Shelter Shell-Shock?

[Dandy21]

I decided to post this here too because the dog forum moved it to the "Kitty Korner" where it will likely be ignored for months. Anyway...



My cat, Marie, who lives with my parents was picked up by Animal Control sometime last week. They've set traps out in a nearby neighborhood, probably to pick up all the bad strays that come around and pick fights. Admittedly, they are outside cats. So Marie ends up at the pound, and my parents went and paid $91 to get her out. Now she's home, and inside until she settles, but she's all teeth and claws. She's sulking behind the toilet and doesn't want anyone to touch her. She is eating and drinking though. Normally she's friendly, happy to be inside, and cuddly.


Is there anything we can do to help her settle back down? (There is also a small possibility it is not Marie at all, because they can't get close enough to tell.) Or is it simply a time will tell kind of thing?


I later added:
She's 5 and never been away from home and hates being contained, so after being in a cage for 3 or 4 days (before they looked on AC's page and found her on Saturday), she's probably all sorts of not happy. She's also not usually indoors, and hasn't been kept in that bathroom since she was a kitten. They just don't want to put her back outside to run off again. My parents are not usually ones to interact with her, so maybe that's part of it too?


Both cats are getting collars and tags -- the Evil Kitty could not be made to wear a collar, so after a while we stopped buying them. They may also go with me to the vet on Friday to get microchipped. I think that will depend on how well Marie is doing by then.

[WashingtonBay]

Hmm.... Any real reason she's restricted to the bathroom? I might just try to let her go hide where she wants... the bathroom doesn't offer much of a 'secure' feeling for her, and then let her come out on her own terms. Put the food out where you/your parents are, give her a choice of a few litterboxes...

[Dandy21]

Because she has her claws and a taste for expensive furniture.

I think her crate is in there with her, but because of her clawing habits and the way our house is furnished, it's not really possible to give her an "area" to be out in -- unless we moved her to a bigger, full bath.

[WashingtonBay]

Well, as long as she's isolated in a bathroom, she's probably not going to come around soon... she's got no interaction except for occasional scares where the door opens, someone reaches for her, she hisses, they retreat and close the door.

She's not going to run out and immediately claw the furniture, that's something a cat who isn't afraid does. She's likely to go hide under a bed. And come out when it's quiet and she gets hungry. If she comes out and claws the furniture... then I'd call her recovered and put her back out.

[Dandy21]

If I were at home, I'd let her out, but I'm not. If she's still in there come Friday, I'm going to go spend some serious time with her (I like to spend time with all the critters when I come home anyway). They want to figure out how to keep her closer to home so she doesn't go out and get trapped again, before they just throw her out.

I know it's not an ideal situation -- but I can't change it, especially not from 85 miles away.

[WashingtonBay]

How about a garage?

[Dandy21]

The other cat's shelter is in the garage, and she doesn't get along with her.

Right now my mom is holding her, and trying to brush her out a bit (which Marie loves). I'm... not so convinced with the picture they sent me. I don't know, since I can't see her or anything... I dunno. She has two distinctive scars, neither of which my parents can see because of how skittish she is and where there are (a torn tongue, and a torn toe).


http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/45675/2702244030103621543S425x425Q85.jpg



http://inlinethumb54.webshots.com/21045/2174773350103621543S425x425Q85.jpg

[lovesfortune]

I hope you get it figured out and it is her. I'm no help with cats.

[AppyLover]

I hope it is her and she settles in but the pictures makes me think two different cats.

But once things settle down for her to get a microchip would be a good thing so if she does get caught again there is no question on who she is and where she belongs.

But assuming it is her and she is just spooked. quiet and lots of love and gentle pettings will slowly bring her back around.

[WashingtonBay]

Hard to say... cats can look very different from one pic to the next. It's interesting that they're not sure. I might assume it IS the same cat if yours is still missing. If yours comes home next week... then... I guess they now have another cat ;)

[Dandy21]

WB, That's kind of what my parents said, "Well, if it's not Marie, then we adopted a new cat!" but... then Marie is still missing. She doesn't usually go away for days on end. Again, it's a matter of if I was there, I'd feel better. (Though... I'm a bit reassured that both these cats have that kind of odd hair grain under their right eye [left in the photo]). It just so happens that my parents lost my other cat last May too, and didn't tell me until after exams. They didn't tell me Marie was gone until they'd already found her again -- four days later.

Apparently she'd have been up for review the next day as to whether or not she was adoptable.

[Gypsy Rose]

What a beautiful cat! I hope it is Marie, and she settles down soon.

[FredRock]

I don't know what the situation is as far as someone being home, but I would just let her out into the familiar place to chill for a while, then try to get back in contact with her. She's had a rough time, and is probably distrustful of any human right now.

Is there a spare bedroom she can be in instead? Something more homey than a bathroom with more places to regroup at least.

[Dandy21]

FredRock, I don't know about who's home when either. There's no spare bedroom without something of "sentimental value" in it. I'm going home on Friday (hopefully until Tuesday morning), and I'll only be gone for part of Saturday, so I'm going to let her out and sit with her to try and help her calm down. My mom said that right now she'll hiss at you until you pick her up, then she's all cuddles. (She was taught not to bite when she was younger.)

[Tiz]

It doesn't look like the same cat to me. The way the hair grows on her nose in the first picture doesn't seem to be on the second picture. Cowlicks like that are a foolproof way to identify animals, because they don't change. Have your Mom compare!

[Dandy21]

My parents are pretty worthless in the identification aspect. I will get home tomorrow and see for sure. They do say she's been acting like Marie. I did mention the hair growth under her eye that looks the same in this photo, I don't know about on her nose, it could be the different angle. Anyway, I should know by tomorrow afternoon -- I'm just hoping it's her, but not holding my breath.

[shewasmyshadow]

I have to agree. Looks like a different cat to me. The ears are kind of different tilt wise. Let us know what happens. If she was my kitty I'd declaw and keep her inside. ;) She's too pretty to be outside roughing it.

[Dandy21]

SWMS, that was my thinking too -- the ears do look different. Tomorrow will tell. I'm taking Misha to the vet tomorrow, maybe I can swing by the Humane Society to see if I can find her if that isn't her. I also can't bring myself to declaw another cat. The Evil Kitty was declawed and insane. If it were my house, I'd let her be indoor/outdoor, but it's not. She'd never be happy as just an indoor cat.

[shewasmyshadow]

SWMS, that was my thinking too -- the ears do look different. Tomorrow will tell. I'm taking Misha to the vet tomorrow, maybe I can swing by the Humane Society to see if I can find her if that isn't her. I also can't bring myself to declaw another cat. The Evil Kitty was declawed and insane. If it were my house, I'd let her be indoor/outdoor, but it's not. She'd never be happy as just an indoor cat.

She's too old to de-claw now anyways. If they're done really young they never seem to mind...

So, are you still planning to move out? What are ALOK's plans now that her cousin isn't doing so well? I never did get to the end of his thread. How's he doing??

[Dandy21]

I thought about her age after I'd replied, while I was lying awake worrying that this cat isn't her. It's taken me 5 years to even really want another cat, but I don't want one that looks like her. I'm not sure what my parents will do with new cat if it isn't Marie -- keep it, I assume.

Yes, I am still planning to move out. I should have an apartment in Minneapolis, I'm going to email him this weekend to double check. But it will only be me. Right now ALOK is planning on moving in with Chris and her aunt to help take care of him. He's continuing to improve, two days ago he couldn't walk, yesterday he could. The doctor's keep saying that he won't be able to do x or y, and then he does. They are looking to send him home in a couple of days.

[shewasmyshadow]

If the cat isn't Marie, then it's still a good thing it got rescued. No one deserves to be locked up. That's no fun.

Well, too bad ALOK not coming along, but we understand. When are you coming out?

[Dandy21]

Yeah, it is a good thing they got her -- but I can't help but wonder what if it was someone else's cat (assuming it's not Marie, I won't be sure until 4 pm). My parents don't like the cats very much, so I don't know if they'd keep her or rehome her.

I'm expecting to leave May 16th, but since I'm by my lonesome, I don't know that I'll be there and settled until the 20th. I still have to figure that out for certain. And my mother is notorious for finding reasons to detain me.

[shewasmyshadow]

Yeah, it is a good thing they got her -- but I can't help but wonder what if it was someone else's cat (assuming it's not Marie, I won't be sure until 4 pm). My parents don't like the cats very much, so I don't know if they'd keep her or rehome her.

I'm expecting to leave May 16th, but since I'm by my lonesome, I don't know that I'll be there and settled until the 20th. I still have to figure that out for certain. And my mother is notorious for finding reasons to detain me.

tehehehe... your mom sounds like mine! :p

[Dandy21]

The cat does seem to be Marie -- the split in her tongue is definitely there. Her photo at the Shelter looks like her too. She's still cowering, but talked to the vet today and they said to give her time. She will eventually be moved into the garage where she'll have Misha's hugenormous crate all to herself with some hidey holes, so she doesn't have to worry about all the people/dog/etc running around through the house.