Content
- Reasons to have a scared cat
- How do you know if a cat is afraid?
- What to do with a scared cat?
- How to improve the environment for a frightened cat
- When is therapy necessary?
There is cats that are afraid of humans, cats that distrust other cats and cats that are afraid of any unknown stimulus. Reasons for a cat to be shy or overly fearful range from personality to trauma.
In any case, if you have a kitten at home who is suspicious, prefers to stay hidden and does not relate to the family, it is your duty to help him to better deal with his personality so that he can have a happy life, both physically and psychologically . That's why you can't miss this PeritoAnimal article about scared cat: causes and solutions.
Reasons to have a scared cat
As with the personality of human beings, there are extroverted, shy, adventurous, homemade cats and so on. Not all cats are great explorers, some prefer to stay indoors, walking around the family perimeter where they feel safe. However, we must be careful when we have a scared cat or a scared cat beyond what could be considered normal.
There is certainly a reason that explains the behavior of a scared cat. The main one is usually the lack of early exposure to people, during the socialization phase, which is the time when the cat is a kitten and has its first contact with the environment, other animals or people. If the socialization has not been done correctly, it is common to already observe a very scared and scared cat from the age of 12 weeks onwards.
Likewise, cats who have suffered a traumatic experience, such as abuse or a simple fright, develop a fearful behavior towards humans, becoming hostile and adopting attitudes to hide and avoid contact with people, even those who have good intentions towards them.
It may also happen that you have redeemed a wild cat, who is not used to having contact with people (it would also be a lack of early exposure), so he sees the human being only as a possible threat. This type of cat is usually very difficult to domesticate and may never get used to your company.If this is your case, don't miss this article with our tips for adopting a stray cat.
On the other hand, in the order of "domestic" cats there may also be reasons that make them scared. For example, many shelter cats tend to be cautious because these places are forced to be surrounded by other cats, and even dogs, as well as by strangers. Not to mention that many shelters do not have the best conditions to house rescued animals, which can lead us to find a cat with exaggerated fear.
How do you know if a cat is afraid?
Before looking for a solution to a cat's fearful behavior, you need to make sure that what he is feeling it's really fear.
When they feel scared, it is very common for cats to hide, then you'll see your feline companion seeking shelter under beds, furniture, or any other object that looks good to him. Plus, he'll snort and even growl when you try to get close and get him out of his way.
It is also possible for the fur to stand on end and the feline to adopt a defensive posture, placing itself against the ground, but alert to any possible threat. His pupils will be dilated and he will be startled by any noise.
Do any of these things sound familiar to you? If yes, it means you have a very scared cat.
What to do with a scared cat?
You may think you tried everything to make your cat lose her fear and feel confident, but maybe I did things the wrong way. So here are some tips to take your cat's fear away and gradually make it more comfortable with you:
- don't cause stress. Forcing him to be with you, getting him out of hiding, trying to force him to eat will only increase the tension between you and make the process more difficult. A fearful cat's adaptation should flow naturally, no matter how long it takes. The cat must always take the initiative.
- Do not approach him from the front. For humans it's very common to talk looking people in the eye, but in cats this is a sign of defiance, so when you approach him with your eyes fixed on his, you're just intimidating him. Approach him from the side, looking in the other direction, slowly, and stay by his side as if you didn't care to be with him.
- stay at his height. Standing up is another thing that intimidates a frightened cat, so it's best to squat down or lie down on your side, always avoiding looking him in the face. Just stand there and wait for him to come. Try to avoid sudden movements as they can frighten you and make the cat more fearful.
- everything is in the look. It is common for cats to look at each other, blink and then look away, as a sign of calm and that they are not looking for any conflict. You can mimic this gesture to show the cat that you come in peace and don't plan on hurting him. Find out all about cat body language in another article.
- use food. In addition to its usual food, it is advisable for the cat to interpret being with you as receiving good things, such as a reward. So buy him something he might like and offer him food when you feel he's making progress. If he gets any closer to you, give him your treat. In this way, the scared cat will associate you with something positive.
- play with him. Play is essential to uninhibit the feline and allow it to feel at ease. Look for a toy that he can chase, triggering his hunting instincts, like the typical cat fishing pole.
- Be patient. Never try to force the relationship or demand more from your cat than he thinks he is capable of giving. Eventually, he will feel comfortable with you and give you all his love; trying to do this prematurely will only nullify any progress you've made and so you could be permanently left with a scared cat.
How to improve the environment for a frightened cat
One scared cat he needs to feel secure, not only in his relationship with you, but also in his surroundings. That's why you should look for a space where he feels comfortable and quiet, away from noise and stimuli that can disturb him and accentuate his fear.
The ideal is to prepare a "nest" in a quiet place in the house (not a passenger place) in which the cat can retreat undisturbed. Must be a holy place for him and so the family should never try to get him out when he is. Your bed and your food and water bowls should also be there. Remember to also place the litter box away from the food. Later, we will place each item in its future location.
As you introduce the cat to the rest of the family, do it calmly and one by one so that it gets used to everyone's sounds and smells. Under no circumstances try to force the cat to show affection from the beginning, this bond must be built with patience when you are dealing with a scared cat. And if there is already another animal in the family, such as a dog, follow our tips to introduce them correctly.
Create a routine for meals, cleaning times, and playtime. This way, your cat will not feel anxious about what might happen next. Keep in mind that cats are very susceptible to change, as they like to have everything under control, which is why the routine will help your frightened cat to adapt much better to their new home.
Remember: if your cat suddenly becomes nervous and fearful without this being her normal personality, something is wrong. Watch to see if your anxiety increases when family members, even other pets, are around you so you can understand the problem. Similarly, stressful environments, full of tension and noise, will cause you discomfort.
In the video below you can check out some more tips that can be useful to deal with a scared and scared cat of everything:
When is therapy necessary?
All the advice we've given in this article is aimed at improve your feline's quality of life. No cat can live scared or permanently hidden, so it is important that you try to solve this problem.
However, in cats that have suffered very traumatic situations, these methods may not work, so you should seek out a specialist to develop a appropriate therapy for him to feel safe and relaxed. To do this, we recommend that you go to a feline educator or ethologist.
If you want to read more articles similar to Afraid Cat: Causes and Solutions, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.