I have never seen anything like it in all my days.  A kitten who runs away in fear when I offer it a toy to play with.  No matter what I have done for the animal, it shies away and tries everything to run and hide.

You would think that, after a week, my new Maine Coon kitten, "Rosco", would be used to me, but he acts just like he did when he arrived.  Scared.  Skittish.  Wary.  Full of fear.

It's heartbreaking.  It's absolutely heartbreaking.

Whenever I try to talk to it (so Rosco can get used to the sound of my voice), he growls deep in his silken throat; forget about even attempting to hold him: he tries his best to get out of my arms, or worse, he bites or scratches me.  My arms have the bite and claw marks to back that claim.  It's awful!

He will eat his food when I am not looking, and he will drink his water, but any attempt to talk to him or interact with him only brings disappointment.

I am beginning to think that Rosco might have been abused.  Otherwise he'd be a playing, purring machine ready to dish out all the love in that tiny, furry little body.  There is no other explanation.  

More reason to feel so bad.  I wonder what horrors this poor little thing must have endured before he got brought to the local animal shelter, which was where I'd gotten him.  I don't see how the people there could have missed seeing his anger or the fact that they didn't catch the signs sooner.

 I guess they thought they were glad to get rid of him instead of euthanizing the kitten.

And now I have this kitten, and I am at the end of my rope with him.  No matter what I do, he still hasn't changed: he is still the same scared little guy he was when I first adopted him.

To Be Continued.