D.O.P.-T.

[weofodthignen]

Ms Bella still hisses at me all the time, like a little steam engine. Many mornings she's waiting on the porch when I arrive home from work, lying with her legs tucked under her like a loaf of Wonder Bread. Then after I go up the driveway to dump the recyclables from my night (plastic bottle, chunks of read newspaper, possibly a paper towel wrapper) I often come back to find her sitting on the doormat, so I have to disturb her to open the screen door, and she hisses furiously. Bringing out her food also often involves her blocking the door and having to angrily retreat. She very much doesn't want to come inside the house, and clearly hates me with a boiling passion. The housemate says she just appears to be a not very smart cat.

Comments

[dubhain]

Maybe just terrified, instead of hating you? And staying close, because of the things she gets, but still terrified? I've seen a lot of cats like this. Especially feral ones. One of the Cattens we raised by hand did this for a long time, even though we'd raised her. She was terrified of me, even though she wanted affection and care from me. So she'd hiss me at every opportunity, even though she still insisted upon being around me. Eventually, she got a clue, and now she's affectionate, but will run if I make any sort of move she doesn't expect.

[weofodthignen]

You may be right, but sitting on the doormat is still incredibly stupid. Crouching under the chair on the porch so as to grab the food as soon as it's placed, like Ms Whiskers used to do, would make more sense. Of course Ms Whiskers was a tortie and Ms Bella is a calico (the standard of feral cats in this town is appallingly high, though the first one was a scraggly-looking grey), and they're notoriously insane. Also she needs to remain wary, poor beautiful thing. So all I've been doing is trying to let her know I've given her an approving name.