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yes, I think they do. some get over it, some don't. we can't really know for sure when it comes to individual cats
my youngest was found on a streetcorner in Kingston when she was barely old enough to walk. her and her sibs rescued and brought to the shelter by an amazing human being and I adopted her from there. mom nowhere in sight
my ex was the one who actually chose her (I couldn't go to the shelter and pick one cat and leave the rest behind) but she was mine from day one
I've had cats all my life, from the moment I was born. my first was actually born on the same year/day as me (RIP Grimmy cuz I couldn't pronounce Greymalkin). aside from Bika I have never had a cat so fiercely attached to me
Grimmy was chill though, her mom was pregnant when my parents adopted her so she never went without. she was born in their closet when my mom was in the hospital giving birth to me. guarded me as soon as she learned to stand up and navigate the house. would attack anyone other than my parents or my fav aunt/uncle (that's where her siblings went) if they tried to touch me in my barless cradle/bassinette. followed me everywhere as I learned to crawl and then walk
but with Bika she's so bizarrely yet comically wackjob. not anymore in every way but she used to even bite my friends who came over if we got too close. thankfully not an issue anymore, solution was to hand them cat treats to give her when they come in. so now they're 'good people offering treats and scritches so I'll allow them to play with mom'
problem solved
that's how she rolls. solo I sing to her and pet her and play string game with her and her sister Scraps till she stops her latest manic episode. we all have our stuff, right?
Scrappy sits there in bemusement waiting for her turn, which she always gets. she's the sane one in our little fam. and she was rescued from the woods up in Northern Canada malnourished and weak as fuck but still was a wild cat til she realized she had a home
she's so chill (except for when I bring out the broom, some motherfucker clearly hit her in the past with something stick-like), but overall so calm I actually try to learn from her
I think some cats are just born with issues... all my cats have always been strays with a back story. one cat I had (I've written about him before here, I have his 'Piper paws of bad-assness' tatted up my wrist) was in such bad shape when I found him the vet recommended I put him to sleep. me and Piper both disagreed and he lived for 10 more years half paralyzed but pushing through life with joy and aplomb til the age of 18
and he never met anyone he didn't love
if, as J suggests, you're encountering a 'difficult' cat, embrace the insanity. play with him or her, lots of scritches and cuddles, never leave the food bowl less than 3/4's full (they might eat you if it gets to the half-way point), lots of treats in lieu of meals, talk to him/her and sing too. cats really like that. doesn't matter if you're off-key
my crazy one's fav is All Along the Watchtower by Hendrix
it calms her down like nothing else
but yeah, we all come with a past
love him or her, accept he/she isn't a blank slate. personally I think so called 'damaged' cats are the coolest, cuz when they love you it involves such a leap of faith plus well-earned trust. strong and brave little ones, those
pix please, and welcome to crazy MK
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