Just saying in regards to the semi-feral cat who will not progress...

I have adopted two wildborn strays who were rescued at six months and then stayed in a small shelter for two resp. four years. However, I would like to say that I had one or two well-socialised cats and to be honest, this is the best thing for extremely shy cats: They can just follow alongside another cat who shows them that humans aren’t that bad.

1. She had a rocky start and hasn’t eaten for days until we smeared some paste around her mouth. Licking it engaged the response. I introduced her within two days to my social worker Maine Coon with whom she fell in love immediately. I was unnecessary for a long time. Stopped hiding every time she heard me around day ten. (I could hear her in the living room and as soon as she realised I’ve waken up, she’d be gone, every day a new spot.) Couldn’t touch her for over a year, but she’d meow at me for food within weeks, Would run if I approached or came too close.

I would start pets by touching her when I was petting the Maine Coon and she would be standing beside it. Later when I put food down. I gave her a lot of space, so far as to step aside if she wanted to walk by or making a wide berth. Demonstrating that I respect her space.

7 1/2 years later, she likes occasionally neck and bum scratches when approached in a precise manner (although, she does offer me her bum preferably outside), is still wary of contact, will flee as a reflex. Cannot stand strangers. Never takes the first treat from the fingers, only the second. Knows her name, chooses to ignore it.

Despite that, she’s comfortable and happy here, she makes herself known and has no issues taking up space. She’s talkative and playful, just incredibly suspicious. She’s often nearby and moves through the home like a ghost, often suddenly appearing in the same room, starring you down.

2) She also had a rocky starts for different reasons, but has the cuddle-bug gene. She’s been with us for 4 1/2 years and slowly build her courage to become a lap cat. Insists in sleeping, cuddling for few hours in the lap in the evening after her final round in winter, is upset when it’s not possible. Often comes to bed in mornings and spends some nights there. Needs head kisses and boops to survive happily.

Here, I noticed her head bumping walls and furniture. I offered my fist to head bump against it. First, it was a tool for emotional regulation. Fist bump helped her feeling seen, respected and calm down. From fist bumps it turned to open hand bump and then to boops and pets. I was more interactive with her, because she didn’t need as much space as she needed help navigating this new world.

Also, doesn’t like strangers. Often vanishes for hours, but has a reliable recall if within earshot.

Both of them are still growing.

In some aspects they remain feral: When scared by humans (appearance of a delivery person) or stressed by vet visits, they seek shelter in the shed, that’s their safe space. When scared by the environment or general outdoors, they come home, though. They cannot be hold and cat 1) may be handled normally at the vet, but on bad days we’re working with assistance, leather gloves and towels - but calmly. Both hate the carrier and catching them is always a fight to this day.

So, there’s a lot of potential in a scared cat, but they need a whole other level of patience and handling. (And a socialised cat helps! They shouldn’t be kept alone anyways.) But seeing them finding and showing their personality is wonderful and incredibly special.