the fuck would abuse a cat and why???
I know. It makes me so angry when I hear about it. We lost our boy after 16 years and if I’d caught anyone abusing him I would probably have ended up in custody. Hopefully this cat will learn to trust humans again.
Despicable people. I had a cat years ago. She had been abused before, as far as I was being told she got thrown against walls. It broke my heart. When we got her she of course speeded into the next shelter she could find. We let her be there to get used to her new surroundings and after a few hours she already came outside her room. She was careful but when we greeted her it was like she knew she was safe and immediately came and let herself get loved. I really loved her.
This makes me so angry that I could spit. I'm happy that she met you and was loved.
Bless you
People with impaired empathy.
People who think cats can have 'bad intentions' and who abuse wives and children too, from my experience.
Psychopaths do. I've heard of stories that some just k*** animals for pleasure. Monsters.
I work at a cat shelter
People can be terrible
Here's just a few
A man adopted a kitten for his wife. Almost nine months later he returned a fractious, panicked, aggressive, terrified cat and his wife was extremely pregnant. When he found out she was pregnant, he started to regularly beat the kitten.
A man adopted a cat and then lost his job in the 2008 recession. Rather than return the cat (as many shelters do, we have a no questions asked lifetime return acceptance) he started to hit the cat on her back. When he finally did return the cat, her back was in extremely bad shape and she had to be on various medications for the rest of her life to manage her pain.
A tenant snuck into her landlord's house to steal a cat he was deliberately starving. The cat was maybe 4.5 pounds when she rescued her and brought her to us.
It fucking sucks but I prefer to focus on the good people like OP who do their best to help. There are many bad people but there are many kind, loving people with beautiful hearts and cats can and do respond to patient love
People are horrible. To cats especially. And then out of all cats usually black cats get the worst of it. I’ve known a few shelters who had a policy of not adopting out black cats between the months of August to November because people will sacrifice them
People who lose their sanity are capable of anything... Deforestation, hurting cats, anything... 😑
Oh no people do that with full sanity, they're just assholes, don't give them an excuse to avoid responsibility by claiming insanty... doing it sane is much worse.
Her little eyes, omg. So glad shes safe now
I can only keep her until she finds a home is something l said about each of my 7 cats.
Love Really works Wonders She Already looks so much Happier.
Yeah, the mirror scares her so she likes to hide behind my mirror, and she knows the mirrors in front of her, so she won’t move lol
I recommend covering up the mirror for now. Just when you’re not using it. Thank you for taking in this poor baby. Please give her some strokes from me ❤️.
I can’t stroke her, she’s not used to affection, so if I go to stroke her, she’ll bite. I’d assume it’s because she thinks she’s about to be hit, from previous experiences :(
It’s a slow process, but we’re getting there
Just respecting her boundaries means you’re 90% there. You’re my hero for today❤️
Thank you brother
Catnip and lots of treats, she’ll begin to associate you with all the good things. I have a spicy kitty. She doesn’t let me pet her often but when she does, you can see her heart melt. Does she have a name?
Yeah, she used to be called Lily, but I didn’t want any association with the old “owner”, so I called her blue. It says how much I know about cats cos I didn’t know its gender when I first got it 😭
Blue is the perfect name for a Russian blue. You can make some fun “full names” with it, (i.e., Princess Bluebell von Whiskerton). Makes it a lot easier at the vets office when there’s only one pet in their system with your pets “full” name.
I saw some rescue places put a pom pom on a stick and start to pet the stressed cats with that, particularly while the eat. Try to get her to feed from your hand eventually. Yall will be thick as thieves before you know it
For any being that has been abused, an approaching hand can be so terrifying. I suggest keeping your palm facing up with fingers slightly spread, like you're offering something. Speed also matters, go as slow as possible. You can sit with your side to her and just speak softly, with a slightly higher pitch. Like you're trying to put a baby to sleep. Read aloud soothingly, narrate your actions as you move through the house and do chores. Let her get used to your voice being a gentle presence. I wish both of you all the luck in the world. Thank you for trying with her 💕
Poor kitty☹️ I hope she’ll find her forever home.
I think I saved her soulmate! This is Mochi, I found him at my previous workplace. He’s afraid of men, possibly abused by some. But he’s doing well since I brought him home, the sweetest, loving little soul ever 🥺
https://preview.redd.it/srv3vticvy6g1.jpeg?width=5712&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=961ee508345564a0be6977c9c1f28f0056b47d65
We adopted a stray cat who likes men (especially men with a beard) but is hesitant around women. We don't know much about his past except that his first owner was a woman.
He's starting to be ok with me (largely because I feed him & give him water), but he looves my boyfriend. You should see the way he looks at my boyfriend - that's love! It's so adorable 😊
Your cat has good tastes in men tho 💅
He does 😄
Can we see the little guy?
The cat is Mr. Steal Yo' Girl. Lol
Aww
The poor thing, she looks so worried. Best thing for her is a quiet bed and just let her be as you come and go. Nice food and try and let her relax.
Yeah, she was shitting bricks as I was taking the pictures. Not very photogenic. To make up for making her worried, I gave her a few treats :)
Well if that’s what you call not very photogenic I sure hope you post pics of her once she’s comfortable and blossomed into her full self (bc she is already absolutely stunning now)
I'm curious, how does she respond to treats?
As she would be extremely weary of humans, does she still come up to you (your hand), or wait until you're far away, or even out of sight before going for a treat?
I just put them in different parts of the house so she can explore her surroundings
Ah ok, that makes a lot of sense and would make her more comfortable and in control.
Cheers
The treats over time will make her feel good and therefore by association help her start to feel ok around people.
Ya that's what I would do anyway, let her get established and comfortable in a bit of a base in your house, like pick a room, over time it's that security that'll make her less nervous about you or activity around. Cats like this I just wouldn't push the physical contact yet at all, give it a long time but definitely let her see you going about your business, talk to her, give her the treats and I would definitely let her see you preparing her food and putting it down for her. That's what will get her feeling better. How long have you had her?
I recommend churus if she's comfortable enough around you, it's like gogurt for cats, they go nuts for it, and hand feeding her treats builds a bond and trust, but don't force it on her, you can always put the churu in a bowl too, that stuff is like crack
I have a very similar nervous cat who is a void, totally different breed but exactly the same facial expression. It takes a lot of time and patience but when that beautiful face changes and you can see a smile my heart melts every time.
The saddest eyes in the world..omg ❤️ she is beautiful! Thank u for helping
We adopted an abused cat 7 years ago. She is still skeptical of humans, and will only let us touch her with one hand. She has learned we won’t hurt her but she is on anti anxiety meds and that’s the best we are going to get from her. She was traumatized forever. I can’t imagine her being able to settle in to another home, it has taken us long years and much patience to get as much trust as she’s able.
You say you can't keep her but you already lost. You just don't know it yet :)
Stating facts. Congratulations on your new roomie op.
Statistics say...😃.
Those eyes tell the whole story…such fear in them. So sad…
Those eyes. 🥺 Thanks for helping her. ❤️
Omg, she looks so timid, and scared. How could anyone abuse something so pure, and innocent? My heart aches, and I'm tearing up.
My parents also recently adopted a cat from an abusive home. She was locked up in a room basically 24/7 and when she was let out the kids of the owners would throw stuff at her (we are also sure that they did sometjing with her head, like pull her ears or whiskers because she gets really weird about being pet there).
The cat also barely knew how to play and basically flinched/ran at every sound or touch.
She's still a bit strange but she's doing so much better now. I hope your kitty can start to trust in humans again, the poor thing.
I can’t offer to be a forever home, but I volunteer to pay a visit to whoever abused her. I don’t mind spending the rest of my life behind bars if it brings justice!
Thank you for helping her! 🥺❤️
For animals,being respected understand,and treated with kindness is the most precious kind of companionship.
If u were in North Spain I would take her
Please do keep up updated. I'm glad she's safe and i hope she finds a furrever home soon.
She looks gorgeous! I wish I could have pets. I rent. ☹️
Whoever abused her deserves a special place in hell.
Girl has seen some stuff 🥺
Oh my god I want her 😭😭😭 if you are in Massachusetts DM me
You're a good person and the world needs more people like you ❤️ I've rescued two dumped cats, one of them was abused. Love, safety, food and patience has turned her into an attention craving love bug 😹❤️
Don’t tell my cats I said this but I think that is the most precious cat face I’ve ever seen. She’s longing for connection and comfort. 💗
I know right! Hope my cats don’t see me being fascinated at this beauty. I was scrolling and my jaw just dropped at that stunning face! Made me go to my 2 babies and give them kisses.
So happy she found you xxx
Sending love to this sweet survivor. I hope she finds her forever home soon!
Now I’m tempted to get a third cat. 😍🥰who could resist that face.
She found you, chose you, feels safe with you, she’ll be your forever fur baby ❤️ a stray found me and stayed with me for 16 yrs. The best cat I ever had
I have no idea where you're located but if you're located anywhere near New England USA send me a PM and I can try to help. Otherwise if I was in your position I don't think I could bear to give that sweetheart up. They would stay living in my home with me if at all possible! Definitely not judging your situation though and if I can help I totally want to!
Ohhh she is beautiful. I will never understand how some people can even fathom mistreating pets. It breaks my heart! 😓 Thank you for giving her a chance to know love and safety! She deserves nothing but love and a life of leisure for rest of her (hopefully very long) life!
If you happen to live near Los Angeles I will come get this precious angel today. (I'm serious, OP! Please message me if you are. I'd be happy to meet up at a coffee shop or something first so you can see I'm not a weirdo, lol.) ❤️
Ohhh how I hope OP is in your area. 🩷 This cat is absolutely stunning! Stopped me in my tracks. She almost doesn’t look real. So ethereal.
I’m in Texas and find myself hoping OP is in my area. I have 2 cats and live in a small home though…wondering if this particular cat needs to be the only one in the home?
Thank you! Where are you? I might be able to help with finding a new home.
They said they were in the UK on a different comment
Thank you!
I think my heart might never recover. I’d give that cat everything I own.
She looks so sad. I really hope things will get better for her now.
https://preview.redd.it/b96h6hm0yy6g1.png?width=923&format=png&auto=webp&s=fe43dd080243601f1db8c3cbb9a1cc12a181b536
Sadness personified! 😱😱😱❤️👍😂
PLEASE KEEP HER 😭😭😭😭😭
Foster fail!!
Step one. Sit on the floor with her. Try and keep noises down to a minimum. The TV, radio etc. try to talk to her a lot. Like right at her in a smooth a calm voice. Baby talk was good too. NO SHAP SOUNDS. Do not say NO!!!!
She knocks something off the table. Well the stupid human shouldn't have had it there. Good kitty.
She pees in corner? Your right I should have cleaned the litter box. Good kitty!
https://preview.redd.it/4nywh7lhg07g1.jpeg?width=1107&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=fca36effeda2428e879ca6b69bc39cbbf6a7c153
Awww she looks like my June. Thank you for taking her in!
That is a sweet baby. I hope she finds love.
She is beautiful, make sure you spend lots of time with soothing music on softly slow blinking at her and sitting with treats. 💓
Where u at? I love to give this sad faced baby a loving home.
Those eyes 🥺🥺 I would happily take her in
It's difficult to keep an abused cat; it takes courage to start. You are a brave person! ❤️❤️❤️👍😂
Awh, what a sweet puddy-tat.
I currently have 5 cats and 2 dogs. 1 cat and both dogs I saved. They are blessings. The other cat was a gift and the 2 cats gifted us the 3 babies.
So sad. What's wrong with people!
She is beautiful. I just don’t understand people who can be cruel to animals or just helpless. I hope you can find her a good home.
She already found a home!! Yours!!🥺🫶 Please keep her! You won't regret it I promise! But you might regret it if you give her to someone else:(
She is absolutely gorgeous
Poor baby. I wish I could take her
Give her all the love and attention you can. Even if it's not for life it's something nice she'll have had in her life. She will remember your gift to her.
That face 😩😭🫶🏻
Poor baby! You can see the pain in her eyes. ❤️🩹
whatever bastard did this to her, I hope they have a long and painful life until they learn that abuse of anything is never okay — since I saw you were a new temporary owner OP, please be mindful of ALL flowers you bring into the home and to double check what is toxic to cats and what isn’t. This applies to certain foods too. Good luck with your foster girl, I’m sure she needs some love. I do hope maybe you decide to keep her 🫶🏻
That poor lady has seen some shit.
Yeah, she did a massive shit this morning lol
Hope it was in a litter box
Queue Sarah McLaughlin song
Cat: CAN I STAY PLZ? [with an infant voice]
Omg little baby 😽😽😽😽😽😽😽
Looks like a he to me
You’re in the uk?
Beautiful ♥️ Thank ♥️ you for fostering her for now, until she finds her Forever Family
How could anyone hurt this precious creature..
I adopted an adult cat from the pound and she has been with me for 6 years and still does not trust me. I feel sure he must have been abused in a previous life.
What a gorgeous baby. Her fear breaks my heart.
She’s litteraly my dream cat. My son has been bugging me to get a second cat and I told him that I would, if the CDS send us a charcoal BSH baby. How can someone abuse this beautiful creature 💔
Those eyes!! 😍
She’s got such a big round face for a girl!
Give her some calming bite sized treats might help curb the anxiety
And lovvins ofc
Her eyes speak louder than meows 😉
What a cutesy cat. Keep it
oh my gosh, bless her 🥲
Poor little baby. I’d adopt her in a heartbeat.
I'm looking to adopt a cat and I'm in the UK too, Midlands. Where are you based? Thank you. She is absolutely gorgeous
how can you abuse this little being??
Those sad eyes are breaking my heart.
what a precious baby
Gorgeous girl! I hope she enjoys her time with you and finds her loving furrever home soon.x
How could anyone hurt her. 🥺
Sounds like you want to keep her. Why is that impossible?
That look on her face is heartbreaking. I hope she finds a loving forever home soon. And thank you for taking care of her.
Omg that poor sweet baby. Her eyes are so sad 😞
Thank you for taking her in and helping her heal. I hope she does end up with you as her forever family.
She looks similar to my grey feral. He had bee at the shelter for 5 years when I adopted him. He was always terrified and stressed out and wouldn’t even come out during daylight hours for his first 3 months at home with me. Now 5 years in he’s still skittish but very relaxed and happy. Here’s a before (shelter) and after (on my bed) photo of my sweet boy.
https://preview.redd.it/ucnh690ut07g1.jpeg?width=2048&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=1997237ac051286dc44660476bdffa5b2e6e2cc6
https://preview.redd.it/q4cw68ukp17g1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=89ba961151a9939744a617a3f6a21ffdda7de433
My little man Gizmo (Who died in 2021) was abused by a bunch of tweakers who lived next to some friends of mine. They used to throw him up in the attic where we could hear him crying through the vent. I confronted them and told them to give me the cat or I'll call the cops. They conceded. It probably helped that I had a huge biker friend of mine with me at the time. It took him a long time to warm up to my wife and I, but eventually he became my best friend. He waited for me at the door when I came home from work. He slept on his own pillow right behind mine every night. He rolled around at my feet when I was on the couch or in my office. He came with me for walks to explore and eat grass. He lived to be 18 years old. I didn't want a cat when I first saved him but I'm glad I kept him and gave him a wonderful and long life. I hope this little baby meets her forever person too.
Do people really abuse cats and like why? How can you possibly abuse such innocent beings? Like genuinely what the fuck is wrong w ppl? I can’t look at this pic without crying thinking someone would actually hurt her? wtf
People are awful.
Her face makes me want to find the person who did this to her
Poor baby people who abuse animals don't deserve to have them and should have animals I hate seeing animals being mistreated and abused but I will always speak for animals children the elderly and anyone being abused pisses me off but thank you for taking care of her.
Oh my goodness I wouldn’t be able to stop hugging on that kitty. She’s so precious!!
The last pic made me teary. I think you should keep her and love her. :3
Awe. Keep her.
OP, I believe in you. You can make the difference that’s gonna change it all for for her to make her feel better!
Give her lots of slow blinks or just close your eyes when you're around her. Basically means "I love you, you are safe" in cat
AWW she has such sad eyes 😞....Thank you for taking care of her in her time of need.Finding a loving home for her is a great gift for this special beautiful cat.....
Read to her, OP. I used to read to the scared cat's at my shelter. It's a way of bonding without direct interaction, which your little beauty Queen is likely not ready for yet. I agree with others, she already found her home :)
That sweet little face! Thank you for taking her in.
Please keep her if you can. Her eyes look so sad and giving her to someone else might make her feel abandoned again.
I am prety sure that she has found a wonderful place with you Your love is exactly what she needs
Those eyes have stolen my heart. If my kitty wasn’t one that needed to be an only cat, I’d take that baby in a heart beat
You get to show her the good side of humanity before she finds her forever home. Thank you for helping her. 🖤
She has innocent eyes awwww. Also I hope you got to keep her forever
🙏🏼❤️🥰
Poor baby's seen some shit 😢
Omg what a beauty. Thanks for saving her.
Sweet angel 😇 Thank you for being a safe person for her, it means so much and I am wishing her to find peace and safety with you and then to find her perfect forever person 💛 Thank you for taking her in!
How could anyone abuse such a sweat baby, she is beautiful.
Thank you for helping her!
WHO IS CUTTING ONIONS IN THIS POST.
Poor girl has sad eyes :( Thank you for taking care of her!
Such sad eyes. Thanks for caring, hope you will consider keeping her.
If you ask with those eyes, I can give anything.
For now 🙃, take this: 🫳🏼🫀
Its like fear is literally carved on that face, she's been trough some shit. So cool she can have something else now. I hope she finds a great new home.
The hurt in her eyes breaks my heart 😭
Poor baby - has so much mistrust is her eyes :(