advertisement


Terrified tabby, help!

Frizzy

Liberal anarchist
My young (rescue) cats are very, very nervous types, the ring of a doorbell, crunch of footsteps on gravel, sends them running (over me leaving scars) into attic, if someone visits they hide for hours. I’ve had them 3 years and several friends have yet to see them in flesh.
Thought about kitty Prozac, or similar. Anyone had similar probs, or non druggy remedies?
 
They are loved and spoiled, just wouldn’t mind less neuroses, and scars where they run over me claws out.
Averse to chemicals so curious as to alternatives.
They replaced two very large (9/10kg) Maine Coon ginger toms who where very chilled and friendly, debated getting another biggy to maybe add a calm feline presence and help little uns feel secure as they have a Maine coon comfort blanket.
 
If they're rescue cats I guess it's possible they may not have been socialised so well. Ours was rescued with her mum and brothers but even in middle age can be a bit nervy and will dash into the safety of the bedroom if the door bell rings or someone she doesn't know comes into the flat.

Do yours have lots of hiding places downstairs? If you haven't already, a few cardboard boxes around the place go a long way :)
 
We used to have a pair of cats rescued from the local shelter. One of the pair was with us until 19 years old and our regular cat sitter never saw that cat - she thought we only had one cat that ate lots of food !
Just be patient - even the old hideaway cat eventually made some more friends.
 
One of ours has the same issues. Cat sitters are told to come in back door and to watch out for the little black rocket leaving as they come in. She is getting a little braver but she is now 13 years old! She was a rescue cat found abandoned so probably not properly socialised.Took 10 years for her to sit on me, still prefers sitting on my wife's lap, but of she's not available I'll do! If we need to worm her or do anything else she is happy to be held (well she tolerates it), our other cat - it's more of a wrestling match!
 
Yes I think they were separated from mum to early.
Both are happy lapcats with me, but invariably shoot past visitors as they head for the cat flap race thru garage and hide in barn. The damage is done as they launch themselves away when bell goes or telephone rings.
 
Can you get away with a quieter doorbell & phone ring? Maybe just a different one to break the existing association with something bad/fear. It sounds like the cats had too little human interaction early on so are just a bit skittish with anyone but you, but there is a chance they just hate the sound of the bell/ringtone. Cat hearing covers a different range and some unnatural treble energy certainly can cause discomfort, especially in relatively young cats so may be worth a try, or just moving the bell/ringers into another room further away from their safe area.
 
Years ago my mates cat (called Floyd) was no trouble at all in a house where loudish music was the norm but play some Hendrix?
Whoosh! Gone...
 
If they're rescue cats I guess it's possible they may not have been socialised so well. Ours was rescued with her mum and brothers but even in middle age can be a bit nervy and will dash into the safety of the bedroom if the door bell rings or someone she doesn't know comes into the flat.

Do yours have lots of hiding places downstairs? If you haven't already, a few cardboard boxes around the place go a long way :)

The hiding places comment is interesting. We had a “cat lady” neighbour who always had places her cats could retreat to if they felt like it. Places of height were their favourite.
I was never much of a cat person but they seem to like me. More often than not one would end up on my lap although the roughing of my trousers to make it more comfortable was always a little disconcerting:(
 
Years ago my mates cat (called Floyd) was no trouble at all in a house where loudish music was the norm but play some Hendrix?
Whoosh! Gone...
Our first cat used to leave the room when I played Frank Zappa's Uncle Meat. Smart cat. I think I would nowadays.
 


advertisement


Back
Top