You are such a patient and kind person. She is a beautiful cat indeed. I hope she gets some sense soon and cuddles with the human who is showing such devotion.

There's always hope. She knows in her heart you love her and she can depend on you to feed her. I suspect total trust is the last emotion to come into the equation. Who knows how long it will take, maybe another week maybe 2 years, but I have a feeling she will willingly come up into your arms. Continue with your love and care of her and let her make the choice...when she joined your home most of her choices were taken from her she may see this as being the only thing left she can control...

She is a lovely girl and she's been blessed.

It's a long story, but I have six cats in the house. Four were feral, one wandered up pregnant and we have one of her kittens that we couldn't find a home for. The one we have had the longest only tolerates short rounds of petting, no lap sitting or cuddling, but she was pretty easy to initially make contact with. Two are litter mates and it took forever to make contact. Those two are the most affectionate cats ever! The last one was easy to make contact with and sleeps with me most nights. He is in my lap as I am typing. So in my house, the odds are 75% for and 25% against. Hang in there and it will probably happen.

She is absolutely beautiful!

She's a gorgeous little girl!

Hanna was never a lap cat until very late in life. She was 13 before she decided she liked sitting on her daddy's lap. She shared his office and for the final 6 years of her life became daddy's little girl. Hang in there.

You never know. We've been feeding a feral male for 5 years now. He's been neutered, comes in the house several times a day, will tolerate a little petting, but DOES NOT like being picked up or held on your lap. Two years ago he was more tolerant than he is today. I think after a vet visit it set him back. Still, he's a large part of the family and he likes us ok. :)

Even non-feral cats can be stand-offish; I have one that has never liked lap sitting and only tolerates a bit of petting. But as others have said you never know! Sometimes cats go for years doing one thing and then suddenly change! The only thing I know about cats, after having them for many years, is to let them do things on their own time schedule.

Oh what a beautiful cat. I hope in time your desires come true.

Cat fishing pole

https://www.chewy.com/ethical-pet-telescoping-kitty-teaser/dp/117922

She's beautiful! They are individuals.

This is Darla. She has an owner, but loves EVERYONE! She no longer wears a collar w/ tags. She's fed & cared for by at least 6 neighbors. She was mewing at my door a minute ago. I gave her kitty treats. We discuss her on "Nextdoor". She's our "part-time" cat. My point is....some cats are overly friendly...some are overly standoffish.

She's a beauty. It might just be in her nature not to like that sort of physical contact.

Gracie came from a rescue five years ago when she was about a year and a half old. She doesn't sit on our laps and doesn't like to be held, but she loves to be petted. Recently she started stepping onto the lap while being petted on the desk or arm of a chair. We haven't given up hope that she'll be a lap kitty someday.

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions. I won't give up hope. At least she gets along with the other four cats and actually truly loves George - follows him everywhere he goes. For a while, I thought we were making good progress, but I think, as in Moonie's case, a trip to the vet set us back. DH was able to coax her into a carrier with the aid of a laser light so we could have her spayed, but after we let her loose once we were home, she withdrew for a while before trusting us enough to come out of hiding.

Beautiful kitty. My River is a feral. He disappears in the house for many hours a day. He comes out with us for the last dog and cat walk of the day. We can pet him but he won't allow us to pick him up. I am now trying clicker training so he knows what I want him to do for food. It works a bit all ready.

Cat clicker training

The feral I rescued four years ago likes - actually demands - to be stroked, but only when he feels like it. He also demands to sit in my lap. Again, only when he's in the mood. Try to pick him up from the floor and hold him, and he struggles like a fiend and escapes. I no longer even try to do that. Love him on his own terms so to speak.

"With Cats, some say, one rule is true: Don't speak until you're spoken to", as T S Eliot wrote. Same goes for petting, I guess.

I know this struggle lol There is an adorable feral cat at my MIL's house. He was the baby to a stray that has no problem with humans. He is a gorgeous white and gray cat and is a big boy. I named him Igor. I've only been able to pick him up once or twice. One of her other babies now lives with us. Very skittish but let people pet her a little. We brought her and her babies home (only one survived) and she's gotten a lot better. I still can't pick her up and she still sometimes runs when I try to pet her but once I can start she loves being petted. She even jumps up on the arm of the couch now :)

We got two cats at the same time from the humane shelter, where they had spent their lives, three years ago. One is the most social cat I've ever seen. There were 50 people at our house July 4 and Nigel was in the middle of all of them, to the point of almost getting stepped on. He loves to be picked up and made over. Oliver, on the other hand spent the day in the closet. When it's just people he knows, he's sociable enough, wants to be petted, sits near people and on my lap. Try to pick him up and he disappears. They are so very different, both loving and full of purrs, but such separate personalities and reactions to people. Got to love cats.

Our Babi is the same way...when we rescued her she was starving and not well. Now she is healthy and has a good home with us, but the minute I try to hold her or pet her she runs to the other side of the room and paces until we leave the room. I am hoping she trusts us but it's been over a year now. :(

We also rescued a cat that is the same way. :(

Nine years I've had my hissy girl. She started out being angry for me petting her, but skidding into the kitchen for food. She now knows I'll feed her regularly, so no more running at full pace and sliding. She turned the corner a few years ago, showing her belly to me. She turned the corner for being held two years ago (she'll even let me carry her around). She turned the corner to relax and trust me 100%, this week. She may even be at the point my last cat was. I'd put him in the sink and bathe him without him trying to run away, just sat there and took it. She still has to be held somewhat, but purrs at the end of it all, glad to be clean. Years....I just kept pushing her past her comfort zone. It's taken a really long time. I'm in it for the longhaul, so I'll keep on going.

Rob, that is VERY encouraging. Glad you kept at her. I'd love to see a picture of your hissy girl.

I present to you, Mishka Maggie Moo, Queen of the Cushions. Her royal shedder of fur.

Such a beautiful girl! Thank you for sharing.

I know nothing about cats, except that yours is just beautiful.

You are so patient Donna, and hopefully your patience will be rewarded. As you, each cat is different. Roxie squawks and squeals every time she's picked up, yet she loves being up high, sitting on a cabinet. She's one who loves being next to you with her paw on your arm, she likes to touch you. Cuddling is on her terms only.

Bud is a social animal, you can swing him around and do anything, with nary a sound. He loves people and is first at the door when he hears someone come up the stairs to our door. Right now Bud is laying beside me, on his head with his butt on the keyboard, begging to be petted.

She is certainly a beauty! I hope you can cuddle her in time.

I just want to thank you for taking a chance on her and giving her the chance of a good life.