I set up the VCR and put Ms. Kitty on my lap facing the TV. When she saw herself, she struck an attack possition and kept her eyes glued to the TV and froze for about 20 minutes watching. When she saw herself examining the vaccuum that was all she could take. She took off with body language saying, "This is it...I've had it! don't want any more...." and now she won't come into the den unless I carry her there and hold her on my lap. I don't know if she recognized the cat as being herself or just another cat, but my guess is she thinks another cat is in the house and when she accidentally saw herself in my little hand mirror she nearly went ballistic. She can't tolerate any other animal, man or beast. She will sleep on my bed with me in it or not, sit on my lap for hours, follow Ivan and I like a child afraid of being left, but is still scared of everything else. She doesn't just walk; she lurks or sort of skulks; eyes roving, tail twitching like an agitated squirell, examining every inch of the area before stepping into it, jerking at the least sudden noise, running for cover at the scent, sight, or sound of any perceived danger. Having been feral for I think close to 12 years,[We have had her under our protection now for a year] it is a really slow process to get her used to feeling safe. She is seeing and experiencing things, since she has come to live in our house that she had never seen before and I know it is frightening to her, even though she is curios .. and really, she is quite brave to even come in to an enclosed area.
I guess I am writing this because I am feeling a bit helpless. I do not know a way of alleviating her fear completely and sometimes when I write things down, it helps, and there are times when a solution will occur to me that wouldn't have otherwise.
If you have read this, thanks for your patience.
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