The Cat's Meow Rescue
Stay in touch!
  • Home
  • Available for Adoption
  • ADOPTED!
  • Special Needs Cats
  • More Information
    • FAQ
    • Barn Cats
    • Finding your kitty a new home
    • Caring for Abandoned Kittens
    • Important to Spay & Neuter
    • Introducing a new cat to your home
    • Declawing - If you care, be AWARE
    • What is Feline Leukemia?
    • What is FIV?
    • Kitty-Proof Your Home
    • Help Us Help Them
    • Become a Foster
    • LINKS
    • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Blog: Feline Friends

Is Your Cat a “Scaredy” Cat?

8/15/2016

0 Comments

 
Picture
by Nomi Berger
 
Like people, pets deal with stress in their own particular way. Fear can turn any cat into a fraidy cat, instinctively triggering the fight, flight or freeze response in them. And while some fear-induced behaviors are acceptable and manageable, OVERLY anxious cats require assistance from their caring cat guardians in the form of training, patience, and, above all, love.
 
The signs that your cat is afraid include: running away, hiding, freezing in place, aggression (spitting, hissing, growling, swatting, biting, scratching, puffing fur and tail, arching back, swishing tail and flattening ears), losing control of her bladder or bowels, and refusing to use the litter box.
 
To reduce your frightened feline’s anxiety and to help her become more confident, begin by observing your kitty closely to determine the specific trigger(s) for her fearful behavior. Some of the most common triggers are the approach of a certain person or stranger, an active child or another animal, a new environment and loud noises.
 
Next, bring your cat to the vet for a thorough physical examination to rule out any medical causes for her behavior. Cats don’t always “act” ill, even when they are, and any sudden behavioral changes may signal that your cat is, in fact, sick. These changes can include hiding, eliminating outside the litter box, and aggressiveness.
 
If your cat is, thankfully, healthy but still hiding, simply leave her alone. She’ll come out of her hiding place when she’s ready, whereas forcing her to come out will have the reverse effect, and make her even more fearful. Ensure that she has easy access to her bowls of food and water, and her litter box. Change the food and water, and clean the litter box every day to ascertain whether or not she’s eating, drinking and eliminating.
 
Keep all contact with her specific “fear stimulus” to a minimum while keeping her routine as consistent as possible. Cats feel more confident if they know when to expect their daily feeding and playing, cuddling and grooming.
 
Then work to de-sensitize your cat to the object of her fear by following these steps:
* Determine the distance between your cat and that negative stimulus (be it a person or another pet) at which she seems most comfortable, without responding fearfully.
* Introduce the two at precisely this distance while feeding your cat tasty treats and lavishing her with praise.
* Slowly narrow the gap between you, while continuing to praise your cat and to offer her treats.
* If, at any time, your cat exhibits some fearful behavior, you’ve proceeded too quickly and must begin again – from the beginning.
* To avoid this, work in short sessions only, paying close attention to your cat’s signals, and, essentially, following her lead.
 
Whatever else you do, do NOT punish your cat for her fearful behavior. Because animals associate punishment with what they’re doing AT THE TIME they’re being punished, your cat is likely to associate the punishment with YOU. The result? She will become fearful of YOU without ever understanding WHY she’s being punished.
 
Never force your cat to “experience” the source of her fear. Example? If she’s afraid of a particular person, don’t let that person attempt to pick her up and hold her. This will only make your cat MORE afraid of that person.
 
And, most importantly, take care when handling your cat when she’s frightened. She may accidentally direct her aggression toward you.
 
Should you find yourself growing frustrated at the slow pace of your progress, don’t hesitate to seek help from an animal-behavior specialist.
 

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author
    Blog articles for TCMR are written by Nomi Berger, an established author and journalist of 40 years, living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, who graciously volunteers her time and talent to help further our rescue efforts.


    AWARDS

    Picture

    Picture
    Cat Rescue Blogs

    Picture

    Picture
    Animal Rescue Blogs

    Picture
    Awarded by Best1x.com
    Best for Pets

    Picture

    Picture
    2017 Top 35 Cat Blogs awarded by "We're All About the Cats"

    Picture
    Awarded by "Feedspot.com"

    Picture
    Awarded by "10Greatest.com"

    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015

    Categories

    All
    Cat Facts
    Cat Safety
    Community Awareness
    Fun Facts
    Health And Behavior
    How You Can Help

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.