[Nammu]

I used to volunteer at an animal shelter, I fell for one guy. It was was his third time in the shelter, he was always claimed by the same woman until the 3rd time. Some guy called and said she couldn't have him,it was his cat! I hope you could follow that. Any way she agreed it was technicly his cat, so Sir got left, unclaimed. He ended up in iso where we treat respertary illnessess and other small illness. He was always bought in by a woman who trapped him for going after her birds and eating them. The first time his head was cought in the trap.
When I first brought him home he would gobble his food, then vomit. I gave him tiny amounts at a time and it got better, he now get normal amounts of his prefered wet food. He follows me everywere, can't stand a closed door, he never gets vocal except when its claw trimming time, then he sounds like human kid wailing and crying(so far I've not once cliped his innear nail, dispite his twisting and turning) He has never once tried to bite or get me with his claws! Yet I've caught him stareing into space completely oblivious,(he doesn't react to any noise but if I touch him, he jumps straight up and pants, he sometimes startles very easly at a noise. Still acts like a kitten at 6, cringes when I raise my voice(usually I'm swaring becouse I did something dumb that caused my pain level to jump) I'm no where near him but he runs and hides-another odd thing his idea of hiding is either, croutching down in the middle of the floor, or under a blaket that hangs off the back of a chair(you can easaly see him-it only covers his face and part of his chest, the last hiding place is under a chair, where he is completly visable . I've made him places to hide but, he's not interested. I recently bought something large and left the box sideways on the floor, and durring treat time I throw a treat into it, the first few times I had to get a flash light and crawl in and show him the treat(he loves treat time and always comes at a full allout run.) , then just the flashlight for him, now he will charge in on his own. He still is after 8 months upset he is locked out of my bedroom at night. I have insomia, so his jumping up to check on me, several times a night would keep me from getting any sleep, he is a large cat and if he stands on one paw on my hip its very very painful-but he would come and check my breathing?
It took some time after I brought him home to get him to play, now he plays on his own at night, when I'm on the computer, but he still wants lots of lap time. He will not get near an open door to outside, he will not even go out on the inclosed balcony. He does have to window seats that he likes very much.
He knows when I'm sick or in pain and will literally headbut me into a chair and sit on me so its not like he's a all "me needy cat". But I've had other cats from shelters and none with these strange behaviors, so are there any cat people out there who can tell me if cats get PTSD?
I love him hes a great cat. A large British Blue, very quiet and at times mischievous. Very, very smart.

yep..animals can have their own form of ptsd..they remember what caused them pain & it can haunt them just like it does in humans. it sounds like your cat has come across some instances in life that have affected her. i wonder why the same person adopted her 3 times...was it a feral cat that she kept live trapping? that would make sense..& if so then that would explain some of the behavioral things you mention...but if she adopted it, then let it lose to free range etc & then just repeated it that would make any animal gun shy.

the cringing to the raised voice suggests that there is some history there but like i said...is it from a past owner, being scared from a car horn, siren, etc? you never know

my old dog was maced by a cop..so she was very wary of uniforms. i had her from when she was 7 months olf until she passed at 12 years. never abused her but i could not wear my uniform home from work. that would upset her. i see it with many of the rescue dog..there is something that will trigger them...& unlike humans they don't have the words to let you know what it is that bothers them..so you must play detective in order to help.

as for the staring into space..sometimes cats just do that when they are resting...they just sit & chill. might not be trauma might just be calm meditation,,cats are like that...sometimes..hell even dogs do that too (altho not in this house..i wish they would!)

basically with frightened dogs you try to make sure the house is safe & secure & calm. always offer a reliable & consistent response. have the cat checked out by a vet to make sure nothing is going on healthwise. time & love then cure many issues...rescue animals come with quirks. non rescue animals do too. just like people.

stumpy

[Perna]

Yes, I'd like to kill a groomer or two; my loving/docile cat now panics when you run water. I still remember when they made me sign for him at the vets to be knocked out to be groomed and I said, "Don't you mean the other cat?" but signed. I didn't think what that meant and now he's a mess and I know he wasn't originally! I don't think it's just the water, he probably wasn't treated "well" a couple times.

I got my second cat because the first was a young stray and had trust issues. The loving, trusting second cat has helped a whole lot; she sees him getting petted and having a "good time" and comes around guests a bit easier now.

[Nammu]

Thanks for responding.
I was a bit concerned if my post was clear enough, it was late but I wanted to ask about this before bed.
My guy Sir, apparently lived with this couple since he was weaned(I'm hoping not too early), my guess is they were not very consistent, didn't feed him much and or kicked him out, for any reason. Hungrery he would go to a woman's house who was a bird lover. So her back yard, had lots of stuff to atract birds and make a buffet dinner for Sir. His full name now is Sir Laurence, Knight of the Crestant Moon( he has a prefect white crestant on his belly--he may have been given away becouse this disqualifies him from the showring-other wise he's a perfect example of a British Blue--something that scares me-I'm sure you both know "free" cats don't allways get good homes). Sir would go there to catch birds to eat which of course made this bird loving woman mad. It was she who trapped him and brought him to the shelter. The first trap was an old one and he was treated by the shelter for the head wound, she was given a humain trap to protect her birds with. Sir, different name back then, was microchiped, and current on his vacines, the owners were found though his vetenarian.
When notified their cat was at the shelter the woman would come pick him up, but he would end up geting trapped again by the bird woman. I just have this gut feeling he was not well cared for. He was unnueterd the 1st time and they had a choice of us neutering him, or they could pay a downpayment get him nueterd by their vet and get the down payment returned with proof. I live in a relativly animal friendly city, thats very big on spay/neuter, we have many programs from free to discounts, to help owners spay/nueter their pets. I just have this feeling with nothing to back it up that the male 1/2 of the couple abused Sir he doesn't like males, except a friends husband who is a real cat lover. He is no longer at all scared of me, but the behavoirs of fear, the startlement, the eating problems when he first came home with me. He wants sooo much to please me. He really is a good cat, easly trained to understand the kitchen counter is off limits, he sometimes get excited, when I'm getting his food ready and jumps up and looks at me with complete fear. I'm ashamed to say the 1st time he did that started me and I swatted at him, not hard but I have my own startle issues. He jumped down and went under the chair and it took over an hour for me to get him to understand I wasn't mad. (At myself yeah! ) but not at him he just scard me. He is increadablely forgiving consering his own fears, and very loving. I'm now very glad that couple for whatever reason did not pick him up the last time. Do either of you know a good book I could read to help him with these fears? The vet from the shelter was a huge beleiver in touch. It is true for him, I just think theres more I could do for him. We play together( his curent favorite is this werird looking thing that furry and has a tail, it hangs from the door and we bat it back and forth to each other and when he "gets a goal" hegets a smal turkey treat), talk, well I do the talking but he seems to understand. We watch movies together. He is just so much greater than any other cat, Ii want to do what I can and my money is really tight. You both seem to know something about this, any ideas? I really want to do everything I can for him.

ah...trust...issues...best thing in the world...is to be consistent...go slow, be gentle & be you. he will know if you are lying...animals are good at that..they know if your intentions are true..trust me.

go slow...what i did when i have rescue animals who are healing is that i find a nice spot in my house that is quiet, i then settle myself & center myself & invite the animal to sit with me...don't pull it onto you..it has to be something they feel comfortable with..& then stroke it gently ...almost a massage..talk to him..tell him he is loved & safe..& you will keep him so. i use a key phrase..& say it every time...do they understand it? don't know...i would like to think so..either way it is familiar words & soothing. by centering yourself you are creating quiet zone & peace for both of you.

look into the "tellington touch" massage..the library might have a copy or even your vet..probably can even pull some of it off on line too...it will help offer some calming types of massage you can do with him.

don't worry about the money...you don't need it to work on calmness...animals feed off of what we feel, our emotions...because he has already been shuttled around some & maybe abused he is already ultra sensitive & looking for cues towards anticipatiing your behavior. relax. be you.

he might always have some residual issues...but as he gets acclimated to his new surroundings you will see him relax & open up & shine.

i used to massage my one cat's neck & back..he loved it would purr up a storm...watch his signals as to how much is ok...same thing with gentle brushing too..stores sell a brush called a "zoom groom"..soft rubber bristles...nice feels good on their skin & coats...

sounds olike you are on the right track...like i said..don;'t worry about the money..doesn't take much...i find that helping an animal heal is one of the best ways to help yourself heal too.

anyway..got questions..feel free to shoot me a message thingie...glad to try & help...

stumpy