New kitty, help with shyness?

[Chim Chiminy]

We adopted our third kitty last week from our local shelter and I am having second thoughts about keeping her. Terrible, I know.

I fell in love with her at the shelter because she would just curl up on my lap, I was looking for a lap cat and thought "perfect!".
Well, I think what I took for a quiet and shy demeanor is really that she is afraid. She hides all day, comes out at night and runs if you approach her. If you pick her up, she will sit with you but her tail is between her legs. She even walks around at night with her tail tucked.
The other two cats have gotten used to her, one has even kind of adopted her. Tigerlily will lay with her, bathe her and has even been able to coax her out of hiding at times (We named her Tinkerbell). But she still runs the opposite direction if she sees Mikey coming. He hissed at her the first couple of days but now he seems okay, even wanting to play with her.

I just don't want her to miserable here. I think she may need a quieter home, and if thats the case then we have discussed taking her back to the shelter so they can find the right family for her.

Is there any way to help a scared cat be less so?
I know the kids and I will be heartbroken if we need to take her back, but we want to do the right thing here.

 

[Pop Daddy]

Have you thought about counciling

 

[Chim Chiminy]

Very funny.....
I did ask DH if I could take her to see the pet psychic that is making an appearance at the local pet store!
He thinks I have lost it.

 

[diznygirl]

The only way I know is time. You just have to be patient. She may have been abused earlier, or really affected by her time in the shelter. You have to give her time to get used to her new surroundings and let her come to you.

Good luck! It will be worth it when it happens!

 

[escape]

I don't know that I would give up on her just yet. I've adopted several kitties in my lifetime and some just took awhile to get used to the new surroundings. I think with some patience and a lot of love and affection, she could end up being the kitty you had hoped for.

My little Lucy was a stray kitty in my neighborhood when we adopted her. She was extremely shy and would hide during the day. After a few weeks, she would come out and play....a little. After awhile, she got used to all of us and now she is one of the most affectionate cats I've ever had.

Try playing with her with some string or those little toy mice you can find at Wal-mart or places like that. Lucy goes crazy over those mice and my other cats like playing with a stick or string. I suspect after a little while, she'll become more comfortable with her surroundings and will bring you lots of joy and happiness.

Good luck! Let us know what you decide.