How to Deal with a Shy Cat? A Guide for New Cat Owners on Helping a Fearful Cat Be More Social
How to Deal with a Shy Cat? A Guide for New Cat Owners on Helping a Fearful Cat Be More Social
Do you have a cat that is afraid of people, especially strangers? Does your cat hide under the bed whenever someone comes over to visit? Or maybe your cat even hisses at your friends or even pees on their belongings? These behaviors are common in many cats, especially shy ones. So what do you do when your cat is too shy?
First, we need to understand why your cat is behaving this way. If your cat exhibits any of the behaviors I mentioned above, it's because they are scared. Shy cats, in particular, are afraid of strangers. It's also possible that your cat is experiencing anxiety. They may be feeling stressed, unhappy, and therefore unwilling to meet strangers. So, what can we do to help our shy cats feel more comfortable?
1. Set Small Goals for Your Cat
We all want our cats to be outgoing and loved by everyone. However, every cat has their own personality. Based on your cat's personality, their fear of strangers, or any past experiences they may have had, you as a new cat owner may need to do some work to help your cat feel comfortable and trust humans again. If your cat's previous owner wasn't very kind to your cat, this could make it difficult for them to trust humans again. This doesn't mean that your cat will always be this way, but it might take a little longer to change their behavior. Be patient, it will take time.
Start by assessing your cat's current situation. If your cat hides when someone comes over, but then eventually comes out to play or eat, that’s a small step! If your cat is scared but also curious about strangers, they may sniff your friend or even let them pet them. That’s another huge step!
To change your cat's shyness, it's best to start with small goals and reward them each time they achieve a goal. Guiding your cat to overcome their fear of people is a gradual process. It requires patience and care from you as the owner.
2. Create a Safe Space for Your Cat
When friends come over, you don’t need to constantly comfort your cat and neglect your friends who came to see you. When you have guests, try to make both your guests and your cat feel comfortable. You can choose a safe place in your home to put your cat, where they won't be disturbed. Let them come out and play if they want to, or let them stay in their safe space if they prefer. This way, your cat has their own space when you have guests, and they can also have their own time to play and relax.
3. A Spare Bedroom Is a Great Place for Cats
You can let your cat use a spare bedroom. Make sure the room has a water bowl, a litter box, and a cat tree or other climbing options for your cat to play and hide. If the room has a comfortable and secure cat bed, it may become your cat's favorite place, and then your cat won’t have to be scared when your friends visit.
While your cat is relaxing in this room, please don't disturb them. Make it a space just for your cat. When someone comes over, you can leave a small gap in the door or close the door completely. If your cat can nap in a cat tree or on a windowsill, that's even better, as they can hear sounds from another room without worrying about potential intruders.
4. Set Up Safe Spots for Your Cat in the Room
Of course, your cat should also have some hiding options in other rooms. This could be a cat tree, houseplants, or a windowsill with curtains. Cats feel safer when they are high up and out of reach of potential threats. Most importantly, it gives them a safe escape route if needed. For example, placing a cat tree near the entrance of the room where your guests are gathered allows your cat to observe the guests and gives them a chance to escape if they feel uncomfortable. A cat tree near the front door or in other living areas can encourage your cat to climb up and observe who's coming, while also making them feel safe.
It's best to have several safe spots throughout your house so your cat can easily get to the closest available spot, or just choose the one they like best. Here’s a little tip: If your cat's favorite room is the guest room, make sure they have other places they enjoy so they have somewhere to nap, eat, drink, and relax when guests are using the other room.
5. Let Your Cat Make the Choice
If you make your cat feel safe and comfortable, you don’t have to worry about whether or not they will come out and bother your friends. They'll be safe and will play by themselves. Let your cat decide if they want to come out and meet your guests. If they hide, let them hide. Don’t force them to come out. If you see signs of fear in their eyes, try to encourage them to come closer with toys, food, or a soothing voice. However, we should avoid specifically drawing their attention to the arrival of strangers, or drawing guests’ attention to the cat.
For shy cats, excessive attention can make them even more scared. If your friend is making your cat feel uneasy or uncomfortable, or shows signs of fear, you should tell your friend that the cat is scared and distract them with something else.
6. Help Your Cat Get Used to Human Voices
We need to make your cat understand that your guests are harmless. The best way to do this is to let your cat get to know them. So, you can invite guests over often. The more experience your cat has interacting with guests, the sooner they will accept them. You can also listen to music during the day to help your cat get used to hearing other people’s voices. It’s best to play calming music (or music that fits your cat’s preferences), or audiobooks. Help your cat get used to human voices. Over time, your cat will gradually get used to various sounds, including the voices of different people.
7. Help Your Cat Build Confidence Through Play
Playing can be fun, but it serves a greater purpose for cats, especially for their mental health. Playing is a way to keep cats active and healthy, which is important for maintaining their emotional stability. It’s like having a constant food supply, which reduces stress. Regular play helps stimulate your cat’s behavior and boost their confidence. It can also help improve their overall health, reduce boredom and related behavioral issues, and provide other benefits.
Try to replicate this behavior in games similar to cat-and-mouse. Put a toy on a string and try to slowly drag it away from your cat. You can also tease them to arouse their curiosity and keep them physically and mentally active. It’s important that your cat likes the toys you buy for them. Playing can help your cat find their natural behaviors from the wild. For example, toys like plush mice or balls can significantly boost a cat’s confidence.
Have you learned all this, fellow cat owners? It’s time to act now!
Do you have a cat that is afraid of people, especially strangers? Does your cat hide under the bed whenever someone comes over to visit? Or maybe your cat even hisses at your friends or even pees on their belongings? These behaviors are common in many cats, especially shy ones. So what do you do when your cat is too shy?
First, we need to understand why your cat is behaving this way. If your cat exhibits any of the behaviors I mentioned above, it's because they are scared. Shy cats, in particular, are afraid of strangers. It's also possible that your cat is experiencing anxiety. They may be feeling stressed, unhappy, and therefore unwilling to meet strangers. So, what can we do to help our shy cats feel more comfortable?
1. Set Small Goals for Your Cat
We all want our cats to be outgoing and loved by everyone. However, every cat has their own personality. Based on your cat's personality, their fear of strangers, or any past experiences they may have had, you as a new cat owner may need to do some work to help your cat feel comfortable and trust humans again. If your cat's previous owner wasn't very kind to your cat, this could make it difficult for them to trust humans again. This doesn't mean that your cat will always be this way, but it might take a little longer to change their behavior. Be patient, it will take time.
Start by assessing your cat's current situation. If your cat hides when someone comes over, but then eventually comes out to play or eat, that’s a small step! If your cat is scared but also curious about strangers, they may sniff your friend or even let them pet them. That’s another huge step!
To change your cat's shyness, it's best to start with small goals and reward them each time they achieve a goal. Guiding your cat to overcome their fear of people is a gradual process. It requires patience and care from you as the owner.
2. Create a Safe Space for Your Cat
When friends come over, you don’t need to constantly comfort your cat and neglect your friends who came to see you. When you have guests, try to make both your guests and your cat feel comfortable. You can choose a safe place in your home to put your cat, where they won't be disturbed. Let them come out and play if they want to, or let them stay in their safe space if they prefer. This way, your cat has their own space when you have guests, and they can also have their own time to play and relax.
3. A Spare Bedroom Is a Great Place for Cats
You can let your cat use a spare bedroom. Make sure the room has a water bowl, a litter box, and a cat tree or other climbing options for your cat to play and hide. If the room has a comfortable and secure cat bed, it may become your cat's favorite place, and then your cat won’t have to be scared when your friends visit.
While your cat is relaxing in this room, please don't disturb them. Make it a space just for your cat. When someone comes over, you can leave a small gap in the door or close the door completely. If your cat can nap in a cat tree or on a windowsill, that's even better, as they can hear sounds from another room without worrying about potential intruders.
4. Set Up Safe Spots for Your Cat in the Room
Of course, your cat should also have some hiding options in other rooms. This could be a cat tree, houseplants, or a windowsill with curtains. Cats feel safer when they are high up and out of reach of potential threats. Most importantly, it gives them a safe escape route if needed. For example, placing a cat tree near the entrance of the room where your guests are gathered allows your cat to observe the guests and gives them a chance to escape if they feel uncomfortable. A cat tree near the front door or in other living areas can encourage your cat to climb up and observe who's coming, while also making them feel safe.
It's best to have several safe spots throughout your house so your cat can easily get to the closest available spot, or just choose the one they like best. Here’s a little tip: If your cat's favorite room is the guest room, make sure they have other places they enjoy so they have somewhere to nap, eat, drink, and relax when guests are using the other room.
5. Let Your Cat Make the Choice
If you make your cat feel safe and comfortable, you don’t have to worry about whether or not they will come out and bother your friends. They'll be safe and will play by themselves. Let your cat decide if they want to come out and meet your guests. If they hide, let them hide. Don’t force them to come out. If you see signs of fear in their eyes, try to encourage them to come closer with toys, food, or a soothing voice. However, we should avoid specifically drawing their attention to the arrival of strangers, or drawing guests’ attention to the cat.
For shy cats, excessive attention can make them even more scared. If your friend is making your cat feel uneasy or uncomfortable, or shows signs of fear, you should tell your friend that the cat is scared and distract them with something else.
6. Help Your Cat Get Used to Human Voices
We need to make your cat understand that your guests are harmless. The best way to do this is to let your cat get to know them. So, you can invite guests over often. The more experience your cat has interacting with guests, the sooner they will accept them. You can also listen to music during the day to help your cat get used to hearing other people’s voices. It’s best to play calming music (or music that fits your cat’s preferences), or audiobooks. Help your cat get used to human voices. Over time, your cat will gradually get used to various sounds, including the voices of different people.
7. Help Your Cat Build Confidence Through Play
Playing can be fun, but it serves a greater purpose for cats, especially for their mental health. Playing is a way to keep cats active and healthy, which is important for maintaining their emotional stability. It’s like having a constant food supply, which reduces stress. Regular play helps stimulate your cat’s behavior and boost their confidence. It can also help improve their overall health, reduce boredom and related behavioral issues, and provide other benefits.
Try to replicate this behavior in games similar to cat-and-mouse. Put a toy on a string and try to slowly drag it away from your cat. You can also tease them to arouse their curiosity and keep them physically and mentally active. It’s important that your cat likes the toys you buy for them. Playing can help your cat find their natural behaviors from the wild. For example, toys like plush mice or balls can significantly boost a cat’s confidence.
Have you learned all this, fellow cat owners? It’s time to act now!
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