Scared cat question. I want to sort it while he's still young.

[DSJR]

I'm reading this thread with tears in my eyes remembering my/our two, the last one passing back in 2008. Not a day goes by without me thinking of them and how much they enriched my life when I was single and all three of us after I married and our son came along. We made a (financial largely) decision not to adopt any more right now and until last year, we had a couple of neighbours cats come to visit at various times for a good fuss and some peace. Both have now passed and we're bereft, despite my better half being a dog person really.

Oh yeah, five am or so, Titch would jump on the bedside cabinet and gently tap my nose (no claws) or if that didn't work, he'd climb on me and knit the bed-clothes, gently purring and smiling at me when I finally surfaced. Ollie would tap my nose, but with his sharp little needles so I got the idea VERY quickly.

These two were my dearest friends and I loved them unconditionally. Ollie had two favourite places, his food bowl and a nice bed to snuggle and sleep on. 'His Royal Titchpuss' would always come and greet visitors though before sauntering off - we called him Snooty-Paws and he and I could 'communicate' almost without words. Many a Sunday afternoon in my single days with himself curled up in the best 'listening chair' (speakers off of course) and me in the corner chair reading a book quietly so as not to disturb him...

Blessed days they were. I hope once we've settled we can be adopted by another feline friend.. Apologies for the tale above, but it just came tumbling out...

 

[ZolaIII]

This is Lizzy with February offspring.
My cats are free alley cats most of the time. Lizzy is closest to hause cat as she spends most of the time in hause and doesn't make mess... like to lick things. All cats are careful by nature and learn how to act from shadows. Al do considered as alpha predators they have natural enemies especially while they are small and vulnerable like pact of wild dogs or larger birds like Crows. They learn to take cower and hunt from it and like to observe things they aren't sure about from half distance and hidden. Even when they feel conformable and on home ground they like to have their own corner and act from there.
Regarding socialisation try with nice behaving kid's and generally people who like cats. Sometimes it goes harder but usually you will get there.

Best regards.

 

[Digby]

Cats, like humans, have their own characters. If he is timid by nature, I don't think you will be able to make him change entirely. It is worth trying, but (as with humans) there is only so much you can do.

 

[Plcamp]

I found that having the new persons get out the cat treats and shake the bag caused my two nervous kittens to come out.

Interestingly, they would purr and hiss at the same time if I was petting them when the wrong person came too close.

Once they were two to three yrs old, they lost most of their shy behaviour.

 

[ZolaIII]

Cat's have walk tall pose when they feal threatened by known opponent or if they feel immediate danger while on open. Wide spread tail up almost like a squirrel. And of course they have sweet surrender pose laying on thir back and exposing soft belly spot to cuddle with.
There are cats with characters, even with special abilities. I use to call my old cat spiderman sometimes as she can crawl along the facade wall and used to (still does) climb to first floor and to my bedroom. Needles to say she ain't exactly indoor type.

 

[sq225917]

Just give it love and lots of contact on its timetable not yours and it'll all work out. Our first tiny rescue cat spent his first night under the kitchen units, he found a fist sized hole about 3 foot up and climbed down into the completely dark space, took some finding.

The 2nd night he hid on a ledge about six feet up the inside of the chimney, took some finding.

After that he spent two weeks hiding behind the sofa, we left him alone just bringing him food.

Then one day he just walked out, jumped on my lap on the sofa and started purring.... he was the best friend, always by my side as I worked from home at that time.

When my daughter was born he would follow me on huge walks with her in the pram literally miles at a time away from home just trotting along side the whole way.

Ace cat.

 

[NiagaraPete]

Catnip can help.

 

[Phoney]

The amp needs more power to be able to properly drive the cat to it's full potensial

 

[mightycicadalord]

This is what some cats do, there's no reason at all to try and get them to behave differently in this regard. Let the cat hide if it wants. Why so many suggestions on how to fix a non-problem?

 

[VenoMal1c3]

my relatively new neighbour has a cat, a tiny little thing but so loud I can sometimes hear her remonstrating with him through the party wall.

She will wander about in the alley at the back but does not like to go out front as the noise of cars passing scares her. If we are talking on the front step she will come to the doorway and shout at us to get back inside.

So the cat is basically like, "You damn humans, get off my stoop!"