My 8 year old cat Shane has always been afraid of strangers, and he considers EVERYONE except me to be a stranger. So, whenever anyone comes to visit, no matter how many times they've been here, he runs and hides from them, and will not come out until they have gone. Now, mind you, my Rainbow Bridge boy, Snoopy loved everyone and greeted everyone with joy.
Anyway, here's the big problem. When I got Simba, he started running and hiding, just like Shane. It was the old Monkey see, Monkey Do, thing. He didn't follow Snoopy's example, he followed Shane's. So, from then on, when ever anyone came to my house, Shane and Simba would run off and hide, until they left.
After Snoopy passed on, I got SunLee, and now she's copying Shane and Simba. I know it's not Simba or SunLee's normal way, but they've learned it from each other. Is there anything I can do, to make these cats quit running and hiding from everyone who comes to visit me? I'm pretty sure Simba is pretty much locked into that behaviour by now, since he's been copying Shane for almost 2 years, but SunLee has only been here for a couple of months. I know they are all copying each other, because I watched SunLee's reaction the first time someone came to my door, and she saw Simba and Shane take off running, and she followed them. Now, she runs and hides right along with them. So, now I have 3 cats that will have absolutely nothing to do with anyone who comes to visit me. They all 3 stay in hiding, until the person or people leave.
Anyway, here's the big problem. When I got Simba, he started running and hiding, just like Shane. It was the old Monkey see, Monkey Do, thing. He didn't follow Snoopy's example, he followed Shane's. So, from then on, when ever anyone came to my house, Shane and Simba would run off and hide, until they left.
After Snoopy passed on, I got SunLee, and now she's copying Shane and Simba. I know it's not Simba or SunLee's normal way, but they've learned it from each other. Is there anything I can do, to make these cats quit running and hiding from everyone who comes to visit me? I'm pretty sure Simba is pretty much locked into that behaviour by now, since he's been copying Shane for almost 2 years, but SunLee has only been here for a couple of months. I know they are all copying each other, because I watched SunLee's reaction the first time someone came to my door, and she saw Simba and Shane take off running, and she followed them. Now, she runs and hides right along with them. So, now I have 3 cats that will have absolutely nothing to do with anyone who comes to visit me. They all 3 stay in hiding, until the person or people leave.