Despite woman’s care, community cats still skittish

Dear Cathy: About three years ago, two black and white cats sneaked into my house when a door was open. After all this time, they still are terrified of me.

I have three other cats that they get along with, but despite my welcoming them in, giving them all the space they want, providing them with food, fresh water, soft places to sleep, and safety, they still run whenever I appear.

The larger of the two is about 30 percent trusting, though she will not permit any physical contact of any kind. The smaller one is just plain scared and hides under a chair in my room. I assume she comes downstairs to eat during the night.

Both are housebroken and have clipped ears to indicate that TNR (trap-neuter-return) has been performed. Neither one ever goes near a door to “escape.”

After three years, I hold out no hope that they will ever be socialized, but any comments from you would be welcome. — Nancy, Queens Village, New York

Dear Nancy: What an amazing person you are to care for them in a way that lets them know they are safe and allows them to be who they are. My suggestion would be to do exactly what you are doing. Just feed them, talk to them, and let them know you are there if they want any attention. You also could put a pheromone plug-in in the room where the one cat hides under the chair to see if that helps.

But the truth is, they may never socialize to the point where you can touch them. While that can be hard, because you love them and want to pet them, you have already demonstrated extraordinary love and patience for these felines that few in the world could match.

The reward for that may just be knowing that you have saved two lives, loved them, and provided them with a forever home. You’re awesome.

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