I am still in nightly contact with my stray feline friend. She is still as sweet as ever! After spending time with her each night for the past week, I wonder if she has the animal version of PTSD? She is normally loving, purrs loudly, loves to cuddle and sometimes play wrestle. She wants to be in my car with me--that is clear--but she suddenly reacts in it by biting, "hitting", her friendly meow changes, her facial expression even changes. When I look at her when this happens, it's like she isn't even there mentally--like she could be having a flashback? When this happens, she is very reactive to my hand movements and flinches as if she thinks I am going to hit her. I noticed early on that she understands the word "no" and does obey it. I try to calm her during these episodes. Sometimes she lasts longer in the car than others, but sooner or later she will freak. I let her out on demand. I don't want her to become afraid. If I can get her into a new home or shelter, I don't want her to feel more traumatized, if that is the problem, by being "locked up" in a cage or something. I Googled the subject of pet psychology and cats with PTSD, and it seems that animals do get variations of it.
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My life and being formerly homeless
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