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We know that domestic cats are animals of habit, once they establish a routine, and feel comfortable with it, the level of anxiety decreases and with it, nervousness. We must know that any change whether from home, new family members or in very extreme cases, it can cause them stress.
In this article by PeritoAnimal we want to help you, so we'll give you tips to calm a nervous cat that can be yours or not. We're going to share some advice you'll find useful, so keep reading.
the approach
Approaching or approaching a cat, nervous or stressed by some situation that bothers him, is usually more difficult to deal with. Once this barrier is overcome, we are able to "domesticate the situation".
When it comes to a cat we don't know, whether on the street or from someone else, we don't know how to react, so we must use all our tools so that the approach doesn't fail. There are cats that are very stressed with the presence of strangers, but we must learn to read the behaviors and signals that their body sends us.
Cats that have been through some abuse situation, usually retreat with the back arched, but not with the bristly hair, this is just defensive behavior. Just like when he squats down with his body on the ground. We must earn their trust, so it often works well to reach out with an open palm to smell us and speaking in a sweet, calm voice. There is no need to touch, just note that you are in no danger and that we are not going to do anything that could harm you.
Sometimes, our own cat reacts nervously out of fear to something or some situation, sometimes unknown. Try not to act impulsively. Remember that in this case you should also gain your trust and if he doesn't want you to pick him up, you shouldn't. You must go little by little, giving him the space he wants, showing him through gentle movements that there is no danger with us. We add words of comfort in a low tone and with patience. We can also resort to "bribery", taking advantage of the fact that we know you and your tastes, and offer you your favorite toy or food that you like, to get you out of this state of stress.
It is very important to respect your times. If he tries to run away from us, we should never chase him, leave him some time alone, at least half an hour to try the approach again.
spend time daily
Whether our own feline is like one that lives on the street, the ideal way to overcome nervousness is to spend time with him a day. He must get used to our presence.
When approaching, try to bring your hand close to its muzzle, so that it smells us and gets used to our smell. Don't try to touch it as this can be very invasive and set back the small advances we've made. Always remember that changes must be gradual, we cannot expect instant positive reactions.
We can bring a toy and play with it to see if we can get your attention and out of curiosity, give in. The game acts as a distraction from your feline "worries" that are often responsible for stress. The game is very important. Especially if the cat is not yours, use a "fish stick" toy to prevent it from scratching you accidentally.
In cats where we already have contact, not just visual, we can caress them, brush them and allow them to curl up beside us if they wish. This will strengthen the bond between the two, for both the cat and its owner.
the veterinarian can help
O use of tranquilizers can help us in this type of behavior, in addition to attention and a lot of love. It is not necessary to go with the cat to the appointment, as this would only cause more stress, but contact the veterinarian to see what advice he can give us.
THE Acepromazine it is usually the most used and/or prescribed tranquilizer in clinics. It is a central nervous system depressant that generates relaxation and indifference to the environment. As with any other medication, doses should be prescribed by a veterinarian.
We have the healthiest options like the Rescue Remedy (Bach flower) which relieves both mental and physical stress. It can occur in the mouth, drinking or rubbing a drop on your feline's head.
At homeopathy we also have great allies, but we must individualize our pet, so it is advisable to consult a specialist. Check out all the benefits of homeopathy for animals in this other article.
O Reiki it usually helps to calm these states of nervousness, helped by relaxing music and, in cases where you can't play it, we can also act from a distance.
