There are simple tricks to get the right side of the problem if you feel that the cat is scared.
Cats can be experienced and seen as very confident and fearless animals.
In reality, cats can also be very shy and afraid of their surroundings.
There are several reasons why cats are shy towards their surroundings.
The main reason is their innate instincts.
May also be due to the cat having experienced something traumatic or been abused and mistreated.
You can interact in many different ways because the Cat is afraid of meeting a shy cat.
The best way is to approach slowly and not scare the cat away.
Try to create a comfortable home environment for your cat with many hiding places that your cat can use as a refuge if it feels insecure.
Also try to keep loud noises and other noises in your home to a minimum.
Always be patient and wait for your cat to come to you. Do not force or force the cat to come to you. When talking to your cat, you should preferably use a subdued and pleasant voice. Talk to the cat that we humans often talk to a small child lying in a pram.
Create consistent routines that help your cat feel more comfortable at home. Cats are addictive animals and value routines. A trivial thing like re-furnishing and moving furniture around in the home environment can make a cat shy and need a few days to acclimatize to the change.
Shyness and insecurity can manifest themselves in several different ways in cats. Even if you do everything to create a safe and warm environment for your cat, it can still feel insecure.
Some reasons why the cat is scared
- Innate instincts. Some cats are shy as an individual.
- Upbringing and training. Cats that have been subjected to an unhealthy or inappropriate training as a kitten may be afraid of humans and other animals in the home.
- Abuse or trauma earlier in life can make your cat withdrawn and scared.
- Other pets in the house can make your cat shy and feel insecure. Likewise, loud noises or screaming children can be experienced as an unsafe home environment for your cat.
- Moving to a new home can make your cat feel shy and need time to get used to the new environment.
- If you travel with the cat, it may need time to regain its peace and feel in harmony with the new environment.
- Evil owners can be a factor in the cat feeling insecure and scared.
A cat can also be perceived as shy or withdrawn if it does not feel well.
All cats behave differently as individuals.
Signs that your cat is scared
- Often hides
- Has dilated pupils
- Turns the ears flat
- Runs away as you approach
- Demonstrates insecure behavior when you are near it
Learn to “read” the cat’s behavior to see if the cat is scared. Then you have the opportunity to give the cat a happy and safe life in your home.
Increase the cat’s confidence
With simple tricks, you can easily make your cat feel safe and gain more confidence both for its surroundings in the home environment and for everyone who lives there. It is important to understand that not all cats can be fully comfortable in their environment. You have a great opportunity to influence the cat’s home environment and make it feel comfortable and at home, regardless of your cat’s personality.
Physical contact
Use a lot of physical contact with your cat, whether it is an adult cat or a small kitten. Stroke and pat the cat with your hands as often as possible. This means that your cat gets used to physical contact and that it will more easily tolerate being touched in the future.
Feel free to spend between 10-20 minutes every day patting and spending physical contact with your cat. If you notice that the cat becomes impatient or feels stressed, end the physical contact and leave the cat alone for a while. Do not force the cat to be with you.
Create routines
Many cats thrive best when there are regular routines. Cats are creating routines for your feline habit and do not like unexpected events.
Studies performed on cats show that they can refuse food, pee outside the box, tear on furniture and perform other actions that they do not normally do to show that they are dissatisfied with a change in fixed routines. Therefore, it is important as a cat owner to try to read their cat’s behavior to try to understand what is going on and see at an early stage if the cat is afraid of something.
Therefore, try to create fixed times to give your cat food every day. Also set a routine at what time each day you clean the cat’s toilet box. Also remember to give the cat free time during the day. Cats are very independent individuals and like to be by themselves. During the day, cats often slumber in and out of sleep. Cats are nocturnal animals and are most active during the dark hours of the day.
Creating routines and giving the cat the opportunity for free time means that it learns boundaries between the two of you and in this way the trust is also built up.
Create a cozy home environment for your cat if it is scared
Many things we humans are not bothered by or even think about when we are in our home environment can cause discomfort for cats. Their sense of smell and hearing are much more developed and sensitive than human beings.
- Not having TV or stereo at the highest volume
- Avoid slamming doors or screaming
- Try to avoid scented candles or strong cleaning agents when you have the cat near you
- Remember to have the cat’s box, water and food easily accessible
A good home environment will make your cat feel more comfortable at home and help it with its insecurities.
A shy cat likes hiding places and cat furniture
Cats like to be able to hide so as not to get stressed. It is an innate instinct that cats have.
To help your cat feel as safe as possible, it is very good to provide the cat with many different places to hide.
- Under the bed
- Behind curtains
- Inside cardboard boxes
- Behind furniture
- In wardrobes
- In the bathroom
- On chairs under the table
Special cat furniture is also good if the cat is scared. Feel free to use cat furniture in your home environment where you will have your cat.
Many cat furniture have special places where your cat can hide. Cat furniture also lets your cat get high up. Cats like to sit or lie high up and have a good overview. This also makes your cat feel safe and less insecure.
It can feel a little counterproductive to let the cat hide when you try to get your cat not to run and hide.
Letting the cat run to hide when it feels stressed will in the long run make it safer. If your cat runs and hides, you do best to leave it alone. It is a signal that the cat at the moment has had enough and wants to be left in peace.
Fragrance diffuser for cats
Cats have an olfactory organ inside their mouth up to their palate. This body senses special fragrances also called pheromones.
A special scent sensor for cats spreads a solution in the air indoors with synthetic copies of the cat’s own soothing pheromones, called F3 facial hormone. It can help your cat feel more secure and can also help the cat adapt to new environments. It is connected to an indoor electrical outlet.
The scent that the spreader copies is the same scent that the cat itself emits when they rub and stroke their face against objects. With the help of the scent, the cat can read the environment and recognize it as a place that is already safe. This encourages the cat to feel calmer.
Usually covers an area of between 50 – 70 square meters and can be used in situations such as moving, renovation or when new family members are to be introduced to the cat. It usually achieves full effect after 24 hours. The fragrance diffuser is usually suitable for most types of wall sockets. It should be replaced after 6 months even if you have not used all the refills.
Make the cat trust you and do not be afraid
If the cat is scared or shy, then it can be a bit complicated to get the cat to trust you.
But it’s always worth it. Once your cat trusts you, you have a friend for life.
The cat needs time to get used to both you and its new home environment. The cat’s instincts are to always protect themselves and not expose themselves to danger. Before the cat has gotten to know you and get used to you, the cat experiences you as a threat.
If you try to speed up the process by forcing the cat to be with you, there is a great risk that you will scare your little friend even more. For some cats, this can leave deep scars of fear that never go away. Therefore, be sure to let your cat set the pace to get to know you and their new home.
Respect the cat’s space
You should always let the cat decide. Just as we humans have social codes for how close we let unknown people come to us, so cats also have social boundaries. When your cat feels insecure, it wants to try to hide. How do you show the cat that you respect its space?
The best thing you can do to show that you respect the cat’s space is not to follow the cat.
Instead, leave the room that your cat is hiding in. Let it decide for itself when it wants to arrive.
By leaving the cat alone, you show it that you are not chasing it.
Cats are very independent animals and you should not take this for granted that the cat does not like you.
Do not get angry or frustrated if the cat is scared
The worst thing you can do is scream or yawn at your cat in frustration.
This will make your cat even more insecure and develop a fear for you.
Even if it does the opposite of what you want, always talk to the cat in a soft and gentle tone.
The cat can become very stressed by you screaming at it or otherwise trying to speed up the result.
Stressing the cat can trigger other problems
- Performing their needs outside the box
- Claws on furniture
- Chewing on cables and cords
- The cat climb on cabinets and other furniture
- Stop eating
- Scared cat may urinate involuntarily
Read your cat’s body language
It is not always easy to read a cat’s body language.
Cats are experts at hiding their stress. There are specific signs that tell you how your cat is feeling:
- Ears – Insecure and shy cats often turn their ears backwards. Cats that are well and happy keep their ears straight.
- Eyes – Large eyes and dilated pupils are a sign that the cat is anxious and insecure. Small pupils and slow winks indicate a relaxed and prosperous cat.
- Body – A cat that feels insecure bends its body while walking or standing. If it feels really threatened, cats can harbor rags. A cat that thrives and feels safe walks relaxed and often lies on its back and exposes its stomach. When your cat does this, it feels very familiar in your company.
- Tail – If the cat keeps its tail low along the floor, this may be a sign that the cat is dissatisfied. Happy cats that thrive usually go with the tail up in a high position.
Your cat will probably not show all of these signs at once, but only one or two. This should be enough to get a little hint of how your cat is feeling.
Learn your cat’s limits
Try to learn where your cat likes to be petted or scratched somewhere. All cats are different and like different things. If the cat is touched in a place it does not like, the cat may try to scratch you or bite you. You have then passed the cat’s touch limit.
If you notice that your cat reacts negatively or aggressively, you should not continue to pet. By initially touching the cat where it likes to be touched, you build trust between you and your cat. Over time, this means that your cat will become less sensitive and the cat’s touch limit will change.
Positive reinforcement
Using positive reinforcement techniques can be a great way to help your cat feel less insecure. Positive reinforcement techniques are more commonly used to correct inappropriate and bad behaviors. But it will help you train your cat.
Shy cats can sometimes be very frightened by strange noises, which means that click training is not a good alternative here. The reward method can instead be a very good alternative. Every time your cat shows courage, you should reward it with its favorite candy. Using toys is a fun activity that also teaches your cat that it has nothing to fear.
Do not forget to always talk to your cat in a soft and gentle tone as if you were talking to a small child who has learned something new. This gives the cat positive feedback and it also learns which tone of voice you use when it does something positive and good.
I want the cat to come to me
Acquiring a cat also means that you want to pet and play with the cat to come with it. This can initially be very difficult if you have a shy cat. You must always encourage your cat to come to you when it feels safe to approach.
Always keep a calm and subdued presence. Cats are experts at reading and deciphering what energy you radiate. Here are some simple tips on how to encourage your cat to come to you:
- Sit still and quiet so the cat can become curious and come forward and sniff at you at its own pace. Sudden movements will scare your cat
- Speak in a subdued and calm voice
- Continue to sit quietly and still if the cat comes to you. Give your cat a little favorite candy when your cat shows progress.
- Put a toy or something next to you that the cat can play with
If you notice that your cat does not like when you get too close, you can experiment with toys. If you do not find a suitable toy at home, you can easily turn a piece of paper from a block into the shape of a small toffee.
Tie a sewing thread around the center of the paper and you quickly and easily have a toy that you can pull after you from a distance. This can arouse the hunting instinct in your cat and it will want to hunt the piece of paper. A simple trick to play and build trust.
If your cat suddenly runs away and hides, remember, never run after. Let the cat take its time to feel safe again and then lure with the toy from a distance.
What techniques are best for a scared cat?
The best technique for counteracting shy and rescuing cats early on depends on the cat’s age. Studies have shown that kittens are most susceptible to social contact between two and seven weeks of age. If consistent methods are used during this early period, the possibilities are the best.
However, it can be difficult for the future cat owner to do this because you do not get the cat / cats from the breeder until after week 12. However, it is recommended that the breeder of the kittens do the preparation of social contacts during this early period.
Older cats that may have moved home or have a traumatic past require much more work. It can take from a few months or in some cases up to several years. It all depends on how deeply rooted the traumatic experiences are. In some cases, you may not be completely successful.
The most important thing is that you have given the cat a much better and welcoming home.
Finally, some things you can try
- Turn on the radio or TV at low volume in the background during the day. This causes the cat to get used to the sound.
- Try to speak the cat’s language by making eye contact and blinking slowly. This tells the cat that you like it and want it well.
- Spend time near the cat or in the same room as the cat without mentally touching or approaching the cat. Keep in mind that sudden movements scare your cat.
- Try to play gently with your cat and attract play. Even if the cat is sitting on the other side of the room. Do not try to approach the cat but entice it to come to you.
Always respect your cat.
Never stress your cat to become more outgoing or sociable.
Consistent and slow work will give these results enough time. Be patient.