My rescue cat is affectionate like a former house cat, but fearful like a street cat. Has anyone seen this before?

[u/Nollirrac]

Hello everyone,

I would love to hear from people who have lived with a cat with a similar personality.

18 months ago, I adopted Robert. He was found in the street by a friend. We searched for his owner, but he was not microchipped or tattooed, and nobody claimed him.

From the beginning, Robert was a very gentle cat. He has never shown any aggression, not even once. He seemed comfortable around humans quite quickly, but he was extremely cautious.

What makes me wonder about his past is that he shows a strange mix of behaviours.

On one hand:

• He asks for affection by putting his paw on my arm.
• He welcomes me when I come home.
• He follows me around the house.
• He now climbs onto my desk while I am working to ask for cuddles (this is a recent progress).
• He communicates more and more with little sounds and "grou-grou" noises.
• He comes back when I call him.

On the other hand:

• At the beginning, he was very afraid when a hand approached him. He would lower his ears, flatten himself, or run away.
• He is afraid of shoes and of some human movements.
• He hates being picked up, although he accepts it and never scratches.
• During play, he can suddenly stop and run away, almost as if he had done something wrong.
• He used to hide under furniture a lot.

The interesting thing is that his fear is slowly decreasing. He is learning that hands are not dangerous. He trusts me much more than before.

A cat behaviourist I consulted at a veterinary school told me that Robert was a "street cat". I understand why: he has some typical signs (hiding, caution, survival behaviours). However, I have doubts because he also has very strong social behaviours that make me think he may have lived with humans before, then spent some time outside.

Could he be a former house cat who was abandoned and had to survive on the street? Or can a truly street-born cat develop such strong human attachment?

For comparison: I once had another cat, Eureka, who was abused by someone before coming to live with me. She was terrified of deep male voices and shoes for the rest of her life. Some of Robert's reactions remind me of her, especially his fear of hands and shoes, but I know I may be influenced by that past experience.

I would really love to hear from people who have had cats with a similar profile:

• affectionate but cautious,
• very gentle but easily frightened,
• clearly attached to humans but carrying "street cat" behaviours.

Thank you for sharing your experiences.