I’ve got this kitten, super cute and all, but lately, it’s been acting weird. Every time I go near it, it just bolts. It’s like I’m some kind of monster or something. I mean, I give it food, water, a warm place to sleep, the whole nine yards. So, what gives?
At first, I thought maybe I was just moving too fast or something. You know, kittens can be skittish. So, I started approaching it real slow, talking in a soft voice, the whole deal. Didn’t make a difference. It still ran away like I was about to eat it or something.
Then, I thought maybe it was sick. I’ve heard that animals sometimes hide when they’re not feeling well. So, I took it to the vet, just to be sure. The vet gave it a once-over, said it was healthy as a horse. No fever, no injuries, nothing. So, that wasn’t it.
Tried a Few Things
- Slow approach: I figured maybe I was just coming on too strong. So I tried moving real slow, talking softly. Nope, still ran away.
- Vet visit: Thought maybe it was sick. Took it to the vet, got a clean bill of health. So much for that theory.
- Ignoring it: I thought maybe if I just left it alone, it would come to me when it was ready. I tried not paying it any attention, but it just stayed hidden.
After that, I figured maybe it just needed some space. Maybe it was feeling overwhelmed or something. So, I tried just ignoring it. I’d put out its food and water, clean its litter box, but otherwise, I just left it alone. I figured it would come to me when it was ready. But nope, it just stayed hidden. I barely even saw it, except for the occasional blur as it ran from one hiding spot to another.
It was driving me nuts! I just wanted to cuddle the little furball, but it was acting like I was its worst enemy. I started wondering if I had done something to scare it, but I couldn’t think of anything. I’m always gentle with it, I never yell or make sudden movements. It just didn’t make any sense.
I even tried leaving out some of its favorite treats, thinking maybe that would lure it out. But it just ignored them. It was like it was determined to avoid me at all costs. I was starting to feel like a real failure as a cat owner. I was doing my best and get nothing.
Finally, after a few days of this, I noticed something. Whenever I would sit on the floor, the kitten would slowly start to creep out. It wouldn’t come right up to me, but it would get closer than it had before. So, I started spending more time on the floor. I’d read a book, watch TV, whatever, just sitting on the floor. And sure enough, the kitten started to come around more often. It was still cautious, but it wasn’t running away anymore.
It took a while, but eventually, the kitten started to trust me. It would let me pet it, and even started purring when I did. It was like a switch had flipped. Now, it follows me everywhere, rubs against my legs, and sleeps at the foot of my bed. It’s the sweetest little thing, and I’m so glad I didn’t give up on it.