A difficult step

[farthing]

Don't dispair, we have often found that animals with behavioural problems get worse before they get better, and it all feels pointless.
We have also, often found we can get past that, by continuing to do what we are doing, no fuss, ingore the behaviour and remain calm.
An example, we took in a rabbit who had been taken in by a rescue, she was found covered in cigarette burns and had a broken foreleg when they found her, she was terrified. She spent about 4 years at the rescue, never being handled, then we were asked to take her. She would growl, bite and scratch, we persisted and by the time she died we could pick her up wearing a t-shirt. She was never relaxed, but she trusted us not to hurt her.
Your kitten will be scared, but won't stay in the corner forever, she will learn that behaving like this, lets her off the hook. Give her a pet at a routine time and offer a treat at the end, and she can them relax afterwards.
Tabatha is a loving little cat, but hates getting her tablets, she runs away in the morning to avoid them, the rest of the day she is normal, she nows she can then relax.
I would suggest you use a feliway while you do this and take it very slowly, if you have a good day don't push more the next- keep it steady, until she is totally calm for a couple of weeks before you move on.
I can only say this is our experiences and all animals are different, but don't be disheartened yet.

[angieh]

I have been feeling very sorry for you and Koko and wondered whether you had read Elaine's experience with Reiki therapy and her cat Eva?

I am sure farthing's advice is good - she has all the experience with dealing with cats that are stressed because of what they have had to go through poor loves - but it seems from what you have described that there really is no reason that your Koko should seem so scared. Just wondered if you have a Reiki therapist anywhere near you who understands cats?

[smokytopaz]

I have been wondering this, if it involves massage, I can't get close enough (yet) to Koko, so what is Reiki??

[smokytopaz]

Oh and I think Koko's problem stems from the fact that she was never truly socialised as a kitten. She is shy and if she hung back in to room full (4) of boistrous kittens she simply never got truly cuddled.

[dandysmom]

I suspected that a while back when you first started posting about her wariness........
what a shame, but she is improving slowly.

[Mags]

Originally Posted by smokytopaz

I have been wondering this, if it involves massage, I can't get close enough (yet) to Koko, so what is Reiki??

Here's the link to Elaine's thread about Eva and her experience with Reiki, you may find it interesting and worth considering ......

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php...ighlight=Reiki

[angieh]

There was also a follow up thread started by Elaine -

http://www.catsey.com/showthread.php?t=31555

in which you will see that a very new member on this forum pixiekittie is a Reiki therapist herself.

[calismum]

I too have been following Koko's story.

I think all the advice you are being given is sound and you are doing nothing wrong.

I have had a couple of feral/unsocialised kittens and she sounds as if she is behaving the same way. Eventually all could be handled and I am sure that Koko will get there.

Please keep us posted on how she is doing.

Big (((hugs))) to you both.

[Leesy]

When I first got my Beloved little Charkie he was a ferile kitten of the local farm, to catch him the farmer had to bait him out with some food and catch him in a box, when I got home I was expecting a sweet cuddly little kitten, but as we opened the box he shot straight out like a rocket, banged into the french doors then wedged himself behind a big book cupboard, he stayed there while me and OH emptied the cupboard, then while my OH pulled it forward I got a tea towel to wrap him in as he was hissing and spitting at us he was totaly wild.
To calm him down I kept him wrapped in the towel so that he couldn`t scrach me or get away then I sat down with him on my knee and just talked to him and stoked him still keeping him tight in the towel, he eventually fell asleep on me and I was able to let the towel relax and he stayed there on me for what must have been hours.
The next day he was still hiding but not as scared and I did the same again with the towel, and did this every day a couple of times a day for at least a week and he turned into the biggest softiest cat that you could wish for, people that came round could not believe that he had once been a ferile kitten, the bond between us was increbile and I still miss him madly.
So all I can say is just keep going and doing what you feel is best it is worth it in the end.