- Joined
- Sep 1, 2021
- Messages
- 31
- Purraise
- 31
My 18 mo old is scared of me since I trapped her in cat box for her first annual vet appt
She got out first time and I was under stress from my spouse to not cancel the visit
After escaping the box the first time cat was stressed and suspicious and sat where I couldn’t get her so I lured her with treats and finally caught her and she realized she’d been tricked and was distressed
She had her rabies etc and was then really unwell for 2 days. Really unwell- didn’t eat or purr at all and just moped in her bed
Since then she’s been terrified of the sound of treat bag or anything else that crinkle that way
If she hears it she leapS out of bed and runs and hides
she is fine with me as long as SHE comes to ME , Eg jumps on my lap on the chair or sleep with me on the bed. She even seems to love me the same- purrs etc
but Eg if she’s on her window sill bed and I walk- even very carefully- in her direction she gets a scared look on her face, jumps off and hides under the bed
i really think I broke trust and now she thinks I’m unpredictable and could be trying to catch her randomly
Until now my cats have always known I was totally safe and could be trusted to come to also if they were sick or injured
i don’t know what to do to retrain her that I am safe and predictable
I also need to retrain her that treats are good- she was trained to come to the sound of treats not run away from them
help!
She got out first time and I was under stress from my spouse to not cancel the visit
After escaping the box the first time cat was stressed and suspicious and sat where I couldn’t get her so I lured her with treats and finally caught her and she realized she’d been tricked and was distressed
She had her rabies etc and was then really unwell for 2 days. Really unwell- didn’t eat or purr at all and just moped in her bed
Since then she’s been terrified of the sound of treat bag or anything else that crinkle that way
If she hears it she leapS out of bed and runs and hides
she is fine with me as long as SHE comes to ME , Eg jumps on my lap on the chair or sleep with me on the bed. She even seems to love me the same- purrs etc
but Eg if she’s on her window sill bed and I walk- even very carefully- in her direction she gets a scared look on her face, jumps off and hides under the bed
i really think I broke trust and now she thinks I’m unpredictable and could be trying to catch her randomly
Until now my cats have always known I was totally safe and could be trusted to come to also if they were sick or injured
i don’t know what to do to retrain her that I am safe and predictable
I also need to retrain her that treats are good- she was trained to come to the sound of treats not run away from them
help!