How to tame a shy cat?

 As in humans, cats can show signs of fear for a variety of reasons. This emotion is an important ally in their survival. It allows them to stay alert and escape from potential predators or other threats. It is therefore completely normal for your cat to be afraid of certain stimuli or loud noises unknown in its environment because its senses are considerably developed. However, fear can appear as a negative symptom of your cat's physical or mental health.

In this article from The Pretty Pets, we summarize the main causes of a frightened cat. And if you are wondering how to tame a fearful cat, we also give you some tips on how to approach a fearful or shy cat without provoking negative feelings in him.

You might also be interested in this: Tips for taming an associative cat

1-Why is my cat afraid of me?

As we mentioned, a cat can become frightened when it is surprised by aggressive stimuli unknown to its environment. This is part of its survival mechanism. If your feline hears a very loud noise, for example, he may run away and hide in a dark and hard to reach place, a kind of refuge to feel safe. However, if your feline is very frightened or very easily frightened, you must be vigilant and take him immediately to the veterinarian to rule out any health problems.

Felines that have a history of abuse and physical and emotional trauma, have been abandoned or were born on the street, are particularly vulnerable to psychological disorders. If you have recently adopted a kitten or adult cat, you will need to pay close attention to its behaviour to quickly perceive symptoms of fear, insecurity or self-defensive aggression. It is also important to respect the adaptation period at home while stimulating her curiosity to help her explore her new environment and its various stimuli. It is indeed advisable to call upon a specialist in ethology or feline education to orient you and establish specific guidelines that will allow your cat to regain confidence in himself and to express himself safely.

If your cat is very fearful and/or shy, this may also be a sign of poor socialization or a trauma developed after certain negative experiences during his life. In addition, it is essential to eliminate possible pathological causes such as illnesses that alter his sensory abilities or cause intense pain.

In all cases, it is essential to consult a veterinarian to discover the cause of this behavior in your cat. At the veterinarian's, the professional will be able to perform the appropriate evaluation to diagnose the cause of the fear and the possibilities of treatment.

2-How to bring in a fearful cat?

There are several causes that make a cat fearful. A cat may be so frightened in a new home that it seems like it is afraid of everything, so it will tend to hide and not want to come out. If this is your case and you notice that the cat is afraid of you or any other stimulus, take note of these tips:

1.   Stay calm and act normally: at first glance, this may seem like "silly" advice, but it is one of the most fundamental aspects of a fearful cat's approach to safety. Animals are very sensitive and quickly perceive changes in mood and environment. If you approach a frightened cat with a modified posture (fear or anxiety), it will increase tension and encourage the cat to try to defend itself or escape your presence. Try to adopt a relaxed body posture without looking at it and without rushing it with sudden movements. You can also approach him from the side.

2.   Speak softly: As mentioned earlier, cats have very sensitive hearing. If you approach a shy cat by talking very loudly or screaming, this stimulus will be aggressive to the feline ears and will further disturb the animal's quietness. Ideally, speak softly, preferably with low, high and positive tones that will give him confidence.

3.   Move slowly: to get closer to the fearful cat, you will probably have to walk towards him. In this case, you should walk slowly and adopt a calm posture. However, it is important to keep a safe distance, especially if it is an unfamiliar cat. If you walk or run quickly towards him, the cat will interpret it as a pursuit or a threat.

Observe his body language at all times, and if you notice that when you approach him he tries to move away or hide further, keep a safe distance.

4.   Encourage him to move closer: ideally, the cat will feel motivated to move in your direction. Jumping on a frightened cat or trying to catch it by force are not at all positive attitudes, as they cause more fear in the animal and promote the development of self-defense behaviors. Moreover, the cat is very capable of escaping anyway, especially because of its impressive agility. You can encourage it to come out of its hiding place with kind words, food or toys.

3-How to tame a stray cat?

"How to tame a feral cat? "you may ask. The principle to attract any cat is to stimulate its curiosity in an environment that offers the least amount of negative or aggressive stimuli such as loud noises. That is to say: encourage the shy cat to want to discover an object or a perfume in an environment where it feels safe to move forward serenely. Cats like to be mentally stimulated because they are very intelligent. This remarkable feline intelligence will be your main ally in gaining the confidence of a fearful or shy cat.

-What is the evolution of a fearful cat?

If you have recently adopted a feral kitten, it is important to understand that each cat has its own adaptation time in the new home. Your little kitten may spend a lot of time in hiding and will be shy and fearful for a few weeks, which can naturally turn into a real concern. However, if you're wondering how to get a cat out of hiding, it's not recommended that you force it to do so to avoid increasing its stress. But then, how do you calm a kitten down? Ideally, you can attract it by an object that arouses its curiosity, such as a toy, a cardboard box with a treat inside, or a simple paper or cardboard bag.

An excellent option is to offer or make a magic wand with colored feathers at its tip, which is one of the cat's most popular toys. To attract it, you will have to wave the wand to simulate the flight of a bird, keeping a reasonable distance to allow it to move forward safely. Remember to wave the wand gently so as not to frighten your cat. Little by little you can increase the rhythm of the game as well as the complexity of the mental stimuli you offer.

For every good attitude and demonstration of bravery of your feline, remember to recognize his effort by rewarding him using, what we call, positive reinforcement to continue to stimulate his learning and win his affection. It's not a question of offering food, you can also use your voice, your caresses or a positive attitude towards him.

It is not always easy to approach a cat that is fearful or shy by nature, especially in situations of extreme stress, as a rescue for example. As you can imagine, on the street, it is very difficult to isolate yourself from negative stimuli or aggressive noises. Therefore, it is generally more effective to use food rather than to arouse curiosity through play. Like us, cats find it hard to say "no" to their favourite foods and treats. And since the animal may have experienced some form of violence in the past, it is perfectly normal for it to be afraid and avoid playing with a human being.

It should be noted that with proper socialization and the dedication of its owner, a foundling or a cat that has gone wild again will adapt and be well disposed to have fun in its new home.

4-How to tame a 3 month old feral kitten?

Here is a specific question! However, it is not uncommon to find abandoned kittens on the street, and some of them are left to fend for themselves at the age when they no longer need their mother. Indeed, at three months of age a kitten is able to move and feed itself. In fact, it is recommended to adopt a kitten from that age on.

If you have found a 3-month-old kitten on the street, first make sure that it is indeed an abandoned or stray cat. To do so, go around your neighbourhood and ask your neighbors if they have lost their cat. Felines are innate explorers and it's not uncommon for kittens to stray a little further from home to discover their surroundings. One thing that might give you a hint that this is a domestic cat is that the cat doesn't seem to be afraid of you and will approach to ask for petting.

Once you are sure it is an abandoned kitten, you can take it home. But how do you attract a feral cat? Make sure you take all your precautions and don't frighten the animal further. You can use one of the methods mentioned in this article and attract it with food, for example. In order to transport it to your home, it is essential that you have a cage. Once at home, if the kitten has been living on the street for a long time, it is very likely that it is fearful and wants to hide somewhere. We recommend that you prepare a cozy little nest in a cage (to prevent him from running away) with food, water and abundant blankets.

How to tame a feral cat? Once the cat is in its cage, leave it alone for a few hours to get used to your scent and its environment. To give it even more security, you can put a blanket on the cage so that the kitten feels it is in a hiding place where no one can see it. This will surely help him to calm down.

Little by little, you can put your hand inside the cage and leave it close to the cat for a few minutes without touching him. The cat may curl up in a corner or blow, which are completely normal reactions of a fearful cat. Don't despair and repeat the process until the cat no longer has these types of reactions. This will allow the kitten to recognize your scent and get used to it. Little by little you will see that your cat feels curiosity and is no longer as fearful. He will approach your hand and smell it. Repeat this process for several days, until you can touch and pet the kitten without fear.

5-How to reassure a stressed cat?

If your cat is stressed, first make sure to eliminate any source of noise that may be disturbing him. If your windows are open, for example, close them so that the noise from the street does not enter your home. We advise you to talk to your cat very softly and only approach her if you see that her body language seems more relaxed.

Offer him his favorite food and attract him with familiar noises, such as shaking his bowl full of kibble.