[itistoday]

So for Christmas my parents got my sister a female cat (I personally don't like them much). She's about 5 or 6 months old, and neutered. The problem is that it's been almost a week since we've had her and she's still scared of us. During the day she will hide silently in some obscure hole in the house or under a couch up until around 7-8 PM. Then she'll come out and start running around, playing with her toys. However, whenever she sees one of us, she stops and looks at us alertly, and when our backs are turned she runs away like some poor, frightened creature of the night. She'll play with these toys we bought her, even the ones that are attached to sticks and you wave them around to chase at arms length, but the second you stand up and try to pick her up or pet her, she's on guard and will run away.

Is this natural? Our friends/neighbors recently acquired a small female cat as well that's about a month younger than ours, and she lets the kids pick her up and even plays with them. Ours meanwhile exhibits almost every characteristic that makes me dislike cats (independence, ingratitude, etc). Sometimes she'll even hiss at me when I walk towards her. My mom told me that eye-contact is a bad thing, but I thought that was for dogs only?

How long will this behavior last? Is this "just a phase"?

Thanks for any advice.

[storer]

Often, kittens behave like this if they have been treated badly by humans in the past. Where did she come from? My cousins had to have their cat put down because it would attack their youngest. It turns out that he used to get the cat and swing it by its tail and do similar cruel and horrible things to it. No wonder it was terrified of him.

My cat goes through fazes... sometimes she will let me pat her, or she will rub up against me and others she will run at the sight of me. I really don't know what it is with them. Women, hey?

[nredman]

my guess would be that the cat was knocked around in the past. hopefully with time the cat will learn to trust you and won't be so scared.

[Ghoser777]

Man, I've got the same problem - pussies stays clear of me too.

[TheBadgerHunter]

If she had a previous home thats probably why. Otherwise she'll probably warm up to you guys sooner or later. Just be gentle and don't pressure her. Offer her a treat and don't push it until she's done that a few times.

[TheBadgerHunter]

Originally posted by Ghoser777:
Man, I've got the same problem - pussies stays clear of me too.

Yeah but what about cats

[Mastrap]

When we got her from the shelter one of our cats lived under the sofa for a couple of weeks before she dared to venture out. She still is incredibly nervous and hates loud noises of any kind. She was obviously mistreated in the past.

Staring at a cat is a bad idea, they view it as a threat. Yawn at her, that's a sign of friendship. Blinking at her is also a good idea, it's the cat equivalent of a smile. Cats can and will form close relationships with their human friends. Just give it time. A week is nothing.

[Disgruntled Head of C-3PO]

She sounds like she was abused, you have to give her time and let her get used to the idea that people can be kind.

[itistoday]

Originally posted by Mastrap:
When we got her from the shelter one of our cats lived under the sofa for a couple of weeks before she dared to venture out. She still is incredibly nervous and hates loud noises of any kind. She was obviously mistreated in the past.

Staring at a cat is a bad idea, they view it as a threat. Yawn at her, that's a sign of friendship. Blinking at her is also a good idea, it's the cat equivalent of a smile. Cats can and will form close relationships with their human friends. Just give it time. A week is nothing.

Thanks! Yes, our cat is also from the shelter, hopefully she'll come around

[RAILhead]

Originally posted by itistoday:
Thanks! Yes, our cat is also from the shelter, hopefully she'll come around

Talk to her talk to her talk to her. Dote on her as much as possible, and even though she may not be in the room with you, keep talking to her so she gets used to your voice, etc. Most of all, be patient with her and she'll come around.

Maury

[phantomdragonz]

when we got our cat (small kitten) we would literally almost step on him because he was always under our feet... still to this day (under a year i think) he is the most crazy cat i have ever met... you can go up... clap in his face... he will just close his eyes and scrunch up, but LITERALLY a second later he will be lying in his back with his feet in the air.... you can pick him up and hold him upside down (with your arm supporting him) and he will purr.... he is one crazy mofo.... our other cat on the other hand hates him... but she is an old cranky biach... has always been that way, we got her from a shelter too... but she sucks her own nipples to great delight (purring and pawing/kneading her belly) it's funny as hell to watch...hows that for some weird cats!

but anways, back to the older cat... we we first got her she would hide under the sofa... it took some time, and talking to her softly but she came out... when we only had her she was a very nice cat and would let you pet her and hold her (but not for long periods)

it just takes time... they are awesome animals

Zach

[kellybelly]

We adopted a three month old kitten from a shelter near the beginning of December. She spent most of her first week home under our bed. Now, after a month with us she will still occasionally run away and hide if we walk up to her or reach out to pet her.

On the other hand, we adopted our first kitty a year ago (also a shelter kitty, and also three months old). She walked in the house like she owned the place. Anytime there is a weird noise, she has to go investigate. She also has to greet anyone who comes in the door.

Just be patient. Once she gets used to the house and everyone in it, she'll start being more friendly and outgoing -- though she probably will always be a bit skittish around people or situations she isn't familiar with.

[villalobos]

Originally posted by itistoday:
Thanks! Yes, our cat is also from the shelter, hopefully she'll come around

Yeah be patient. Not to want to discourage you but it could take up to a year for the cat to get somewhat confident. And she might even run away from you sometimes. Cats are like that. They are NOT ungrateful though as you might think, just very independent. But they will show you a lot of love if you treat them well. Cats rule.

My 2 monsters

[removed oversize images --tooki]

[SimpleLife]

Originally posted by villalobos:
Yeah be patient. Not to want to discourage you but it could take up to a year for the cat to get somewhat confident. And she might even run away from you sometimes. Cats are like that. They are NOT ungrateful though as you might think, just very independent. But they will show you a lot of love if you treat them well. Cats rule.

My 2 monsters

Beautiful monsters...

[DO NOT quote posts with oversize images. Besides, there's no need to quote AT ALL if you're replying to the message directly above. --tooki]

[sideus]

Laserpointer. That will get her out. My cats go bonkers when I use mine.

And also, my guess is the kitten had a bad home previously.

[villalobos]

Originally posted by SimpleLife:
Beautiful monsters...

thanks

[villalobos]

Originally posted by sideus:
Laserpointer. That will get her out. My cats go bonkers when I use mine.

And also, my guess is the kitten had a bad home previously.

Yeah playing with her (and laserpointer is one of the best toy) will make her feel much more at ease in your house.

[olePigeon]

She'll come around. It's not necessarily that she was abused either. I've moved around to lots of different homes and apartments. Every time my cat(s) would sneak around and hide for the first couple weeks in a new place. It'd take them a while to get a feel for the surrounding.

[eep]

Originally posted by villalobos:
Yeah playing with her (and laserpointer is one of the best toy) will make her feel much more at ease in your house.

Or just use a flashlight. Our cats loved them.

[SimeyTheLimey]

Another thing is if you try to approach the cat, get down on the floor with it and don't make any sudden moves. You will seem less threatening than if you come at it standing..

From the cat's point of view, you are a looming monster that towers over it and threatens to pounce on it. Think of the scene in the Incredible Shrinking Man when the tables were turned.

If the kitten plays, I would say it isn't terminally traumatized by whatever people did to it in the past.

[Peter]

saw this and thought of you

[turtle777]

Originally posted by storer:
My cat goes through fazes...

You earned the bad spelling award for today !



-t

[wdlove]

I also think that with time the kitten will improve and act normally.

[Sherwin]

Bill, one of mine (as in Bill and Ted, not Bill Gates for those wondering), is still scared of his own shadow three years down the line. Walk up to him with a shirt on, he's fine. Walk up to him when you've put your coat on, he runs. It's just the way he is. His (literal) brother (Ted) ain't scared of anything.
It's just in some cats' personalities to be scared of things. Remember that: cats have personalities just like humans do.

Another factor is that cats can also sense when someone isn't a cat lover - and they usually stay clear of these people.

Solution: Learn to love cats and give the little sweetie lots of cuddles.

Oh, and none of my five cats worries about being stared at - I'll have staring competitions with all of them. It's how you stare at them which decides the difference between them trusting you or being scared of you. I guess this goes to whether you actually like cats or not. Stare at her like she's the finest thing on the planet and she'll stare loving back. Stare at her like you don't like her and she'll run.