Traumatized affectionate cat who witnessed the murder of her owners fled when shouted at never to be seen again

This is a unique and very sad story story. A anonymous person called “Art Likely” commenting on a New York Times website article on walking cats on leashes recalled it. It is relevant to training cats to walk on a leash. The commenter is an American and he believes in the British style of cat ‘ownership’ namely to let cats wander freely outside because he believes that cats demand to be free to enjoy the outside.


Hiding cat
Hiding cat. Image in public domain.


The Story

By Anonymous

I’ve only ever had one cat that truly did not want to go outside. It was a cat my wife and I took in from the local veterinary hospital. It was brought there after its owners were murdered (in front of the cat, no less), and hadn’t found a home, so it was to be destroyed. We took it in.

Before owning that cat it never occurred to me that an animal could be permanently traumatized by an event. This cat was. It would not come out of hiding. It generally took an hour or more of extremely gentle and patient coaxing to get her to come out to eat. When she could be induced to bear a human touch, she was desperately affectionate, and when, eventually, my brother-in-law thoughtlessly shouted at her, she fled and was never seen again.

That desperately unhappy feline was the only cat I ever had that wouldn’t willingly go outdoors, and my final piercing view of her was as she fled into the outside world she feared so much. It was heartbreaking to see.

Every other cat I have owned was an indoor/outdoor cat. If/when they disappeared, it was a sad thing, but I have always considered a healthy and happy cat to be preferable to a miserable, penned-in but longer-lived prisoner.

But…cat on a leash? Might as well take up catherding next!

Comment

The first thought is: ‘Can cats suffer from PTSD?’. It seems possible.

It’s clear that nearly all British cat guardians believe that it is preferable to let their cat wander around outside despite the dangers. For them it comes down to accepting that a possible short but arguably more enjoyable life is better than a long, confined and less enjoyable one.

This style of cat ‘ownership’ demands a relationship between cat and ‘owner’ which is sub-optimal. The owner has to live with the ever present possibility that their cat might not come home or be injured or killed. Emotionally that’s hard to stomach if the owner genuinely loves their cat and has a close bond.

This is a never ending debate. I struggle with finding the perfect answer because it does not exist. The first duty of the cat ‘owner’ is their cat’s safety so letting them wander violates that obligation. The second rule is to make their cat as happy as possible. Letting them wander supports that objective. There is a natural conflict between rule 1 and rule 2.

There is increasing pressure on cat owners to keep their cats inside to protect wildlife. The option (indoor or outdoor cat) may one day be taken away from cat owners.

2 thoughts on “Traumatized affectionate cat who witnessed the murder of her owners fled when shouted at never to be seen again”

  1. The author of the best comment will receive an Amazon gift of their choice at Christmas! Please comment as they can add to the article and pass on your valuable experience.
  2. Thom Hartmann rescued a cat that had been kept in a bathroom with a bunch of college guys. I don’t know what they did to this poor cat but it would attack bare legs. No dresses, no shorts etc. Even after years of living with a loving family he never stopped attacking bare legs. I have several cats here that even after years with me they still duck their heads afraid I’m going to hit them when I go to pet them. No amount of love convinces them I’m not going to hit them.

    Reply
  3. Yes all species can be traumatised, we are not so special. Witnessing the murder of loved ones must be one of the most traumatic events any being can go through.

    One of my cats still holds trauma from his past. Eighteen months minimum on the street with a 100% grown in collar injury, 6 months in a stinky rescue cage, in a small area surrounded by many other caged cats, being cared for by a rescue worker he was terrified of. He gets distressed if he hears anyone crying or shouting, live or on tv/radio. He desperately tries to comfort anyone who is crying. Running tap water both fascinates & terrifies/enrages him. He is not socialised to other cats, but desperately wants their company (my other cat is a calm, patient lover boy). Lastly the traumatised cat is very fear aggressive and food obsessive.

    He is a tricky one to get the hang of, we learn more of him each day. If we get it wrong he will rage at us, or anyone. He does not hold back with claws and fangs if you get it wrong. Sometimes, he is inexplicably, shockingly sad, he will slump & sigh for a couple of hours, then seek us out for comfort.

    I hope he & me kinda help each other.

    Reply

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