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Message: <blockquote data-quote="monsmord" data-source="post: 8269333" data-attributes="member: 6876475">Are you familiar with Jackson Galaxy, or his show "My Cat From Hell?" (He was on the cable channel Animal Planet, but the show might be syndicated elsewhere.) He's a "cat whisperer." If you can, check him out for some terrific advice on socializing your cat and creating a space in which it feels safe and happy. It means effort, attention, and patience on your part, and willingness to adapt, so you need to be invested in the process, whatever it is. There are also some decent videos on YouTube (like <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BH4rlk0NLkc" target="_blank">this</a> for gaining trust, or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lhacHWT0rAc" target="_blank">this</a> for shy/scared cats, and lots more.) Contrary to some popular opinion, cat behavior isn't a matter of "a cat is this inscrutable monolithic thing and that's just the way it is, just give them food and water." They aren't goldfish, and don't benefit much from simply being ignored. Nor are they automatically "feral," though the longer they live ferally the lower the odds of socializing them. Jackson's show and similar videos provide great insight into what cats may want, the clues they're giving, and how to make them feel secure and confident in the space they share with you. There's a small chance the cat has a neurological problem or mood disorder that would benefit from medication, but this should be a last resort and should only be pursued upon the advice of a vet. Maybe there's even a behaviorist nearby?I'm no "whisperer," but have had and cared for many cats. They have different personalities; some are braver or more curious, some are more reserved or cantankerous. Some like laps and "scritchies," others less so. I've moved with cats, and seen them change as they try to adapt to new surroundings, and to new neighbors or new pets in the house; cats that went from hiding under a bed every time the doorbell rang to perking up and trotting to the door with their tails in the air. The behavior you describe suggests an extremely unhappy cat, and that won't improve unless you make changes, first by figuring out what's bugging it. Until you know what its problems are, bringing another animal into its space - whether another cat or a dog, etc. - will almost certainly make things worse for one or both.If in the end you don't believe you can create the shared environment where the cat can thrive, maybe chat with a shelter or otherwise adopt it out. Be clear about your experience so that only someone able to take on such a challenge will be interested; giving it to someone who thinks the cat just needs food and a window isn't going to make the cat any happier.But no, bringing it in off the highway was definitely the right choice.</blockquote>

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