Couple rescues terrified kitten from neighboring building, and she attaches herself to the woman asking for constant cuddles and uppies: ‘She trusts me 100%’

Author image for Giuliana Tiscioni
Giuliana Tiscioni • Writer
Oct 23, 2026 6:15 AM EDT

Have you ever had a cat with attachment issues? Cats are not usually very clingy, but sometimes they choose their hoomans as their safe space. 

When an animal has been abandoned, it's usual for them to have trust issues in relation to human beings. After all, they were the ones who abandoned them in the first place. Both cats and dogs alike can be scared, reluctant to trust and jumpy before any kind of strange noise. 

I've seen rescued cats and dogs behaving in the same way. The first week my kitty was at home after she was rescued, she was terrified. She opened her eyes round and wide as two full moons; her ears were always up, and she turned her head form one side to the other. All she did was cuddle in the couch and sleep, and every time someone made the smallest of noises, she would run away and hide under the couch. We couldn't even open the front door without her getting scared and hiding. It took her a few weeks to get used to the sounds of the house, and even months to start trusting us an behaving like a regular cat. She wouldn't meow at first either! She was so silent, as if she was afraid thta, if we noticed she was there, we would hurt her. It breaks my heart to remember it, but luckily, now she's all better. 

Now, she meows normally, although she's not the most talkative. She always gets the zoomies, and plays around the house. She's even starting to misbehave! Now, I can't stop her from scratching the furniture or jumping all over the dining table. Seriously, if anyone has the number of a good cat trainer, please, send it to me. I'm getting desperate, and now I can't get her to quit her bad habits. 

In this case, this couple rescued a girl cat who was terrified, and in bringing her to their home, she chose the woman as her source of protection. Now, she won't leave her alone, and she follows her everywhere. 

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  • Young rescue seems overly attached

    Background: I rescued a 7 month old cat from a neighboring apartment where the owners abandoned her with no food or
    via u/becausetheskyisgray
  • clean water for weeks. The apartment was filthy and full of maggots. First 24 hours, she hid in the bathroom cupboard.
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  • Slowly, she started showing a lot of affection and then showed desperation for snuggles and
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  • praise. Still, any noise whatsoever keys, the refrigerator hum, people walking by outside -- caused her to run back into the cupboard.
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  • She put weight on after her first week, and her fur became fluffier. The vet said she was healthy and she got shots. At the vet, she shook
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  • so hard her carrier was shaking. I've never seen a cat more terrified for their life just from being in a car (and I have had many cats in the past).
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  • My husband and I named her Louie. Louie's finally started coming out of her shell late at night, finally
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  • 410.44874e6/2026/01
    via u/becausetheskyisgray

    Louie, the rescued cat.

    Photo provided by the user. 

  • learning to play with toys and occasionally getting the zoomies. She can kind of meow now and has learned how to ask for food.
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  • The good news is that Louie LOVES me. She trusts me 100%. She's healthy, curious, and shows zero aggression.
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  • The issue is that Louie can hardly function if I am not around. She MUST be touching (or at least have me in her eyeline) at all times, even
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  • when I'm going to the bathroom. When I go out, she panics and hides under the bed even if my husband (who can pet her if I'm
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  • around with no problems) is home. She needs to be on me always. She even tries to climb up my body, like a toddler asking for uppies.
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  • Don't get me wrong, it's SO cute. I love the cuddles. But, I am concerned she is overly identifying her sense of safety with me specifically.
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  • pinne
    via u/becausetheskyisgray

    Louie asking for cuddles.

    Image uploaded by the owner. 

  • I spent the last 3.5 weeks assuring her that she is safe. But it seems like now she only associates safety with my presence. I know she was
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  • deeply traumatized, and I'm so happy she feels secure with me, but I worry she isn't developing self- confidence. I don't want to trigger
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  • the abandonment by leaving all day, but I also don't want her to think she's in danger if I'm not around for the day.
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  • This is completely understandable; of course, she doesn't want to leave the poor kitty alone, much less when the little creature is terrified of being abandoned again. But as people told her in the comments below, it's only a matter of time until their little furball feels safe enough to be less clingy. My cat used to follow me everywhere (that is, when she wasn't sleeping or hiding from the noises), and now that it's been about six months or more, she barely looks at me unless it is to ask me to feed her. Mind you, she always has food on her plate, but she still asks for more. 

    The woman has a reason to be worried, since the cat seems to be getting overly attached to her, but we can give her peace of mind by assuring her it's just a phase. In a few months' time, the cat will be completely settled, familiarized with her new home and environment, and she won't be so clingy. Granted, there's also the possibility of her just being a loving and cuddly cat, which we love, but eventually they all look for their own space and time alone, so she won't be chasing after her all day. We love to see people taking good care of their rescued pets! 

  • Anyone have tips on how to help Louie grow a sense of confidence and independence? Also, anyone know how long it might take a young, traumatized cat to feel secure?
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  • Cheezburger Image 10672621056
    via u/becausetheskyisgray

    Louie sleeping with her hooman.

    Image provided by the user. 

  • ZipMonk 6 months and she should be much better. It takes time.
    via ZipMonk
  • adbedient Shes a beautiful cat. Animals can hold repressed trauma just like people that will manifest in behavior. It will probably fade in a few years and she won't be quite as clingy, but she's still a child and this will be your life for a bit.
    via adbedient
  • hermes90210 Like you said - your traumatized cat - she needs time, and you need to be patent - 3.5 weeks is not that long, she was abandoned.
    via hermes90210

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