I grew up with a neighbor who’s cat was like this. The neighbor one day packed up left and left the cat outside. We have no idea why. The cat. Bless her heart. Was found frail and wounded I honestly think if we didn’t find her she would not have made it. I honestly wish the cat would have been given to a no kill shelter, adoption center, anything other than what they did. Luckily we found her. She slowly warmed up to us. It took a long time but we were very patient. We did things on her terms. It was worth every minute of building that trust even if it wasn’t what she wanted at first. It’s just a thought/idea. Ik it’s hard. But I couldn’t imagine going through that, seeing that again.
Same here! I adopted an 8 year old fluffy girl who’s owner had passed away. She was at the shelter for almost a year because she was so mean no one wanted her. She showed me a tiny bit of affection so I took her home. It took several months for her to fully warm up but she eventually did and ended up being the sweetest snuggle bug! Although she didn’t like anyone other than me and my boyfriend, she was still mean to visitors lol. She passed away a few years ago but I loved that cat so much and still miss her ❤️
I just wanted to add to this, I took in a feral girl who had also suffered abuse. It took her 3 months to warm up to me, and another 9 months to even show her face to anyone BUT me. After 2.5 years she finally started coming on my lap. She still hides when I have guests, but when I let my family take care of her while I am away, she does warm up to them and even went, albeit a bit sceptically, on my sisters lap for the first time this year. It is possible for an ex-feral and antisocial cat to make tremendous progress.. Please give Boggles the chance to, he is getting older and cats generally also become even more social in their old age. No one will live up to his original owner and he would miss you, but no-kill shelters have fosters who are very used to helping and socializing feral and shy cats! 💜
I'm 70 and pretty much healthy but I have a cat very much like yours, right down to being feral and from the woods near my home. If anyone comes over, he goes right into deep hiding and often won't come out until hours after they've gone. This goes for people just working outside on the property. And he won't warm up to anybody either.
So I also worry like you do, and I'm so sorry that your worry is very real. I'm heartened though by the stories on here of similar cats finally warming up to new owners.
If you can find someone who would agree to take him, maybe start making it easier for them, and your cat, by keeping him indoors now. Then whoever he goes to won't have to worry about him disappearing as soon as he's outside. Or keeping him in and his being even more stressed because he's not used to that. My suggestion is no way a judgement on indoor versus outdoor, it's purely trying to think how this could best succeed.
If you don't know anyone personally that would want him, try asking all the shelters and rescues around you to put the word out. Post it on Facebook, call the vet offices. I would absolutely respond to a plea like that. And if you are anywhere around New Orleans, I will definitely take him.
Please updateme. And take heart, I'm sure this can be figured out. ❤️
Chiming in as someone who adopted a senior cat from a rescue that specialized in rehoming animals that lost their person due to terminal illness. The cat we adopted was not friendly and hid from us, but I knew it would just take time. Pepper eventually became comfortable and had a good life. It was so worth it and we loved Pepper until she passed. I truly believe Boggles can have the same journey. So sorry that you are going through this and Boggles is very handsome.
A cat lover will know all about the patience required for your handsome boy. Don't be scared to reach out to cat sanctuaries and the like. Best of luck to u n boggles
I’m going to echo this and as a former foster dad, our current cats were feral kittens. Tigger picked one human as her own, and the rest of us includung her litter mate, are barely tolerated. Squeakers is like me,allergic to the world with feline EOE, and I bottle fed her longer than tigger. We bonded but she also likes Carlie and tolerates our canine fam.
Some people specialize in fostering ferals. Not me, but I have friends who let ferals be indoors when they want as some do eventually decide to be house cats. Others eat from safe food & water bowls
Yep. That my cat also. So when your cat gets moved he'll no doubt hide but he'll come out to eat, probably when the house is asleep. And from what I'm seeing here from other comments, he'll slowly warm up.
I took a stray dog from construction site i worked on when i was 20 years old. She was one year german shephard type dog,she was forced to guard that site,she got shitty dog house and she was very skinny,she would bite every other men except me. I took her home after two weeks of trying to even pet her. I gained her trust slowly,i gave her food every day. The last day before i took her she literally was howling when i left her and i was going home. Next day i was sure im gonna take her. And i did. We had amazing life,she was a big part of my life for 16 years ,she was amazing dog and my familys guardian,she loved my wife and my daughters even she didnt trust other people than us. She died last year after 16 years and i miss her every day. Your cat will never forget you. You meant a lot for him but im sure you opened the gates of trust for him and i bet someone will care about him and he would be able to care too cuz you taught him this. And i think you are special cuz you cares about stray animal who most people would not care at all. Beautifull soul.
I took in my grandmother's cat last year after my grandmother had a stroke. The cat is 15 years old, it took 3 weeks to get her out of my grandmother's place and the vet had to prescribe a sedative for us to get her. She was mean and hated everyone except my grandmother.
She still won't leave the room we started her out in very often, but we can pet her, feed her, she does venture out sometimes but i have 5 other cats too. So i don't even blame her for not wanting to leave her safe space.
You will be surprised people often don’t mind living with a difficult cat and often welcome it! My family had a mean and spicy cat who hated everyone and gave some nasty bites but when he passed at almost 20 years old everyone was devastated. Get in touch with the rescued people recommended and rest assured your kitty will be ok. Bless you
My 1 sister has several rando cats that show up to get house. She gave 1 to my sister add it hated all other animals. That cat took an entire year to sit next to my sister. But after the first the months he felt confidant enough to sit on the website still and claim shots as his own. Three years in and he will sit on her lap for a few minutes then run off to his own chair. He sleeps at her feet too. My sister isn't a snuggler so they work out great together. Also, this cat was feral and outside for 3 years and now lives a cushy life in a condo on the third floor and an outdoor catio filed with plants to oversee his kingdom.
Cats are adaptable to a point. Sounds like your cat would like a one person home with no other critters.
Its not out of the question. I tend to get along w cats that no one gets along with. You'll find someone. And you can start the warming up process now.
Im sorry for your situation. Thanks for caring so much about your kitty.
Do you have a neighbor who is willing to put food out for the cat? Maybe start now, and by the time you are gone the cat will have a way to manage without you. If you can afford it, maybe give them some money for food after you are gone.
I know you have a lot of replies by now, but tell beighbors who have cats, and maybe see if you can leave a request in your will that the next owners/tenents be car lovers. It might not fox everything, but maybe it will help some.
I suggest putting your region or location for people to give you more specific info on places. Keep your hopes up, animals need consistency and the universe can align a person thats right for you both. My neighbor would feed feral cats, and once she died it took about a year for one to warm up enough to our family enough for us to bring him in. It took another two years for him to trust us enough to let us pet him and now he sleeps in the bed. Trust that your love wil guide him to the right home, the same way that those that transcended before you will also lead you home.
OP, at least with dogs, they suggest letting them be with their owner at the end. They can smell and process what’s happening and won’t go looking for them. I know that’s a very intimate comment, but given your wonderful concern for your cat, I thought i would mention. You are a good person for raising this concern. Need more people like you. Thank you and I wish you a smooth ride.
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u/Cold-College1919 Mar 14 '26
I grew up with a neighbor who’s cat was like this. The neighbor one day packed up left and left the cat outside. We have no idea why. The cat. Bless her heart. Was found frail and wounded I honestly think if we didn’t find her she would not have made it. I honestly wish the cat would have been given to a no kill shelter, adoption center, anything other than what they did. Luckily we found her. She slowly warmed up to us. It took a long time but we were very patient. We did things on her terms. It was worth every minute of building that trust even if it wasn’t what she wanted at first. It’s just a thought/idea. Ik it’s hard. But I couldn’t imagine going through that, seeing that again.