Cats may be small, but these furry little friends of ours are full of personality. Some kitties are bold and daring, some are friendly and outgoing, and some are more timid and shy. If you have a scaredy-cat on your hands, read on! A local California, MD vet offers some advice about helping Fluffy thrive in this article.

Helping A Shy Cat Get Settled

When you bring your feline pal home, set her up in a quiet, comfy space. A spare room is a good option. If you and Fluffy live alone, you can leave the door open and let her come out to explore when she’s ready. If you have other pets, you’ll want to go slowly with integrating her.

Your kitty may appreciate a pet-calming product, such as treats or sprays. You can also play some relaxing music, or even put cat TV on for her.

Providing Your Shy Cat A Happy Haven

Kitties are both predator and prey by nature. This may be one reason they have such an interesting mix of traits. Fluffy can be absolutely fearless when it comes to chasing that little red dot, but she may be terrified of the doorbell. That’s fine!

One thing that is important when it comes to dealing with shy pets is making sure they always have a place they can go to feel safe. Offer lots of nooks and crannies for your kitty to hide in. Paper grocery bags without the handles can be tempting hidey-holes for nervous cats. Fluffy may also appreciate some boxes, or an enclosed cat condo.

Of course, like any other kitty, your pet will enjoy comfy beds.

Adopting A Shy Cat

We love seeing shy cats get loving homes. Shelters have kitties of all ages, sizes, colors, and purrsonalities. It can be hard to pick just one furball out of a lineup of adorable faces! However, it’s important to choose a kitty that will fit into your household. If you have a rambunctious dog, a toddler, and three other cats, Fluffy may be overwhelmed. A very nervous kitty is often best suited for a quiet home. Talk to the shelter staff to learn more about your potential pet.

Getting Fluffy To Come Out Of Her Shell

There aren’t many rules when it comes to bonding with cats, but there is definitely at least one golden one. Always let the kitty come to you when she wants attention or cuddles. At first, your pet may just want to hide somewhere while she gets the lay of the land. That’s fine! Give her the time and space she needs to feel safe.

Talk to her, check on her, and offer treats. Just don’t force attention on her. It’s very important to let Fluffy come to you. In fact, reading to your pet may be quite helpful. Fluffy will get used to the sound of your voice, and will slowly start to feel safe. Be sure to offer snacks as you are doing this.

When your furry pal feels safe enough to stick her head out, try holding out a treat. You can also just hold your hand out and call her softly. (That ‘pssst’ noise may work as well.) If she doesn’t approach immediately, that’s okay. Keep trying! When she gets brave enough to come up to you, let her sniff your fingers. Then, give her a treat. You can try to gently touch her forehead. If she backs off, don’t push the matter. Slow and steady is the way to go here.

Helping Kitty Gain Confidence

Did you know that one of the best things you can do for a shy cat is play with her? Our feline buddies are all wired to be hunters. Even the most timid furball often can’t resist the lure of a feather on a string or a catnip mouse. Nailing that tricky pounce can be a great confidence booster for your feline pal. Think of it as the kitty equivalent of scoring a goal or acing a test.

Playing also offers your pet a safe and healthy way to work out any angst she is feeling. Exercise can be quite therapeutic, for both people and pets. This will help your pet burn off some of that nervous energy. Afterward, she’ll naturally be a bit calmer, simply because she’ll be a little tired. That’s a good thing!

Provide your little buddy with plenty of fun toys. Cats all have their own tastes for playthings, so you may need to experiment a bit and try a few different things before you can really see what she likes best.

Fluffy may also like a cat tower. For a scaredy cat, you may want to look for one that has at least one enclosed level. Fluffy may also feel safer in a high spot, so get one she can climb.

We would also recommend sticking to a routine for meals and playtime. Many of our animal companions just naturally feel most secure when they are on a steady schedule.

Health Care

We always recommend that, when people first adopt a cat, that one of the first things they do would be to take the kitty to the California, MD vet for a full exam. This is definitely true with shy kitties. You want to make sure that there isn’t a medical issue that’s causing pain or discomfort. If your feline pal gets the all-clear, well, at least you know you have a nervous pet, rather than a sick one.  If your feline pal is extremely anxious, your vet may recommend medication.

What Not To Do With A Shy Cat

There are also a few don’ts on the list. First and foremost? Don’t let your kitty go outside. Cats are always safer staying inside anyway, where they are protected from dangers like traffic, weather, and wild animals. Also, a shy cat is likely to bolt and find a hiding spot, and you may have a very hard time getting her to come back in. 

The next thing on the list? Never force attention on Fluffy. Don’t hold her or pick her up if she doesn’t want it. This may backfire, by making her feel anxious and afraid of you. Trust takes time!

Finally, never yell at your kitty to discipline her. If she is doing something she shouldn’t, such as sniffing around the door or jumping on the counter, just clap your hands. You can also try squirting her with water. That will startle and annoy her, but it really shouldn’t scare her. Ask your California, MD vet for more information. 

Getting To Know Fluffy

Even shy cats don’t all act the same way. Fluffy may decide that you are safe and may want to cuddle with you all the time. Or, she may prefer to withdraw and only approach you occasionally. Always let her decide when cuddle time starts and stops. 

Purr Activation

Fluffy may never become that bold, outgoing cat that happily jumps into guests’ laps or meows to say hi to your brother when he stops over. However, she may relish hanging out with you and curling up on your lap. Just remember that it may take time to get that little motor going! 

Visit Your California, MD Animal Clinic

Do you need to bring your pet in for an exam? Have you recently adopted a kitty? Contact us, your local California, MD pet hospital, today.