What's wrong with him?

1007 Views 5 Replies 4 Participants Last post by amelia100, Jun 5, 2012

amelia100

Discussion Starter · Jun 4, 2012

My skittish cat. I adopted him and his brother when they were about 3 months old from a shelter...both had the same life experiences....My tabby, Indi, is totally socially orientated and was from the moment I met him in his little cage all those months ago. His brother, Onca, was very timid back then....he hid in the back of the cage....
I brought them home and after weeks of bestowing love and care on them both, the shy one...became very comfortable around me and astonishingly around total strangers when they came to visit! I was very happy that he came to feel comfortable around people after being such a shy, wary kitten. Anyway, recently a baby came into the house. Onca couldn't STAND this baby. Baby was crying...obviously very louddd! and Onca hated it and would escape and avoid the house as much as possible.

I left the cats with my mother....came back three days later...baby and strangers had gone but Onca on seeing me, was skittish again. It strikes me that anything (that we humans consider normal changes like visitors to the house etc) are seen as threatening things to my Onca. I came home and I just felt like he was feeling skittish with me. I hate when that happens.
Alll the while, my other cat, Indi, was ok with everything...the baby (sure he was tentative to start with, but became ok with it) and then when greeting me after 3 days he was the same as usual; following me, sleeping next to me and asking for kitty rubs. With Onca on the other hand, it feels like I have to walk on eggshells around him.

I dunno, I guess I just don't want Onca to be so afraid all the time....
What am I doing wrong?

thanks.

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cinderflower

· #2 · Jun 4, 2012

i don't think you're doing anything wrong. cats just have different personalities, like people. unfortunately, they can't talk and we're forced to guess at what they want sometimes or what they don't like.

all you can do is not base your expectations of one cat on the behavior of another. they can react to exactly the same circumstances in a completely different way, just like humans.

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maggie23

· #3 · Jun 5, 2012

yeah, maybe Onca blames you a little for allowing that horrible baby (ha ha!) to come into the house and is bitter about it. sounds like Onca was really attached to you before so feels more betrayed by you than his brother, who sounds a little more laid back and independent. bet if you just give Onca time again to forgive you that he'll be back to loving you. just don't ever bring a baby into the house again! :evil: just kidding.

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sunset97

· #4 · Jun 5, 2012 (Edited)

Have you tried the Feliway Infuser and spray? We have a cat that is afraid of most things. But once we put in a Feliway Infuser in all the rooms he used, it really made him feel better. We have 4 in our small house. He still will run and hide if a stranger comes over, or he hears a loud noise but he actually comes out and roams into several rooms now.

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amelia100

Discussion Starter · #5 · Jun 5, 2012

maggie23 said:
yeah, maybe Onca blames you a little for allowing that horrible baby (ha ha!) to come into the house and is bitter about it. sounds like Onca was really attached to you before so feels more betrayed by you than his brother, who sounds a little more laid back and independent. bet if you just give Onca time again to forgive you that he'll be back to loving you. just don't ever bring a baby into the house again! :evil: just kidding.

haha. Yeh, evil scary baby has gone!

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amelia100

Discussion Starter · #6 · Jun 5, 2012

sunset97 said:
Have you tried the Feliway Infuser and spray? We have a cat that is afraid of most things. But once we put in a Feliway Infuser in all the rooms he used, it really made him feel better. We have 4 in our small house. He still will run and hide if a stranger comes over, or he hears a loud noise but he actually comes out and roams into several rooms now.

Thanks for the tip. I might do that.

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