Do skittish cats ever become better?

[mimitabby]

I'd have more guests and sometimes play loud music. You'd be surprised how fast he will get used to habitual guests.

[Susan]

Originally Posted by mimitabby

I'd have more guests and sometimes play loud music. You'd be surprised how fast he will get used to habitual guests.

There's a lot of truth to that. I wouldn't have more guests or play loud music, because I'm not too fond of guests or loud music! BUT, last summer I renovated my home. I had workers coming and going, using loud equipment, including jack hammers. The girls were absolutely terrified the first week and spent all their time hiding. By Week 2, they settled down a bit and came out of hiding, but were still a little stressed. By Week 3, they took everything in their stride...especially Muffs. I was really proud of how she handled things. So, if you like guests and loud music, go for it!

[Alpaca]

Originally Posted by Susan

There's a lot of truth to that. I wouldn't have more guests or play loud music, because I'm not too fond of guests or loud music! BUT, last summer I renovated my home. I had workers coming and going, using loud equipment, including jack hammers. The girls were absolutely terrified the first week and spent all their time hiding. By Week 2, they settled down a bit and came out of hiding, but were still a little stressed. By Week 3, they took everything in their stride...especially Muffs. I was really proud of how she handled things. So, if you like guests and loud music, go for it!

I don't like guests or loud music either!

But it's encouraging to hear the progress everyone had with their kids. My biggest concern with guests over is my #1 fear that someone will let one of them out. I had it once where they were in the cat room, I had my back turned, my aunt left the cat room and left the door open. I'm lucky they didn't bolt out before I caught that. I have nightmares of them bolting for the house doors and never coming back.

[trickyspark]

I had one cat that was always skittish, well actually 3 I guess. Two were only skittish at certain times. They never got better, but we just accepted it and loved them.

[Murph]

I have a now 5yr old Apple Head Siamese - Mia. The breeder I got her from also bred Tonkinese - I told her I wanted 1 of each and waited until she had litters of each that were as close together as possible (16 days apart) so Mia was raised with her "brother" Jules. Jules has always been outgoing, friendly, fearing nothing. Mia was somewhat timid from the get go (14wk old) but she played like there was no tomorrow and still does. But if the door bell rings she heads for the closet! Sometimes even loud noises on tv will send her running. If anyone comes over she hides in the masterbedroom and will only come out at night after everyone had gone to bed and then I have caught her sneeking upstairs to see who is in her house! We have a litter box in the master bath and we just feed her in the walkin closet until the company leaves and within minutes she's back to normal - its like she knows they are gone. The longest we had ever had spend the night company has been maybe 3 nights in a row Until this past August we had 2 family members stay with us for 14 days...Mia had seen them because she had come out a few times and looked out the window at the family members sitting on the deck but would then run back to her safe room. Well on night 7 we are all at the kitchen table - Out parades Mia! Everyone quit talking immediately and She walks right into the kitchen and jumps up in "her" chair! and just sits there! Within a few minutes she's walking around their chairs and letting them pet her! I about fell out in the floor! The next day she's in the floor with the visiting family "helping" them sort through family pictures! and she even laid on the bed and took a nap with my sister-in-law! SO apparently Mia's breaking point is 7 days. We figured Mia decided they apparently weren't going to get out of her house - so she might as well make the best of it.

[Paige Gwenn]

My Cat Noodle used to be VERY shy, and she would always hide, even from us! Now shes to the point where shes usually the first one to the door to greet us, Even if we still cant really pick her up and stuff. If its guests who come over, she will hide when they get there, but eventually will get curious enough to come out and watch them. If we are just sitting and not moving around being loud she will even hop up onto the couch for some pets!

I was VERY shocked though a couple weeks ago. My friend Catherine came over for the first time, and noodle liked her SO much, she was out there on her lap in less than ten minuets! I have never seen her do that before!

We have had Noodle for about 4 years, we adopted her from the human society. The First day we had her, we brought her home, and she was so scared i had to take apart the carrying crate we got her in, and she still didn't move for about 5 hours!

They do eventually come out of their shell! It just takes love and time!

[Div]

I rescued Toddy from the shelter about 7 or so months ago. He's just the most darling, lovable, affectionate baby in the world... with me - lol.

With everyone else, he runs, hides and barely tolerates my husband to pick him up for a few minutes - where as with me, I at times am begging him to give me a break so I can get work done!

He's afraid of me walking with the dust pan, afraid of the broom, afraid of my husband's mother's voice (I really do not blame him for that one HAHA), he's just a bit skittish about everything really. He does tend to get his bouts of boldness at all the wrong times though (like escaping from the front door and tearing through our indoor apartment complex halls).

I've noticed his behavior becoming increasingly better as he grows - he wouldn't tolerate the dog in any way shape and or form, until recently, he sticks his tail waaay in the air and struts right by her (she's a weiner dog, and he's getting bigger than her quickly), only turning to bop her on the nose if she sniffs him too close. He now goes into my husbands mother's room, until she speaks. He also doesn't mind being out of our room - when we first got him he refused to leave it.

So the adjustment might take some time, but with the right care and attention, I'm sure it will get better. Maybe not 100 percent perfect, as it might just be his personality and not trauma but definitely better.

Best of luck!

[Alpaca]

Thanks for the encouraging stories. Cap'n Jack is definitely a tough nut to crack. He's even shy with me sometimes if I haven't handled him for a while and I've had him for well over a year now.

I was weighing him the other day by holding him in my arms and climbing on the scale. It's an old manual scale, as soon as he heard the sound of the scale moving, he was scrambling to get to safety. I held him fast since I was afraid he'd hurt himself jumping while frightened. I ended up getting some scratches from his hind paws (I can't trim those).

[Jannerl]

Wow, sounds like my little female scaredy cat may stay that way, although she has gotten a little bolder over the past 5 months. Her brother is the exact opposite and will immediately run to strangers to get a head pat or chin scratch. He was just born in charge. I got them both at the same time and they've always been polar opposites.

[dweamgoil]

Sasha came from a woman on Craigslist who was raising him in a basement without much socialization. I got him at about 12 weeks. He is going to be a year old next month. He is the sweetest boy and loves to cuddle and enjoys petting and closeness, but he is still very skittish. If he hears a loud noise or the outside door opens, he gets all stressed out and starts to retreat. if he hears a strange voice, he will hide entirely. If it's just us, then he picks a hidden spot to watch what is going on away from the perceived danger.

I sometimes get frustrated because if he hears the door, he will even back away from us. Like yesterday, I forgot something and was about to walk out the house. I went back in and as I was walking to the bedroom, he saw me and was walking backwards, but away from me. I would never, and have never harmed him, but he still has that reaction when he hears the door.

I'm hoping he does get better and feels safer, but to be honest, I am not too optimistic. When we went to FL recently, the cat sitter had a really hard time getting him to come out of hiding and eating. It took him almost 3 days to start accepting food from someone else, and after a full 8 days, she was able to spot him walking about freely. After another day, he let her pet him once and then bolted away.

Either way, we love him, and if he does stay that way, it's fine. It doesn't really change anything for us.