Anyway, I think because that kitty was so tiny and she was trying to fend for herself without her mom, she just never mentally recovered. At five years old, she was still terrified of everything, and we could never get her litter box trained. I think with her she probably suffered from some sort of developmental damage due to the terrible circumstances when she was a baby. Not only that, but you know how other animals will try to weed out the sick and weak? Well, this poor kitty was always being treated badly by my many otherwise very loving kitties. They knew something was wrong with her. She had to go where she was an only kitty.
The other was a starving kitty I found at a rest stop on an interstate. Beautiful, and very sweet. But she was extremely aggressive. She would search out my other kitties just to beat the crap out of them. We had her completely vetted, healthy, and spayed, then found her a new home, too.
I have also rescued two others (one my mom has, the other one of my sisters has), that have never seemed to recover from their lack of human contact. They will let their owners pet them, but frantically hide from any other human contact.
I guess I have just had so many, their personalities run the gamut.
I think this is what I love most about cats ... their personalities are so unique.
Our vet has told me several times that there is a window of opportunity for socialization of a kitten. Once that window is closed they are unlikely to be socialized. I have reservations about that because I once took in an 8 year old feral and no on thought I could socialize him. He turned into a very shy but loving cat.
As I type, there is a big red, 20 pounds, part-Persian kitty sitting on the table beside me purring. Every once in a while he will reach down and nip my hand. We rescued him 2-1/2 years ago. They told us at the HS that he had been very withdrawn since he was brought in ... when he saw my husband he sat up like a prairie dog ... as if to say look at me and please take me home. He has a fabulous personality but was apparently hit by a former owner. It has taken him 2-1/2 years to settle in and realize that he is never going to be hit again.
My most recent feral is a real sweetheart. She is ready to come over to the house now. I am eager to see how the others will take to her. She will first be in the mudroom ... and the others can get acquainted with the fact there is a new cat by sniffing under a closed door. Wish me luck.