Fellow Rescuers Unite – Cat Folks Give Advice For Socializing Scared Strays

SamHaKosem

Jun 9, 2022 3:00 PM EDT

It takes a special kind of person to rescue a pet. Especially if you find an animal at a shelter that had a rough time before you found them, you could be in for a long few years of training, struggling, and familiarizing yourself with that animal's patterns and triggers before they truly get comfortable with you. That's what's going on in this Reddit post, as a caring pet owner took it upon themselves to post a video of their anti-social kitty and ask for some advice. Apparently, they've had the cat for about a month, and things are getting better, but she's still only tolerating head pets. She also gets very scared by sudden movements, and only seems to tolerate her foster family. Could anything be done?

This being Reddit, OP had the answer within minutes. And then they had another answer, and another, and another. It's incredibly sweet to see this kind of collective outpouring to help an animal in need, and with all this great advice, we're sure OP is already feeling better. As you'll see from some of the comments down below, the best advice we found is that this process takes time! Without patience, you could disrupt a pet's transition into their new home and habits, and it could be even harder for them to bond with you. People with pets that act like this should try to be in the same space as the animal, and acknowledge them while still giving them their own space. But, you'll read all that for yourself down below. And, if you like what you see, be sure to keep scrolling for more incredible content just like this!

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01
How Adorable Is She?

via u/SelfDepricator

Here we see the cat in question, and isn't she just a doll? She's still not ready for belly rubs, and hisses if her owners get too comfortable with her, but at least she's letting them scratch her little head. Still, with a cat this cute, you're going to want to cuddle eventually. So, OP had to turn to Reddit, and what you'll see next is some of the best advice they received.
02
It Just Takes Time

via u/skullyfrost40

It sounds like OP needs to take up crocheting or knitting by the looks of it! Or, they could just take a deep breath, and wait for their kitty to get more comfortable. It can be a daunting task, and a frustrating wait, but since this pet owner was caring enough to turn to the internet for advice, we think they'll wind up being just fine.
03
We Agree As Well!

via u/AsFarAsTheStars_
04
Free Feeding Is Counterintuitive!

via u/Downtown-Swing9470
05
More Like Let Her Come To You

via u/GnomeMode
06
Time, Time, Time

via u/External-Storage-435
07
Just Make Her Happy!

via u/The_Spyre
08
Man, Kitten Lady Is The Best

via u/Cold_Valkyrie
09
Patience, Consistency, Time

via u/mxxxxxs
10
Keep On Trucking!

via u/YouMustWakeUp

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