The Cat Behavior Answer Book - Arden Moore [29]
LACK OF SOCIALIZATION. For kittens, the period of prime socialization to people is between two and seven weeks of age. During this time, it is important for kittens to be handled by different people in pleasant ways. Under-socialized kittens are likely to be scared of strangers and may hiss, spit, strike out, or dash away.
TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCES. Cats at any age can develop scaredy-cat syndrome if they are exposed to a traumatic situation such as being physically abused, lost, or attacked by a dog.
The more positive experiences you can offer Sugar with different people, places, and situations, the better she will adjust to future exposures. As you work to bolster Sugar’s confidence, be patient and recognize that you will not convert your flee-minded feline into a meet-and-greet cat overnight. Focus on small but steady steps of progress, and be aware that you may never turn her into a party girl.
Since you know that visitors are the cause of her fright, recruit a couple of friends who are calm and who like cats. Ask them to come inside, sit quietly, and not seek out Sugar’s attention. To keep Sugar from fleeing, put her in a room ahead of time where you can close the door and keep her from dashing away and hiding. Then, have your guests join you in the room with Sugar to watch a movie or listen to soft music. The goal is to have Sugar see them and realize they won’t hurt her.
Build up positive associations for Sugar by having your guests offer treats. At first, place a bit of tasty cat food or a special kitty treat next to them so she can approach without having to interact. You want to set Sugar up for success, and it will take time to desensitize her. Eventually, Sugar will realize that these people will not pursue her or try to pick her up. She may develop the confidence to approach them and actually take a treat that is offered. Let her make the decision to come closer and stop the experiment if she reacts fearfully.
Callie was a frightened cat for her first four years. But I knew she couldn’t resist treats. I had my friends leave treats on the bottom of the stairs and move away so that Callie could muster the courage to climb down and eat the treats. Now she takes treats out of their hands. Sugar may never become a lap cat to your guests, but these tips can help mitigate some of her fears and make her more comfortable in your home.
Bella’s Mute Button
NO ONE ENJOYS A MOUTHY CAT, especially one who howls in the middle of the night. Described as a chatty cat at the best of times, Bella turned up the volume and started to screech and wail, especially between the hours of one and seven a.m. She roamed the apartment, yowling in each room. When Bella’s owner, Lori, contacted me, she was fed up with her three-year-old spayed calico and longing for a full night’s sleep.
Lori and I discussed the many causes for feline hyper-vocalization, including attention seeking, pain or hunger, aggression, anxiety, fear, and medical problems. A medical exam ruled out a chronic urinary tract infection, hyperthyroidism, or other underlying medical condition. In taking a detailed history, I discovered some clues behind Bella’s bellowing that pointed to behavioral causes.
Bella, who was adopted as a young kitten from a shelter, had no issues with the family’s other cat. In fact, she played and groomed the other cat on a regular basis. But Bella’s loud talk started just about the time Lori began working full-time away from home. In Bella’s case, attention seeking and/or anxiety were the most likely explanations for her hypervocalization.
Insistent cat chat is usually directed at owners, not other cats. Bella’s yelling garnered what she wanted: Lori’s attention. Each time Lori responded by reprimanding Bella, she inadvertently rewarded and reinforced the behavior.
To tone down Bella, I instructed Lori to ignore her cat’s vocals. I warned her that at