File :-(, x, )
Anonymous
I have a problem that troubles me.

Two months ago I adopted a little black kitten who was fostered by my friends. I already have an older white and black cat who I hoped would keep the kitten company and also that the older cat would keep her company.

For a whole month the kitten's been like a ghost. I almost never see her and when I do see her and she sees me it's time to RUN AWAY. I've never, ever raised my voice around her, I've never struck her, I've never hurt her.
Whenever I was lucky enough to catch her, hold her and socialize her with me, she'd be docile but always give an attitude of "OH PLEASE LET ME DOWN".
I feel like I've failed her in some way. More rationally I wonder if the older cat is very possessive and drilled it into the kitten's head that the human is off limits and should she be in the human's arms it's time for cat hazing when the human's not around.
Please, does anyone have any suggestions?
>> Anonymous
I don't know. Just keep up the love'n and quiet calm attitude and hopefully the kitten will relax eventually.
>> Anonymous
Some cats are just like that.

My friend's black cat has never been mistreated, but still will bolt and hide from anybody that approaches him.
>> Anonymous
My cat takes about a month to be cool with anyone. Until then, she runs and hides under the bed and stays there until that person isn't around. After a while, she gets over it.
>> Anonymous
I brought a cat home with me after a short stay in another city, and while my family has never intentionally hurt any animal, she still took about 5 months to socialize with them when I wasn't around. She'd generally just hide in my room and only come out when she needed to eat or use the litter box, or if I was around. Now, she's practically a little traitor and likes being around them more than me ;p

All cats are different. Just give your kitten some space and let her come to you on her own time. If you smother her, or in any way force her to be near or around you, you'll only serve to link yourself with being a bad experience. Offer her treats, try to play with her with those toys on the ends of plastic rods (ie: from a distance) and let her get to know you at her own pace. If any time you see her around, try to offer her something nice, that way she'll start to associate you with being a good thing.
>> Anonymous
Your kitten sounds alot like my cat alice. She hides all the time and you can hardly ever pet her and we have had her for almost 2 years now. When she was a kitten though her mother tried to kill her though and that seems to be why shes that way. Maybe something like that happened to your kitten?