A shy cat has been through experiences that have left her/him feeling nervous and uprooted from a familiar environment. It will probably begin responding to a new home in about a week or two. Just leave the cat alone for awhile so that it can explore its new surroundings. They’ll walk around and sniff everything and try to find a favorite spot to become “invisible” in.

A feral cat is a totally different creature. It does not trust people and will take months if not a year or two to domesticate or trust the person with the can opener. While patience and compassion can work here, you must be aware that this is not just a shy cat. Sometimes they don’t come around and you just share space until one of you leaves the planet.

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